Pride 33: 4 MAJOR Upsets & A Wild Night!

Pride 33 Second Coming, tore through Vegas bringing the ailing Pride FC company some much needed success, with a night of amazing fights, and shocking outcomes!

Dan Henderson KO'd Wanderlei Silva with a brutal left hand, to become the first ever, two weight-class, simultaneous, Champion! Silva seemed cautious and unfocused, as Dan was the aggressor, easily winning the first 2 rounds. Then, in the 3rd, the brutal left came in to emphatically end the night. Dan lost all his front teeth in the fight, but still got the win. Silva came in with a high temperature, and strep-throat, which may have led to his passiveness, but you must credit Dan for a smart fight, and a great finish. Dan is now the Welterweight, and Middleweight Champion, while Silva's 6 year reign, is now over!

Nick Diaz shocked everyone, after getting overwhelmed early on in the fight, and getting dropped to the canvas in the 1st, to recover, dominate Gomi, and then tap him out with the rare submission, the GoGoplata! Gomi threw all he had at Diaz early, and had Diablo on the ropes. But for all the punishment he took (including a huge gash under his right eye), Gomi seemed to tire badly, and Diaz began to come on strong. In the 2nd, Gomi had nothing left, and with the crowd roaring Nick's name behind him, Gomi desperately took Nick to the ground, only to be caught in a tight GoGoplata, from which he could not escape!

Shogun didn't take long to KO Overeem in their rematch. Rua pushed the pace (as always), and Alistair had no answers. From his back, Alistair tried to defend himself, but Shogun came through with a straight punch that KO'd Overeem, and sent his mouth guard flying. Shogun has got to be a #1 contender now. Especially since....

Sokoudjou KO'd Lil' Nogueira in one punch! Granted, he wasn't even looking when he threw it, and connected with his wrist more than his hand, but a KO win is a win none the less. Sokoudjou has been training with Team Quest, and didn't need to showcase his new skills, just the power in his left wrist. Antonio was left asking what happened?

Sergei Kharitonov got back on track with an armbar submission win over Michael Russow. Curious that Mikey claimed he never tapped out, but in the replay you could see him repeatedly tapping.

Mach Sakurai probably scored the prettiest KO of the night on Mac Danzig. Mac was just over matched here, and Mach worked until he finished his opponent in the 2nd. Gomi had better have eyes in the back of his head, every contender near him is winning, and winning strong.

Speaking of Gomi contenders, Hellboy Hansen got a unanimous decision win over the very tough Jason Ireland in a very tough affair. Hellboy really dominated the game, but damn if Jason can take a beating, and keep on coming. He'll get a contract for sure in Japan, and Hansen puts himself back in the Lightweight title scene.

Frank Trigg defeated the lackluster Misaki by decision. Trigg easily won all three rounds with takedowns, and overall control. This only helps to prove my thoughts, that Misaki is overrated, and most guys in the division will beat him. The Grand Prix tournament was a gift, and a healthy Denis Kang is waiting in the wings for revenge.

James Lee came out and surprised Travis Wiuff with a guillotine win in only 39 seconds. Travis, you should be embarrassed, and Lee, welcome to MMA.

And so, what have we all learned here. Takanori Gomi shouldn't be the Lightweight Champ, now for the 2nd time. This crap of not having Champs defend the belt in Pride, has got to stop. Gomi lost to Marcus Aurelio (which he later avenged by split decision), and now Nick Diaz, without losing his strap. This makes the title a joke, and Gomi a protected company man, in the eyes of the fans. Nick, congrats on a sure contract with Pride FC, where he has always wanted to compete, and the Fight of the Year (so far). Anyone else think Mach Sakurai could beat Gomi this time around, hmmmm?

Um, Silva, we love you, and you are a legendary warrior, but take some time off. The guy fights too much, and it has taken a toll on his body. Thank you also, for not using your illness as an excuse for your loss (he never mentioned it, it was revealed after the fight by Pride doctors), but damn it, don't be so proud that you can't cancel a fight when you are not at 100%. Dan Henderson has now done what no other man has done in MMA, but everyone is coming for him, and now in 2 weight classes! The Middleweight title shot was to go to Lil Nog, but after his loss, it will probably be given to Shogun. Wanderlei even said after the fight, it was now Shogun's time, and that he would step aside and let Shogun have his time with the title. This fight has to happen. Oh and Dan, don't forget Paulo Filho and Denis Kang will be back from injuries soon, and want a shot at that Welterweight title.

Sergei Kharitonov is back in the Heavyweight scene, if nothing else, than for something different besides the normal players competing to get beaten by Fedor (Nogueira, Barnett, Hunt, Fujita, ect.). Can't wait to see how good Sokoudjou can be, and Frank Trigg, has he found new life in the Welterweight division?

Pride 33 was a great event, and successful because it had amazing fights that will be talked about for some time, and a crowd that was loud, and into the action for the entire show. Great night, and UFC, Pride FC ain't dead yet, bitches!

UFC UK Style

The upcoming UFC show in England, is shaping up to be a stellar card. Just added, Fabricio Werdum has signed in the UFC from Pride! This is a big signing, as Werdum has established himself as a legit Top Ten Heavyweight fighter. His 1st task is no joke, as he will step in against former Champ, Andrei Arlovksi, in a test to see where Arlovski is going in his career, and how Werdum will fit into the UFC scene. Werdum is a Brazilian Black Belt, who has trained with Mirko Cro Cop, so he should be well prepared for the accurate, powerful strikes, of Arlovski. The question may be, can Arlovski handle himself on the ground with Werdum?

Speaking of Mirko Cro Cop, he will make his 2nd UFC appearance in the UK, against Gabriel Gonzaga, for the right to become #1 contender for the Heavyweight title! Gonzaga is another Brazilian Ju Jitsu specialist, who was already supposed to be the #1 contender, until Dana White realized how much money he could make if Randy Couture came out of retirement to face Champ Tim Sylvia. At any rate, this will be a true test for Cro Cop, against a man well versed in his weakness, the ground and submissions game. Much like Arlovski/Werdum, it will be power striker vs submission guru, for a future title shot!

Also, hometown hero, Michael Bisping will face gatekeeper, Elvis Sinosic, in a guaranteed slugfest, that will please the crowd with an exciting Bisping win (much like they did with Griffin vs Sinosic).

Oh and about Mr. Forrest Griffin, he will face rising and undefeated star, Ryoto Machida as well. Forrest is coming off his devastating loss to Keith Jardine (soon to face Chuck Liddell for the Light Heavyweight Title), while Machida just dominated Sam Hoger (soon to be looking for work). Forrest will need the win for confidence more than anything, and Machida will love to strike punch for punch with him.

Tito Ortiz will probably fight on the card as well bringing his circus whore and big mouth wherever he goes, as will returning Cheick Kongo, who needs a win after his pathetic loss to a nobody. This is looking like the best UFC card in years, and is only going to get better. Stay tuned, as Dana White claims more Pride FC fighters are coming soon!

Pride FC 33 Second Coming (To America)

Middleweight Champion "The Axe Murderer" Wanderlei Silva 31-6-1 vs Welterweight Champion "Hollywood" Dan Henderson 21-5 (Rematch) Accolades aside, this fight is for the Middleweight belt. In the first contest, both men threw hard, and sustained a lot of damage. I expect more of the same. Dan will try to keep this fight on the mat as much as possible, but keeping Silva down will be difficult to say the least. Bombs will be thrown, cardio will be tested. It goes to decision, and Wanderlei retains the crown.
WINNER-Wanderlei by decision

Lightweight Champion "Fireball Kid" Takanori Gomi 27-3 vs Nick "Diablo" Diaz 14-6 If Diaz can make the weight, he will be very skinny, and in a new, lighter, world. I'm not sure Diaz is built for this weight class, and Gomi is. Gomi's title is not on the line, but there is a lot of interest in this fight none the less. Nick promised he is coming for the KO, but we'll see after they trade for a while. Diaz has a huge advantage on the ground, but I can see his ego keeping the fight on the feet. If that happens, it'll be a easy night for Gomi. I see this as being a very close fight, but one Gomi finds a way to win.
WINNER-Gomi by decision

Jason Lee 0-0 vs Travis "Prounounced View" Wiuff 42-9 Lee is a last second replacement for Nak, who got hurt. Lee has either zero, or little experience, almost zero notice to train, and is up against a behemoth veteran. You make the call.
WINNER-Wiuff by G&P

Hayato "Mach" Sakaurai 29-7-2 vs Mac Danzig 16-3-1 This could be a real interesting match, with a great ground battle. That being said, Mach has done this at a much higher level, for a much longer time.
WINNER-Sakurai by decision

Kazuo "Grabaka Hitman" Misaki (2006 Welterweight Open Champion) vs Frank "Twinkle Toes" Trigg (ICON Middleweight Champion) 14-5 Misaki is a frustrating fighter, but doesn't really excel at anything except being tough. Frank has all the tools and with this is a fight he should win. We'll see which Frank shows up.
WINNER-Trigg by TKO

"Shogun" Rua 15-2 vs Alistair "Demolition Man" Overeem 24-9 (Rematch) I don't see this match playing out much differently than the first. Shogun just has more game than Overeem. Rua has better stamina, striking, and possibly submissions.
WINNER-Shogun by TKO

Antonio Rogerio "Lil Nog" Nogueira 12-2 vs Sokoud Jou 2-1 Jou is who? Heh, that rhymes. This is a nice warm up for Nog, who will get a title shot against the Middleweight Champ next.
WINNER-Nogueira by submission

Joachim "Hellboy" Hansen 14-5-1 vs Jason Ireland 16-6-1 Hansen is frustrated from recent losses and bad performances, and should walk through the gritty Ireland. Hansen is just better, as long as he can abide by the rules.
WINNER-Hansen

Sergei Kharitonov 13-3 vs Michael Russow 3-0 In this heavyweight battle, Kharitonov is coming off two consecutive losses, and lowered expectations. He was once a future #1 contender, and now is trying to work his way back in. Russow is a new fighter, and he brings ground skills to the fight. Sergei must have this win, and I think he'll get it. He has so much promise, a nice skill set, and more experience at the highest level.
WINNER-Kharitonov by TKO

Irish Micky Ward The Movie

"Irish" Micky Ward 38-13, legendary boxer from Massachusetts, is getting a movie based upon his life. The movie, due to start shooting in summer, will star Mark Walberg and Matt Damon.

Micky Ward is known for his unbelievable blue collar toughness, and as a working class hero. After a losing streak in the 1990's, Ward returned in 1994, winning 9 straight fights, and gaining fame during his trilogy of fights against Arturo Gatti. His bout against Emanuel Augustus, was Ring Magazine's "Fight Of The Year" 2001, and he again won "Fight Of The Year" in 2002, for his first bout with Gatti. Round 9 of Ward/Gatti I is known as the "Round Of The Century!"

Micky won the first bout with Gatti, and then lost the rematch, though he broke his right hand during the fight, and continued to punch with it. The second bout was a lopsided affair, and many felt the fight should've been stopped, because of all the punishment "Irish" was taking. In the third and final fight, Ward dropped Gatt in the sixth round, but went on to lose a tough decision. He would again, take "Fight Of The Year" 2003, putting him in company with Rocky Marciano and Muhammad Ali, who also won the prestigious award three times. Afterwards, Micky would retire, for good, from boxing, leaving a legendary career, and many fans forever grateful. Massachusetts punk band Dropkick Murphy's, wrote a song called "Warrior's Code," about Ward, named the album after it, and put him on the cover in honor of his achievements.

The movie will be called "The Fighter" from Paramount pictures. Walberg will play Micky, while Damon will play his troubled brother Dicky.

Cage Rage News & Notes

At the Cage Rage show this weekend, we may have witnessed the return, of one of MMA's most popular, and biggest, fighters! But 1st....

Mustafa Al Turk, got a big name win, by defeating Mark Kerr, by TKO in round one. Kerr missed a high kick, and slipped to the canvas, where Al Turk jumped on him, and pounded him until Kerr tapped out. A big step forward for the 4-2 Turk, while the decline of Kerr continues. Kerr, a former dominating force in MMA, how now lost 6 of his last 7 fights. The past drug use and personal problems seemed behind him for this fight, as Kerr looked great, back up to 275lbs. Though he physically looked ready, perhaps Kerr just cannot get his mind back into the game.

Butterbean KO'd James Thompson in only 43 seconds into their fight. One has to wonder why these MMA fighters continue to try and stand with the Bean. The guy has no neck, and granite head, and absolute power in his chubby little arms. Simply taking this behemoth to the ground, as Genki Sudo (155lbs.) did, seems to guarantee you the win. Yet these guys try to punch with him, and continue to get KO'd. Oh well.

Dave Legeno beat the 85 year old Dan Severn, and then lost his mind, issuing a challenge, to Bob "The Beast" Sapp, who was in attendance. Sapp then got in the ring and a face to face insued, where Sapp accepted the challenge. Then, Robert Barry, and hometown KO'd boy, James Thompson, jumped in to issue challenges to Sapp as well. The Beast accepted them all, and was escorted away, before an absolute melee broke out.

Pretty funny stuff, and though none of these guys are upper talent Heavy, and Super-Heavyweights, watching Sapp vs Thompson, Legeno, Barry, and possibly Butterbean, would be entertaining. Sapp cannot return to MMA in Cage Rage, fast enough for me! We missed ya Bobbo.

Elite XC Ends In A DQ

In a shocking end to an exciting debut for Elite XC on Showtime, Frank Shamrock was DQ'd after kneeing Renzo Gracie, twice, while he was on the ground! Renzo was attended to by ringside doctors, and decided he could not continue after the foul.
Renzo took Frank down early and often in the 1st round, but was hit, repeatedly, with scoring strikes and leg kicks. Once on the ground, Renzo would maneuver for position, while Frank landed a steady stream of knees to the side of Renzo. Renzo took his time, and worked around for control, while Frank continually landed knees and punches. They'd get up, same thing would happen. Not much for Renzo but takedowns, and the round should've been scored 10-9 for Frank, because of strikes, aggressiveness, and continual work.

In the 2nd round, it was more of the same, until, with Renzo again on top in side mount, Frank landed a knee to the head, and then another (which is illegal, because Renzo is considered a down opponent), and was warned he would lose a point by ref Herb Dean. Then, Renzo slumped and seemed injured. Herb Dean halted the action as the medics would look at the ailing Gracie. A neck brace was even placed upon the neck of Renzo, though he would leave the ring by his own power.

With that, the fight was stopped, and only then, was Frank disqualified for the knees. NOW, the knees were illegal, there is no doubt of that, but were they powerful and damaging enough to stop a fighter, who never even winced when Sakuraba broke his arm in a past fight? It seemed suspect at best. Renzo went to the hospital and claimed he was vomiting, dizzy, and had a concussion. Frank claimed Renzo was faking because he wanted out of the fight. Renzo believes Frank committed the fouls on purpose, because Frank wanted out of the fight.

A nice little debacle here to kick off the 1st Elite XC event. In my opinion, Renzo was faking, but Frank willingly broke the rules. Both men should be ashamed of this fight, and though both claim they want a rematch, why would we want to see it? It was a joke which was completely unprofessional by both fighters, who claim to have so much respect for each other, and the sport of MMA.

On to some actually decent fights....

Joey Villansenor got of the snide, with a dominating unanimous decision over David Loiseau. Whether on the feet, or the ground, Joey dominated the fight, and even used elbows successfully, which is David's most potent weapon. Big win for Joey, and Loiseau must rethink his career.

Gina Carano proved she is more than just a beautiful woman, by defeating the tough, and game Julie Kedzie. Gina dominated the fight, but damned if Julie wouldn't go down, and just kept coming and coming. This was the fight of the night, and had the fans on their feet. Much, much better than the main event, this is a fight Elite XC can be proud of.

Krazy Horse just can't be counted out, when someone wants to trade with him. Charles just plain leveled KJ Noons, in a dramatic KO, showing his triumphant return to MMA from jail, and a drug problem. Krazy Horse is back!

"Bigfoot" Antonio Silva dominated Cabbage in a Super-Heavyweight match, getting the brutal TKO win in the 1st round.

Some really good fights here, except for the Main Event, and how nice is the option of watching the undercard fights, for free, on Showtime's website? This companies 1st show looked really good, and the potential here, is really high. Also it should be noted, Brandon "The Truth" Vera was at the event, and the rumor is he will sign with Elite XC, after his last remaining fight with the UFC is finished. The UFC reportedly offered Vera, $200,000 a fight, which Vera's people laughed at. He must be getting some big offers from XC, cause those numbers are very good for a young fighter. Joey Villasenor may face newly signed Murilo "Ninja" Rua soon, and look for Krazy Horse to become a popular star.

Showtime Presents: Elite XC

Televised Card

Frank Shamrock 21-7-1 vs Renzo Gracie 12-6-1 Renzo is the most active of the Gracie's in modern MMA, and has always taken on the toughest of opponents. That being said, he is 40 years old, and besides Oleg Taktarov, he has lost to upper tier talent. Frank is making his 2nd return, since his 21 second win over Cesar Gracie, who isn't a capable opponent. Frank is always in the best of shape, and Renzo is coming off a controversial win over Carlos Newton, so he is in shape as well. Frank should overwhelm Renzo with his superior conditioning, and brutal striking. Renzo's only chance is on the ground (and ground action in Elite XC is limited to 15 seconds without significant advancement), and Frank can get up easily, by powering his way out.
WINNER-Frank Shamrock by TKO

David "The Crow" Loiseau 14-6 vs Joey Villasenor 22-5 The most interesting fight on the card, features two fighters who are hungry, and desperate for a win. Joey is more well rounded, while The Crow loves to strike with his viciously fast elbows, on the feet. Probably the fight of the night, should feature a lot of action, and the last one standing wins. I like Loiseau, who has fought better opponents, and has learned after his inactive fight with Swick, to push the pace, and no longer be gun shy.
WINNER-Loiseau by decision

Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva 7-1 vs "Cabbage" Correira 18-11 Let the big guys go to battle. Cabbage is a concrete headed hawaiian striker, who is coming off a bad streak, winning 1 of his last 4 fights. Cabbage has absolute thunder in his hands, and is very hard to KO. Bigfoot (change his nickname back to Junior) has a huge reach advantage, standing 6'4, 300lbs., over the stumpy Cabbage. Silva did show a chin issue, being dropped in his only loss to Pele, so this could easily be a puncher's fight. I look for Silva, who has much more ground game than Cabbage, to take the fight to the ground, for a G&P, or submission, win.
WINNER-Bigfoot (stupid name) by submission

Gina "Conviction" Carano 3-1 vs Julie Kedzie 6-4 Ladies, can't we put the fighting aside, and just have you two make out? Sorry, I am trying to take women's MMA seriously, and both these ladies are talented. Carano has a lot of reach on Kedzie, and seemingly, more skill standing and on the ground. I going to continue to contemplate this fight scientifically, and pick the hotter woman.
WINNER-Carano by decision

"Krazy Horse" Charles Bennett 15-13-2 vs K.J. Noons 4-1 Noons is returning to MMA after focusing on boxing for a while. Krazy Horse is just out of prison, crazy as always, and completely unpredictable. A careful KJ, should out strike, and out smart Bennett, but those winging hooks from Charles have KO'd many a fighter. But I think you go with the guy who trains, and not the one who is coming off drugs.
WINNER-Noons by TKO

Prelims (streamed live, For Free, on Showtime's website)

Javier "Showtime" Vazquez 10-2 vs Adriano "Nasal" Pereira 4-1 Javier is the flashy Cesar Gracie trained fighter, who loves pink, and loves action. Adriano is an inexperienced submission fighter, who wants the fight to go to the ground. The winner is the one who establishes their will.
WINNER-Showtime

Mike "Quicksand" Pyle 12-4-1 vs Ross "The Boss" Ebanez 14-4 Pyle is the highly touted ju jitsu fighter, while Ross is a stand up fighter who trains with BJ Penn. I go ground.
WINNER-Pyle

John Shackleford 1-2 vs James Edson Berto 9-3-1 John has little experience, and few wins. James likes to stand and has more experience. Not a compelling fight.
WINNER-Berto by decision

Bo "Redrum" Cantrell 10-6 vs Tim Persey 5-1 Cantrell, bomb thrower with some submissions, Persey is fat, but throws KO's, and has some submissions. Yawn, let the fat guys punch, for at least 30 seconds.
WINNER-The least fat heavyweight

Riki Fukuda 6-2 vs Seth "Doctor" Kleinbeck 6-3 I'll take the guy who trains with Yamamoto.
WINNER-Fukuda

Do You Know Gina Carano?

Do you know who Gina Carano is? Yes, she is obviously a smokin' hot babe, dressed in MMA gear, but she is more than that. She is an actual MMA fighter! Gina "Conviction" Carano, 3-0 in MMA, 12-2-1 in kickboxing, is going to fight on this weekends inaugural Showtime MMA show, Elite XC. She will be facing the very capable, and more experienced, Julie Kedzie.

Gina was featured recently on MSNBC's documentary, Warrior Nation. There they chronicled the rise of Mrs. Carano through the ranks of MMA, trying to establish herself as a legitimate fighter. The lady can kick like Cro Cop, and throws down with the best of them. Not just a gorgeous face, this woman knows how to fight. For those who have not yet seen women competing in MMA, check it out, and keep an open mind. These women (Carano & Kedzie) have real talent, and their bouts are usually non-stop action and excitement.

Drooling over her is natural, but respect the skills she possesses, and what she is trying to do, to establish women in MMA.

UFC All Or Nothing Results

Well that sure was an interesting evening of early stops, flagrant fouls, and all around bad refereeing.

Anderson Silva defeated Travis Lutter in a non-title match, because Lutter could not make the weight. After a fine, the match went on as a 3 round affair. Travis was able to take Silva down at will, but Anderson seemed able to get up fairly easily, and actually scored more from his guard. Lutter's massive weight dump (around 20 pounds) caused him to get tired and sloppy early. Silva got up after a takedown toward the end of the 1st, and Lutter refused to get off the canvas, instead just laying there until time ran out as the boo's rained down. In the 2nd, Lutter again took Silva down easily. This time, Silva struck well with his long legs, and after catching Lutter with a nice kick, Travis fell into a triangle choke. Though the hold was a little off the mark, Silva's long legs were able to cinch the hold in very tight. Lutter struggled to get away, but when Silva began striking with elbows, Travis tapped out.

Now the rub here, is that Silva's elbows were in the illegal downward motion, but Herb Dean did nothing to stop them. Granted, Silva was on his side, but the elbows still came in that illegal motion, and even the announcers couldn't decide if they were legal or not. At any rate, Silva gets the win, and Lutter had a very poor performance, on top of failing to make weight for a title fight, which is inexcusable.

Mirko Cro Cop had little trouble landing strikes with his legs and hands upon Eddie Sanchez. It looked like Eddie was going to stand with Cro Cop at first, but eventually began to run and run from the powerful Croation. Finally, Sanchez fell to the mat, where Mirko got full mount. He began raining down punches, and the ref stepped in to stop the fight. Again controversy, as Sanchez wasn't really hurt, and was moving trying to get out of the position. Still, he was getting hit and the ref felt it was too much to let him continue, though there were only a few seconds left in the round. It probably should've gone to the 2nd round, but I doubt the end would've been different.

Quinton Rampage Jackson also made a successful debut, stopping Marvin Eastman with strikes in the 2nd round. There were some good exchanges, but both men, at times, seemed a little cautious. Still, when the crowd boo'd, it just showed how ignorant the fans in attendance really are. A good fight really, and Rampage admitted after, that he was extremely nervous, and promised to do better next time. No apology necessary Rampage.

Patrick Cote got the unanimous decision over Scott Smith in a listless affair. It was a slow paced fight, where Cote was content to strike and move, making sure he won the rounds, though not the approval of the once again booing fans. When he did rock Smith badly, he did not follow up, but easily won every round. Give the guy a break, he was 0-4 in the UFC (& the judges screwed him in the Leben decision), and had to have the win.

Roger Huerta made quick work of John Halverson stopping him with strikes and a TKO win in the 1st. Despite the announcers thinking it was from an illegal knee, the knee landed, legally, right under the left peck of John, causing the damage. Then, Huerta mounted him and unloaded on the unanswering fighter. Legit TKO win.

Terry Martin KO'd Jorge Rivera in 14 seconds of their fight! Martin is a force to be reckoned with, if he can make weight, which will be difficult for him. He also called out Mike Swick for a fight, but there is no way they would put this dangerous newcomer up against their popular TUF fighter.

Frank Edgar got the decision win over Tyson Griffin in the fight of the night, with a furious pace, and loads of action. The 1st round was close, but in the 2nd, Tyson began to take over and while lifting Edgar in the air for a slam, Edgar held on to the cage and was warned by the ref. Then, he ignored the continued warnings and held on for what seemed forever. This kept Griffin from being able to possibly finish the fight. Then in the 3rd, Edgar hit Griffin in the groin which obviously hurt him. Griffin pleaded to the ref, but the ref did nothing and allowed the fight to continue! This gave Edgar the advantage, and he dominated the round. Even without the flagrant penalties that were not enforced, I still gave the fight to Griffin. The judge who scored the fight 30-27, every round, for Edgar, should be fired. The ref should be fined as well.

Ryoto Machida stays undefeated, beating Sam Hoger in a unanimous decision.

Dustin Hazelett also got a decision win over Saraiva.

Like I said, an odd night of uncalled fouls and early stoppages. The UFC really needs to get a handle on this growing problem, before it begins to really fuck up the integrity of the sport. Not a great PPV by any stretch of the imagination, but the moronic drunk assholes booing in every fight, need to be removed and killed. Until you have the balls and talent to step into the octagon and fight, you have no right to boo. If you don't like the fight, just shut the fuck up and go get another beer. This is not Ultimate Boxing, so learn the sport, or go back to watching Nascar.

Lindland Succeeds, Lutter Fails

Matt Lindland raised his record to 20-4 with a guillotine submission win over Carlos Newton at the IFL, while the Silverbacks got their 1st ever team loss against the victorious Anaconda's 3-2.

Matt Lindland continues his impressive roll in the world of MMA. Carlos Newton took a lot of punishment from the Law, and was almost stopped by punches, but they clinched up in the 2nd, and Matt took him to the ground again. There, tangled in the ropes, Matt secured the guillotine for another big win!

Bas Rutten's new protege, Chris Horodecki, won a close split-decision over Bart Palaszewski, in an action packed, brutally brilliant match. The 19 year old sensation survived early trouble, and illegal blows from Bart, to come on strong in the end to pull out the victory. Great fight!

• Inexplicably, Travis Lutter lost his title shot before the fight ever began. Travis weighed in at 187 for the title fight that is supposed to be at 185. Though you are allowed a pound over in most cases, for title fights, you must not weigh more than the "limit." Lutter was given 2 hours to make the weight, and only lost half a pound! The match will still happen, but now it will be a non-title affair, and only 3 rounds instead of 5. Lutter who has had trouble making weight in the past, should've come in perfect for a title shot of all things! Now he has lost part of his fight purse, and even if he wins, he should not be rewarded a rematch for the title, since he failed to make weight for the main event of the PPV!

UFC 67 All Or Nothing

Anderson "Spider" Silva 17-4 vs Travis Lutter 12-3: Striking Champ vs grappling challenger. Travis can get Silva to the ground and submit him. I just don't think he'll get the chance. Lutter is a decent fighter who won a title shot from a TV show. Silva is a high caliber athlete who is on a roll destroying people. The lanky Silva will strike and recoil like a snake, allowing for continual punishment and the eventual KO.

WINNER-Silva by KO

Mirko Flipovic "Cro Cop" 21-4-2 vs Eddie "DOA" Sanchez 8-0: Despite the upset embarrassing loss of the debuting Heath Herring, the UFC has nothing to worry about here. Cro Cop will defeat Sanchez, and easily. Sanchez and the world are awaiting the kick of Mirko, but it will be the hands and striking skill, that will put Eddie away. By the by, there will be no pressure in Mirko's mind, and I see Eddie getting rattled by Cro Cop's star power, and punching power.

WINNER-Cro Cop by KO

Quinton "Rampage" Jackson 25-6 vs Marvin "Beastman" Eastman 13-6-1: Another debut for the UFC via the hype machine, only this could be a close fight. Eastman is no joke, and has some real powerful strikes. However, Rampage can do much more on the ground, and his takedowns should concern Marvin more than his famous slams. Look for the focused Rampage to win this via strikes on the floor, though it may come in later rounds.

WINNER-Rampage by TKO

Ryoto "Lyoto" Machida 8-0 vs Sam "Alaskan Assassin" Hoger 6-2: Ryoto has not been impressive lately, but he does have wins over Franklin, Penn, & Bonnar. Hoger is a down and dirty Miletich fighter, who loves to fight on the mat. Ryoto wants to stand. This is my UPSET pick of the night!

WINNER-Sam Hoger by decision

Patrick Cote 9-4 vs "Hands Of Steel" Scott Smith 12-2: Striker's war! Both of these guys are gun slingers who want to stand and trade. Cote has the better striking, but Smith is stronger, and neither has a decent ground game. Cote is 0-4 in the UFC and has to have this fight. Cote could almost taste the Ultimate Fighter crown, but lost in embarrassing fashion, and will be motivated in a major way.

WINNER-Cote by TKO

Roger Huerta 17-1-1 vs John Halverson 13-4: Huerta is being groomed in the Lightweight division. Many people expect big things from this guy, and I don't see Halverson being able to stand in the way. 11 fight win streak for Huerta continues against the tough Halverson.

WINNER-Huerta via decision

Jorge Rivera 14-5 vs Terry Martin 16-2: I like Jorge, but age has caught up to him, he can be slow, and he is going against a tank of a man in Terry Martin. Martin is a lead handed puncher, but if he gets Jorge to the ground, the fight will be over. When Martin comes in shape, there are just too many ways for him to win this fight.

WINNER-Terry Martin by TKO

Tyson Griffin 8-0 vs Frank Edgar 5-0: Do you know who Tyson Griffin is yet? Pay attention, this guy is a future #1 contender for the Lightweight belt.

WINNER-Griffin by submission

Dustin Hazelett 9-3 vs Diego Saraieva 9-3-1: Dustin is a submission fighter who is coming off a loss to Tony DeSouza. Diego is a good ju jitsu man, but he is absolutely tiny! Major reach and size advantage for Dustin.

WINNER-Hazelett by submission

An interesting, if not disappointing, UFC Fight Night. Some big upsets, KO's, and head scratching fights.

Rashaad Evans foung himself losing to relative unknown Sean Salmon after the first round. Sean was able to push the action, and land a few more shots, as well as execute some takedowns. Then in the 2nd, a patient Rashaad waited for an unprotected Salmon to lower his head in an exposing situation, and landed one of the most devastating high kick KO's in recent years. Salmon was on the canvas for quite some time, but is alright, and was released from the hospital the next day. Evans is now 15-0 and improving with every single fight.

The build up to the introduction of Heath Herring to UFC fans, turned out to be a big disappointment. Heath, suffering from a torn mcl, was taken down time after time in the three round bout. Heath initiated all the action from the ground every time, and got up over and over again. Still, the wrestling skill of O'Brien got him the takedown constantly, though once on the ground, Jake did little but the classic lay and pray. The crowd boo'd and the ref did not stand them up very often. Knowing he was behind on the cards, Heath came out as a blitzkrieg in the end, and got his second knockdown of Jake, but Jake would again get the top position on the ground and lay until the unanimous victory. Herring wanted a fight, but lost a wrestling match.

Hermes Franca must have solidified himself as the #1 Lightweight contender, after a brilliant TKO victory over the tough as hell, Spencer Fisher. Franca's wild punching style seemed to confuse Fisher. Franca got takedowns where the action stale mated. Then on the feet again, Franca unloaded a barrage of awkward looping punches, that forced the ref to halt the action and save the battered Fisher.

Nathan Marquardt defeated Dean Lister by decision after a rough and tumble fight. Marquardt seemed to have Lister hurt badly a couple of times, but Dean held on to lose a lopsided decision. Marquardt moves on to be one of the top 3 Middleweights currently in the UFC game.

Din Thomas outlasted an always game Clay Guida in an exciting tough fight. Though more marked up by the fight, Din got the judges decision. Din moves up the Lightweight rankings and continues as a legit title threat.

Ed Herman got back on track with a beautiful submission win over the overweight Chris Price. Price could not make the 185 limit, but Ed chose to fight him anyway.

Rich Clementi defeated Ross Pointon, with guess what, a submission. The gladiator just can't hang with the well rounded MMA guys. Ross we love ya, but maybe boxing is the way to go.

Josh Burkman beat Chad Reiner by decision and nobody cared.

The best Fight Night to date, though I still don't understand why O'Brien was allowed to just lay on top of Herring for three rounds without being stood up, but hey. Franca's the man to beat, Rashaad is getting scary good, Marquardt deserves a title shot, Clay must be brought back, and Ed isn't finished yet. Good fight, and good night.

Rashaad Evans 14-0 vs Sean Salmon 9-1 These guys are very similar in what they bring to the cage. This could easily be a ground war, but I believe both will be looking to be exciting early. Once it gets to the ground, Rashaad is just too explosive and strong. He's the guy who always upsets his opponents, and for once is a favorite to win. Salmon has little experience and should get overwhelmed in the end.

WINNER-Evans by Decision

Heath "Texas Crazy Horse" Herring 26-11-1 vs Jake O'Brien 9-0 Welcome home Heath. Herring has fought over sea's for years against guys named, Fedor & Nogueira. He has much, much more experience, and is chomping at the bit to become a star in his home country. Jake is a really tough wrestler, but just seems to green at this point, and Heath has been working the stand up game and should show vast improvement, where Jake needs a lot of work. The infamous Herring will bring his deadly knee's, only muay style, instead of on the mat which is now illegal. Watch this kid, Herring is going to be a star.

WINNER-Crazy Horse by TKO

Spencer "King" Fisher 20-2 vs Hermes Franca 17-5 Fight of the Night! Both of these guys are absolute studs, and a strong case can be made, that the winner of this fight becomes the #1 contender for Sean Sherk's Lightweight Title. Both men fight fast and hard, though Fisher has the advantage on the feet, while Hermes excels on the mat. The difference maker is this, Hermes likes to trade punches which is a bad idea with the King. It won't be easy for Hermes to get Fisher to the ground, and he can handle himself well there too. Cardio will play a part which also leans toward Fisher. Real close fight, but Fisher edges the victory.

WINNER-Fisher by TKO

Nate Marquardt 27-6-1 vs Dean "Boogeyman" Lister 9-4 Now is the time for Marquardt. Because of a lackluster fight against Salavarry eons ago, he has been held back from a title shot he deserves, far more than most in the Middleweight division. A win over UFC management loved Lister, gets him there. Lister is the king of the ju jitsu game, but Marquardt has fought better men, is much stronger, can strike better, and is a submission machine. Lister is good, but not at this level.

WINNER-Marquardt by decision

Clay Guida 21-3 vs Din Thomas 21-7 Another great lightweight fight! Clay comes the entire fight with a fury that will surprise most opponents. He will need one of his legendary gutsy performances to beat the uber-talented Thomas. Din is slick as they come. Great on the feet, good on the ground, very athletic, and cocky. He'll have to withstand the early barrage, but his talent overcomes the gritty style of Guida. Should be a brutal exciting match.

WINNER-Thomas TKO

Ross "Gladiator" Pointon 4-8 vs Rich "No Love" Clementi 21-6 Yes, Ross is 1-7 in his last 8 fights. Yes, the UFC fed him to Rich because they want to build Clementi up for future shows. Yes, nobody gives Ross a chance in hell of winning his last contracted fight. Well fuck it! I love Ross and the fear absolutely nothing and punch to kill style of the Brit. He's a hilarious genuine guy, and deserves this upset win. It only takes one from Ross, and that one is coming!

WINNER-Ross Pointon by KO

Ed "Short Fuse" Herman 13-4 vs Chris "Exorcist" Price 8-1 Out of the gate in the UFC, Ed is 0-2. Everyone is counting him out, and saying he was a fluke. Well, those people are retarded. Ed is a great athlete and wrestler. He beat Kendall Grove in their fight, but the blind ass judges missed the first two rounds of the fight. Then he got caught by Jason MacDonald. It happens, people get caught. Ed is still star in the making, and is angrier than ever to get that first elusive win. Marine boy Chris showed absolutely nothing in his first match in the UFC, and is outclassed here as well. This fight is a lock guarantee.

WINNER-Herman

Josh Burkman 18-3 vs Chad "Grinder" Reiner 13-1 Josh is a prick and is coming off a big win over tough Josh Neer. Chad is really stepping up in competition here, but he has been impressive. This is a 50/50 fight, where either guy can win. Pick it if you dare.

WINNER-?

This is the best UFC Fight Night card to date, so make sure and watch it!

How Crazy Is Matt Lindland?

THIS CRAZY!

Matt "The Law" Lindland has shocked the MMA world again, this time by stepping in to fight "The Last Emperor," Fedor Emelianenko in Bodog. Jeff Monson was originally scheduled to face the pound for pound best fighter in the world, but could not come to an agreement on contract details. Monson is now planning to return to Cage Rage in the UK, to defend his Heavyweight Championship. Not only has Lindland, a Middleweight (185 lbs.), signed to face Fedor at Heavyweight (206 lbs. & above, + Fedor weighs in around 240 lbs.), he will have a total of 3 fights with Bodog, all at Heavyweight! Matt has never backed down from a challenge, but this looks more like a suicide mission. Lindland will journey into Fedor's homeland of Russia, for the now rescheduled show. First, Lindland will fulfill a contract with the IFL, to fight Carlos Newton.

Matt said, "I don't make a habit of taking fights, I don't feel I can win." This is apparently the exception to the rule as the Law will be a heavy, heavy underdog. Money must've been thrown at Matt in large amounts, and I'm guessing some future incentives. If Matt lives through the fight with Fedor, it will be interesting to see how he does in his next two fights at Heavyweight for Bodog.

Randy Couture Returns

Randy "The Natural" Couture IS coming out of retirement. Randy's big announcement should come Thursday on Inside the UFC on Spike TV. The fight is set to take place March 3rd (1 year & 1 month since Randy "retired"), at UFC 68 in Ohio, against current Heavyweight Champion, Tim Sylvia.

So why you may ask? Cha-ching $$$$$. The UFC is supposedly paying Randy a very hefty sum of money to spice up their Heavyweight division. Couture is a former Heavyweight Champ, but one has to question, whether or not at age 43, he can stand in front of KO artist Sylvia, and if he can take the 6'8 265 pounder to the ground for his only shot at winning. Not to mention, if he does get a takedown, can he hold Tim there long enough to do damage. Randy was also KO'd by Chuck Liddell in his last two fights, and once you get concussions, it becomes much easier and easier to lose that way. In the past, big heavyweights like Josh Barnett and Ricco Rodriguez, were just too much for the Natural, and overpowered him. Now he is attempting to best a man who dwarfs both those men in size.

Obviously, the whole point of thing, is to get people interested in Tim Sylvia, and up the PPV buys. Tim is not exactly beloved by fans, though he has a 16 TKO's to his credit. Tim flipped off the fans after his last fight, when they practically boo'd him out of the arena, for a lackluster bout. It is a win, win, for the UFC. If Tim wins, they build his resume with a victory over a hall of fame legend. If Randy wins, everyone would want to see Randy Couture vs Mirko Cro Cop for mucho dinero!!

Sadly, Gabriel Gonzaga gets screwed along the way by all of this. Napao has amassed a solid 7-1 record, with his only loss coming against top 5 heavyweight in Pride, Fabricio Werdum. Gabe is a BJJ blackbelt, and has finished all 3 of his UFC fights (2 with TKO & 1 with a submission) and was in negotiations for the #1 contender spot, before the whole Randy thing popped up. He falls by the way side, simply because fans don't know who he is. That bothers me because the sport of MMA should be about the top fighters, not who is "popular" and can sell the most PPV's.

At any rate, the Tim Sylvia, Randy Couture thing is going to happen. I only hope Randy doesn't get seriously hurt in this David vs Goliath match up. My gut tells me Tim's big hands are going to drop Randy faster than Chuck did.

2007: The Next Steps In MMA

FIGHTER OF THE YEAR: Mirko "Cro Cop" Flipovic The Croation steamrolled his way through the Pride Grand Prix, and then signed with the UFC, for the largest guaranteed sum ever! Cro Cop dominated Minowa, Yoshida, W.Silva, and Josh Barnett yet again, to win the best tournament in many years. Now coming to America, Mirko looks to kick his way through the weak UFC Heavyweight division, in route to Tim Sylvia's belt. Is Tim too big? Remember what Cro Cop did to Aleksander Emelianenko? Cro Cop should have the belt by the fall, and a lot more fame and fortune.

UFC WEIGHT DIVISIONS

• WELTERWEIGHT WAR: Georges St. Pierre shocked the MMA world, not by beating Matt Hughes, but by absolutely dominating him! Now he must get healthy, and be ready for a busy 2007. The Welterweight division is stacked with contenders like Diego Sanchez, Matt Hughes, Karo Parisyan, and contenders Josh Koscheck, Jon Fitch, Chris Lytle, a returning BJ Penn (later in the year), and of course, his obligation to school TUF 4 winner, Matt Serra. Easily the best division in the UFC, the 170 class is just sick with talent. I love GSP and his "riddum," but keeping the belt all year long is unlikely, with this littnay of challengers.
• CHUCK LIDDEL'S 205 DIVISION: Yes, it is Chuck's division. He has absolutely dominated Randy Couture, Babalu Sobral, and Tito Ortiz this year alone! Tito and Babalu should fight soon (there is much bad blood there after Tito's recent snipes at Babs), but the winner can't get a shot against Liddel since he's beaten both, twice. If Quinton "Rampage" Jackson thinks he is ready, he'll get the #1 spot for sure, since he is the only loss Chuck has yet to avenge. Brandon Vera could deserve a title shot, if he comes down in weight. First, he must decide if he is staying in the UFC. In the contenders area, Mike Bisping works his way in slowly (this guy is for real, and a legit superstar), along with Keith Jardine who upset Forrest. Forrest Griffin is still in the mix, but needs a big win against fellow mid-pack stars like Rashaad Evans (this guy is improving at an alarming rate), and Eric Schafer (granted he just lost, but he has tons of talent, and a will be heard from again). If Chuck does get beat (he is the only Champ who kept his belt all year), Tito and Babalu are right back in, and the weight class is wide open.
• MIDDLEWEIGHT MADNESS: Expect Anderson Silva to beat Travis Lutter, but not Rich Franklin in their forthcoming rematch. Rich got caught at a bad, unhealthy time, but I believe he'll come back with renewed vigor, to reclaim his title. Rich has more tools, and he won't fight stupid again. From there the division is a little murky. Nathan Marquardt is a legit contender, but the UFC doesn't seem to want him to get a title shot. Mike Swick's potential is still unknown, and he must face more top tier talent, before being thrown to the lions in a title match (though Mike thinks he's ready, & the UFC wants him there because he is so marketable and popular). David Terrell is still out there somewhere (I think), but Cote isn't a contender, neither is Leben, Scott Smith, Dean Lister, or Kendall Grove. Yushin Okami has potential, as does Ed Herman (yes, he'll rebound), and Jason MacDonald (though his next fight is a true test against Rich Franklin). Rich Franklin is still the man to watch in this division, where he has a good shot at ending the year with the belt. By the way, is Nate Quarry ever coming back?
• HEAVYWEIGHT HIJINX: Cro Cop the champ, not so fast. Tim Sylvia's next title defense is against Gabriel Gonzaga. People may laugh, but the ju jitsu black belt has a real shot of winning. Unlike Monson, he has the size, and some striking, that will allow him a much better chance of taking Tim down and submitting him. Either way, Cro Cop will beat whoever holds the strap. Heath Herring comes in, but what does the old vet have left? Arlovski is an instant contender if, and only if Tim loses (since he lost twice to Sylvia), but below him it is thin at best. If Monson can pull the upset of the year and beat Fedor in Bodog, he'll be in the mix. But I doubt it. Jake O'Brien has potential, but he's years away from contention. Kongo? Perosh? I think not. Brandon Vera may be leaving the UFC, and even if he stays, he wants to go down to the 205 division. Its not really the UFC's fault, there just aren't that many good big men out there.
• THE BEST, MOST EXCITING, AND DEEPEST DIVISION: The Lightweight champ, Sean Sherk, is recovering from shoulder surgery. Hermes Franca and Spencer Fisher fight soon, and the winner will really be at the top of the class. Both men could also give Sherk a tough fight. Kenny Florian is there on popularity alone, while Din Thomas, Melvin Guillard, and possibly Jorge Gurgel, are vying for the top spot as well. Talented youngsters include Tyson Griffin (powerful guy), Clay Guida (one of the toughest in any weight class), and Dan Lauzon (who upset Jens Pulver). After TUF 5, which features all Lightweight fighters, we'll have even more fighters to add. Don't forget BJ Penn and Jens Pulver will fight as well. A win puts Jens in a top spot, but a win for BJ probably just sends him back to the 170 or 185 division (his words not mine). Sean Sherk should have his hands full, and with all this talent losses seem undeniable, but he has size, and experience on about everybody.

PRIDE FC FUTURE

• Wanderlei Silva has a bad 2006, and 2007 doesn't look better. His first title defense will be against Rogerio Nogueira, who could win the fight. Wand is getting worn down, and has seen many, many wars. Ricardo Arona seems like he will take the title in time, while Shogun awaits his turn. Nakamura isn't quite there. A Grand Prix in this weight class this summer, will decide a lot.
• Can anyone beat Fedor Emelianenko? Monson has the next shot, Barnett will happen at some point in 2007, and Hunt just put himself up there as well. Nogueira has already fought Fedor 3 times, while Werdum continues to improve, and everyone is forgetting the legit Sergei Kharitonov. They need new blood here almost as bad as the UFC.
• Dan Henderson's title is in real trouble with guys like Denis Kang, Paulo Filho, and Misaki (Grand Prix winner). I can see Denis or Paulo taking the belt away. We wait for both men to heal, and one of these two will be the class of the division.
• Gomi, Gomi, Gomi. Takanori is back to his old "Fireball" self it seems. He has recoverd from his burnout and is ready to take on all comers. And there are a lot. Gilbert Melendez was challenged by Gomi, and that could be fight of the year! Aoki, Sakurai, and Kawajiri are all top tier fighters. Melendez seems to be the toughest test, but I wish Pride would bring in underrated Kid Yamamoto from K-1, to really make things interesting.

Pride's biggest concern for 2007, will just be keeping their fighters, and establishing themselves in America.

• Frank Shamrock returned for about 15 seconds in 2oo6. He and Showtime's Elite XC are supposed to turn heads in '07 but we'll see.
• The IFL is adding new teams by the day, but nobody is watching. How long can they last with all of this spending, and little to show for it in ratings?
• Matt Lindland went out on his own and became, possibly, the best fighter in the 185 division, and the most sought after free agent in the world. You can be a force in MMA without a promotion company behind you.
• Bodog is just unwatchable, and don't expect to see Fedor there after the fight in Russia. Their TV show returns in 2007, but their first attempt was god awful.

Holy shit that's a lot of information, but it was tearing apart my brain. Now its all down in print, and we can look forward to a truly momentous year in MMA!

New Year's Eve MMA Roundup

• UFC 66: Chuck Liddell is the man. Chuck revealed to Dana White after the fight, that three weeks out from the fight, he tore his ACL. His team told no one, and Chuck still knocked down Tito twice in their three round bout on the way to a TKO win. Shockingly, Tito didn't complain about the possibly, quick stoppage, probably because it could've been stopped in the first, when Chuck knocked Ortiz silly with an overhand left to the temple. You would have to think, if Quinton "Rampage" Jackson wins his debut in the UFC, he is next in line for Chuck.
• Also at UFC 66, Jardine shocked the world when he caught Forrest Griffin with a good punch, and stood toe to toe with the fan favorite. Jardine knocked down Forrest and exploded with vicious shots until the ref had to stop it. Forrest was visibly upset with himself, as Jardine had shook up the 205 title picture. Jardine is right in there, and with a win over perhaps Tito, Babalu, or someone else of not, a title shot may not be far away.
• Fedor Emelianenko defeated Mark Hunt in a tough title fight. Mark hung in there well, and almost had a kimura upon the champ. Fedor just seems able to get out of anything, and his speed, and sambo throws, eventually got Hunt into trouble where Fedor finished.
• Other Pride Shockwave results, saw Minowa get destroyed by Timura, who yelled at the ref for not stopping the fight sooner, and causing the Punk to be beaten unnecessarily. James Thompson upset Japanese favorite Yoshida (as predicted on this site), while Nogueira rebounded against Josh Barnett, with a unanimous decision. Takanori Gomi bludgeoned top challenger Ishida, and Gilbert Melendez and Kawajira had the predicted, fight of the night, with Melendez scoring the victory, and probably a title shot at Gomi.
• Genki Sudo made quick work of Damacio Page, and shocked the world in announcing his retirement from the sport (more on that later)!! Sakuraba got worked yet again, as Akiyama TKO'd him, probably a couple of times, to victory. Sak complained Akiyama had something slick on his body, but the refs found nothing. Sak did not look good again, and took a bad beating. Can his retirement be far away?

Pride and UFC put on some good shows, while K-1 seemed rather predictable. Still, with the sport of MMA exploding in popularity, and fighters starting to shift to different promotions, 2007 looks to be a really interesting year for combat sports.

Pride FC Shockwave 2006

Fedor vs Hunt: If Fujita can rock Fedor, Hunt definitely can. Look for the smarter Fedor to avoid the stand up game and dominate this fight on the floor. Hunt has a puncher's chance, and if he can keep it standing, a better shot than people think.

WINNER-Fedor by decision

Antonio Nogueira vs J.Barnett: I don't believe in Josh's striking ability. Nog gets this one and its on to the rubber match.

WINNER-Nogueira by decision

Shogun vs Nakamura: Love Nak, but he is outclassed here. Bring on the stomps.

WINNER-Shogun by TKO

Kawajiri vs Melendez: This is Gilbert's big chance and he should be ready. Look for El Nino to wear down Kawajiri on the way to a win.

WINNER-Melendez by decision

Gomi vs Ishida: Why isn't this fight for the title? Anywho, good fight but Gomi has the power.

WINNER-Gomi by TKO

Hansen vs Aoki: Despite people thinking this will be close, Hansen by brutality.

WINNER-Hansen

Yoshida vs Thompson: My UPSET pick! Yoshida can't keep the big man down!

WINNER-Thompson by TKO

Minowa vs Tamura: Yawn, expect a long boring fight.

WINNER-Tamura by decision

Fujita vs smaller guy who has never fought MMA before.

WINNER-Fujita by KO

UFC 66 Chuck Liddell vs Tito Ortiz 2

Top to bottom, the best UFC card of the year. A lot of good fights so let's just get to it.


Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell 19-3 vs "The Hunnington Beach Bad Boy Tito Ortiz 15-4 : Though most people have Chuck the favorite, I'm not so sure. Yes, his hands are deadly and there is little chance Tito can hang there. Tito does not have to strike with Chuck. He learned from the first fight not to stand with the Iceman. Simple, constant shots will do two things. It keeps Chucks hands low for defense, allowing for some Tito jabs (which are better than most believe; watch the 1st round of their 1st fight). Second, eventually, Tito should ground Chuck, though it may take a couple of rounds. There, Chuck exposes himself when trying to get to his feet (he is open for submissions), or if he can't get up, he will be punished worse that what Randy did to him in their first meeting. A simple cut from an Ortiz elbow, could end the fight early, whether Chuck is wants it to or not. Cardio also plays a part. Chuck hasn't gone past the 2nd round, since August of 2005! Tito is a cardio machine, will not doubt, push the pace of this fight as much as he can. This could easily become a long fight, which will slow Chuck's punches, and force the dropping of his hands.

All of this being said, Chuck does have those deadly, fast, and awkward strikes. They catch many people off guard with their weird angles, and pure power. If you are playing the percentages, Tito just has more weapons, and is a more well rounded fighter. I'm not even going to get into who wants it more, or has the hype made either man soft. I don't believe it.
WINNER-Tito Ortiz by decision I hate to say it, and I hate the man, but in this 50/50 battle, the odds favor him.

Forrest Griffin 13-3 vs "The Dean Of Mean" Kieth Jardine 11-2-1: Both men love to strike, and cut easily. So expect a lot of action and blood. Forrest has better cardio and striking, but Jardine may have the edge on the ground. Being able to out sprawl Tito, I would think Forrest could defend Keith's takedown attempts, and out strike the slower Jardine. Griffin knows Keith's best weapon has been his leg kicks, and must, and most likely will, avoid them. Then it is just a matter of time till he picks apart Jardine, much like he did to Bonner in their rematch.
WINNER-Forrest Griffin by decision

Andrei "Pitbull" Arlovski 9-5 vs Marcio "Pa de Pano" Cruz 2-1: Arlovski needs a boost of confidence, and Cruz should deliver that. If Cruz can take Arlovski down, which I doubt, he can't keep him there. Andrei is a sambo technician, so he will be comfortable on the mat, and should easily have the strength advantage to take things back to the feet. Cruz strikes are amateur at best, and I don't think he can pull the upset, like he did with Mir.
WINNER-Arlovski by KO

Michael "The Count" Bisping 11-0 vs Eric "The Red" Schafer 7-1-2: Eric is the ground master, and I don't like this match for Bisping. He has been inactive for 6 months, and he hasn't faced any really well rounded fighters like Schafer. Depending on how good his defense is, he might be in for a long night on the mat, even if he avoids the submissions. Still, Mike has great strikes, and might be able to get the fight back to the feet, easier than people think. The striking is the key, and I think that rocks Eric early and often.
WINNER-Bisping by TKO

Chris "Crippler" Leben 16-2 vs Jason "Athlete" MacDonald 17-7: Leben has been very dominant save the quick loss to future champ, Silva. His hands are lethal and his chin strong. Nobody has really done much with him on the ground, though he claims to be good there as well. MacDonald will be looking to go to the mat, but first must tire Leben with his high pace, while avoiding the KO punch. Athleticism exposed Leben against Silva, and pushing the pace into later rounds, I believe MacDonald can catch Leben in a submission (much like the one that shocked Ed Herman), or at the least, out point him to a victory.
WINNER-MacDonald by decision

Yushin Okami 18-3 vs Rory Singer 10-5: Yushin has fought much better competition, and has the better all around game. On the feet Rory has no chance, and on the mat very little. Okami should out power Rory in every category and gain the victory. Yushin is legit, and Rory has never impressed me.
WINNER-Okami by TKO

Thiago Alves 9-3 vs Tony DeSouza 10-2: I'm glad to have the kookie cat named DeSouza returning yet again. His unorthodox style poses problems for all opponents. DeSouza is bigger and stronger, while Alves has been skittish, at best, in his recent efforts. Should be exciting in the beginning, but expect Tony to slowly become more and more dominant on his way to victory.
WINNER-DeSouza by submission

Gabriel "Napao" Gonzaga 9-1 vs Carmelo "The Fury" Marrero 6-0: Carmelo shocked the UFC with his win over Kongo, and Gabe is still returning to form after the death of his daughter. Marrero will be faster but he lacks true power in the heavyweight division. Gonzaga has the ju jitsu blackbelt, better striking, and is a true heavyweight. Napao could move up quickly in the title hunt if he can win here, and score a fight with a legit contender (say Monson, Vera, or even Kongo).
WINNER-Gonzaga by submission

Anthony "The Hippo" Perosh 5-2 vs Christian Wellisch: Both of these inexperience heavyweights will want to have a chess match on the mat. Wellisch can strike some and wrestle some, but is vulnerable to submissions, which bodes well for the ju jitsu blackbelt, Perosh.
WINNER-Perosh by submission