Why You Should Watch UFC on FOX 2

UFC on FOX 2 is tonight, in about 11 hours from the time I am writing this actually. While I am a little behind the game you shouldn’t need a lot of motivation to tune in to this. Here are the top 5 reasons to watch tonight.

5. Meet Chris Weidman: Long story short, Mark Munoz had to pull out of his fight with Chael Sonnen so UFC brass moved Michael Bisping into his slot and called in little known Chris Weidman to meet BJJ wizard Demian Maia. Weidman’s credentials are impressive. As a college wrestler he defeated Phil Dais and Ryan Bader, both of which currently fight at 205 pounds in the UFC. Additionally he has quickly developed a very well rounded MMA game. Oddly enough he is the bookie favorite in this fight but Demian Maia is not to be messed with on the ground. The fight is a coin toss in my book but fans should get their first taste of an up and coming fighter with a really bright future.

4. Michael Bisping is Gunna Get Hurt: If you are like me you don’t really like Michael Bisping. Of course it isn’t anything personal. As I have said, this is all about the persona we see on TV and the one I see with the nametag Bisping is kind of a dick. I am moving from a cursory appreciation of Sonnan to full on fandom but the fact that he is a terrible match-up for a boxer like Bisping has never and will never change. Bisping could really turn a lot of heads with a big upset here but unless something goes terribly wrong I expect a lot of takedowns and a lot of ground and pound directed at the head region of the Brit. I predict a second or third round stoppage but there is a chance Bisping gets beat on for 15 minutes. If Michael Bisping wins this fight, the only fighter who might be a worse match up for him is waiting in the wings – Anderson Silva.

3. Title Eliminators: The number one contenders for the Middleweight Title and the Light-Heavyweight Title will be determined tonight on FOX. That doesn’t necessarily mean that they will get the next title shot because Anderson Silva is on the mend and apparently Jon Jones really wants to fight soon. Regardless, Sonnen and Bisping will vie for a shot at Silva, if/whenever he is ready to defend his belt again. Meanwhile Rashad Evans can secure his shot at Jon Jones with a win while Phil Davis mist wow matchmakers if he hopes to procure the number one spot. In short, there is a great deal on the line tonight and the near future of two divisions will be determined.

2. It is Free: That’s it. If you have FOX it is free. No excuses.

1. Chael Sonnen Interviews: Evans and Davis are headlining the show and Anderson Silva is the champion of his division. However, Chael Sonnen is the main event. This guy has turned up the hype and it seems to never get old for me. He has claimed to be the best fighter in the world, is now carrying around a UFC title, and claims that Anderson Silva will retire before he ever fights him again. He has called out Silva, insulted his family, his country, and his manhood. He has done everything but slap Silva in the face in public. It has been nothing if it hasn’t been great entertainment. My hat is off to Chael Sonnen. I love the guy. I love him because he makes me hate him. He is the 1980s Ric Flair of MMA. I will pay money to see him win or lose so don’t be surprised if he steals the show tonight.

Fighters to Watch in 2012

John “The Magician” Dodson (125 Pounds – Flyweight)

John Dotson was a ranked Flyweight before he took a spot on the most recent season of The Ultimate Fighter. He went on to win the Bantamweight tournament impressively. Not many small guys have real knockout power but Dodson packs a huge punch and backs it up with superb athleticism and a strong wrestling base. He isn’t in the UFC Flyweight tournament but don’t be surprised if he is in the title conversation by the end of the year. Being a new division in the UFC, the Flyweight division is primed for just this kind of fighter. His dynamic personality is polarizing so it shouldn’t take long for him to garner attention in a division that will need to develop star power and personality in fairly short order.

Renan “Barao” Pegado (135 Pounds – Bantamweight)

It isn’t often that a guy with a 27-fight win streak (with one no contest) sneaks up on you in this sport. Pegado did just that when he recently wrecked the popular Brad Pickett. He is one of the most primed fighters on this list to secure himself a title shot by years end, truly moving from obscurity to the big dance in a solid 12 months. He will continue his road to glory at UFC 143 against former title contender Scott Jorgensen, a perennial top 5 BW that will really make Pegado prove he is no fluke. Dynamic, entertaining, and well rounded – Pegado is going to be tested early in 2012 and will ever opportunity to make it his year.

Jimmy “The Kid” Hettes (145 Pounds – Featherweight)

A lot of heads were turned at UFC 141 by Jimmy Hettes who was relentless in out grappling Nam Phan. Hettes demonstrated skilled takedowns, consistently threatened with slick submission attempts, and threw down some accurate and damaging ground-n-pound. This third generation grappler is utilizing Jiu Jitsu, Wrestling, and Judo in progressive ways. Against Phan (a BJJ black belt) Hettes was dominant, never letting up and never looking to be in trouble. At 24 years old, his best years are in front of him and Jimmy Hettes will get the opportunity to hone his skills against top tier talent in a division stacked with talent. Don’t expect The Kid to emerge into the title picture just yet. 2012 should be a slow build year, one in which Hettes will be tested as he moves slowly up the ranks.

Anthony “Showtime” Pettis (155 Pounds – Lightweight)

As Joe Rogan would say, this division is filled with killers. Rogan is right and that is why selecting just one is somewhat challenging. One could argue that Nate Diaz, Melvin Guillard, Joe Lauzon, or even Donald Cerrone among others are primed for big years but Pettis stands out for me for two reasons. 1) He is a rising star that already has some big fight experience. 2) He has demonstrated a willingness and ability to improve upon his wrestling and nullify the wrestling of his opponents. In a division dominated by wrestlers who are at the cutting edge of integrated their grappling into the larger dynamic of the sport, the latter cannot be emphasized enough. Pettis is entertaining and dangerous. If he can maintain that balance, people are going to want to see him compete against top competition. Showtime could set himself up for a title eliminator if he can impress against Joe Lauzon, no light task. I expect to see plenty of Pettis in 2012 and expect him to carve a place for himself in one of the most competitive and chaotic division in the sport.

Rory “Ares” MacDonald (170 Pounds – Welterweight)

There isn’t a single fighter today with more “in the know” eyes on him. Rory MacDonald has been dubbed the future by virtually every talking head, journalist, and significant voice in the sport. Truly a third generation fighter, MacDonald meshes together every aspect of MMA seamlessly. His first professional fight came at just 16 years old and only Carlos Condit has been able to slow him down since. Zuffa has been careful about not throwing the blue-chip prospect into the shark tank just yet but they will only be able to contain him for so long. I expect 2012 to see at least three Rory MacDonald fights. If he stays focused and continues to find success he should close the year among the serious contenders.

Johny “Big Rig” Hendricks (170 Pounds – Welterweight)

MacDonald is obviously everyone’s darling this year but Johny Hendricks has emerged as another fighter to keep an eye on in the welterweight division. His 12-second knockout of Jon Fitch turned a lot of heads but that was no flash in the pan. Hendricks is known to posses serious knockout power and a strong wrestling base. Ranked in the Sherdog Top 10 before his breakout fight, he rides a three fight win streak into the new year and will undoubtedly get a prominent fight early in 2012. Consistency is key for a guy like Hendricks. The division is primed to accept him into the top tier as many title contenders will be eliminating one another and needing new/exciting opponents sooner rather than later.

Rousimar “Torquinho” Palhares (185 Pounds – Middleweight)

It takes a certain amount of crazy to get in the cage and fight trained killers. Some fighters get their crazy from a troubled past or a hard up bringing. Palhares takes all this to the next level. He was raised in a home he had to leave because there was simply not enough food to feed everyone, living under a bridge in a commune until he was discovered as a physical specimen and taken to train Jiu Jitsu. The rest is history. His grappling might just be the best in the MW division, a master of leg locks. His only loses have come to Dan Henderson (no shame in that) and Nate Marquardt when his instability lack of focus came back to bite him. He is an erratic – some say dirty – fighter. Many think he is legitimately mentally ill which makes him an unpredictable in and out of the cage. However, I think he has all the tools to beat just about anyone at MW. Palhares might get himself in trouble and never fight in the UFC again, but he might establish himself as a top contender in 2012, only time will tell.

Alexander “The Mauler” Gustafsson (205 Pounds – Light Heavyweight)

After three wins in 2011 and riding a four fight win streak no one has more moment going into 2012 than Alexander Gustafsson. He is a tall, rangy striker with serious knockout power. What is most impressive about Gustafsson is his development. After losing to Phil Davis he went and trained with him, working diligently on his wrestling to ensure he is never dominated in the same way again. His improved wrestling has shown as he has been able to control the pace and location of fights ever sense. If he continues to maintain well-rounded training he has the ability to break into the upper echelon of the light heavyweight division in 2012.

Daniel Cormier (265 Pounds – Heavyweight)

When Alistair Overeem pulled out of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix unbeaten Daniel Cormier was given a golden opportunity. He looked impressive against Bigfoot Silva and now he is set to go head to head with veteran Josh Barnett in the tournament finals. Win or lose he will fight under the UFC banner following the Barnett fight but winning the Grad Prix would put him in prime position to compete for the title or at least a title shot upon his UFC debut. Cormier is a dangerous man and has all the tools to compete at the highest levels in MMA. He isn’t just a great college wrestler; he is an Olympic medalist. There isn’t anyone with better credentials than he has in MMA, complimenting those credentials with improved striking and big power in his hands. In 2012 the MMA world is his for the taking if he is good enough to take it.

Important Lessons Learned at UFC 141

Lesson #1: Alistair Overeem is a dangerous dude. I have always said that Lesnar has been very much the product of good matchmaking but Alistair Overeem stood out in rout to wrecking the former UFC champion. He was never close to being taken down and his strikes were on point. His kicks and his knees might be the most dangerous in the division and he has a skill set that might be the most dangerous in the division for king of the mountain, Junior Dos Santos – a fight we should all start looking forward to immediately because there is a 0% chance that one goes the distance.

Lesson #2: Brock Lesnar was what he was. He was a super athlete, a brutally strong man, and an aggressive fighter. He was also not well rounded, not technically sound, and not prepared to meet professional level striking. You can’t take anything away from his success, well earned success. However, MMA should feel humbled by this guy, he demonstrated just how many waves can be made by a professional caliber athlete, regardless of how specialized his skills are for the sport. My hat is off the Lesnar. I think he brought it every night and was great for the sport. Don’t fret Lesnar fans he will be back in 12-18 months to finish his feud with Mir and get one more payday.

Lesson #3: Johnny Big Rig Hendricks is REAL. At 12-1 and with one of the most dangerous skill sets in the welterweight division, Hendricks (pictured) has turned some heads with his 12 second upset of Jon Fitch. His top shelf wrestling is only out done by his touch of death knockout power. I would bet he put together his best, most motivated training camp ever for this fight and now he knows how to prepare himself for elite competition. If he can stay healthy and stay focused he is going to be a tough match-up for anyone in the division in 2012.

Lesson #4: Technique wins out in the Lightweight division. Donald Cerrone and Nate Diaz are fairly evenly matched and that was demonstrated in the second and third rounds. While I gave Diaz all three rounds, the opening stanza set the fight in motion. Diaz was more technical, more precise. He beat Cerrone to the punch, putting hands to face over and over with the same hand full of combinations. Cerrone calmed down and slowed the pace of the fight but when he fought like he is known to fight, he was outclassed quickly. Diaz is hitting his stride with his striking and may find himself on the road to a title shot in 2012 if he can stick to his winning ways.

Lesson #5: Watch out for Alexander Gustafsson. This kid is the real deal. He was in my fighters to watch for the second half of 2011 and will be on the same list for all of 2012. I think he has a fantastic talent with a unique combination of skills and build – a tall, long striker with an improving wrestling that allows him to more confidently throw his punches. Gustafsson still needs to prove a lot and string together some big-time wins but I for one hope he gets a top 5 – 7 fighter for his next outing because the time is now to test this blue-chip talent.

Lesson #6: There is a new generation of grappler coming. Jimmy Hettes (pictured tossing Phan around) is the truth I believe. This guy is what I am calling a third generation grappler. His combination of BJJ, judo, and wrestling is seamless. His takedowns and transitions are hybrids manifestations of all the aforementioned grappling skills. On top of the immense, and still developing skill he possesses, Hettes is relentless. Every time I thought he was about to slow down he turned up the heat again. It was a truly impressive performance, particularly in light of the fact that he is 24 years old with his best days well in front of him.

Arm Triangle Blog's Official MMA Rankings

Heavyweight

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

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

3. Alistair Overeem (Strikeforce) – Beating Brock Lesnar was impressive but it doesn’t make him jump Velasquez just yet.

4. Josh Barnett (Strikeforce) – Lesnar is out so everyone moves up. 2012 promises a lot of shakeups in this division.

5. 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.

6. Frank Mir (UFC) – Ok ok ok, I have to give credit where credit is due. He took a beating and managed to somehow defeat Big Nog again.

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. Roy Nelson (UFC) – He looked better against Cro Cop than he had before and it looks like he is taking things a big more seriously.

Light- Heavyweight

1. Jon Jones (UFC) – Jones looked mortal against Machida. He is going to be tested more and more now that people are getting tape and cracking the code.

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

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

4. Lyoto Machida (UFC) – Looked good in the first round and got caught in the second. Machida doesn’t actually slip down the list at all though.

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

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

7. Phil Davis (UFC) – The big fight with Rashad could shoot him up the ranks. He has a lot of potential but its time to put on his best showing yet.

8. Alexander Gustafsson (UFC) – I love this kid. He has such a birght future.

9. King Mo Lawal (UFC) – Davis gets a good booking and Gustafsson gets a good win. Mo needs stiffer competition.

10. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (UFC) – I think his body shots actually made Tito Ortiz cry. This guy is getting better against wrestlers and I think he is really dangerous.

Middleweight

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

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

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

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

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

6. Hector Lombard (Bellator) – 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.

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

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

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

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

Welterweights

1. Georges St. Pierre (UFC) – Injuries rear their ugly head yet again and GSP is out for a long time. He won’t move from this spot though.

2. Carlos Condit (UFC) – What a rollercoaster year. Now he fights Nick Diaz for the interim belt. It will be nice to see some of the top guys go at it while GSP heals.

3. Nick Diaz (UFC) – Interim title is on the line. Diaz vs Condit has fight of the year candidate written all over it.

4. Josh Koscheck (UFC) – Koscheck is good… really good. GSP’s injury might be the best thing that could happen for him as an interim title shot isn’t out of the question

5. Jake Ellenberger (UFC) – Ellenberger smash! Another fighter that might be looking at the Diaz/Condit winner if he can get past Sanchez

6. Johnny Hendricks (UFC) – Huge win for Big Rig. I confidently give him the big jump because he has all the tools to fight with the cream of the crop

7. Jon Fitch (UFC) – To be honest, he is better than number 7 but with the long lay off and the quick KO, he has to fall for now.

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

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

10. Diego Sanchez (UFC) Jake Shields could easily be right here for me but I want to see more from Shields in the UFC. Sanchez has a chance to make a huge jump by beating Ellenberger.

Lightweight

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

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

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

4. Gilbert Melendez (Strikeforce) – Melendez is great but I am really tired of the hype. He needs to get a taste of the UFC lightweight shark tank if he is going to move up.

5. Shinya Aoki (Dream) – Another win for the Japanese submission wizard but I would love to see him do it in the UFC because I suspect he wouldn’t be able to.

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

7. Joe Lauzon (UFC) – The win over Guillard is only the tip of the iceberg. He is a great fighter with a solid career to this point

8. Nate Diaz (UFC) – I think both Diaz boys are hitting their stride right now and Nate looked pretty good against the dynamic Cerrone.

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

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

Featherweight

1. Jose Aldo (UFC) – Good News: He is 2010 fighter of the year and pound for pound rated. Bad News: Chad Mendes is up next and he is really really good.

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

3. Kenny Florian (UFC) – It is hard to tell what is next for Florian but I really do think he is probably currently the third best fighter in the division.

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

5. Diego Nunes (UFC) – Nunes gets a big win in the invisible prelims but he is back to his winning ways and looking for a title shot in 2012.

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

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

8. Chang Sung Jung (UFC) – I have been really impressed with his last two wins. He is at a great camp and has his best days in front of him.

9. Jimmy Hettes (UFC) – This kid is what I call a third generation grappler and I think he has all the tools for a really bright future.

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

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 is moving down to Flywieght which means the next ranking list will look markedly different at 135 pounds

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

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

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

6. Demetrious Johnson (UFC) – Moving to 125 pounds in 2012 so we will see him move from this list and probably into the top 2 of the flyweight division.

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

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

9. Miguel Torres (UFC) – He is going to get a second chance at life in the UFC. I think the luster has been lost on this one though.

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