The Coming UFC Typhoon (Completely Unedited)

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

UFC 137: Penn vs Diaz

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

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

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

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

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

UFC 138: Munoz vs Leben

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

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

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

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

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

The Man We Need: Chael Sonnen

After the dust settled on UFC 136 one man stood above all others. It wasn’t champions Frankie Edgar or Jose Aldo. It was Chael Sonnen, who regained his place as upon the top of trash-talk mountain in a matter of two interviews (the contents of which are well known). When push comes to shove, this might be a considerable boon for the sport as Dana White prophesizes unmatched growth over the next two years. Sonnen is the one man that can attract new fans, present a compelling challenger to appease MMA loyalists, and create hours of new media opportunities for the UFC as they venture into the mainstream and expands globally. The UFC needs a man like Sonnen right now: a man who performs inside and outside the cage, who will play the villain and play it well. Vince McMahon and the WWE can only dream of a golden goose like Chael Sonnen.

Official Arm Triangle Blog Rankings

Heavyweight

1. Cain Velasquez (UFC) – Set to fight on Fox in the biggest HW fight in the sport’s history (yeah I said it), Cain sits reigns supreme till proven otherwise.

2. Junior Dos Santos (UFC) – Has the opportunity of a lifetime to prove that he is the best HW in the world on the biggest stage of all.

3. Alistair Overeem (Strikeforce) – Pulled out of the tournament only to be lined up against Brock Lesnar. I’ll take it.

4. Brock Lesnar (UFC) – Illness thwarts another fight for Lesnar. All eyes are on Brock to see if he can return.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Light- Heavyweight

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

2. Rashad Evans (UFC) – Finally gets his title shot… wait… what is that? Nope injury and timing get in the way yet again.

3. Shogun Rua (UFC) – Looked fantastic against Forrest and is now lined up against Dan Henderson. That fight is 100% guaranteed fun.

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

5. Quinton “Rampage” Jackson (UFC) – He really did look good against Jones but the reach was too much. 2-5 are so close on this list he has no choice but to fall.

6. Dan Henderson (UFC) – Jumps back to the UFC light-heavyweight division to fight shogun. Oddly enough it might earn him a middleweight title shot.

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

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

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

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

Middleweight

1. Anderson Silva (UFC) – Anderson Silva is the best fighter in the world and he will look to prove it at home when he meets Okami in Brazil.

2. Chael Sonnen (UFC) – Wow, after beating Stann and making it look easy he goes out and calls Silva out in a loser leaves town match. Chael is back baby.

3. Yushin Okami (UFC) – Okami will probably continue to fall as others string together wins. He is still a seriously competitive MW.

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

5. Hector Lombard (Bellator) – I really don’t like having him at number 5 but wins are wins. I think a few guys below might be primed to jump him.

6. Mark Munoz (UFC) – A win over Leban might put him in line for a title shot but lots of challengers think they are close.

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

8. Chris Leban (UFC) – Leban has a huge opportunity to shoot up the ranks with a win over Munoz. He needs to show up and show up big.

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

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

Welterweights

1. Georges St. Pierre (UFC) – Another fight and another win. Some still call for the Silva fight but that seems to be on hold for the moment.

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

3. Carlos Condit (UFC) – Condit gets his title shot and the MMA world got real excited about it. He might be the biggest threat to GSP yet.

4. Nick Diaz (Strikeforce) – Decided to no-show a presser and loses his title shot. Now he gets to fight BJ Penn, congrats Diaz!

5. Josh Koscheck (UFC) – Just powers his way through Hughes but that doesn’t do anything for his ranking.

6. B.J. Penn (UFC) – I gotta put him in the top 10. He is one of the most skilled fighters in the world but I would still rather see him at 155 pounds.

7. Jake Ellenberger (UFC) – Ellenberger vaults up the ranks with a huge win over Shields. This is a legit threat to anyone at the top of the division.

8. Martin Kampmann (UFC) – After a few conversations and some thought, I am going to give Kampmann more credit for the unjust lose to Sanchez.

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

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

Lightweight

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

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

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

4. Eddie Alvarez (Bellator) – He might be overrated but he has a belt and is on a win streak. He won’t find the competition in Bellator to keep him here long though.

5. Benson Henderson (UFC) – Bendo flies up the ranks with his win over Jim Miller. No one wants to fight this dude right now but Guida is gunna have to

6. 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.

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

8. Dennis Siver (UFC) – Siver has been impressive but this division is just way too tight. He needs more fights and more wins

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

10. Clay Guida (UFC) – His win over Pettis was a snoozer but it’s a win. He stays in the top 10 and gets a crack at Bendo on FOX.

Featherweight

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

2. Chad Mendes (UFC) – Mendes should likely be in line for a title shot but there is lots of talk of Aldo vs Edgar already, which might delay the unbeaten contender from getting his shot.

3. Mark Hominick (UFC) – Not totally sure why this guy gets no respect I for one haven’t forgotten his heroic effort against Aldo and think he would be too much for most at this weight.

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

5. Hatsu Hioki (UFC) – I fear that Roop is going to be a tougher test than most people think but Hioki needs to win big if he wants to remain relevant.

6. Marion Sandro (Bellator) – I was too quick to forget about him and he made himself a bit more unforgettable by wrecking Pat Curran

7. Tyson Griffin (UFC) – He is primed to make a run in this division but there is a lot of talent making a name for itself.

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

9. Joe Warren (Bellator) – Is apparently dropping weight for his next right. I am a fan of people finding their weight and sticking to it.

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

Bantamweight

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

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

3. Brian Bowles (UFC) – This is the one guy I would really like see get another shot. I have a lot of confidence in Bowles.

4. Urijah Faber (UFC) – Will meet Bowles next and the winner will likely get a title shot.

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

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

7. 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.

8. Miguel Torres (UFC) – Another set back has a lot of people wondering if Torres was ever as good as his billing.

9. Brad Pickett (UFC) – Pickett might be one win away from making a serious case for a title shot in a division mostly wiped out by the champ.

10. Takeya Mizugaki (UFC) – After some thought I have to give credit where credit is due. This guy never gets easy fights and he always brings it.

Top 5 Stories from UFC 136

The pay per view portion of UFC 136 was one of the better top-to-bottom shows of the year. It featured upsets, slugfests, charismatic challenges, and two competitive title fights. Here are the top 5 stories coming out of this monumental event that had more than five notable moments.

Phan and Garcia Throw Down – If you like to see a good fight – a no joke, no frills fight – this one is for you. Leonard Garcia only knows one speed and is always down to swing leather with anyone in the division while Phan was more than happy to oblige. Maintaining some semblance of a professional fight, Garcia and Phan brought fireworks en rout to winning fight of the night. Both men likely saw their stock rise from their pay per view performance and I look forward to seeing them both soon.

4. Joe Lauzon Stuns Guillard – I really thought Guillard would be too much of a physical presence for Joe Lauzon. He has looked absolutely dominant over his past 4 fights and was heavy favorite to continue his hot streak. It appears as if I, along with most of the MMA world, may have jumped the shark a bit. Guillard came into this fight with his typical swagger and then some, walking, dancing, and fighting like he was invincible. Lauzon was all to happy to prove him wrong by rocking him early in the fight and following up quickly with a rear naked choke. I guess the Melvin Guillard era will have to wait a bit longerwhile Lauzon’s stock just went way up in a very competitive division.

3. Kenny Florian Comes Up Short… Again – Poor Kenny Florian, he failed to win a UFC title for the third time. It seems that Ken-Flo is destined to be a bridesmaid and now his future in the sport is in question. Dana White stands behind him, insisting he has a future with the company but Florian has to be questioning himself. If you aren’t trying to be champion and you aren’t a legend taking only big fights, what are you doing? It was a close fight, one that I had dead even going into the final round, making this another somewhat disappointing performance for the ultra hyped Jose Aldo. Winning is winning and Aldo is good at it but expectations are high for the pound for pound rated featherweight and he needs finishes to live up to those expectations. The real story is Florian and whether or not he can saddle up to make yet another run at a title shot.

2. Frankie Edgar Puts The Feud To Bed – Ok, I will be the first to admit that Frankie Edgar proved himself to be the best lightweight in the world, despite my insistence that Maynard should be on top. The first round looked very much like the first round from their second fight, Maynard teeing off on Edgars head. And just like in the second fight Edgar woke up in the second round and really found his rhythm. What really surprised me here was Edgar being able to finish the Bully. About 10 minutes earlier I text messaged a friend saying that I didn’t think Edgar could hurt Maynard. Boy did I feel dumb when Maynard was laid flat from Edgar’s punches. The Champ is the man and there is no doubt about that now. The talk of Aldo vs Edgar has already begun and there is no shortage of contenders at 155 pounds so the future is wide open for the undisputed king of the lightweights.

1. Chael Sonnen is Back – Man oh man, Chael Sonnen stole the show at UFC 136. After dominating Brian Stann and making it look more or less like a walk in the park Sonnen called out Anderson Silva and I quote: “Anderson Silva, you absolutely suck!” He followed that by raising the stakes of the challenge. Sonnen challenged Silva to loser leaves town fight. If Sonnen loses he claims he will leave the UFC forever but wants Silva to put his career as a middleweight on the line. Say what you will about Chael Sonnen but this guy knows how to sell fights and make a ruckus. I’d almost put money on this fight happening and I believe wholeheartedly that he will keep his word if he loses. The charismatic contender has since gone on to claim that he is the real middleweight champion and has offered Anderson Silva a rematch. Sonnan must have been studying WWE DVDs while he was laying low because Vince McMahon could only dream of promoting a title fight this well. All that’s left to do now is wait and see if Sonnan gets his wish for what would amount to one of – if not the – greatest match-ups ever.

Why You Should Watch UFC 136

Dana White and his MMA juggernaut have refused to give fans any time to breath recently. They cap off a three week blitz with an absolutely stacked card that features two title fights – one of which might conclude the best feud in the sport today. This event is a must see and it starts with yet another huge SpikeTV set.

Spike TV

Everyone knows Anthony Pettis (pictured), even if you don’t know Anthony Pettis. Everyone knows him because everyone knows his cage-walking matrix kick that closed out WEC’s tenure as a company. Since that fight Pettis suffered an unfortunate lose to a wet blanket named Clay Guida and needs to get back on the winning track. Pettis meets fellow stand-up banger Jeremy Stephens. Pettis is a flashy striker with a very good, developing grappling game while Stephens is a hard nosed well rounded fighter who loves to throw down. Neither of these guys knows how to back off so expect some serious fireworks in this “Fight of the Night” frontrunner. For all the striking fun that may be had between Stephens and Pettis, there may be as much grappling/submissionfun to be had with Demian Maia and Jorge Santiago. Maiais probably the best submission artist (and don’t mistake it, he is an artist) in the UFC. Santiago’s submission game only pales to Maia in the way that Los Vegas lights don’t look as bright during the day. Unfortunately these two might end up standing rather than risking a stalemate on the ground. I think Maia is just a little bit (or maybe even a good bit) better at everything making this his fight to lose.

Main Card

Leonard Garcia vs Nam Phan

These two met once before and the result was shameful. Phan (pictured) clearly won the fight on any scorecard filled out by a competent human being who was actually watching the fight and not making up a grocery list or whatever the hell those people were doing. Phan gets his rematch and I for one think he is primed to set things strait. Garcia is super tough and fairly exciting but I am beginning to suspect that he is very mediocre. On the other hand Phan might just be one of the more talented fighters to come out of TUF in a few years. This fight got bumped to the main card recently so expect both men to put on a show to impress fans and make a mark.

Melvin Guillard vs Joe Lauzon

Melvin Guillard (pictured) is well on his way to a title shot. Make no mistake about it this kid is a beast but he has had ups and downs in the past. Most of them had to do with not fighting smart. Now he is in a good camp, getting good direction, looking unstoppable. Truth is, Guillard might just be unstoppable at 155 if he keeps improving and fights smart. Joe Lauzon will be a solid test for the fast-riser. Lauzon is a well-rounded fighter that doesn’t make lots of mistakes. In the end this one is Guillard fight to lose and he might just be in line for the winner of the main event.

Chael Sonnen vs Brian Stann

Chael Sonnan is never short on comments, unless he fights Brian Stann (pictured) of course. Sonnan has sounded like a 14 year old girl in love before thisfight. Look, I know that Stann is vet and he is a highly decorated one at that. I have infinite respect for him in that regard but I am not sure how that makes him immune to any sort of trash talk at all, let alone rendering him a demigod. Ohhh well, none of that has anything to do with the fight. Sonnen should be able to control where this fight takes place and how it takes place. I have almost been convinced that Stann is just too big and to athletic and that might be true but he has never given anyone any reason to believe that he can compete with Sonnan’s wrestling. The winner is likely going to fight either the winner of Munoz/Leban, Vitor Belfort, or Anderson Silva. This is as high profile as it gets without being for a title or a non-title main event. This is just two all American boys going in there to fight it out. I expect a brawl and a whole lot of hugs and excessive displays of respect after the fact.

UFC Featherweight Title – Jose Aldo (Champion) vs Kenny Florian

You have probably heard of Aldo (pictured) by this point. If you have read this blog you know that I think this is where the real tests for Aldo begin. UFC’s lightweights are starting to drop weight to test the Featherweight world-beater. Aldo is exceptional though and I think he is going to look even better in this fight than he did the last, having shaken any big fight octagon jitters. He should have an advantage over Florian in almost every aspect of the game. I don’t mean to make it look like Florian is completely out of it though. He will be bigger than Aldo and brings lots of experience, this being his third title shot. Aldo is fighting for recognition and Florian is fighting to finally be the best, both men with plenty of motivation and plenty to gain but as with any Jose Aldo fight, don’t blink.

UFC Lightweight Title – Frankie Edgar (Champion) vs Gray Maynard

Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard have been in the cage for 40 minutes together. If their fight at UFC 136 goes the distance they will have fought for one hour and five minutes. Maynard won the first fight and the second came to a draw, making this one of if not the best feud in MMA today. To make matters even more enticing the style clash is exceptionally complex. Both men come in with a wrestling base and every improving striking. Maynard is one of the few lightweights with big time knockout power. Edgar on the other hand has been one of the most perplexing quick strike artists over his last 3-4 fights. Who comes out on top in this one is anyone’s guess. Personally I tend toward Maynard as I have seen him as a champion for some time now. The long and short is that this is a must see fight, likely the second most important title fight of the year - second only to Velasquez vs Dos Santos. Don’t sleep on this just because these guys aren’t heavyweights.