The Last Emperor Has No Clothes!

"The Emperor's New Clothes", a classic tale about an Emperor whose tailor convinces him that his new clothes are "invisible" to lesser people, is a very fitting allegory for the recent Fedor Emlianenko saga.  However, the "Last Emperor" is not the only ignorant buffoon in this case; so are the Strikeforce promoters and commentators, and the blind loyalists who insisted that Fedor is the greatest of all time, even though he has not defeated a UFC caliber fighter since his decision against Mirko Cro Cop in 2005.

It was Dana White who first cried out, "the emperor has no clothes!"  But the Fedor loyalists argued that Dana was a biased hype machine, who dismissed Fedor because he couldn't sign him.

After last nights humbling TKO at the hands of 42-year-old Dan Henderson, it appears that the myth of "The Last Emperor" has finally been dismantled.  This is Fedor's third loss by stoppage in a row, the first two coming against non-contender Fabricio Werdum and a ferocious Bigfoot Silva.  Dana has his vindication.

Not only has Fedor demonstrated that he is not a top-ten heavyweight, he has shown that, if he were to drop to the light heavyweight division, he would flounder there as well.  Hendo, after all, weighed in at only 207 pounds, and has fought as low as middleweight during his career.  And, if he can rag-doll Fedor (as he did last night), then it is reasonable to believe that there are a plethora of other heavyweights and 205-pounders who could do the same: Cain Velazquez, Junior Dos Santos, Machida, Shane Carwin, Jon Jones, Rampage, Lesnar, Barnett, Rashad.

Fedor is only 34 years old.  To call for his retirement due to age, I think, is absurd.  Guys like Hendo, Couture, and Herschel Walker have shown that Fedor might be abe to headline fights for another 5 or 10 years.  Anderson Silva, even, is 17 months older than Fedor, and is arguably in his prime.

However, if Fedor wants to stick around, then he has to make some serious changes -- in his camp, in his management, in his lifestyle, and in his mindset.  He should relocate to the United States, and surround himself with champions at a place like Greg Jackson's camp in Albuquerque or Rafael Cordeiro's King's MMA in Huntington Beach.  Or he should team up with guys that have the relentless drive that Fedor seems to lack right now: Chael Sonnen, Bigfoot Silva, even Hendo himself.

If "The Last Emperor" does not reinvent himself soon, he will be put out to pasture and will NOT be remembered as one of the greatest of all time.  He needs to objectively assess the state of his career and take the necessary steps -- outside of his comfort zone.

Put your pants on, Fedor.

The Phenom Will Rise Again

Vitor Belfort is the second most dangerous man fighting at middleweight in MMA.  Anderson, of course, is the first.  Although various other fighters might currently be ranked above "The Phenom" -- Okami, Jacare, Munoz, Chael, Bisping, Stann -- NONE of them can finish a fight as quickly and viciously as Vitor.  At 19 and 9, his record isn't pristine.  However, he has stopped a bevy of all-stars: Tank Abbott, Wanderlei Silva, Randy Couture, Matt Lindland, and Rich Franklin.  And, of course, he may have the fastest hands in the history of the UFC.

Anderson Silva finished Belfort in the first round of UFC 126.  But until the remarkable front-kick that ended the fight, Belfort was the aggressor.  And -- although close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades -- he threw more strikes, landed more strikes, and was on top of Anderson at one point.

 

Akiyama is a dynamic fighter, who brings some flash into the cage.  However, at UFC 133, Belfort will obliterate him with a firestorm of fisticuffs.  It will end in the first round.  And, when that happens, Vitor will be right back in the title picture.

From there, Vitor should face the winner of Chael Sonnen v. Brian Stann, which is expected to take place on October 8 at UFC 136.  Not only would that be a deserved match-up, it would be a huge draw for the UFC.  It may also be the precursor to another title shot.

UFC 132: The Grave Digger Cometh

UFC 132 was one of the most thrilling UFC main cards in recent memory.  For MMA fans, it is quite satisfying to witness these kinds of fireworks (no 4th of July pun intended) on the same day that Vladimir Klitschko and David Haye put on a snooze-fest for the boxing heavyweight championship.  HBO and boxing promoters marketed that fight as a return to glory for heavyweight boxing.  However, all it demonstrated was that, with huge guaranteed paydays regardless of performance (a reported 10 million pounds per fighter in this case), championship boxing is often a complete sham.

The UFC 132 main card, on the other hand, was thrilling from start to finish, with virtually every fighter showing tremendous skill, tenacity and, most importantly, heart.  Here is a recap, with some thoughts:

• Carlos Condit KO'd "Stun Gun" Kim three minutes into the first round.  Condit launched a magnificent flying knee that literally made Kim go cross-eyed on his way to the canvas.   As a result, "The Natural Born Killer" has made the case that he is the most dangerous fighter in the welterweight division.  He can take the fight anywhere and end it at a moment's notice.  Though Condit does not want to wait around for a title shot, he deserves the winner of GSP-Diaz.  And my money would be on him.

• Tito Ortiz submitted Ryan Bader with a beautiful guillotine in the first round.  This came after Ortiz slammed a right hook into Bader's cheek, making the younger fighter's legs go limp.  Some thought that this would be Ortiz's funeral... but Ortiz, indeed, was the grave digger at the end of the fight.  And, believe it or not, this puts Tito in the top-ten among UFC light heavyweights, and should earn him a shot against someone in the top five.  With numerous fighters already booked -- Bones v. Rampage, Shogun v. Forrest, Rashad v. Mr. Wonderful, and Lyoto v. the winner of Bones/Rampage -- there is no clear opponent for Tito's next fight.  He wants the winner of Griffin/Rua.  I'm not interested in another Griffin-Ortiz match-up.  But Shogun v. The Huntington Beach Badboy?  I'd buy a ringside seat to that.

• Dennis Siver defeated Matt Wiman via unanimous decision in what would have been fight of the night at most other UFC events.  All three judges had it 29-28 for Siver.  And, indeed, it is a fair argument to say that he took the first and third rounds.  However, Wiman bludgeoned the German for 3 minutes of the second round, and had him bleeding all over the canvas.  I would say a 10-8 round for Wiman was not completely out of the question.  Wiman, and the fans, were upset at the decision.  However, it was not a case of negligent judging.  In the end, both of these guys remain in the title picture in the lightweight division.

• Chris Leben put Wanderlei Silva to sleep in 27 seconds.  Despite the brutal KO, this was a very disappointing fight.  The Axe Murderer employed zero strategy in this fight and went toe-to-toe with Leben, throwing sloppy wide hooks.  This, certainly, is the dumbest thing a world-class martial artist like Silva could have done.  Sure, the fans like a slugfest.  However, when you go in chin-first against the Crippler, you have a good chance of ending up face down or, in this case, waving goodbye to your UFC contract.

• Finally, Dominick Cruz outlasted Urijah Faber in one of the best five-rounders we've seen in a while.  For 25 minutes, this back-and-forth battle went everywhere.  Both men put on a striking, wrestling, and grappling clinic that should be very humbling to other bantamweights viewing the contest.  Rightfully, Cruz retained the belt in a unanimous decision.  However, he never had Faber in trouble.  On the other hand, Faber had Cruz eating canvas on three separate occasions.  Faber's hands were heavier, but Cruz was more active, controlled the octagon better, and even out-wrestled the California Kid.  Although one imbecile judge scored it 50-45 for Cruz, these guys are clearly one and two in the division.  Cruz-Faber III should be scheduled immediately.  Don't waste their time with interim opponents.

Anti-Hug

Sportsmanship has gone too far in MMA.

I came to that conclusion when I saw Mark Munoz hug -- actually hug -- Demian Maia at the start of the third round of their UFC 131 bout.  Enough already.  That alone made me want Maia to knock Munoz into next week.  That kind of warm-fuzzy attitude may be a big part of the reason that Munoz underperformed in the fight after nearly being KO'd by the mediocre first round striking of Maia.

Why do fighters insist on shaking hands at the start of rounds?  I know that it is a polite show of respect.  However, it is completely unnecessary and detracts from the competitiveness and ferocity that makes the sport appealing to so many people.  Did Muhammed Ali feel the need to shake Joe Frazier's hand every time they bell sounded?  Hell no.  And it was the sense of conflict between the two -- the impending explosiveness of their fights -- that made their saga so interesting.

When the referee starts the round, MMA fighters should be bloodthirsty and ready to go, not concerned about whether they have properly greeted their enemy.  This is not a sparring match; it is a war.  Friendliness diminishes the fans' experience of the fight and, quite possibly, distracts the fighter from his mission.  For as much as I dislike GSP, I admire the fact that he does not tap gloves at the beginning of the round.  He is there to do a job -- one that requires and brutal focus.

Frankly, I am no longer a booster of Mark Munoz after his weak showing and absurd hug in the Maia fight.  I've seen more animosity in a badminton quarterfinal.  Moving forward, this kind of thing has to be discouraged by the brass.

The Wrecking Machine

Yushin Okami is, in no way, a threat to Anderson Silva.  First and foremost, he is not a finisher.  Of his 26 wins, eight have come by TKO or KO and four have come by submission.  Compare that to Anderson, who has finished 21 of 28 fights, including an astounding 11 of 14 finishes in his UFC fights.  Indeed, the Spider has made it absolutely clear that he can put anyone in the division to sleep.

Secondly, Okami is not more powerful than Anderson.  He will certainly struggle to get inside or take Anderson to the ground.  And, if the fight goes there, it is most likely that Okami will find himself tapping.

The only fighters that have a prayer against Anderson are the ones who might overpower him.  A juiced Chael Sonnen did just that and almost took home the belt.  Vitor Belfort was nearly decapitated by a Silva front-kick, but earlier in that round he landed a heavy left, steamrolled Anderson to the ground, and just missed with a massive haymaker while Anderson was on his back that could very well have ended the fight.  Don't believe me?  Go to 2:05 of that first round and tell me what you think would have happened if that fist landed on Anderson's chin.  Rarely do fighters get a swing like that at Anderson's head.

Well, Sonnen's career is all but doneski, and Vitor is going to have to prove himself a couple of times before getting another shot (if ever).  So there is really only one, untested middleweight, who might deserve to get into the cage with the Spider.  And that entirely depends on what happens this weekend.  

I am talking about, of course, Mark Munoz.

Munoz is one of the best wrestlers in the division -- a 2001 NCAA champion in fact -- and, as he says, has "dynamite" in his hands.  He has crushed several of his opponents, and is a serious threat on his feet as well as in the ground-and-pound.  If he can take Anderson to the mat, which several other men (Sonnen, Okami, Travis Lutter) have already done, there could be a very interesting outcome.

But the "Filipino Wrecking Machine" has to get through Demian Maia first.  And not just get through him -- stop him.  Yes, Okami split-decisioned Munoz.  But that doesn't mean Munoz should have to make a pit stop with Okami to get to the belt.  If Munoz and Silva both prevail in their upcoming bouts, then we have the next great match-up in the 185-pound division.  Late 2011 or early 2012.  Munoz vs. Silva.

Mir is Back in Orbit

I had all but counted out Frank Mir.  His two fights prior to UFC 130 were absolute atrocities.  In UFC 111, Shane Carwin pushed Mir up against the cage and unloaded some telegraphed uppercuts against a non-defending Mir.  When one considers that Mir may be the most well-rounded heavyweight in the UFC -- a submission genius and solid striker --, it was perplexing to see him get destroyed by a guy who is really nothing more than a puncher.  Yes, Carwin is a beast, but one should rightfully expect more from Mir than he showed in that fight.

And, of course, one should rightfully expect MUCH more than Mir showed against Cro Cop in their UFC 119 headliner.  Though Mir put the Croatian to sleep with a heavy knee in the 3rd round, it was easily the most lackluster headliner that I, and most other UFC fans, have ever witnessed.  To that point, Dana refused to award Mir a "KO-of-the-Night" bonus, even though Mir's was the only KO in the event.

So, after 119, I felt that Mir was heartless and washed up -- a waste of tremendous talent.  After his win over Cro Cop, he dropped out of my top ten in the weight class and off the radar.

However, UFC 130 changed my mind.  For 15 minutes, Mir utterly dominated Big Country Nelson everywhere that the fight took them.  Mir won the striking game (against a notorious striker), the wrestling game, and the grappling game.  He made Roy look like a second-tier heavyweight, who belongs back in the International Fight League.  Most importantly, Mir did this with a broken jaw and a broken rib.  There's a heart in that man after all.  And, although the fight went the distance, Mir unloaded some brutal knees in the clinch that would have crumpled many other fighters.

Frank is back.  He is a big, dangerous man, and the rest of the division should take note.

Who is next for Mir?  Well, with half of the division ailing, Mir is now in line.  And, what would make the most sense is to give him the loser of the JDS-Carwin fight.  Showing this kind of a resurgence in the ring, Mir could make a rematch with Shane a very interesting draw.  And, of course, a rumble with Junior would be a compelling spectacle.

But there is one other match-up that would be even more interesting.  Overeem.  Both men are massive heavyweights with multi-dimensional skills.  It would be a true test of the Demolition Man and would show where each man belongs in the big boy world.  If there is a need for UFC-Strikeforce interbreeding, it is in the heavyweight division.  But, for several reasons, that will be some time coming.  All we can do is wait.

UFC Snore

UFC 130 is irrelevant.

None of the fights on the main card next week have any lasting impact on their respective divisions.

In the heavyweight division, there are two match-ups featuring guys who hardly have a puncher's chance of challenging for the belt.  Mir has looked blasé in his last two outings, first getting demolished by Carwin and then defeating Cro Cop in one of the most uninteresting fights in UFC heavyweight history.  Hopefully that non-contender Big Country will knock him out -- not that it matters much either way.

The other heavyweight fight only exists because it is a somewhat freakish spectacle: the 6'11" Struve faces the 6'7" Browne.  Other than the fact that they are stilt-walkers, who really cares about this fight?  Be ashamed if you are raising your hand.

Regardless of the outcomes of their fights, none of these four big boys deserve a place in the top 8 heavyweights in MMA.  Who are the top eight?  Cain, Werdum, Overeem, Carwin, JDS, Lesnar, Bigfoot, and Fedor -- perhaps not in that order.

More importantly, the headliner -- Rampage vs. Hamill -- is nothing more than stuffing in the light heavyweight turkey.  Rampage will probably beat Hamill.  What does that prove?  It proves what we already knew.  If Hamill upsets Rampage, what does that prove?  It proves that the unexpected sometimes happens in the octagon.  Jon Jones would make either of those guys look like huckleberries.  In fact, he already mercilessly battered Hamill.

In the light heavyweight division, Bones reigns supreme.  He's like a Kenyan marathoner who has broken away from the pack.  If they ever fight, he will spank Rashad as badly as he bludgeoned Shogun.  He might have trouble with Machida and has to stay away from a Rampage haymaker.  Other than that JBJ looks like a lock for the time being.

The remaining fights on the 130 card are even less interesting.  Stann will probably drop Santiago, which means the All American may one day get the opportunity to be embarrassed by Spider.  Alves will outmatch Story, which means diddly.  And Torres vs. Johnson zzzzzzzzzzzzzz... pardon my drool.

Did I mention that I'll be glued to the television nonetheless?  Yes, I am shameless.

Pound-for-Pound Mortals

First Chael Sonnen bludgeoned UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva for four and a half rounds.

Now pound-for-pound greats Jose Aldo and George St. Pierre both have been shown to be less than gods.  And, if there is one thing that the two five-round title fights at UFC 129 demonstrated, it is that every fighter has his vulnerabilities.

In fact, in the featherweight championship, challenger Mark Hominick nearly finished Aldo in the final round with a ferocious ground-and-pound.  Aldo looked almost too exhausted to lift his arms to defend himself.  All three judges, it seems, scored that final round 10 to 8 in favor of Hominick.  (Note: Bruce Buffer announced one of the judges scores as 50 to 43 in favor of Aldo.  Reportedly, this was a clerical error.  That judge actually score it 48 to 45.)  Yes, Aldo was clearly the winner.  And, yes, Aldo repeatedly knocked Hominick down with an assortment of vicious strikes.  But the champion looked gassed as early as the second round and, at least this night, conditioning was his kryptonite.

GSP, too, looked far less than stellar in his title defense.  In an entirely stand-up fight, he lost a round (some would say two rounds) to a very mediocre striker in Jake Shields.  Other than a head kick that briefly jolted Shields, the champion's striking was so-so at best.  He offered mostly ineffective jabs, wild overhand rights, and a few harmless spinning back kicks.  Moreover, GSP was so intimidated by Shields' grappling that he only took the challenger to the ground twice, somewhat reluctantly, inflicting no damage.  After 25 minutes, it was GSP who was bloodied and half-blind.  This should have highly-ranked welterweights like Jon Fitch, Thiago Alves, and Carlos Condit licking their lips.

Anderson, Aldo and St. Pierre can be beaten.  That much is clear.  So now, it seems that just one man stands, unchallenged, atop the pound-for-pound pedestal: Jon "Bones" Jones.  As Dana White said, Jones looks like "he's a mile ahead of everybody else."  But the 205-pound division is not full of slouches and one of them, Lyoto Machida, sent a frightening message to Jones on Saturday night by knocking Randy Couture (and his front tooth) into retirement with a brutal flying front kick.

Go Horse!

Where does Fabricio Werdum belong?


Fabricio's name is rarely mentioned among the top five in the heavyweight division.  And, surely, some question whether he deserves a spot in the top ten.  Why?  Well, he is not a intimidating striker nor a formidable wrestler.  And he was let go by the UFC after Junior Dos Santos knocked him out.


However, let's take an objective look at Werdum's record.  He is 14 and 4, with victories over Alistair Overeem, Fedor Emelianenko, and Bigfoot Silva.  All three of those men are top ten heavyweights, if not top five.  Fabricio has also bested Gabriel Gonzaga twice, Mike Kyle and Brandon Vera.  Also, keep in mind that, of his 14 victories, 12 have come via submission or TKO.  Those, my friends, are damn good stats.

Yes, JDS knocked Werdum into the next dimension when they met at UFC 90.  But that is the ONLY time that Werdum has been KO'd.  His other three losses came via decisions.


Fabricio is arguably the most highly-skilled grappler among the big boys.  He is a two-time world champion in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and two-time champion of the prestigious Abu Dhabi World Submission Wrestling Championships.  And, in recent years, Werdum's muy thai has improved notably.  Lately, in fact, he has been training at King's MMA with Anderson Silva.


In the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix, Werdum is a dark horse.  Almost nobody expects him to win it, much less get past Overeem in their upcoming title fight.  However, "Vai Cavalo" has shown us that he deserves to be in the position he is in.  And, if Alistair is not extremely careful, he'll find himself red-faced and tapping, just like Fedor.

GSP Loses... Then What?

I guess we have to consider this option.  Cesar Gracie Academy is en fuego.  Strikeforce champions Nick Diaz and Gilbert Melendez delivered dominant performances in defending their belts this last weekend.  If their teammate Jake Shields demonstrates similar tenacity against GSP, then we may crown a new welterweight champion in the UFC.

So, on April 30, if Shields walks away with the strap, what happens in that division?  Some options:

• GSP GETS AN IMMEDIATE REMATCH:  To be honest, unless Shields absolutely destroys St. Pierre, this is the most fair option.  One loss should not drop GSP more than one rung on the welterweight ladder.  
• A NEW CONTENDER EMERGES:  Many fans, myself included, want to see something more dynamic happen in the division.  Another option would be to give a top contender -- Jon Fitch, Dong Hyun Kim, or Carlos Condit -- a shot at the belt.  Though none of them are necessarily better than GSP, this course of action would bring some spice to the UFC.
• NON-TITLE FIGHTS FOR GSP: It could be interesting and controversial to force GSP to climb his way back to the top by taking fights with guys like Nick Diaz or Jon Fitch or Anthony Johnson.  None of these would be a walk in the park for GSP.  And, if he were to regain the belt, it would be all the more meaningful.

So, yes, no matter what happens, if Shields wins the belt, GSP is still top two in the welterweight world.  However, if Dana White wants to keep the promotion compelling and keep MMA fans on their toes, he should consider various courses of action.

Nick Diaz Deserves a Shot at GSP

I have never been a fan of the Diaz brothers.  I never considered them to be top-five talents, and, even though Nick is the Strikeforce welterweight champion, I figured he'd be a bust in the UFC.  Why?  Because he is not particularly big, nor fast, nor powerful, nor freakishly skilled in striking or grapplilng.

But his knock out victory over Paul Daley last night demonstrated that he is, indeed, one of best welterweights in any organization.  And, the only next step that makes sense for Diaz is to move into the UFC and take on GSP.  After Daley, there is no one in Strikeforce that deserves to get in the cage with Nick Diaz.

Many consider Paul Daley to be the most devastating 170-pound striker in the world.  He showed that recently by knocking the stuffing out of another feared striker in Scott Smith.  But that did not faze Nick Diaz in the least.  In fact, from the moment the fight started, Diaz came forward with his chin out and his hands down, taunting Daley to unleash.  And, in perhaps the most exciting round of fighting this year, they both threw leather -- and lots of it.

Diaz did not try to take the fight to the ground.  He did not back down.  And, even after Daley hurt him, he came forward aggressively.  When the dust settled, Daley was on his back and seeing stars and Diaz had successfully defended his belt for the third straight time.  Simply put, Diaz is a pure badass.

Diaz deserves big bucks and big opportunities, not just because he is the champion, but because he is one of the most exciting fighters in the business.  And, most importantly, he is a finisher.  If GSP gets past Shields, Diaz -- not Condit, not Rumble, not Fitch -- deserves the next shot.

Middleweight Mash-Up

Anderson Silva kicked Vitor Belfort in the face, and with that put to bed any doubt about who the best middleweight in the world is.  Unless GSP moves up a weight class to take on the Spider in a superfight, there may not be a significant challenger to the UFC middleweight for a while.  However, at the same time, the middleweight is currently a breeding ground for some potentially epic match-ups that could result in ballistic knockouts.

The next notable middleweight clash will be between Wanderlei "Axe Murderer" Silva and Chris "Crippler" Leben at UFC 132.  And, although this will likely end in a bloody stoppage or KO, this is only the tip of the iceberg in the division.

• Brian Stann v. Michael Bisping: The "All American" against the British badboy.  Both are well-rounded fighters.  Both can end fights with their fists.  Both are hungry and on the rise.   Now that Bisping has crushed Rivera and Stann made minced-meat of Leben, they are on a collision course.
• Yushin Okami v. Vitor Belfort: Okami may be next in line for a shot at Anderson's belt.  However, talk of the GSP-Silva superfight has overshadowed Okami's rise.  A thrilling pit stop on his way to the championship would be a roll with the Phenom.  Okami has only been stopped once in his life, way back in 2003.  If anyone is up to the task, it is Vitor who has perhaps the fiercest fists in the division.
• Nate Marquardt v. Mark Munoz: Munoz is riding high after his first-round knockout of C.B. Dolloway.  Marquardt rebounded from his loss to Okami with a dominant decision over Dan Miller.  Both of these guys can end fights in a hurry.  Marquardt has stopped Rousimar Palhares, Demian Maia and Martin Kampmann.  Munoz proved the same against Dolloway and Kendall Grove in recent fights.

Unfortunately, there aren't many big fights that haven't already taken place in the Strikeforce middleweight division.  We've see an exhaustive round robin of battles among Jacare Lawler, Robbie Lawler, Renato Sobral, Mayhem, Shields, and even Hendo.  But the UFC is ripe and ready.

Do or Die for The Dragon?

I never thought I'd say it, but UFC 129 will be a "must-win" fight for Lyoto Machida, who will be facing off against one of the toughest light heavyweights of all time in Randy Couture.  With another loss, Machida, who was has dropped his last two fights, might be relegated to second tier in the light heavyweight division, alongside non-contenders like Forrest Griffin, Stephan Bonner, and Rich Franklin.

It wasn't always like this, of course.  After watching The Dragon obliterate both Thiago Silva and Rashad Evans, Joe Rogan declared the beginning of the "Machida Era."  Indeed, Machida seemed untouchable -- literally.  He was one of the most evasive fighters in the history of the sport, using his karate expertise to attack from just outside the range of most mortals.

But the Machida Era quickly came to a close with a controversial title defense and then KO loss to Shogun.  And, although some would contend that he deserved the decision in his fight against Rampage on November 20, 2010, Machida did not send the message that his fans had hoped he would send.

As of April 6, 2011, Machida (-500) is a strong favorite over Couture (+300).  In fact, this is the same line that Bodog is giving to GSP (-500) versus Shields (+300), which seems to be a more lopsided fight.  However, one can NEVER count out The Natural.  Especially if Couture can take Machida to the mat -- which is likely -- an upset could be in the making.  So, although my loyalty is with The Dragon, smart money takes the line on Couture.

Where does Machida go from UFC 129?  If he wins, put him back in the queue for a shot at the belt; line him up against the skyrocketing Phil Davis or, perhaps, the loser of Jones-Evans.  But, if Machida drops a third straight... well, that's a bridge he definitely does not want to cross.

Tainting the MMA Bloodline

Why, Chael?  Why?


Chael Sonnen can't stay out of trouble.  First, he had elevated testosterone levels after the Silva fight.  Then he plead guilty to money laundering related to a 2006 real estate deal.


If he was on the level, Chael might become one of the greatest fighters in the business.  He's a 2-time National Champion wrestler at the University of Oregon, and the only man to put a beatdown on Spider Silva.  But at this point, I would prefer that he not represent the UFC or Strikeforce for that matter.

Twice now, Chael has shown himself to be of questionable scruples: once in fighting and once in his outside business.  The last thing MMA needs is a target for its critics -- especially for those critics who focus on the ethics of the sport.


This, of course, goes the same for Thiago Silva.  The guy cheated, covered it up, and, once he was exposed, admitted to it.  In doing so, he defeated a fighter -- Brandon Vera -- who was trying to stage a career comeback.  Had Silva gone undetected, it wouldn't have only been Vera's nose that got smashed, it would have been his livelihood and ambitions.  


At the minimum, the UFC should levy heavy suspensions on cheaters: perhaps a 2-year suspension and fine.  And, in fact, I wouldn't be wholly opposed to permanent competition bans.


If we let admitted cheaters compete at the highest levels, then MMA is going to suffer the same loss of faith that Major League Baseball has experienced with steroid scandals involving Mark McGuire and Roger Clemons.  At this point, who can admire any new record or amazing statistical achievement in baseball?  The juice is just too widespread.


MMA is the purest of athletics: man versus man, with nothing but their own physical power, intelligence, and desire at their disposal.  If we allow just a drop of artificial substances to taint the MMA bloodline, then the sport as a whole is in trouble.

Target: Edgar

The lightweight division presents a conundrum.  Although it may be MMA's deepest talent pool, the UFC's champion -- Frankie Edgar -- is one of the least dominant strapholders in any division in the last five or so years.  Some might think this position is unfounded, considering his 8 and 1 record and his dismantling of my beloved BJ Penn in two straight title fights.

However, Edgar simply does not finish fights.  He has neither significant striking power nor submission expertise.  What he does is grind down fighters with his wrestling skills and land more strikes with his pure quickness.  Nonetheless, Edgar is a very vulnerable, under-sized lightweight champion and he may soon find himself belt-less and considering a drop to the featherweight division.

The Edgar-Maynard rematch is not particularly riveting.  It has to happen, to settle the score.  However, don't expect either of these guys to find themselves in the top 3 of the division for much longer.  Here's who is in their rearview mirror:

• Dennis Siver: He's built like a fireplug and has the scariest striking in the division.  His spinning back kick has broken many a rib and cumpled several fighters.  And, unexpectedly, when he dominated George Sotiropoulos at UFC 127, the most impressive aspect of his game was his wrestling.  There is no one at 155 pounds that Siver cannot knock out.
• Jim Miller: He knocked out the granite-chinned Kamal Shalorus at UFC 128, making it seven straight victories for the New Jersey native.  Miller is perhaps the most complete grappler in the division.  He is rising swiftly and steadily and is a truly disciplined and studious professional.
• Anthony Pettis: "Showtime" earned his nickname in his last fight against Ben Henderson.  He dominated Henderson and nearly finished the fight with one of the most exciting strikes in the history of MMA.  He ran up the side of the octagon, propelled himself into the air and kicked Henderson squarely in the jaw.  Pettis is tall, fast, unpredictable and he can finish the fight anywhere, anyhow.

Edgar-Maynard 3 cannot come soon enough.  We'll see it at UFC 130 on May 28.  After that, let's give some of these bigger and deadlier fighters a go.

Heavyweight Shuffle

Once this languishing Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix is over, there needs to be a personnel shuffle.  UFC, of course, owns Strikeforce now.  So I think it's time to cherry-pick some of the better heavyweights out of the Strikeforce division and replace them with some of the underachievers in the UFC.

Who should be promoted from Strikeforce to UFC?

• Alistair Overeem: Dana White has not sung his praises.  However, the Demolition Man has been unstoppable since late 2007.  He has obliterated everyone from Paul Buentello to Mark Hunt to Brett Rogers.  His last nine victories have all come via submission, TKO or KO, and he maybe be the most talented all-around martial artists among heavyweights in any promotion.
• Antonio Silva: Bigfoot's performances were inconsistent through 2009.  But since then he has punished Andrei Arlovski and Mike Kyle.  Most importantly, he beat the living shit out of Fedor Emlianenko in February of this year.  His striking, wrestling, and ground-and-pound have all come a long way.  At 6'4'', 265lbs, this guy could do some damage to the UFC's big men.
• Sergei Kharitonov:  He knocked out Alistair Overeem and Andrei Arlovski, and has bested Mike Russow and Fabricio Werdum.  He looked poised and powerful in his domination of Arlovski in the first round of the grand prix.

Who should be demoted from UFC to Strikeforce?

• Frank Mir: He's just not getting it done.  His last fight in September, 2010 was an unispired sham victory over a complacent Mirko Cro Crop, who just got his walking papers from the UFC.  Mir was mercilessly clubbed unconscious by Shane Carwin in their March 2010 meeting.  And he is no longer a real contender for the belt.
• Sean McCorkle:  This guys is as boring as he is big (6'7").  With unimpressive losses in his last two UFC outings, it's time to send him to the minors.

In the aftermath of the WEC and Strikeforce mergers, there is no reason that the UFC should not feature the absolute creme de la creme.  While Cain, Brock, and Shane all belong in the top 5, so do Alistair and Bigfoot.  Mix it up!

Natural Born Killer, Step Up!

Jon Fitch just announced that he was injured in training and can no longer fight BJ Penn in UFC 132.  The details of the injury have not come to light yet, so the implications are unclear.  However, this is a bad predicament both for BJ Penn and the welterweight division.

BJ Penn may be on the verge of retirement.  Although he should be ranked in the top 5 in both the lightweight and welterweight divisions, he does not seem to be an immediate threat to the belt-holders of either division.  There are only a few fights that can make sense for him at this point in his career.  A rematch against Jon Fitch is one of them.

If Fitch can recover in order to fight by August of this year, then my concerns may be moot.  However, if it will be longer than that, then BJ needs to take another fight.  Why?  First, because at age 32 he's not getting any younger.  And, second, because the fans LOVE watching BJ fight.  He is one of the biggest names in UFC history.  It would be a travesty to keep him on the sidelines for much longer.

So, join me in speculating on who the UFC might line up against BJ for UFC 132.

1. Thiago "The Pitbull" Alves: Aside from GSP, he would probably be the most talented striker that BJ has ever faced.  Thiago is vicious and aggressive and has punished almost everyone in the division, including Koscheck and Hughes... but not Fitch or GSP.  This would be a tough fight for BJ.  However, BJ previously dismantled a similar, and perhaps more talented fighter, in Diego Sanchez.
2. Anthony "Rumble" Johnson: Rumble is ready.  He's nowhere near as experienced as The Prodigy.  However, he's multi-dimensional and could be a belt-holder in the not-too-distant future.  What's most daunting, however, is that before cutting weight, he walks around about 40 pounds heavier than Baby J.
3. Carlos "Natural Born Killer" Condit: He's 11 and 1 since 2006, his only defeat coming in a split-decision to Martin Kampmann.  He's a deadly striker, as he showed by clubbing Dan Hardy in the chin for a knockout victory in UFC 120.  And, perhaps most importantly, he is very Fitch-esque.  Big, tall, strong and well-rounded.  Condit, I think, would be the best step-in for UFC 132.  Here's to hoping!

After Shields?

This photo just popped up on the internet.  This is a crew of fighters at Cesar Gracies gym in Pleasant Hill, California.

And look who showed up to work with Jake Shields: Chael Sonnen and Matt Lindland.  Chael was a two-time NCAA champion wrestler at Oregon, and last year did something that no one else has ever done: he gave Anderson Silva a slightly roid-induced beatdown.  Matt Lindland, though past his prime, was the Big Eight wrestling champion for the University of Nebraska in 1993.  He also was a Greco-Roman silver medalist in the 2000 summer Olympics.

Do you think Jake is working on his wrestling a bit?  That was a rhetorical question.

A couple of things stand out in this photo (which is not very high quality, unfortunately):

1. Chael Sonnen (far left) looks humongous, and
2. I have never seen Shields (2nd from left) look so yoked.  He looks like he put on about 10 pounds of muscle since the Kampmann fight.
3. Nate Diaz (center rear) is thuggin out.

Sould GSP look past Shields?  No.

Should we UFC fans look past Shields?  I said "yes" previously.   But it would be AWESOME if Shields makes a fight of it.

After Shields comes Rumble

Should GSP be looking past Jake Shields?  No.
Should we UFC fans be looking past Jake Shields?  Yes.

Shields may be one of the best BJJ fighters in MMA, but he is a rather weak striker.  GSP on the other hand has evolved into one of the sharpest strikers in the game.  If Shields is going to finish GSP, it will be with a submission.  Unfortunately the likelihood of that happening is equivalent to the likelihood that Muammar Gaddafi will invade the United States and convince Barack Obama to surrender unconditionally.

So Shields will have to win the decision if he wants that strap.  Unfortunately, the likelihood of that happening is equivalent to the likelihood that Muammar Gaddafi would win three out of five beauty pageants in competition with Anne Hathaway.

So let's look past Shields.  Who's next for GSP?

- Anderson Silva: The UFC wants it.  The fans want it.  Anderson wants it.  But GSP has shown little interest.  Why?  Because he doesn't want to move up a weight class.  Does that mean he's a pussy?  Of course not.  GSP may be the greatest MMA fighter of all time.  He has a plan, and apparently that plan does not include becoming a middleweight.  Anderson says he would meet at a catchweight (maybe 178lbs?), but this match-up is anything but guaranteed at this point.

- Fitch or BJ: I can't say that either of these ideas excite me at the moment.  GSP has already obliterated both of these men.  And, in February, Fitch and BJ fought to a draw.  The sequel to this fight will be at UFC 132 on July 2.  If there is a decisive victory on either side -- especially if BJ crushes Fitch -- then the winner should again be in line for GSP.  If we see another draw or split decision, then sorry fellas.

- Anthony "Rumble" Johnson:  Sure, Koscheck choked him out.  Sure, he has a hard time making weight.  But this guy could be GSP's kryptonite.  Johnson is HUGE for a welterweight: 6'2" and he walks around over 210 lbs!  He's strong, explosive, multi-dimensional, a good striker.  But most of all, he has wrestling skills that might rival GSP's.  The devil's advocate will say, "But Koscheck had all of those things, and GSP made mince meat out of him."  This is true.  But Koscheck looked beat before he stepped in the ring with GSP.  He did not fight a smart fight.  He allowed GSP to pound him over and over with that left jab.  And once GSP cracked the orbital of Koscheck's right eye early in the second round, it was all over.  Koscheck hung on through all five rounds; yet, for four of those rounds he was checking the clock and more concerned with surviving than competing.

Anthony Johnson is young, ferocious, and evolving.  On Saturday night he dominated Dan Hardy just as completely as GSP did.  So I'm convinced that Rumble is the one guy in the division who might actually be able to bully GSP.  He has the potential to out-wrestle GSP and, with a 2-inch reach advantage, could even knock GSP out.  After all, if GSP has a weakness, it's his chin; Matt Serra KO'd him for god's sake.  What makes GSP extra special, however, is that he let's nobody get anywhere near his chin.

Set it up, Dana: GSP vs. Rumble!

Wrestle-Mania

Check out who is on top of each of the divisions of the UFC:

• Heavyweight:  Champion Cain Velazquez.  Cain was a 2-time All-American wrestler at Arizona State, and the Junior College National Champion before that.  He took the belt from Brock Lesnar, who won the 2000 NCAA National Championship in wrestling.
• Light Heavyweight:  Champion Jon Jones -- High School State Champion and Junior College National Champion wrestler.  Challenger Rashad Evans -- JuCo national Champion and wrestler at Michigan State.  Rising star Phil Davis -- former NCAA national wrestling champion.
• Middleweight: Champion Anderson Silva, perhaps the greatest living MMA fighter.  Anderson, however, was dominated by Chael Sonnen, who was a 2-time National Champion wrestler at the University of Oregon.  This deserves an asterisk, of course, because Chael was slightly juiced.  However, the point is that the only time that the Spider was ever in trouble in a fight in the UFC was when he was pounded by a wrestler.
• Welterweight: Champion GSP, perhaps the best wrestler in all of MMA.  The #2 welterweight is Jon Fitch, who was the captain of the Purdue University wrestling team.
• Lightweight:  Champion Frankie Edgar, a 4-time national qualifier in wrestling while at Clarion University.  He's followed closely by Gray Maynard, who was a two-time Ohio state high school wrestling champion, and placed in the top 10 three times in the NCAA nationals.
• Featherweight: Champion Jose Aldo, a BJJ and Muy Thai specialist.  One of these things is not like the others... one of these things does not belong.
• Bantamweight: Champion Dominick Cruz -- decorated wrestler.  Followed by Joseph Benavidez -- decorated wrestler.  Followed by Urijah Faber -- decorated wrestler.

Need I go on?

The UFC has evolved, and will continue to evolve.  At its outset, during the Royce Gracie era, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu was dominant.  Then strikers like Vitor Belfort and Tank Abbott and Chuck Liddell came to the forefront.  This was followed by the rise of the BJJ/Muy Thai combination in fighters like Shogun Rua and Wanderlei Silva.

However, right now we are in the age of the wrestler.  Why is this the case?  1) Because wrestlers are experts in taking fighters to the ground.  And where do most fights end?  On the ground.  2) Because wrestlers tend to have tremendous endurance.  Perhaps this is a carry-over from their NCAA training regimens.  And 3) Because, like it or not, in today's UFC, all good fighters have BJJ and Boxing or Muy Thai experience -- those are no longer specialties.

These days it does not make sense to get into the octagon without strong wrestling chops.  BJ Penn learned that before his fight with Jon Fitch, and, as a result, wrestled to a draw.  Lil Nog learned this before his fight with Phil Davis, and stifled the NCAA's champion's take-downs for three rounds.

Lyoto, Shogun, Anderson, Hardy and others -- time to round out those wrestling skills a bit.

The Korean Zombie and the Future of the Back Mount in the UFC

On Saturday's UFC Fight Night: Nogeira vs Davis, the first match of the main card stole the show.  More specifically, The Korean Zombie, Chan Sung Jung, shocked the MMA world by submitting Leonard Garcia with a "twister."  And the tap came, no less, with just 1 second left on the 2nd round clock!

This is the first time that someone has successfully employed (or even attempted?) the twister in the 18-year history of the UFC.  Jung initiated this grappling maneuver by first mounting Garcia's back.  He then used his legs to trap Garcia's left leg and clamped on a headlock to wrench Garcia's neck in a clockwise direction.  His spine contorted, Garcia was forced to tap out.  It was a thing of beauty.

This is an important moment in UFC history.  Why?  Because the vast majority of the time that a fighter mounts another fighter's back, he only has two weapons at his disposal: punches to the side of the head or, of course, a rear-naked choke.  However, both of these are predictable and somewhat easy to defend.  Now that the Zombie has shown that the twister is a viable attack, more fighters should incorporate it into their arsenal.  This will increase the unpredictability of the back mount and lead to more exciting submissions.

Had BJ Penn been proficient in the twister technique, he may have been able to submit John Fitch in the first or second round of their Feb 26 fight.  Twice Penn mounted Fitch's back.  Twice Fitch, quite easily, defended the rear-naked choke and then spun around into Penn's guard.

I hope BJ Penn took note of the Korean Zombie's victory.  Long live the Twister!