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.