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.