The First Round

Countdown to UFC 100: How We Got Here

2009-07-06T17:52:00.001-07:00

Through all the doubts and criticism, mixed martial arts has finally made it.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is upon us. The biggest event in mixed martial arts history happens this Saturday night. Two title fights and a handful of what look to be very competitive matchups. Everyone is talking about the Frank Mir/Brock Lesnar rematch and Georges St. Pierre's biggest test against Thiago Alves.

But UFC 100 isn't about the fights. It is about the sport and how it has outlasted the media backlash and political opposition to not only survive, but prosper. No matter the outcomes of the fights Saturday, every mixed martial arts fan should celebrate.

On Saturday, mixed martial arts has officially arrived. It's legitimate. It's a successful business and a growing sport. It's been a long, tough road for the sport so it's time to look back on 10 crucial components that allowed the sport to reach the success it is enjoying.

1. Dana White: Say what you will about the brash UFC president, but without Dana White, the UFC would have failed. Like White has stated many times, this was his destiny. He is unconventional, ruthless and often offensive, but for some reason the style worked.

He viewed the UFC as a league just like the NFL. In order to grow, he had to bring in the best and most charismatic fighters. You don't see top football players in the CFL and Dana White is working everyday to make sure fans don't see top fighters outside the UFC. Is it cutthroat the way he bans clothing companies and locks fighters up to iron-clad contracts? Maybe. Is it effective? Yes.

The next president of the UFC will surely be a hotshot business school graduate, and that person should do just fine. But White has laid the entire foundation and turned a no-holds barred "human cockfight," into a legitimate and thrilling sport in the eye's of the public.

2. State athletic commissions: Yeah, they can be difficult to deal with, but they reinvented the sport into an actual sport. There's not much skill involved when there are no weight classes and people can take cheap shots below the belt. That bloodsport mentality is stupid and classless. But throw in five weight classes, strict rules and time limits for each round and you have a sport. Without the regulations, MMA would have faded a long time ago.

3. The Ultimate Fighter: I hate watching grown men act like children as they are locked in a house and denied any form of communication, but the show put the UFC on the map. It brought the best fighters no one had ever heard of into one place and let them compete in a tournament while expressing their personalities. It's been said time and time again, but Forrest Griffin vs Stephan Bonner was the most important fight in UFC history. Griffin has gone on to be one of the most popular UFC fighters and paved the way for future TUF alumni.

4. Gracie Ju Jitsu: The first time fans saw Royce Gracie take down opponents 50 pounds bigger than he was it left them in amazement. The amazement turned into a fascination for many and jujitsu became all the rage. The submission style grappling seemed fool proof and leveled the playing field. No matter how big, strong or fast an opponent was, Gracie jujitsu could always win a fight.

5. Tito Ortiz: UFC's first true crossover star. He was in commercials, TV shows and movies. He dated celebrities, talked plenty of trash and made people interested in the sport. He was a walking, talking billboard for UFC. People either wanted to see him smash his opponent or get smashed by his opponent, but either way, people cared when Tito Ortiz walked into the octagon.

6. The fans: Without the fans, clearly the sport would not succeed. But the main quality these fans have that is crucial to the sport is the way they accepted the lighter weight classes. Boxing fans seem to want to watch heavyweights and are still searching for an exciting heavyweight to get them interested in the sport. But MMA fans immediately took a liking to the "little" guys which has allowed the UFC to have stars in every division.

7. TapOut: I'm not a huge fan of their clothes, but it took the sport to the people. Fans would see TapOut on Tito Ortiz's shorts, then they would be able to buy a shirt. That fan would show their friends the new shirt, and all the sudden non-MMA fans buy a shirt and get interested. It's an unusual for a sponsor to mean so much to a sport, but the UFC and TapOut is a marriage that needed to happen for the sport to go mainstream.

8. Globalization: The first time UFC stepped out of Las Vegas after it established itself, there were a lot of concerns. 60 or so shows later, the whole world wants to host a UFC event. By taking the show on the road, more people took a liking to the sport and even started training. Now fighters can come from England, Mexico, Japan, Russia, Australia or wherever. It's not just Brazilians against Americans.

9. PRIDE: That's right, without PRIDE making waves in Japan, UFC wouldn't be half the product it is today. Competition always forces the best out of one another, and PRIDE made sure the UFC worked to put the best fights on each and every time out. Without PRIDE, UFC would not have moved with the urgency and efficiency it showed the last few years.

10. Joe Silva: He is not as famous as Dana White, but just as important. Card after card, Joe Silva puts together the best matches possible as the UFC's booker. He has a great sense of finding the best prospects and matching them up with someone who can provide a challenge. He has done a great job overall when it comes to making title fights and is great at persuading fighters to take chances (ie Anderson Silva's move to 205 and Wanderli Silva to 185). His matchmaking is top notch and much harder than people give him credit for.

There you have it. The top-10 reasons UFC has made it to magic number 100. Check back tomorrow for another UFC 100 special.

A Chance for Holiday Greatness

2009-07-02T14:53:00.000-07:00

Philadelphia native and heavyweight standout "Fast" Eddie Chambers will head to Germany July 4th to fight. To bad boxing won't take advantage of the situation to recapture an audience.

Some of the toughest times for sports fans is during the summer months. In the fall, there is baseball, football, basketball and hockey. Once baseball ends, the other three continue until February and when football ends, baseball starts up again to keep the trifecta in tact.

But in the summer, baseball is in the middle of a 162-game season and that doesn't make for much excitement or drama. Fans clamor for the beginning of football season and just want baseball to get to the end of August to see if their team is still in the playoff hunt.

This little July dry spell of sports action offers the perfect opportunity for boxing to try to capture the attention of mainstream sports fans.

Browsing through the weekly boxing schedule as I often do, I found there was virtually no big fights happening on the July 4 weekend. The one "big" is taking place in Germany. But the fight does feature American heavyweight prospect "Fast" Eddie Chambers taking on undefeated European prospect Alexander Dimitrenko.

This match isn't going to be a classic by any stretch of the imagination, but why not try to secure a deal with a network and broadcast it to an American audience. If the now-defunct mixed martial arts organization, Elite XC, can secure a deal with CBS, then there is no reason boxing promoters can't get it done either.

Sure, it might require them to pony up some money and they wont make nearly as much on pay-per-view, but the long-term benefits of occasionally broadcasting on a network channel would pay huge dividends.

Chambers vs Dimitrenko isn't necessarily going to be a great showcase of boxing, but you don't always need massive pay-per-view quality fights. Broadcasting this fight would be a classic American story on America's most patriotic day.

An American heavyweight from Philadelphia travels to Germany to face an undefeated European prospect. Sounds a lot like a real-life Rocky Balboa story and it would be an easy way to market the fight and get the public interested.

A lot of mixed martial arts booming growth and success among sports fans can be attributed to how accessible the UFC has been. Season after season, the UFC produces the show "The Ultimate Fighter." It's an easy way for sports fans to slowly understand MMA and get to know some of the potential future stars.

I think the reason boxing is so hesitant to go back to network TV is because of the stronghold it has established on HBO and Showtime as well as pay-per-view. The gambling industry will always support boxing, but many boxing fans are not high rollers and many sports fans just want to see a good, old-fashioned fight now and then.

Broadcast the fights of the Eddie Chambers of the world, or Sergio Mora who is already somewhat known by the public from his run on The Contender and is itching to get back in the ring.

Get "The Latin Snake" an opponent and show the fight on NBC. Or take a second-generation star, like George Foreman's son, and let him get some national exposure. It would definitely draw some interest.

There is not a whole lot of exciting sports happening around the 4th of July weekend and boxing has a great opportunity to get back in the public eye. I hope come next year this time, I will be able to see a real firework show for free, on network TV.

Another legend lost

2009-07-01T17:04:00.000-07:00

Alexis Arguello meant as much to boxing as Michael Jackson did to music. His legacy in the ring and for Nicaragua will be remembered for years to come.

For some reason, I get into pretty bad spells about updating this blog. It does not seem like it should be difficult, yet I fail at it more than I would like.

But at least I'm not Drew Fickett.

The once highly regarded and very talented UFC fighter continues to struggle with just living a successful and respectful life. Back in 2005, MMA fans believed Fickett could be one of the top fighters in the welterweight division for years to come. His record was a sterling 34-5 and he had victories over top names such as Josh Koscheck and Kenny Florian.

Now Fickett can't even beat a Breathalizer test (or his opponents since he has lost seven of his last nine fights). But the latest downfall in his embarrassing career came recently after he failed a pre-fight physical when he showed up drunk. That's right, Fickett thought it would be OK to fight drunk.

I wonder why people scoff at the sport and compare it to bar fights. Maybe it's cause a fighter like Fickett is probably more drunk than people in an actual bar fight before he gets ready for competition. It could also explain why he has lost seven of his last nine fights.

I hope Fickett walks away from the sport, gets his life back on track and is able to find some happiness. But he really needs to leave the sport because it's embarrassing to the other fighters, promoters and fans who go to bat to try to defend the purity and sportsmanship of MMA.

But that opening rant was just meant to make me feel better about missing out on updating this blog about some big things that happened in the world of combat sports. I will just touch on two of the bigger stories.

The Ultimate Finale: Fight of the Year

Two big stories came out of the June 20 finale of season 9. One was that mixed martial arts in England is alive and well. Two members from Team UK took home the title of Ultimate Fighter.

Ross Pearson pulled off an upset against Andre Winner and looked tough, but I don't think he is talented enough to ever be a serious contender in the UFC. Likewise, James Wilks really shocked me with his dominant performance over DaMarques Johnson. Wilks displayed very good boxing and composure. He has the chance to keep improving into a fighter who could be tough to beat.

The real story was the classic fight between Diego Sanchez and Clay Guida in the main event. If you have never seen Guida fight, you need to. His cardio is out of this world and he never quits or slows down for anything. Sanchez ran right at Guida at the opening of the round and threw devastating combinations that rocked Guida and had him covering up.

As the round progressed, the fight moved to the center of the cage, where Sanchez landed one of the hardest kicks to the head I have seen and it dropped Guida, but in a moment that could only be described as a miracle, Guida bounced to his feet and kept going like nothing happened.

From then on, the fight was a war. Both men were bloody and bruised and pushed the pace for 15 minutes. At the end of the fight, Guida bounced up to his feet and ran around the cage with energy to burn. Sanchez took the split decision.

It was one of those special fights that only happen once or twice a year, so if you get the chance, check it out. It's what makes the sport so great. Look for Sanchez to challenge for the lightweight championship after the Kenny Florian/BJ Penn title fight.

The Loss of a Legend

The music world lost its biggest legend in Michael Jackson and boxing lost one of the greatest of all-time in Alexis Arguello. Unfortunately, I was too young to see Arguello in his prime when he boxed in the early '80s, but the stories and vinatge videos are legendary.

His fights against Ray Mancini and Aaron Pryor are some of the best ever. His fight against Pryor in Miami could very well be the best match ever. He was a champion in three different weight classes and was one round away from being the first man to be a champion in four.

Technically, he was brilliant. And what Muhammad Ali meant for Americans, Arguello meant for Nicaraguans. He was so politically active in fact, that assassination threats were a common occurrence for Arguello. He even became mayor of Managua.

He was a great ambassador for boxing and was best friends with Pryor, his bitter in-ring rival. A true class act in a violent sport. But like Michael Jackson, he had his demons. He struggled with drug addiction and went bankrupt, forcing him to come back for two matches in the early '90s.

The death is believed to be a suicide. He may never had conquered those demons, and its a tragic and sad end to an important life. But what he meant for boxing and Nicaragua will live on for years to come.

I am going to try to update this blog as often as I can, once again. I hope to succeed ... but if I fail ... well at least I'm not Drew Fickett.

This is how to not run a sport

2009-06-17T17:28:00.000-07:00

50 Cent looks good with all of Mayweather's former titles. Too bad the former pound-for-pound king is taking forever to get back in the ring to try and get them back.

So in my last blog, I sung the praises of combat sports, including boxing. It's a sport that never really lets me down — except for the times when it never actually happens of course.

Many people say boxing is a dying sport. The first reason it will never die is because the Vegas gamblers will never leave and it has been Vegas that has always supported the sport. The second reason it won't die is because there will always be a Muhammed Ali, Mike Tyson, Roy Jones, Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather and now Manny Pacquiao.

However, it may never catch on with mainstream attention again because it is hard to follow when big-name fighters pull out of bouts. This trend has been very popular within the last month.

First we have David Haye pull out his highly anticipated fight with heavyweight kingpin Wladimir Klitschko. This one is especially heartbreaking since Haye was a breath of fresh air in a very stale division and he had talked so much trash, that it was sure to be a heated bout.

Haye was devastated he had to pull out because of a back injury, and I truly believe he wanted the fight. He claims he wants to retire in about two years, though he is still very young, so we may never get to see this match happen.

Haye is expected to fight in September, while Klitschko is going to defend on June 20 against Ruslan Chagaev. This will make it difficult for both fighters to even up their schedules to meet in the future.

As if losing an exciting heavyweight bout wasn't enough, the biggest fight of the summer was recently canceled after Floyd Mayweather pulled out of his comeback fight against top pound-for-pound champion Juan Manuel Marquez.

Pretty Boy Floyd severely injured his ribs and will not be able to meet JMM anymore. This, coupled with Manny Pacquiao's insane request that Miguel Cotto fight him at 143 pounds, makes it seem like everyone is trying to avoid each other.

Pacman and Mayweather both know they can't afford losses if they want to set up their superfight, but at the same time neither man wants to fight each other right now. There is a good chance Pacman could get out-muscled by Cotto if he moved up to welterweight, and there is a good chance JMM could have beaten Mayweather.

So for the time being, two of boxing's biggest stars will dance around negotiations while fans wait for something to develop.

And if having all this turmoil among boxing's elite wasn't enough, one if it's fastest rising stars, Amir Khan, pulled out of his upcoming bout. But unlike the other fighters, Khan didn't want to scratch plans all together. Instead of fighting on June 27, the young prospect will get into the ring on July 18.

If boxing ever wants to draw a large fan base again, promoters are going to have to work harder to deliver on their promises of big fights. Injuries happen, that is to be expected. But if one happens, reschedule immediately so fans are not robbed of fights.

If rescheduling is absolutely impossible, do your best to attract other stars such as Shane Mosley, to step in. I know it's not an easy task, but the fans deserve it and in the long run it will help the sport.

A Life Lesson

2009-06-15T16:11:00.000-07:00

There is no way Miguel Cotto wanted to fight another round in that condition, but he did anyways

Rocky Balboa said it best: It's not about how hard you hit, but how hard you can get hit and keep going.

It's a lesson in boxing that separates the prospects from the champions and the champions from the legends. But it's also a lesson that applies to much more than the epic battles that happen in the squared circle. It applies to all facets of life.

As you can clearly see, the content on this blog has not been updated for the last month and a half. The reason for the absence is because life hit me harder than any punch any boxer has ever thrown. It's a blow no one should ever have to experience.

So for the last month and a half I have been picking myself up off the canvas and trying to get back on track. I haven't had a whole lot of interest in the fight game during that time, but I decided to watch it again last weekend, which brought me back here.

I watched Cheick Kongo get absolutely dismantled by Cain Velasquez at UFC 99 and it made me think of that important lesson. No matter how hard Kongo got hit and no matter how much punishment he was taking, he didn't give up. He could have easily stayed down, but he tried to get to his feet and he tried to fight even when he was pinned on his back.

He wouldn't let Velasquez beat him.

Then the main event saw Wanderli Silva take on Rich Franklin. Once again, Silva was exhausted and battered, but in the closing seconds of the fight, he threw everything he had at Franklin in one last effort to win.

After watching those fights, it reminded me of why martial arts is more than a sport and why it's a lifestyle.

Then there was the Miguel Cotto vs Joshua Clottey boxing match. Cotto's left eyebrow was a bloody mess for the whole fight and it bothered him to no end, but he never stopped. Clottey later fell to the canvas and hurt his knee. He was immobilized for the next few rounds, but he hung in there.

Both men fought through adversity and never quit.

At the end of the day, a sport is just a sport, but when it comes to combat sports, it teaches you to never quit. You don't need to win, you don't even need to be technically sound, but the one rule is don't give up on yourself.

Boxing pushes your body to places you never thought you could go — life pushes you into areas you don't want to go.

Kongo lost badly and will now have to start all over if he wants to get to his dream of winning the title. But he will be back and give it his best shot again, and that's the beauty of the sport.

Sure, I haven't written for the last two months, but it's time to come back. Not because what I write is important, but because writing is what I do and now is no time to give up on things.

The ring is a scary place to return to after a bad loss and life is a scary place after a bad loss too. But whatever happens, always walk back in. You might get knocked out again, but if you keep coming back, you'll get your win.

I don't know when I'll get my win or how hard I can hit life back, but I do know I can get hit really hard and keep going. So if you'll excuse me, it's time for me to get going.

The Force is Strong with "Darth" Bader

2009-04-01T19:47:00.000-07:00

Fighting to his strengths once again was Ryan "Darth" Bader

The young guns were out Wednesday night for what was another exciting Fight Night on Spike TV. Everyone loves watching the big stars work their mojo in the spotlight, but one can't help make a case for the display put on by this card of young scrappers.

The main card was as follows (one being the opening bout and four the main event):
*Fighters I chose to win tonight are in blue
1. Junie "The Lunatic" Browning Vs Cole Miller
2. Tyson Griffin Vs Rafael dos Anjos
3. Ryan "Darth" Bader Vs Carmelo Marrero
4. Martin "The Hitman" Kampmann Vs Carlos "The Natural Killer" Condit (WEC 170lb. Champ)

In the first fight of the night Junie Browning, who recently won Fight of the Night honors, faced off against formidable opponent Cole Miller. Being deemed overrated by Browning, Cole had some extra fuel to add to his burning fire. Browning figured he would have his way tonight, but boy was he wrong. Miller caught Browning with a guillotine, choke finally silencing the mouthy Browning two minutes into the fight. Maybe Browning ought to think before he speaks. "Who's overrated now?" Well I'll just say it for Cole; Junie Browning is.

The second fight of the night pitting Tyson Griffin against Rafael dos Anjos was packed full of action. Griffin clearly had all intentions of keeping this fight on the feet as he was swinging for home runs left and right. When the two went down to the mat in the first round, dos Anjos utilized a nifty compression knee lock that was dangerously close to sending Griffin home early. Phased a bit by this maneuver, Griffin still had the last laugh as his striking and inside leg kicks eventually lead to his majority decision over Rafael dos Anjos. Other than a few kimura attempts and the compression knee lock that failed, dos Anjos looked absent in this fight. An excellent display of heart by Griffin was shown to battle through that lock in the first round. This fight deserves my Fight of the Night honors.

The third fight of the night was one that looked great on paper, but amounted to embarrassment. Marrero appeared ready to go before this fight began, but it really got away from him faster than the blink of an eye. Ryan Bader was ferocious! His relentless takedowns, stemming from his accomplished wrestling background, ripped through Marrero's confidence. I love when a fighter utilizes his strengths to win a fight and Darth did just that. Round after round like a machine, Bader just kept at it. It was as if Marrero was frozen in time or was the dummy Bader ripped apart during his training. All in all, a great fight for young Bader and an even better showcase of his abilities as he also demonstrated the know how to pull off an armbar. Bravo Ryan! Keep moving on up.

The main event of the night pitted Martin "The Hitman" Kampmann against Carlos "The Natural Born Killer" Condit. In my mind, this fight had all the making for a pay-per-view event. The bout was nonstop action from start to finish. The crowd was truly swayed in favor of Condit as any positive he had was followed by cheering and support from the crowd. This fight was too close to call the whole way as both fighters exchanged their blows. Condit drew first blood, literally, as he opened Kampmann's face with either his elbows or the vicious knee he planted as Kampmann reached his feet. As the fight went on, Condit had one problem: anything Condit could do, Kampann could do better. After finally getting into the octagon, Condit took the wrong walk, leaving Kampmann to reign victorious with a split decision.

It has been awhile since the UFC had a live fight night and I don't think I'm alone when I say thank goodness it's back. The fight card and the action delivered tonight proved once again that Fight Nights are always a great night.

UFC Fight Night Predictions

2009-04-01T15:59:00.000-07:00

There is a reason Carlos Condit is known as The Natural Born Killer. I expect the former WEC champion to make a statement in his UFC debut against Martin Kampmann in tonight's main event.

It's time for another installment of one of my favorite UFC events: Fight Night. These free shows on Spike TV are a great way to showcase young talent and tonight's event in Nashville, Tenn., is no different.

I wish the UFC had a long enough time slot to show the Gleison Tibau vs Jeremy Stephens fight as well as the Ricardo Almeida vs Matt Horwich contest, but nonetheless, there is a great night of fights for free so I won't complain.

If you're looking to make a quick buck or just impress your friends, here are the picks to stick with.

Junie Browning vs Cole Miller
This should be an interesting fight, but Miller is the man to go with. Browning has received high praise and has even been compared to Anderson Silva, but at this point it is all hype. Miller is 14-3, has UFC experience and has fought tough competition. Browning has three fights under his belt and if he gets in trouble, I don't see him having the composure to escape.

Miller has proven to be a tough fighter to put away and that should be good enough to escape any troubles he might get into if the fight hits the floor. Browning is a classic ground-and-pound wrestler with good stand-up, but Miller has an underrated jab and submission game. Expect Miller to secure an armbar in the second round.

Miller wins via armbar in the second round

Tyson Griffin vs Rafael dos Anjos
Straight up, Griffin is a machine. His wrestling is tremendous and his cardio and strength are through the roof. The last time dos Anjos stepped in the octagon, he ate a Jeremy Stephens uppercut that knocked him into 2010. While Griffin won't wow anyone with his striking, I think he is good enough to win the fight on the mat despite dos Anjos' jujitsu skills.

In the end, even though Griffin lost his most recent match to Sean Sherk, I think he is more seasoned and prepared. Dos Anjos could be a great fighter, but it looks like he has a lot to improve on before he is ready to move up the ranks in the UFC.

Griffin wins via TKO stoppage in the first round

Ryan Bader vs Carmelo Marrero
Bader is yet another product of the Arizona wrestling scene. Arizona has been turning out hot prospects in MMA recently including Bader, C.B. Dolloway and Cain Velasquez. I expect Bader to be in top condition and ready for a physical fight. Marrero has always been a favorite of mine, but he has a ceiling and he has reached it. Marrero has surprisingly good submissions and is a large light heavyweight who used to compete at heavyweight.

Even with the submission advantage and the size advantage, I still thing Bader is too powerful and has much more potential. Marrero is a trooper and won't go down easy. Bader might even get in trouble a few times this fight, but he will walk away with a decision victory.

Bader wins by unanimous decision

Carlos Condit vs Martin Kampmann
This is an absolute steal for fight fans. This is definitely a pay-per-view quality fight and I am excited about it. Condit, the dominant WEC welterweight champion, will make his highly anticipated UFC debut against former middleweight Martin Kampmann. Condit is one of the most violent, aggressive fighters in the game and is skilled on the feet and on the ground. Kampmann can, quite simply, kick a tree down.

Condit made a name for himself in the WEC as he defended his championship while tearing through tough opponents such as John Alessio, Brock Larson, Carlo Prater and Hiromitsu Miura. His version of Muay Thai is as explosive as any and his long limbs make him a dangerous submission artist.

Kampmann has fought tough competition of his own, including a win over UFC middleweight No. 1 contender Thales Leites. Kampmann gained a reputation for being a dangerous kickboxer. After a severe knee injury he attempted a comeback against Nate Marquardt but came up short and opted to move down to welterweight.

I would be surprised if this fight hit the ground as I am sure Kampmann will look to use leg kicks while Condit will search for the Thai clinch to throw short elbows and knees. If it does hit the ground, Condit will have the advantage, though Kampmann is better than people realize on the mat. I think Condit lives up to his name of Natural Born Killer and puts Kampmann away with a barrage of knees and elbows in the final round.

Condit wins via TKO stoppage in the third round

Time to TUF it out again

2009-03-31T17:54:00.000-07:00

Another season of The Ultimate Fighter is set to debut tomorrow night. I really hope it has grown out of the MTV Real World stage by now.

It has been three months since Efrain Escudero and Ryan Bader won The Ultimate Fighter. I guess that means it's time to sit through another season of the UFC tournament/ reality show.

I absolutely love the format of single-elimination tournaments in mixed martial arts. Tournaments are exciting and they really show the fans at home all the aspects a fighter brings to the table since they have the opportunity to fight multiple times.

However, I hate reality TV. I hate having to watch contestants such as Chris Leben, Jesse Taylor, Junie Browning, CB Dolloway and a slew of others act like irresponsible children just so they can stay in the limelight and find a way into the UFC in the event they don't win the tournament.

In fact I hate it so much that after season 3 I would just TiVo the episodes and fast forward to the last 15 minutes so I could see the fights. But the truth is the show loses quite a bit of value by just watching the fights. It's nice to get to know the fighters and see the sacrifices and training they have to go through, but it could be done in a much more effective way.

I didn't even watch the last season of TUF because I couldn't stomach the MTV Real World junk it was stuffing down the viewers' throats. It is time for Dana White and Spike TV to realize that the UFC is a legitimate sport and needs to portray itself in a professional manner.

This season shouldn't cater to 15-year-old boys wanting to start a fight club, it should cater to a mature audience that expects to see elite athletes treat their profession and each other with respect. I have high hopes for this season since Dan Henderson and Michael Bisping are coaching teams from the United States and England, respectively.

I think that format of country vs country will give the fighters a greater purpose and they wont be so quick to make fools of themselves since they have a country to fight for and represent.

The best way to present a show like this would be to follow the example set by season 1 of The Contender. The boxing show that was produced by Sylvester Stallone and Sugar Ray Leonard was a unique look into how important winning is to a fighter and how much they are willing to sacrifice.

I liked the touch of seeing the fighters spar and train, but also being able to live with their families so they have a constant reminder of what they were there for. They weren't there to get drunk, destroy a house and pick fights. They were there to do a job and win the tournament to give their family a better life.

The UFC doesn't need to go to that extreme to keep The Ultimate Fighter fresh, but it does need to go that direction. Growing up is a part of life and it is time for the UFC to grow out of its teenage angst stage and into a more professional one.

I am excited for tomorrow night's debut episode; I just hope it doesn't let me down.

Huerta Has It Right

2009-03-30T16:01:00.000-07:00

At 25 years old, Roger Huerta is ready to hang up his gloves after going 6-1 in the UFC. The top-ranked fighter will give Hollywood a shot and I think thats a great decision.

All good things must come to an end. It's a phrase that has been proven true time and time again. It's also a concept many sports fans fear.

It was a sad day when Michael Jordan retired from the Chicago Bulls. It was a sad day when Cal Ripken Jr. called it a career. And it will be a sad day when Tiger Woods sinks his last putt.

And while it is sad to see fighters retire, fans should not criticize a fighter for leaving the game early, instead we should all be thankful for the contributions and happy for the person. Floyd Mayweather Jr. drew a lot of criticism for leaving boxing as an undefeated fighter after defeating Ricky Hatton on Dec. 8, 2007.

Mayweather was only 30 years old at the time and was still in his prime. Many boxing enthusiasts and experts criticized "Pretty Boy Floyd" for retiring while tough challenges against Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto were still out there.

But at 39-0 and with millions of dollars in the bank, I could not criticize the young fighter. He paid his dues and more importantly, he made his money. Boxing has always been a way to improve a tough situation and Mayweather did just that. He knew he was financially set and he still had his health. It was a great move to retire.

Now the mixed martial arts media has disapproved of Roger Huerta's decision to leave UFC after his next fight to pursue opportunities in acting and modeling. The Mexican-American fighter is 6-1 in the UFC and was on the brink of being a top-10 lightweight.

But going 6-1 in the UFC is usually good enough for some decent money and fighting opponents such as Clay Guida and Kenny Florian secures even a bigger purse. So with money in his pocket and his fame established, he decided to leave fighting for a while to pursue entertainment. And at 25 years old, this is his best shot to succeed in Hollywood.

Once again, while I would love to see Huerta continue to fight, I have to agree with the decision. No person should ever endanger their well-being for longer than they need to. MMA and boxing are both dangerous sports. When a fighter feels they have accomplished what they need to, then there is no shame in calling it a career.

Does the UFC lightweight division take a hit with the absence of Huerta? Yes. But that gives another fighter the chance to realize their dreams and make the type of money that can support their families. Manny Pacquiao became boxing's biggest star after Mayweather left. Everyone wins except for the fans, but sometimes that is OK.

But for every Huerta and Mayweather, there is a Jesse Taylor. The former Ultimate Fighter cast member has been fighting in the small show circuit on a monthly basis and racking up wins. With another kid on the way, he said this is his way to make a steady living. Since he is winning and has an expanding family, the drive is there to fight as often as possible.

I will never criticize a fighter for leaving the game at an early age. If a person can use boxing or MMA as a way to achieve a better life and walk away with health intact, than more power to that person.

Mayweather is about to come out of retirement and fight in as early as July. He has the itch again, but he knows he doesn't need to take a beating four times a year anymore and I think that is a good thing.

Huerta will be back. But for now, he should give his body a rest and enjoy any success he can get from his five years of professional fighting. And when he wants to come back, I will welcome him gladly.

Tough love for California boxing

2009-03-26T18:52:00.000-07:00

This young boy could be world champion one day. But he lives in California where amateur boxing is now banned because some crooked individuals exploited kids like him.

The economy is in the dumps and the main reason is greed.

The same kind of greed that possesses a person to send two 8-year-old kids into the ring to box each other so he can make a quick buck by inviting his rich friends over to gamble on the atrocity he created.

And because of those exploitations happening in San Francisco-area gyms, amateur boxing has been banned in California. The implications of this decision made by USA Boxing are huge.

USA Boxing made the correct decision to send a loud-and-clear message to the rest of the country that sending young boys to box for gambling purposes is a serious infraction and will in no way be tolerated. But for the kids and rising prospects in California's boxing circuit, this news is crippling.

They must suffer because of the stupidity and illegal activities of a few terrible people. California turns out hot prospects faster than almost any other state and the amount of world-champion level fighters is astounding. Boxing could see a recession in top-level talent if the ban remains in place for the next few years.

There are more than 650 boxers from California listed in boxrec.com. The next Oscar De La Hoya (a California boxing circuit product) may never be discovered because of this ban.

While missing out on potential world champions is a blow to boxing, the real worry should be about the kids. Even if there were no boxers from California to go on to win a world championship, at least it would have served as an outlet to stay off the streets.

There is a reason 8-year-olds learn to box at a young age and most of the time it is because their parents want to keep them out of gangs and give them an outlet to learn discipline. I'm sure the kids can still take boxing lessons, but with no amateur circuit, there is not much chance the kid could mature and use boxing as a way to fight out of a bad situation.

Now parents will be scared to even send their kids to a boxing gym because a few people decided to betray their trust and endanger the lives of their children. It was a shocking and sad day for boxing on Monday when USA Boxing made the announcement, but it needs to be a wake up call.

There is a nasty, nasty underbelly in boxing and its about time someone starts cleaning it up and its better that USA Boxing is taking that initiative. It's one thing if you want to play politics and keep a professional fighter from competing for a well-deserved title shot or lowball a boxer on a purse, but when you endanger kids then you have crossed the line.

Boxing is supposed to save kids from ending up in a bad situation; its not meant to trap them in a worse one.

I love this sport, so it hurts when bad people leech of the kids and ambush an institution that has served a noble purpose in society for so many years. And anyone who doesn't think boxing can save lives is just wrong.

I hope Boxing USA can restore order in California so the kids can stay off the streets and the fans can witness the rise of another great champion.

Just Like Peanut Butter and Chicken Noodle Soup

2009-03-25T19:17:00.001-07:00

This jar of peanut butter should not be mixed with chicken noodle soup. They are great individually, but not combined ... just like boxing and mixed martial arts.

Some things in life are just not meant to be matched together and Roy Jones Jr. gave another perfect example of this lesson on Saturday.

Jones tried his hand at the promoting side of the fight game and combined boxing matches and mixed martial arts contests on the same card. It has been done before, but never in front of a crowd as large as the one in Pensacola, Fla., and never on a successful pay-per-view.

It was a courageous effort, but it also failed miserably.

For some reason, Jones fell into the mindset that most of the general public holds. Most people think that if someone is a fan of boxing, they would naturally enjoy mixed martial arts. I am passionate about both sports, but they are two very different sports.

Just because someone likes baseball, doesn't mean they want to sit through a softball game. Both sports are similar, but there are still major differences that separate the two enough to make it so both sports wouldn't be played in front of the same audience at the same time.

I couldn't see a professional softball team walking out on Wrigley Field right after the Cubs finished playing. Most people would get up and leave. The same thing goes for boxing and mixed martial arts, mainly because the two sports bring out each others shortcomings when displayed side by side.

When I watch a boxing match, it's very hard to switch right over to a mixed martial arts bout because I realize the fighters competing in MMA are no where near the boxers that the professionals are and it makes it difficult to watch.

If I am watching some MMA, I have a hard time switching to boxing because I know that the chance for an upset or flash knockout is much less likely and it is impossible for fighters to switch the realm of the fight from the feet to the ground.

So while boxing represents the technique and precision I love in fighting, MMA represents the surprises and variety I love in fighting. I see the two sports as completely different and love them both for completely different reasons.

Aside from the fact that the two sports bring out the flaws in one another, it is also very hard to present and produce a show with both sports being showcased.

The announcers did their best to explain and inform the audience about everything that was happening in the MMA fights, but it came across forced and like a lecture. It becomes a little stale when the announcer has to talk through a broadcast explaining why fighters throw knees and what an armbar is.

I know I would shut off a baseball broadcast if they explained what a curveball does every single inning.

It was nice to see Jones dominate Omar Sheika with fundamentally sound boxing. But the boxing made Din Thomas look like a sparring partner. It was nice to see Thomas finish in exciting and quick fashion. But Thomas' finish made Jones look boring.

The styles will always be too contradicting to ever put them together on the same event.

I like peanut butter and I enjoy chicken noodle soup. If I put them together, I would hate them both.

I like boxing and MMA. If I put them together ... well ... I guess my order of peanut butter chicken noodle soup is ready.

Klitschkos: Kings of the Mediocre

2009-03-23T12:35:00.000-07:00

David Haye might be the last chance for the heavyweight division to produce a true challenge to the seemingly unbeatable Klitschko brothers.

I have a good amount of schooling and one of the lessons that has been passed down from generation to generation is Newton's Law: Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.

So after watching Vitali Klitschko massacre yet another opponent, I was left wondering how boxing's heavyweight division has managed to defy this law since Lennox Lewis walked away from the sport. I think heavyweight boxing has made a scientific breakthrough. We can call it Klitschkos' Law.

Klitschkos' Law: For every action taken by a heavyweight boxer named Klitschko there will be a reaction, but definitely not an equal one as the person on the receiving end of the action by Klitschko must box as if they were completely incapable before falling on their face.

That's a great law if your name is Klitschko, but for boxing fans, it's definitely not as good as Newton's Law. When I see Klitschko pounding an opponent (the action), I want to see his opponent fight back with all he has (the hopeful opposite and equal reaction.)

Now I can't blame this on the Klitschkos, it's not their fault they are superb boxers. But without stiff competition, even if it is only one rival, they can never be considered great champions and that is a shame because they are very good.

Magic Johnson had Larry Bird, Wayne Gretzky had Mario Lemieux, Michael Jordan had Reggie Miller and Muhammad Ali had Joe Frazier. But the Klitschkos ... well they have Samuel Peter? Sultan Ibragimov? Shannon Briggs?

While they are decent boxers, they definitely don't strike fear into their opponents. Vitali Klitschko's domination of Samuel Peter and Juan Carlos Gomez should serve as another reminder that heavyweights are going to need to rely on a lot more than just power. Often times young prospects in the division can beat much lesser fighters just with power, so they are not prepared for boxers at the skill of the Klitschkos.

And there have been some prospects in the past such as Chris Byrd and Joe Mesi, but neither man panned out to be good enough to take down the mighty Klitschkos. The heavyweight division needs a charismatic and athletic fighter to start wreaking havoc. With all the strength and conditioning programs available to athletes, there should be no reason for heavyweight boxers to look like Butterbean anymore.

The possible Chosen Ones

Great Britian's David Haye was a dominant cruiserweight for years as he won every major title and compiled 22 victories with 21 of those ending in knockouts. He is young, confident and athletic. So confident in fact, that he already announced he would retire by the age 0f 31, giving him three years to dominate the heavyweight division.

He hasn't wasted anytime as he knocked out Monte Barrett in his first fight at heavyweight. With only one win in the division under his belt, Haye is about to get his dream fight against Wladimir Klitschko. The fight should be officially announced in a few days and many expect it will be held on June 30 in Germany.

Haye could capture the world's imagination with a knockout victory over Klitschko and the heavyweight division could finally have some true competition at the top.

Chris Arreola

He already has all the charisma needed to be a star. He is an American born fighter with a Mexican heritage, which you don't often see in the heavyweight division. He just recently started fighting tougher competition around 2006, but he is a knockout artist and would be a breath of fresh air as champion.

In June 2008, he had his biggest win to date against fellow undefeated prospect Chazz Witherspoon. The fight was an unofficial eliminator to see how America's next heavyweight star would be. If Arreola is focused and hungry, he could bring real competition to the Klitschkos.

Aleksander Povetkin

When talking about a guy with "the look," Povetkin won't top the list. But I am just searching for a guy who can really challenge either of the Klitschko brothers and this guy has the boxing skill, but his physical dimensions could end up hurting him.

He is a very smart fighter and knows how to exchange on the inside, but at 6'2" he would struggle against the Klitschkos who have the reach of a terradactyl. But still, he is a fresh face in the division and has great skills. He wouldn't have as good of a chance as Haye or Arreola, but he is capable of an upset.

Andrei Arlovski

Yes, the same Arlovski who was heavyweight champion in the UFC. He trains in boxing with Freddie Roach so there is no doubt he is ready to compete at the professional level. He is chiseled from stone and is faster than any heavyweight in boxing.

His combination of speed and power would be overwhelming for either Klitschko who have grown accustomed to simply going through the motions as they dispose of their opposition. As long as Arlovski keeps the fundamentals in mind, I think he could have a chance and he would definitely draw the American audience back into boxing.

March Madness: Fear The Stretchy Pants

2009-03-22T15:36:00.000-07:00

Shinya Aoki makes people bend in mysterious ways. It's no wonder fighters fear him and his stretchy pants and it's no wonder I consider him the best lightweight in the world.

When 16 fighters with this much talent square off against each other, anything can happen. But there is one man who I think is the standard for consistency when it comes to dominating opponents and that is Shinya Aoki.

Gumby wins this tournament after some tough battles and once again, fighters must learn to respect the stretchy pants.

Pool A: #1. BJ Penn vs #4. Joe Stevenson

We saw this fight happen last year and it wasn't a pretty sight. Penn made Stevenson spout blood like Old Faithful Gyser. I think Penn uses that violent streak of his and tears up Stevenson on the feet. Penn's boxing is top notch and would overwhelm Stevenson again as Penn gets a knockout.

Pool A: #2. Sean Sherk vs #3. Josh Thomson

These are two physical, strong wrestlers going head to head. Thomson relies more on his speed when wrestling whereas Sherk is all about the power. I think its a very close contest, but I would expect Sherk to win a decision as he should be able to hold the dominant position for most of the fight.

Pool Championship: BJ Penn vs Sean Sherk

We have also seen this matchup once before, and once again, it was all Penn. I think Sherk would waste a lot of energy trying to take Penn to the mat, but Penn's superior balance and striking would keep Sherk off balance and Penn would win with another knockout.

Pool B: #1. Shinya Aoki vs #4. Jamie Varner

Varner knows how to strike and box very well, but he is pretty helpless on the ground. Aoki on the other hand is not very good on his feet and has a suspect chin, but he never has a problem getting his opponent to the mat even though they try their best to avoid it. Aoki catches Varner in an armbar for a submission victory.

Pool B: #2. Diego Sanchez vs #3. Gilbert Melendez

This is a dream matchup. Both men have cardio through the roof and love to fight at a fast pace. Both men would definitely have their moments of greatness in the fight, but in the end, it has been Sanchez who has folded under the pressure of highly regarded opponents more often. I think Melendez pulls out a razor thin decision.

Pool Championship: Shinya Aoki vs Gilbert Melendez

This would be a fun match in theory, but the problem is Melendez would have to take the fight to the mat so he could use his ground-and-pound. Once the fight hit the mat, Aoki would have little problem working off his back and securing a triangle choke for the victory.

Pool C: #1. Eddie Alvarez vs #4. Tyson Griffin

The best American fighter no one has heard of could make his name in the U.S. with a win over one of UFC's hottest prospects, Tyson Griffin. Both are strong in wrestling, but Alvarez has beaten some of the best in the world and he would use that experience to outclass the tough Griffin and show the UFC what they have been missing.

Pool C: #2. Joachim Hansen vs #3. Takanori Gomi

Both men just want to hit people hard so this fight would be a barn burner. The Fireball Kid was the best in the world at one point, but Hansen seems to be more in his prime while Gomi is beginning to fade. I think Gomi tires late in the fight and Hansen wins by knockout.

Pool Championship: Eddie Alvarez vs Joachim Hansen

Hansen is a tremendous striker and a tough guy, but he has a ceiling and there isn't much he can do about it. If Alvarez has a ceiling, he hasn't shown it yet. I think this is another grueling fight, but Alvarez manages to win by decision just like the first time these two met.

Pool D: #1. Kenny Florian vs #4. Mitsuhiro Ishida

Ishida is about as tough as a 4-seed can get, so this is tough for KenFlo. Ishida's best quality is his relentlessness, but that won't be enough to overcome Florian's efficiency. KenFlo has proven to be a student of the game as he is one of the best at finishing fights, whether its on the feet or on the mat. Florian gets a submission victory.

Pool D: #2. Gesias "JZ" Calvancanti vs Tatsuya Kawajiri

BJ Penn may be nicknamed "The Prodigy," but it is Calvancanti who has the most potential. Kawajiri has the power to floor anyone, but Calvancanti is so well-rounded he always has an escape and a way to win. I think JZ gets the win by submission.

Pool Championship: Kenny Florian vs Gesias "JZ" Calvancanti

These are two of the most well-rounded fighters in the game, but I think Calvancanti's athleticism is too much. Florian is a very smart fighter, but he can be limited athletically and that is a big hurdle when facing JZ. I think the pace is too fast and JZ wins by decision.

Semifinal: #1. BJ Penn vs #1. Shinya Aoki

This is the fight everyone wants to see. This might be the best matchup in all of MMA regardless of weight class right now. Two world champion caliber jujitsu fighters squaring off. Penn has a huge advantage on his feet, but no one finishes submissions like Aoki. Penn hits Aoki with a big shot that sends him to the mat, but Aoki scrambles and submits the man who is impossible to submit. Aoki wins by the skin of his teeth.

Semifinal: Eddie Alvarez vs Gesias "JZ" Calvancanti

The two best prospects in the lightweight division go head-to-head. At this point, the only two things separating these two is submissions. I think Calvancanti is a little more skilled when it comes to putting opponents away on the mat. Alvarez has power and great ground-and-pound, but he is still open to getting submitted and I think JZ does just that and gets the win.

Final: Shinya Aoki vs Gesias "JZ" Calvancanti

JZ would get another crack at Aoki, but I think the result remains the same. The first time they met, the fight was ruled a no contest after JZ was disqualified for illegal elbows. The second time they fought, Aoki won by decision. This time, I think Aoki wins by submission. JZ struggled to contain Aoki on the ground and this time he gets caught.

Champion: Shinya Aoki

March Madness: The Lightweights

2009-03-22T12:25:00.000-07:00

BJ Penn lets everyone know he is the No. 1 overall seed in the "First Round March Madness" lightweight tournament. His armpit probably doesn't smell good though.

Well, I got swept up in the NCAA March Madness tournament on Friday and Saturday, which stopped me from finishing my fictional "March Madness" tournaments. But I have saved the best for last as the lightweights square off.

The lightweight division has the most talent by far on a global scale. While the UFC likes to tout its light heavyweight division, if it signed the international fighters in my tournament the lightweight division would easily be its crown jewel.

Unlike the middleweights and welterweights, a clear No. 1 does not exist. BJ Penn is obviously a dominant fighter, but Shinya Aoki is the best jujitsu practitioner in mixed martial arts. There are masters and there are Brazilian national champions, but Aoki is in a league of his own when it comes to submissions.

Aoki doesn't technically have a championship, so Penn is awarded the No. 1 overall seed. The lightweight division is so stacked though that Jamie Varner, who is the WEC champion, is a No. 4 seed. When world champions are ranked that low, you know its the toughest division in mixed martial arts.

Pool A:

#1. BJ Penn

#2. Sean Sherk

#3. Josh Thomson

#4. Joe Stevenson

Pool B:

#1. Shinya Aoki

#2. Diego Sanchez

#3. Gilbert Melendez

#4. Jamie Varner

Pool C:

#1. Eddie Alvarez

#2. Joachim Hansen

#3. Takanori Gomi

#4. Tyson Griffin

Pool D:

#1. Kenny Florian

#2. Gesias "JZ" Calvancanti

#3. Tatsuya Kawajiri

#4. Mitsuhiro Ishida

As always, here is the breakdown of each pool.

Pool A: Penn is clearly one of the best fighters in the world, even though he was demolished by Georges St. Pierre. When it comes to fighting at 155 pounds though, there are not many who can hang with him. Sean Sherk is the strongest man at lightweight hands down and that makes him difficult for anyone to handle. Josh Thomson is aggressive and one of the hardest guys to beat because he won't ever give up. Joe Stevenson is a great wrestler and jujitsu player, but he has struggled since moving up in competition.

Pool B: Aoki is the best jujitsu practitioner in mixed martial arts in any weight class. He has earned the nickname "Gumby" because of his mind boggling flexibility. Diego Sanchez is a huge 155 pounder. He started his career at middleweight, so he packs some power and pushes the pace. Gilbert Melendez has been tagged as the fighter to lead the lightweight division into the future, but Thomson and Ishida slowed him down. Jamie Varner is the WEC champion and a tremendous striker, but needs to keep fighting tough competition like Donald Cerrone.

Pool C: It is a crime — a total, complete crime — that Alvarez is not in the UFC. He is a top American fighter making his name overseas and would be easy to market, unlike some of the top Japanese fighters. Joachim Hansen fights only the best and is a super dangerous kickboxer. Takanori Gomi was considered the best lightweight in the world, but recent losses have made him fall from grace. Tyson Griffin is a cardio machine and a great wrestler.

Pool D: Kenny Florian is the No. 1 contender to the UFC title and a great Muay Thai fighter that knows how to finish when it hits the mat. Gesias "JZ" Calvancanti is one of the smoothest fighters I have ever seen as he transitions from striking to grappling with ease. Tatsuya Kawajiri is a strong, strong man and lives up to his nickname of "Crusher." Mitsuhiro Ishida is tough to put away with most of his fights ending in a decision.

In such a talented weight class, there are many fighters that could have made an argument to be included so I will just list them off instead of giving reasons.

The snubbed: Roger Huerta, Nick Diaz, Clay Guida, Spencer Fisher, Gray Maynard, Hermes Franca, KJ Noons and Chris Horodecki among many others.

Results will be posted later.

March Madness: Can't Shield Off The Upset

2009-03-20T08:39:00.000-07:00

She may not be as tough as Georges St. Pierre, but Jake Shields shocks the world and wins the welterweight tournament.

Well it's a little late, but here are the results of the welterweight tournament. A quick warning: it's a big surprise, but there is always one shocker in March Madness and this is the weight class where it happens.

Pool A: #1. Georges St. Pierre vs. #4. Karo Parisyan

Out of all the tournaments so far, I honestly think this is the biggest mismatch in a first round. These two have met in the past and GSP was clearly the better fighter back then. His tremendous improvement with Parisyan's lackluster showings is a combination for disaster for "The Heat." St. Pierre wins by any way he chooses.

Pool A: #2. Josh Koscheck vs #3. Mike Swick

Now this is a matchup. Classic wrestler vs striker matchup here, but the problem is Koscheck wants to be a striker so badly that he often forgets to wrestle. I think Koscheck's ego gets the better of him as he tries to exchange leather with the super quick Swick who walks away with a knockout victory.

Pool Championship: Georges St. Pierre vs Mike Swick

Down the road, I would love to see this matchup, but I don't think Swick is ready yet. Swick has looked a tad star struck when he fights big name opponents. I think his striking is good enough to compete with GSP, but St. Pierre's ability to get takedowns at will would be too much and St. Pierre wins via submission.

Pool B: #1. Jake Shields vs #4. Marcus Davis

Shields draws one of the most dangerous strikers in the game with Davis, but Shields is smart enough and definitely good enough to overcome it. I think Davis comes out aggressive as always, but Shields would waste no time taking the fight to the mat and submitting Davis.

Pool B: #2. Nick Thompson vs #3. Jay Hieron

This is a tough one to call. Hieron is a great athlete and an explosive fighter, but Thompson is veteran savvy and has fought stiffer competition. I think it's that experience that gives Thompson the slight edge as he is able stop Hieron's hot streak and walk away with a decision.

Pool Championship: Jake Shields vs Nick Thompson

This is a rematch of the Elite XC Welterweight Championship match. I think Thompson makes it a closer fight than last time but Shields is still too good on the ground and no matter how much Thompson struggles to survive, Shields will catch him in a submission again.

Pool C: #1. Carlos Condit vs #4. Matt Serra

WEC champion meets former UFC champion in this intriguing matchup. Serra is a highly regarded jujitsu practitioner and has a deadly right hand, while Condit is just flat out mean. Condit's aggression is hard to handle and I think he overwhelms Serra in a flurry of Muay Thai offense.

Pool C: #2. Hayato "Mach" Sakurai vs #3. Matt Hughes

The two biggest legends in the welterweight division square off. The two fought all the way back in 2002 where Hughes won a grueling contest in four rounds. This time though, it has been Hughes who has slowly digressed and I think Sakurai is still dangerous. I think Mach wins the rematch, which would lead to a hopeful third meeting one day.

Pool Championship: Carlos Condit vs Hayato "Mach" Sakurai

If this fight happened two years ago I would say Sakurai gets the victory. But Condit's youth and his will to be the best would be enough to take down the Japanese legend. Sakurai would give Condit fits early with physical striking, but Condit would get the fight on the ground and use his long limbs to lock in a submission.

Pool D: #1. Thiago Alves vs #4. Anthony "Rumble" Johnson

Johnson is a really special athlete, but Alves is a really special fighter. Johnson may be champion one day, but I don't think anyone has figured out how to handle Alves' pure power yet. He even made Hughes fall into a fetal position as overwhelmed him with powerful kicks. So I got Alves by knockout.

Pool D: #2. Jon Fitch vs #3. Brock Larson

Larson gets underrated quite a bit, but Fitch is a monster. He is one of the best wrestlers in the division and seems to win every fight by ground-and-pound. While Larson is always dangerous on the ground, I think Fitch overpowers him and pounds out a win.

Pool Championship: Thiago Alves vs Jon Fitch

Fitch beat the young Alves three years ago, but a lot has changed since then. Alves has started to realize his full potential and I think he gets his payback. Alves would use the same strategy GSP used when he fought Fitch and methodically pick apart the former Purdue wrestler with his excellent striking.

Semifinal: #1. Georges St. Pierre vs #1. Jake Shields

So there are four No. 1 seeds in the finals, but I said it would be shocking and here is where it happens. I can't argue Shields is better than GSP, but there is always a shock and I think Shields has the tools necessary to pull off an upset. GSP would pick apart Shields on the feet, get comfortable and then take him down and work from the guard. GSP would make one false move and Shields secures the armbar.

Semifinal: #1. Carlos Condit vs #1. Thiago Alves

These fighters are virtually the same, the only difference being Alves' strength. With that being said, Alves should overpower Condit over three rounds of brutal action and walk away with a unanimous decision.

Finals: #1. Jake Shields vs #1. Thiago Alves

Shields beat GSP so you can be sure he is going to finish the job and get the championship. Alves is a dangerous striker but there is almost no one who can hang with Shields when it comes to fighting on the ground. Shields gets the takedown, works from the guard and gets his submission.

Champion: Jake Shields

March Madness: The Welterweights

2009-03-19T17:01:00.001-07:00

Will Georges St. Pierre be able to celebrate a "First Round March Madness" tournament championship?

Three champions crowned and two more to go. It's always easy to get off track with the actual March Madness happening, but I will do my best to give this welterweight tournament the attention it deserves.

The clear No. 1 in this field is Georges "Rush" St. Pierre. Just as the case in the heavyweight and middleweight divisions, St. Pierre is one of those freak athletes with an uncanny ability to exceed in every area of mixed martial arts.

The Canadian has shown signs of mental weakness before though, as was the case in his loss to Matt Serra. He will face some stiff competition in this tournament and these men are capable of dethroning him.

Six fighters from outside the UFC will be involved in this tournament with two of them gaining No. 1 seeds, showing once again there is top talent the UFC could still sign.

Pool A

#1. Georges St. Pierre

#2. Josh Koscheck

#3. Mike Swick

#4. Karo Parisyan

Pool B

#1. Jake Shields

#2. Nick Thompson

#3. Jay Hieron

#4. Marcus Davis

Pool C

#1. Carlos Condit

#2. Hayato "Mach" Sakurai

#3. Matt Hughes

#4. Matt Serra

Pool D

#1. Thiago Alves

#2. Jon Fitch

#3. Brock Larson

#4. Anthony Johnson

Here is the breakdown of each pool.

Pool A: Clearly St. Pierre is the best welterweight in the world right now and if he keeps improving at the rate he is going, he might be the best of all time. Koscheck is a little controversial at the two spot, especially with his recent loss. His tremendous athleticism and wrestling always makes him a threat. Swick is a special talent with blinding hand speed. Parisyan is a top judoka, but his last few performances have been uninspired and he is lucky to make it.

Pool B: I can't say enough about Jake Shields. His wrestling and jujitsu are top notch and his striking keeps improving. There is a reason he always has a championship on his waist. Nick Thompson is 14-1 in his last 15 fights with his lone loss coming to Shields. Jay Hieron is making noise and dominated the IFL. His athleticism is starting to shine through. Marcus Davis is one of the most exciting fighters on the planet and knocks almost everyone out.

Pool C: The nickname "Natural Born Killer" is no joke when talking about Carlos Condit. It's hard to describe how violent Condit can be. It has to be seen to be appreciated. "Mach" Sakurai is a true legend of the sport and is still competitive despite getting up in age. At 34-8, he has to be respected. Speaking of legends, Matt Hughes is the greatest of all-time. He's not the fighter he once was, but 42-7 gets you a 3-seed in my book. Serra has always been underrated and as former champion, he deserves a spot in the tourney.

Pool D: Thiago Alves is the No. 1 contender and I don't know if you have seen his leg kicks, but he could knock a tree down with those kicks. He is a dangerous threat to St. Pierre's title. Jon Fitch is one of the best wrestlers in MMA and is one of the toughest and most conditioned athletes. Brock Larson could seem like a surprise, but he is 24-2 and has only lost to Fitch and Condit. That's impressive. Anthony Johnson is in the tournament based completely on potential and athleticism. I'm not sure I have ever seen a bigger welterweight.

The snubbed: As previously stated, Johnson is in the tournament on potential and Parisyan on reputation. Two men who could make an argument to get in the tournament are Paulo Thiago and Dong Hyun Kim. Thiago surprised everyone with his win over Koscheck and is 11-0 now. He could be a future star. In my opinion, Kim won the fight against Parisyan, but at least it was overturned to a no contest instead of a loss. I think Kim has all the tools to challenge for the title one day.

Results of the tournament will be up later tonight.

March Madness: Caught in a Spider's web

2009-03-18T18:39:00.000-07:00

Anderson Silva once again on the top of the world as he blazes through "The First Round March Madness" middleweight tournament

Don't act like you're surprised. Here is the breakdown of how Anderson "The Spider" Silva once again proved his dominance.

Pool A: #1. Anderson Silva vs #4. Denis Kang

Kang has all the potential in the world and is very dangerous on the ground. The problem is so is Silva. But the real problem is Kang loses focus as he did against Alan Belcher when he got caught with a submission. There is no way that should have happened, but it means Silva could easily catch him. Silva wins by knockout though.

Pool A: #2. Michael Bisping vs #3. Thales Leites

This is the fight that should happen before Leites gets his title shot. I think Leites is very skilled, but Bisping is a big middleweight and fights at a blistering pace. His cardio and pace would be too much for Leites and I think Bisping would overwhelm him and win with some ground-and-pound.

Pool Championship: Anderson Silva vs Michael Bisping

This is the fight Bisping has talked about ever since moving down in weight. The problem is he likes to utilize his Muay Thai and you don't want to do that against Silva. I think the fight would end up in a clinch and Silva is absolutely unbeatable in that position. Some wicked knees and punches would get Silva the win.

Pool B: #1. Gegard Mousasi vs #4. Jason "Mayhem" Miller

This one would be a war, because it always is with Miller. Mousasi is skilled in every area and reminds me a lot of a Georges St. Pierre type fighter. Miller is very smart and crafty though and I think both men would each have moments of having the upper hand. In the end though, Mousasi is too good and would win on the scorecards.

Pool B: #2. Paulo Filho vs #3. Vitor Belfort

Fihlo is a big middleweight and Belfort used to fight heavyweights, so this one would be physical. Filho is super dangerous on the ground, but I think Belfort has found his speed again and would be unable to unleash a lightening fast combination on the often uninspired Filho. The older fighter gets the upset and Belfort moves on after a knockout.

Pool Championship: Gegard Mousasi vs Vitor Belfort

Belfort's weakness has been against great wrestlers and counter punchers. Mousasi does both of those well. I think Belfort would get over anxious and show off his hand speed, but get caught with a counter that would drop him. After that I think Mousasi takes his time and works him over on the ground for a ground-and-pound win.

Pool C: #1. Robbie Lawler vs #4. Benji Radach

Radach is a physical fighter that likes to bring everything including the kitchen sink. Lawler can do his share of brawling but he is much more technical and would use that to his advantage. I think Lawler sprawl-and-brawls his way to a victory after stuffing the takedown attempts of Radach.

Pool C: #2. Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza vs #3. Matt Lindland

Souza has looked impressive compiling a 10-2 record but the hardest thing for inexperienced fighters to handle is a strong wrestler. I think Lindland wouldn't waste time playing games on his feet and would take Souza down with authority and try to smother him with elbows and punches. I think Lindland has to work hard but walks away with a decision.

Pool Championship: #1. Robbie Lawler vs #3. Matt Lindland

This would be a great fight. Lindland has gassed bad in his recent fights at times, but if he paces himself just right, he has all the tools necessary to beat Lawler. Lawler could get frustrated if he is not able to knockout Lindland after landing a few hard shots. After that, I think Lindland takes over as punishes Lawler on the ground to win a decision.

Pool D: #1. Demian Maia vs #4. Nate Marquardt

This fight could actually happen down the line. The more Marquardt trains with St. Pierre, the more he starts to fight like him, which is a scary thought since Marquardt was already a beast. With that being said, Maia has made his opponents pay anytime the fight hits the floor and I think he gets the biggest win of his career over Marquardt via submission.

Pool D: #2. Cung Le vs #3. Yushin Okami

Okami is going to do whatever it takes to win, even if that means wrestling his opponent to the ground and holding him there. But Le is explosive and one of the best strikers in the world when he puts it all together. To give an example, he knocked out an opponent with a kick to the body and broke Frank Shamrock's arm with his striking and physicality. I think Le overpowers Okami and knocks him out.

Pool Championship: Demian Maia vs Cung Le

It's hard to tell what either of these man can fully do. Maia is 10-0 and Le is 6-0. Something has to give and I would say it would be Maia. At the end of the day, Le is strong enough to get to his feet if the fight hits the mat and Maia has to get better at his striking while Le could end the fight in one kick or punch at anytime. Le by knockout.

Semifinal: #1. Anderson Silva vs #1. Gegard Mousasi

Mousasi is a very smart fighter and he knows how to survive. He likes to retreat at times though and while that seems smart against Silva, all you have to do is ask Rich Franklin to find out thats a mistake. I think Silva could get a Thai clinch and deliver his deadly knees to floor Mousasi.

Semifinal: #2. Cung Le vs #3. Matt Lindland

These two are physical and punishing fighters. Lindland does it on the ground and Le on the feet. As I stated earlier, in Lindlands most recent loss to Belfort, he seemed to gas after getting caught with a punch. Le is just as powerful if not more so than Belfort and I think he could catch Lindland with a kick as he comes in for a takedown.

Final: #1. Anderson Silva vs #2. Cung Le

The young Le gets an early test against the master of fighting. Le is eerily similar to Silva with his devastating striking, but Silva has a jujitsu black belt and is very good on the ground. I think Le would surprise people and go toe-to-toe with Silva and be competitive with neither man getting the advantage. The fight would hit the floor and Silva would lock in the submission and prove he is the best fighter in the world once again.

Champion: Anderson "The Spider" Silva

March Madness: The Middleweights

2009-03-18T16:09:00.000-07:00

The middleweight tournament begins to see if anyone can stop Anderson Silva (who knocked out James Irvin with his eyes closed and his back to him apparently.)

Fedor Emelianenko and Mauricio "Shogun" Rua have danced their way through "The First Round March Madness Tournament" and have won the championship in their respective weight division.

Today's featured division is the middleweights, where one man clearly stands above the rest. Anderson "The Spider" Silva is considered the undisputed best fighter at 185 pounds and the best fighter in the world regardless of weight.

He has torn through the UFC middleweight division, which as you will see in a second is pretty weak for the most part. Of the 16 fighters in this tournament, only 7 are from the UFC. That's not a terrible number, but I would love to see Silva take on some of the guys that are going to be in this tournament.

A quick disclaimer before I unveil the pools. Dan Henderson and Rich Franklin ARE NOT in the tournament because their last fight was in the light heavyweight division. I am trying my best just to include current middleweight fighters. So even though Henderson is moving down, he is excluded.

Pool A

#1. Anderson Silva

#2. Michael Bisping

#3. Thales Leites

#4. Denis Kang

Pool B

#1. Gegard Mousasi

#2. Paulo Filho

#3. Vitor Belfort

#4. Jason Miller

Pool C

#1. Robbie Lawler

#2. Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza

#3. Matt Lindland

#4. Benji Radach

Pool D

#1. Demian Maia

#2. Cung Le

#3. Yushin Okami

#4. Nate Marquardt

Heres a little breakdown of each pool.

Pool A: As stated earlier, Anderson Silva is the clear cut No. 1 fighter in this division and probably the world. Michael Bisping was always a good fighter at light heavyweight, but since coming down in weight he has looked even more explosive and deadly. Thales Leites is the No. 1 contender for Silva's strap and while I think it is a little early, he is 14-1. Denis Kang is loaded with potential and is dominant at times, but he slipped to a 4-seed after losing his UFC debut.

Pool B: Gegard Mousasi is just a winner plain and simple. 24-2 and the DREAM middleweight grand prix champion. He is the real deal. Paulo Filho was tagged as the man to beat Silva, but a loss to Chael Sonnen put those talks to an end. Filho is still extremely good and has only one loss. Vitor Belfort has incredible hand speed and has defeated top fighters from heavyweights to middleweights. Jason Miller is a tough guy that never gives up. He fights the best around and is always competitive.

Pool C: Robbie Lawler holds a title, which he means he gets a 1-seed. He is one of the best on his feet and his takedown defense is top-notch after training with Matt Hughes. Ronaldo Souza is a jujitsu ace and made it to the finals of DREAM's grand prix before losing to Mousasi. He is 10-2 and has a bright future. Matt Lindland was the best in the world at one time and an Olympic silver medalist in wrestling. Benji Radach won all but one fight in the IFL and has a win over Murilo Rua. Another tough out at 19-4.

Pool D: Some may say its too early to give Demian Maia a 1-seed, but a 10-0 record with eight submissions is impressive. His ground game could be the best in the world when it comes to MMA. Cung Le is undefeated and for all I know he might never lose, but his inactivity gave him a 2-seed. Yushin Okami is a punisher, and while not always exciting he wins a lot. He is 7-1 in the UFC and its time he gets a shot. Nate Marquardt is very experienced and his domination in Pancrase has to be seen. Wins by a flying knee and broken arm are always impressive.

The snubbed: Murilo "Ninja" Rua, the brother of Mauricio Rua, has a lot of talent but always seems to lose when he fights the elite competitors. Chael Sonnen has a win over Paulo Filho, but 10 losses, including three to Jeremy Horn, keep him out. Joey Villasenor is a fighter I really enjoy and I think he is one big win away from making a tournament like this.

As always, I will post a full breakdown of the tournament a little later in the day.

March Madness: Shot by "Shogun"

2009-03-17T18:10:00.000-07:00

It's that innovative offense that landed Mauricio "Shogun" Rua the surprising championship in my light heavyweight tournament

It's time to crown the second champion in "The First Round March Madness Tournament." This time it is the light heavyweights competing in a 16-man tournament.

Pool A: #1 Rashad Evans vs #4 Ricardo Arona

Evans is the champion and is a great athlete with striking that is improving every time out. Arona looked to be on the decline lately, but his submission skills are top notch. I don't think Evans would do the smart thing and use his wrestling. Instead, he will try to strike, Arona will get the takedown work for a submission and pull off a huge upset to start the tournament.

Pool A: #2 Renato "Babalu" Sobral vs #3. Vladimir Matyushenko

Babalu was considered the best jujitsu player in all of mixed martial arts for a while and remains dangerous on the ground. Matyushenko is a world-class wrestler and is no slouch when it comes to sambo. I think Babalu hits him with some of his heavy hands, but will eventually get taken down. Once down though, I think Babalu works for a submission from his back and gets the win.

Pool Championship: Renato "Babalu" Sobral vs Ricardo Arona

This fight would have its moments of downtime because I think its a wash on the ground. Neither man would get an advantage on the mat. Babalu would rough Arona up a little bit on the feet and since Babalu has fought in America for some time now, his wrestling and ground-and-pound has improved and will ultimately lead him to victory.

Pool B: #1. Quinton "Rampage" Jackson vs #4. Brandon Vera

Rampage is a super athlete and is one of the strongest fighters around. He hits like a truck and slams even harder. Vera is a more well-versed athlete in that he is explosive and flexible. While I believe Vera's flexibility and height make him a dangerous submission and Muay Thai artist, I still think Rampage overpowers "The Truth" and take a victory.

Pool B: #2. Rich Franklin vs #3. Forrest Griffin

This is the best fight of the first round. These guys have the two biggest hearts in the game and never quit. This fight would be on the feet the whole time and both guys would take a lot of punishment. Franklin's confidence, composure and accuracy would be too much for Griffin's power and pace in the end. I think this would be a classic matchup and would love to see it.

Pool Championship: Quinton "Rampage" Jackson vs Rich Franklin

Another matchup I would love to see. Both guys are great strikers but there is a clear advantage in power and in wrestling for Rampage. For as much as I love Franklin's never-say-die attitude, I think this is another situation like Anderson Silva where he would just be overwhelmed. Close fight for a while, but Rampage gets the knockout.

Pool C: #1. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs #4. Thiago Silva

This is a perfect example of experience vs youth. Silva is loaded with talent and has all the tools to be champion, but he is young and makes stupid mistakes, especially in his striking. Nogueira is always composed and ready to capitalize on any mistake. Silva would come out swinging for the fences, Nogueira would counter and drop him before getting a stoppage or a submission.

Pool C: #2. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua vs #3. Wanderlei Silva

I don't think anyone would want to face a striker as dangerous as Silva in the first round, but Shogun has the most tools out of all the fighters. He is a jujitsu ace and an accurate and powerful striker. I think Silva rocks Shogun early and puts him in trouble, but Silva will get sloppy going for the knockout and eat a counter that turns the tide of the fight and gets the win for Shogun.

Pool Championship: Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs Mauricio "Shogun" Rua

This fight will be a much slower pace than their first round fights. Both men will take the time to feel each other out. I think Rua's athletic ability will give him the upper hand in being able to make changes quickly and efficiently. It will be a very close fight, but Rua stays one step ahead and wins on the scorecards.

Pool D: #1. Lyoto Machida vs #4. Chuck Liddell

We can call this the passing of the torch. Liddell dominated his division for a long time, but Machida shows he is the real deal when he outclasses the "Iceman" for three straight rounds and wins impressively on the scorecards. Machida gets a lot of heat for not finishing fights, but the bottom line is he wins and he fights very efficiently by taking minimal damage.

Pool D: #2. Dan Henderson vs #3. Keith Jardine

These two fighters embody the definition of toughness. They fight anywhere, anytime and against anyone. Jardine could use his excellent leg kicks to keep Henderson from landing his devastating right hand. Henderson is one of the best at making mid-fight adjustments and I think he would find a way to take Jardine down and use his wrestling to ground-and-pound a win.

Pool Championship: Lyoto Machida vs Dan Henderson

Machida has mastered the art of jumping in, hitting his opponent and retreating. It's a great strategy, but against a wrestler as good as Henderson, it can be timed. Henderson would time it, look for a takedown and use his superior strength to test the chin of Machida and hand him his first loss of his career.

Semifinal: #1. Quinton "Rampage" Jackson vs #2. Renato "Babalu" Sobral

Babalu has always had one weakness and it has been explosive and powerful strikers. In his match with Liddell, Babalu looked completely scared for the beginning of the fight. I think Rampage comes out and solidifies himself as the fighter that will dictate the pace and keep Babalu uncomfortable. Rampage scores a knockout for the win.

Semifinal: #2. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua vs #2. Dan Henderson

Henderson is going to come out aggressive and push the pace on Shogun who likes to take time to feel out opponents. But when Rua get hits, his killer instinct comes out and one punch is all it takes for him to get in a rhythm that can be very dangerous for opponents. Shogun looked slow and gassed against Mark Coleman, but when he is ready, he is near impossible to beat. I think Rua finds his confidence and gets a knockout.

Championship: #1. Quinton "Rampage" Jackson vs #2. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua

By now Shogun is confident, so just get out of the way. The only man that looks similar to Rua when he is on his game is Anderson Silva. If Rampage's plan doesn't work right away he will start to second guess his strategy just like in the Forrest Griffin fight. Rua I think would go for broke and bring the heat on Rampage. Rua overwhelms him and uses his power and accuracy to pull off the upset.

Champion: Mauricio "Shogun" Rua

March Madness: The Light Heavyweights

2009-03-17T15:24:00.000-07:00

Rashad Evans is the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion and No. 1 overall seed in my March Madness tournament.

Fedor Emelianenko took home the gold in the heavyweight division for "The First Round March Madness Tournament" yesterday, so today it is the light heavyweights turn.

This should be an interesting tournament for a few reasons. The parity in the division makes it difficult to consider any fighter a true No. 1 overall seed, unlike the clear dominance of Emelianenko in the heavyweight division.

There also isn't as much international flavor in this division since the UFC pretty much has all the top light heavyweights. In fact, only four fighters from outside the UFC will be in this tournament, though one of those men will be a No. 1 seed.

So here is the breakdown of the tournament.

Pool A

#1. Rashad Evans

#2. Renato "Babalu" Sobral

#3. Vladimir Matyushenko

#4. Ricardo Arona

Pool B

#1. Quinton Jackson

#2. Rich Franklin

#3. Forrest Griffin

#4. Brandon Vera

Pool C

#1. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira

#2. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua

#3. Wanderlei Silva

#4. Thiago Silva

Pool D

#1. Lyoto Machida

#2. Dan Henderson

#3. Keith Jardine

#4. Chuck Liddell

Let me offer a quick breakdown of how I came to these selections.

Pool A: Rashad Evans is the only fighter holding a meaningful world title in this weight class right now so he earned the No. 1 overall seed. I mentioned four fighters from outside the UFC would be in the tournament and three of them are in this pool. "Babalu" used to be a force in the UFC before jumping to Affliction where he is still a force. Matyushenko is a former IFL champion and Ricardo Arona was considered the best light heavyweight in the world at one point and was one of Pride's top fighters. This will be tough for Evans.

Pool B: "Rampage" was the No. 1 contender for Evans' title before getting sidelined with an injury. Despite a loss to Forrest Griffin, he has been red hot. Rich Franklin jumps up and down between this weight and middleweight, but he is one of the best no matter what weight. Griffin is a former UFC champion and a tough out. Vera is the most physically gifted fighter in the division if he can put it all together.

Pool C: Antonio Rogerio Nogueira is the little brother of former UFC heavyweight champion Antonio Nogueira. He is just as dominant as his older brother and is the best light heavyweight not in the UFC. "Shogun" Rua was going to be the best fighter in the world until a knee injury sidelined him and hampered him in a fight against Griffin. Wanderlei Silva is one of the best strikers in the world. Thiago Silva is a hot prospect with only one loss to Lyoto Machida.

Pool D: Speaking of Lyoto Machida, he gets the last No. 1 seed with his undefeated record and title shot looming. Dan Henderson is an extremely dangerous fighter and is like Franklin in that he can fight at multiple weights. Keith Jardine is a tough fighter and is always willing to fight the best competition. Just like Randy Couture took the "legend" spot in the heavyweights, Chuck Liddell steps in the legend spot for this weight class. It wouldn't be right if he wasn't in it.

The snubbed: I wish I could add more fighters, but I cannot. Luis Cane barely missed it as he only has one loss and it was by disqualification. But his body of work isn't as impressive as Brandon Vera's so he is on the outside. Matt Hamill and Jon Jones are two promising fighters, but again not experienced enough. Rameau Sokoudjou has wins over Arona and Nogueira, which is very impressive, but a record of 5-4 isn't good enough. Tito Ortiz gave Liddell a run for the "legend" spot, but his losses to Liddell and inactivity hurt his chances.

Later today I will have the complete breakdown of this tournament.

March Madness: The Last Emperor is the last one standing

2009-03-16T18:22:00.000-07:00

Fedor wins my title too

This is a continuation of my previous post where I will go into detail about how this March Madness tournament would transpire.

Pool A: #1. Fedor Emelianenko vs #4. Ben Rothwell

Fedor is considered the best heavyweight in the world and in quite a few circles, the best fighter in the world. His first round opponent is a tough dude with a 30-6 record and former IFL Champion. But Fedor would be too much and one of his dynamite combinations would floor Rothwell early and Fedor would put him away in the first round.

Pool A: #2. Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic vs #3. Sergei Kharitonov

Cro Cop is a legend in the sport, but his recent performances show he is on his last legs. Meanwhile, Kharitonov is one of the most feared strikers, in fact many say he is a young Cro Cop. In this matchup, I think the pupil becomes the teacher and Kharitonov takes the next step in his career with a knockout victory in the second round.

Pool Championship: Fedor Emelianenko vs Sergei Kharitonov

A win over Cro Cop is impressive, but Fedor is a whole different animal. Kharitonov would come out smart and maybe score some points, but as the fight went on, Fedor would find the weakness, capitalize on the mistake and win like he always does.

Pool B: #1. Josh Barnett vs #4. Gabriel Gonzaga

Pretty tough matchup for Barnett to start things off. Gonzaga can submit you from anywhere and is a big guy. He does, however, have a glass chin and Barnett hits hard. I think Barnett gets a takedown and ground-and-pounds his way to victory.

Pool B: #2. Antonio Nogueira vs #3. Alistair Overeem

Classic kickboxer versus grappler matchup. Nogueira has a chin of steel though and would be able to survive the initial barrage of striking Overeem would bring to the table. Overeem would get a little sloppy and desperate, Nogueira would take advantage and secure the submission for the win.

Pool Championship: Josh Barnett vs Antonio Nogueira

These two have met in the past and each man holds a win in the series. This rubber match would be an epic battle, but I would give the nod to Nogueira who has been more active lately and fought better competition. His experience in the UFC should be enough to get a grueling decision over Barnett.

Pool C: #1. Frank Mir vs #4. Cheick Kongo

I think Kongo is a promising fighter. He is chiseled from stone and hits hard, but Mir is the master of pacing a fight and dictating where it goes. I think the jujitsu ace would be quick to take it to the ground where Kongo has very poor defense. Mir would lock in any submission he wants and win the fight.

Pool C: #2. Tim Sylvia vs #3. Shane Carwin

I would love to see this fight. Sylvia gets a bad rap, but the man knows how to win, even if it is boring. Carwin is a physical fighter and is one of the hottest prospects in the sport. I think this would be two big guys throwing bombs and having a very physical fight. In the end, Sylvia's experience is too much right now and I think he takes a decision.

Pool Championship: Frank Mir vs Tim Sylvia

Both are intelligent fighters and both men will try to dictate the pace of the fight and where it goes. Sylvia will try to jab and keep Mir on the fence and I think he would be successful for a while. Eventually, Mir would get an opening and put the big man on the mat. From there Mir could work for a submission much like he did when they first met.

Pool D: #1. Brock Lesnar vs #4. Randy Couture

This match would go similar to the way it did when these two first met a few months ago. At this stage in his career, Couture is just too old to hang with the athleticism and power Lesnar possesses. Lesnar would win this fight with some ground-and-pound in the second round.

Pool D: #2. Andrei Arlovski vs #3. Cain Velasquez

This is the best fight of the first round. Arlovski is a devestating striker and Velasquez is the Chosen One as far as the heavyweight division is concerned. Velasquez's cardio and work ethic would give Arlovski fits, but in the end, the super crisp striking of the Pitbull would put the young gun down and Velasquez will have to wait another March before capturing the title.

Pool Championship: Brock Lesnar vs Andrei Arlovski

Lesnar is seen as the best athlete in the heavyweight division. If that is the case, Arlovski is a close second. Lesnar likes to throw hard punches, but Arlovski would throw accurate punches and at the end of the day quality is better than quantity. Lesnar would taste more leather than he ever has in this match and get KO'd midway through the fight.

Semifinal: #1. Fedor Emelianenko vs #2. Antonio Nogueira

These two know each other very well and have fought three times. Twice Emelianenko won by decision and the other was ruled a no contest after an accidental cut. I think Fedor would try to knock out Nogueira, but it would end up hitting the mat because Nogueira just doesn't quit. Once on the mat, it would be a battle of wills, but Fedor's uncanny strength and technique in the full guard would get him yet another decision victory.

Semifinal: #1 Frank Mir vs #2. Andrei Arlovski

Frank Mir has been red hot lately and his striking has improved drastically. Arlovski is training with the best boxing trainer in the world. It would be a very tough fight to call and could go either way. I think Arlovski would win for most of the fight, but I think Mir is the best at capitalizing on mistakes and when that window opens, I think Mir would lock in a quick submission and pull out a comeback victory.

Final: #1. Fedor Emelianenko vs #1. Frank Mir

I would pay a whole lot of money for this one. I think Mir is in his prime and Fedor showed weakness for the first time in a long time in his last fight. Just as Mir did the impossible and knocked out Nogueira, I think he would have the confidence to do it to Emelianenko. Mir would win most of the fight and have Fedor searching for answers, but just like he did to Arlovski, Fedor would hit Mir with a punch from nowhere and prevent Mir from pulling off an upset and ending the legend of the unbeatable Fedor.

Champion: Fedor Emelianenko

March Madness: The Heavyweights

2009-03-16T14:55:00.000-07:00

He doesn't look very dangerous, but Fedor would be the No. 1 overall seed in an MMA Heavyweight March Madness tournament.

It's that time of year again where the sports world stops for a few weeks and basks in all of college basketball's glory. The NCAA Tournament is one of the most exciting, well-run tournaments in all of sports and it should be the envy of every other sport.

I know it is the envy of this mixed martial arts fan, who would like to see a 16-man tournament in each division. So since that isn't happening anytime soon, I will present my dream MMA March Madness tourneys each day this week. The schedule will be as follows.

Monday: Heavyweights — Tuesday: Light Heavyweights — Wednesday: Middleweights — Thursday: — Welterweights — Friday: Lightweights

I will split the tournaments up into four pools of four fighters each. The champions of each pool would be the Final Four and a champion would be crowned. I present to you the heavyweight bracket.

Pool A
#1. Fedor Emelianenko
#2. Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic
#3. Sergei Kharitonov
#4. Ben Rothwell

Pool B
#1. Josh Barnett
#2. Antonio Nogueira
#3. Alistair Overeem
#4. Gabriel Gonzaga

Pool C
#1. Frank Mir
#2. Tim Sylvia
#3. Shane Carwin
#4. Cheick Kongo

Pool D
#1. Brock Lesnar
#2. Andrei Arlovski
#3. Cain Velasquez
#4. Randy Couture

If a fighter holds a title, there is a good chance they were going to get the No. 1 seed, which is why Lesnar landed a top spot. The best No. 1 seed went into Pool A, the best No. 2 seed went into Pool B, the best No. 3 seed back to Pool A and then the best No. 4 back to Pool B.

The first round pits the No. 1 seeds against the No. 4 seeds and the 2's against the 3's. The winners of those matchups fight for the Pool Championship. Pool A Champion would face Pool B champion and C would fight D.

The winners fight for the overall championship.

I did my best to include who I thought was the most deserving of the fighters, but just like in the real March Madness, fighters were snubbed. Barely missing the cut in the heavyweight division were Heath Herring, Fabricio Werdum and Junior Dos Santos.

Pool A is heavy on the European talent and full of good kickboxers. But anytime Fedor is in the mix, it's hard to think anyone has a chance.

Pool B is a showcase of men who have reached the pinnacles of their sport before entering MMA. Barnett is a world-class wrestler, Overeem is a tremendous kickboxer and Gonzaga and Nogueira are jujitsu aces.

Pool C is a mixed bag and a pretty wide open division in my estimation. All those men have had moments of glory and moments of mental lapses. Competitive pool for sure.

When I look at Pool D I think athleticism. Those four guys are some of the best athletes the heavyweight division has ever seen, and all of them are capable of five-round wars.

Take the time to make your own picks, and in a few short hours I will have my full tournament breakdown of how I think it would go.

Since I've Been Gone

2009-03-04T20:16:00.000-08:00

Juan Manuel Marquez added to his rich legacy on Saturday after he won another instant classic against "Baby Bull" Juan Diaz.

A lot happened over the weekend and earlier this week, and I completely did not cover any of it. This will be a shorter entry just to get all you fight fans caught up on some important happenings that you may have missed.

Juan Diaz vs Juan Manuel Marquez: One for the ages

If you have not had the chance to see this fight yet, just stop reading this blog and find it. I can honestly say it not only tops the great performances from Shane Mosley and Vic Darchinyan earlier this year, but it also goes down as one of the best boxing matches of all-time.

"Baby Bull" Juan Diaz came out like you would expect him to: hands flying. His quantity-over-quality approach throws fighters off balance very well, but the savvy Marquez never panicked, which is a good thing since he was getting mowed down in the early rounds.

He tried his best to throw counter punches, but since his back was on the ropes for most of the early rounds of the fight, Marquez was not having much success. Then he cut Diaz in the eighth round and the fight turned.

Baby Bull couldn't see very well because of the blood dripping into his eye and Marquez turned up the heat and boxed the same way he did when he became famous for his bouts with Manny Pacquiao. The dramatic back-and-forth action and the just the all-out war that happened between these two will go down in boxing history books.

Seriously, watch this fight.

On the same night, one of my favorite featherweights, Chris John, fought to a draw with Rocky Juarez. John is still undefeated and looked great, but I was impressed with Juarez. It was a solid bout, but I was disappointed John couldn't get the victory.

Johnathon Banks vs Tomasz Adamek: Where's the killer instinct?

The fight that took place in New Jersey Friday night looked more like a sparring session for most of the fight compared to the blistering barn-burner Diaz and Marquez put on in Houston the following night.

I had very high expectations for the fight, but was a little let down with the performance from Banks. Banks is the hottest prospect in the cruiserweight division and Adamek is one of the best boxers around, so I figured it should be great. It was good, not great.

Banks looked sharp in the early rounds, using a jab that seemed to be too quick for Adamek who never stopped stalking. Banks did a good job of keeping his lead left foot out far enough to keep Adamek at a distance. Throughout those early rounds, Adamek seemed content to just chase Banks.

While Banks is a solid prospect, he will need to develop a killer instinct to get to the next level. He had the champ in trouble a few times, but he laid off the gas and got a little too comfortable and confident and didn't fight with enough urgency. He paid the price as Adamek hit him with powerful shots in the last few rounds.

In what could be the shortest right hook ever thrown, Adamek floored Banks in the seventh. Banks got up on legs as sturdy as string cheese and was smothered before the referee stepped in and called for an end to the fight.

Adamek proved he is going to be a tough champion to defeat and he has developed the confidence and poise required to successfully defend the strap. If Banks can find a killer instinct, he will become a world champion. I still think he has a bright future though I was disappointed a little with the fight.

WEC 39: Mike Brown is for real

You can count me in among those who thought Mike Brown would have a short lived run with the featherweight championship after he surprisingly defeated Urijah Faber. In fact, I thought he would lose pretty soundly to Leonard Garcia on Sunday.

I was wrong.

Brown not only won, he dominated a very good fighter in one round. Brown used that same powerful striking he displayed against Faber to pretty much dispose of Garcia with ease. It was an awesome and frightening statement for featherweights, including Faber, who thought Brown was a one-and-done champion.

I can't wait for the Brown/Faber rematch. I am convinced Brown holds a strength advantage, even though there is no doubt Faber is all-around better.

In other action, Damacio Page looked scary good against Marcus Galvao. The quick first round knockout was very frightening, but more on that in tomorrow's post. The fact is Page is crazy and has no fear as he comes out swinging for the fences every time.

Two other quick notes from the show. Highly regarded Bart Palaszewski suffered a huge upset loss to Ricardo Lamas. Not much was known about Lamas, but if he can hang with Palaszewski, then he could have a future.

Also, a much anticipated bout between Marcus Hicks and Rob McCullough was a complete bomb. Despite some good action in the second round, the fight was boring and embarrassing. I love technical fights, but both men couldn't even land a jab and neither looked to engage with anything more than light kicks and the occasional dirty boxing.

I expect MUCH more from these two, hopefully they bounce back. Oh yeah, McCullough won I guess.

Keeping the mixed in mixed martial arts

2009-02-27T11:56:00.000-08:00

That's what a punch looks like when a national champion wrestler tries to be a boxer. Not technically sound at all and pretty ugly. Please use your wrestling again Josh Koscheck.

In the early 1990s when the UFC was first starting, no on thought it would grow beyond the cult following it had. It was an underground sport that was deemed barbaric and dangerous.

And it was.

As a result, it almost went bankrupt. The decision to market mixed martial arts as a bloodsport limited the growth of the audience and turned athletic commissions away. UFC found its saving grace when Zuffa purchased the company.

The UFC implemented a strict set of rules, weight classes and signed the most respected fighters in the disciplines of jujitsu, boxing, wrestling and muay thai. UFC was legitimate and it was ready for the whole world to see. It was a change I was glad to see, the more fans it has the bigger the sport can become and that is always great.

There was one problem however, and that was the amount of fans watching the fights just because they wanted to see blood and knockouts. I love a good scrap, but mixed martial arts is not boxing, and the sport is so unique and often beautiful because of the strategy it requires and all the different techniques that are displayed.

The thirst for the knockout put pressure on fighters to change their style. If they wanted to be popular with the fans and earn a title shot, they would have to know how to put someone to sleep. On one hand, it helped fighters become much more well rounded, which is good. But the problem is fighters who get to the big dance on their wrestling prowess abandon what they know best and want to be a kick boxer.

A perfect example of this would be Josh Koscheck this past Saturday against Paulo Thiago.

Koscheck was clearly the better fighter, even on the feet, where he was dominating Thiago. But Koscheck is a two-time national champion in collegiate wrestling and he did not attempt one takedown. He hung out on his feet for too long, got caught with a devastating uppercut, and was knocked out by an inferior fighter.

I know if I were as good as Koscheck at wrestling, I would have taken Thiago to the mat after I softened him up on his feet. Koscheck would have easily been able to land shots had he secured a takedown.

I don't blame the fans for the change in fighters' mentalities. The fighter should know that if they fight to their strengths and mix things up, the fans will like them either way. Georges St. Pierre is the most popular fighter in the UFC and he often takes his opponent down and works ground and pound.

However, the UFC management does send mixed signals at times. Fighters like Yushin Okami and Lyoto Machida are due for title shots, but because they are not the most exciting fighters, they are put on the back burner. I think Joe Silva is a tremendous matchmaker, but that would be my one gripe with the business angle of the UFC.

It's disappointing to watch fighters such as Koscheck and even Joe Stevenson go into a match and not use their strengths to win a fight. If Demian Maia can become a fan favorite, so can other fighters that don't go for knockouts.

Maia is a dominant submission artist and he knows it, so he takes his opponent down and makes him tap. The fans love every second of it. The fans are becoming more educated too. When a fighter passes from full guard to side mount, the crowd applauds. That would have never happened five years ago.

As the fans become more educated, I hope the fighters do to. I don't want to see a great wrestler with average striking skills turn a fight into a boxing match. First off, it makes for a bad match and gives me an urge to turn a real boxing match so I can see some decent technique. Secondly, it works against the fighter and limits him from winning and moving up the ranks.

Let's make sure the mixed doesn't leave mixed martial arts.

The Quick Hits

2009-02-24T13:51:00.000-08:00

I wouldn't mind seeing this fight one more time after the dominating performances from both men in their most recent fights.

It was another top notch weekend of fights and there is a lot to go over and not much time, so I will highlight the main stories and some of the things I saw that got my attention.

Cotto and Pavlik bounce back
The first loss of a fighters career is always a hard reality to accept. But like the old adage goes, a true champion will get back up and learn from the loss, which is exactly what Miguel Cotto and Kelly Pavlik did Saturday.

After losing to Antonio Margarito in an absolute war back in July, Cotto was finally ready to get back in the ring and take on Michael Jennings in Madison Square Garden. Cotto put on a show for the fans at the Garden and looked as impressive as ever.

Cotto had the snap on his jab and power on his hook that has made him one of the most feared boxers in the game. In the fifth round, he unleashed a blazing combination that overwhelmed Jennings and brought the fight to a close.

It was a fight Cotto was supposed to win and he did so convincingly. Now that he has his career back on track he is ready for another big money matchup. I hope he takes on Shane Mosley. Cotto took down Mosley in a very close decision in 2007, but I think it would be even closer the second time around.

Meanwhile Kelly Pavlik proved he belongs at middleweight and should not try to move up in weight. After he lost to Bernard Hopkins in October, Pavlik was ready to put his belts on the line and did so in impressive fashin against a game Marco Antonio Rubio.

Pavlik didn't land any of his famous power shots, but he landed good shots consistently and put on a clinic until Rubio did not answer the bell at the end of the ninth. Now that "The Ghost" is back to dominating, he too is ready for a big money fight.

I would like to see him step in the ring against the super dangerous Arthur Abraham or take super athletic Paul Williams if he is willing to move up in weight. It was nice to see two of the best boxers back in top form.

UFC 95: Forget Thales Leites, you got Demian Maia
If there was anyone doubting the skills of Demian Maia, I think he answered the questions Saturday. The hottest middleweight prospect in the UFC dismantled another opponent by submitting the tough Chael Sonnen in the first round.

Not only did Maia submit him, but he did it with plenty of style. After securing a full mount, he locked in a triangle, rolled to his back and applied the pressure. Absolutely amazing. Putting on the triangle from the full mount is very difficult and he did it in seconds. He is now 5-0 in the UFC with five submissions.

I'm not saying he could beat Anderson Silva, because I don't think anyone can. But he is truly more deserving than Thales Leites, and that is not a knock on Leites. He is a very impressive 14-1, but you can tell when he fights that he is outclassed in every area when matched against Silva. Maia, on the other hand, is the best jujitsu player in the UFC.

After Silva makes his mandatory defense against Leites at UFC 97, please give Maia a shot at the strap as quickly as possible.

In other action, Nate Marquardt looked back to his usual self after some uninspiring performances the last few times out. He beat a dangerous Wilson Gouveia soundly. He used his superior counter punching to dictate the fight and didn't even have to do a lot of work on the ground where I thought he would have the biggest advantage.

As a fellow fan and good friend of mine pointed out, Gouveia could have gotten the better of the stand up action if he threw the leg kick when pushing the pace. He even forced Marquardt into the cardinal sin of moving straight back at one point instead of circling.

Instead of going for a Muay Thai clinch and delivering knees and short, powerful punches, Gouveia let him off the hook by swinging wildly and missing. My friend and I both agreed Gouveia could have made that fight much closer and possibly won with a better strategy.

In the main event, Diego Sanchez defeated Joe Stevenson in a solid effort for a unanimous decision. He looked a lot healthier than I thought he would at 155 and said later he planned on staying in that division for a while. If he does, I hope he keeps his walk-around weight at 170 so he does not have to make such an extreme cut.

Stevenson was unimpressive, trying to show a striking game that he could never get going. He did not throw enough punches, couldn't find a comfortable range and struck from poor angles. Sanchez looks like a threat at lightweight, but Stevenson needs to get back to the drawing board and reinvent his game.

Cut it out Diego Sanchez

2009-02-19T15:08:00.000-08:00

That's what Diego Sanchez looked like in the welterweight division (170 lbs). On Saturday, he will make what I think is a dangerous cut to the lightweight division (155 lbs).

Before every match, fighters undergo one of the most impressive and insane rituals in all of sports.

A 200-plus pound man will cut weight until he weighs in at a slender 185 pounds. A fighter who walks around at 170 pounds will get down to 155 for a fight. Cutting weight is a necessary process for a fighter that wants to be champion and it is also an impressive display of discipline and athleticism.

But like all things, too much of anything is a bad thing, which brings me to Diego Sanchez.

Sanchez, who is set to headline Saturday's UFC event against Joe Stevenson, will be making his lightweight debut. When Sanchez first entered the UFC he fought at middleweight.

Let me put that into perspective. Sanchez's weight during his first fight: 185 pounds. Sanchez's weight during Saturday's fight: 155 pounds.

Yes, that is a 30 pound difference.

That is an absolutely mind boggling difference, but in Sanchez's defense, he was out of his natural weight at 185. I would say Diego would walk around at about 180 to 185 pounds, meaning the cut to 170, which is the welterweight division, would be where he should be.

His cut to welterweight was tough enough, but it also allowed him to fight at his peak athletic performance. Just as fighting at a weight that is too heavy for a competitor is a disadvantage, so to is fighting at a weight that threatens conditioning and strength.

Sanchez has already stated that the cut to 155 has been a struggle, but that he enjoys the challenge. And while it's great he enjoys a challenge, it could also hurt him in the cage, especially against someone as good as Stevenson.

By cutting so much weight, he is going to struggle with his conditioning and stamina as well as with his strength. With all the work he must have to do and with all the nutrition and water he must have to sacrifice, he will be exhausted by just walking to the cage. In fact, Sanchez said he has been eating slightly over 1,000 calories per day for the last few weeks.

For a strong, explosive athlete, that might as well be starvation. Michael Phelps eats something like 10,000 calories, so Sanchez is really having to push himself.

I understand cutting weight is part of the sport. I think the best fighters should cut between 10 to 15 pounds for a fight. Any more than that and it gets dangerous. Very dangerous.

Cutting weight is much different than losing weight. When someone cuts weight, they lose mostly water weight. The dehydration makes a significant difference in weight and it is easier to take the 24 hours between the weigh-in and the fight to rehydrate and put on some extra weight before fighting.

Clearly dehydrating is not very safe. If you have ever seen UFC welterweight Anthony Johnson fight, you can get an idea of what a fighter looks like after cutting a lot of weight. He comes down about 20 pounds to make 170 and every muscle on his body is extremely defined because of the lack of water.

It's a dangerous practice when cutting weight is taken to the extreme. While Congress is worried about its beloved baseball players taking steroids and getting bigger, there are other athletes doing the exact opposite though the consequences can be just as dire.

I don't think athletes should stop cutting weight, I just think there should be limits. I hope Sanchez realizes after Saturday that the welterweight division is where he belongs. If he decides to stay at lightweight, then I hope he LOSES weight in between fights instead of just cutting weight.

It's a dangerous aspect of the sport and trainers and the fighting community cannot forget to monitor the weight cutting that fighters do. Anyone who thinks extreme weight cutting isn't as serious or more serious than steroids just has to look at a great documentary HBO did on jockeys in horse races. It has ruined lives.

The road to redemption

2009-02-18T12:27:00.000-08:00

Kelly Pavlik hopes to avoid this situation in his first match back on Saturday since losing to Bernard Hopkins.

In 2008, two of boxing's biggest stars had a first-time experience.

A loss.

Miguel Cotto and Kelly Pavlik were in almost every top-10 pound-for-pound rankings heading into their respective fights last year. Cotto took on the dangerous Antonio Margarito in July and Pavlik took on the legendary Bernard Hopkins in October.

Cotto looked like the best boxer in the world early on in his fight against the Tijuana Tornado, but eventually the power and pressure of Margarito was too much and Cotto's corner was forced to throw in the towel in the 11th round.

Three months later Kelly Pavlik took the squared circle against Hopkins. The undisputed middleweight champion was outclassed from the very beginning and could never get on track. His habit of trying to move straight back to avoid punches caught up to him as Hopkins kept finding a home for his counter right hooks.

Both fighters could claim legitimate excuses for their losses, but they didn't. After it was discovered Margarito loaded his gloves against Shane Mosley, many believed he very well could have loaded his gloves against Cotto. But Cotto would only say Margarito was the better man that night.

Pavlik had to move up in weight to fight Hopkins. He was visibly slower and more fatigued from moving up in weight, but Pavlik did not use that as an excuse.

Now the undisputed middleweight champion is back at his comfortable weight ready to get back on the winning track against a dangerous contender in Marco Antonio Rubio. Pavlik will be defending his titles in his hometown of Youngstown, Ohio, which should give him an extra confidence boost after a crushing loss.

"The Ghost" felt some pressure from his promoter to switch up coaches and seek the services of Freddie Roach, but Pavlik stayed with the team that got him to the top. Saturday's fight against Rubio should be a telling sign of whether or not Pavlik's intangibles are good enough to make up for his slight lack of technique.

The two biggest criticisms of Pavlik in his last fight were that he would move straight back to avoid punches and get too close when throwing his jab. Pavlik's power and work rate should be enough to keep him on top of the middleweight division come Saturday.

Cotto, on the other hand, has a slightly easier road to the top. The former champion will take on Michael Jennings at Madison Square Garden. Jennings is a great story, but his boxing skill and the level of competition he has faced is far inferior to Cotto.

The Puerto Rican native should have no trouble reminding everyone that he is going to be the king of the welterweights once again, especially with Margarito suspended for one year.

Jennings does not have much power as evidenced by his 16 knockouts in 34 wins and Cotto tends to be much too fast for anyone to handle. The only way Cotto loses this fight is if he gets too distracted from all the talk about if he thinks Margarito cheated in his fight. This is almost a 100 percent win for Cotto.

It's not often two fights of this magnitude happen within the same month let alone the same night though. So even though Cotto should win, the Pavlik fight should still be competitive and boxing fans get to see two legitimate stars on the same night.

There has been a lot of unfair criticism to the fighters ever since they lost, especially Pavlik who has been written off as "good" instead of "great." I disagree with those experts and think Pavlik and Cotto will show why they are two of the best in the world when they start their road to redemption.

So nice I want it twice

2009-02-17T18:03:00.000-08:00

Kermit Cintron would not have had his hand raised Saturday if boxing had instant replay.

There has been a lot of criticism about instant replay in professional sports, especially football.

It slows down the game and sometimes the referees fail to get the call right even after watching the play in slow motion. Instant replay isn't fool proof, but I still think boxing needs it and Saturday was more proof as to why.

Rising star Sergio Martinez was taking on Kermit Cintron in a match that definitely had title implications. Aside from not breaking the clinches, the referee was doing a fine job through the early rounds except for one extremely important punch.

Martinez jumped to the inside and looked to deliver a quick flurry. When he jumped in, he led with a perfect left cross that landed right on the eyebrow of Cintron. The shot caused a cut above the eye, a cut that should have racked up points for Martinez.

Instead, the referee ruled it an "accidental clash of heads," which is understandable because the fighters' heads did get close to colliding. The ruling of a head clash could have been heartbreaking for Martinez. If the cut above the eye was bad enough for the doctor to wave off the fight, the result would have been a no contest instead of going to the scorecards.

If it was ruled as a punch, as it should have been, it would go to the scorecards or be ruled as a TKO for Martinez.

If that ruling wasn't bad enough for Martinez, he was wronged again in the seventh round. As the round was coming to a close, Martinez hit another powerful left hand that sent Cintron stumbling backwards to the ropes where he fell to his knees.

The shot was ruled as another clash of heads, then a knockdown and then Cintron sort of got up but never really did. It's possible to think Cintron got up before the 10 count, but just because Cintron claimed it was a headbutt, doesn't mean it actually was.

Looking at the replay, it was clear to see it was a left hand (it's scary to think a punch is powerful enough to make someone think it was a headbutt). So instead of Cintron getting the standard one minute rest between rounds, he was given close to five minutes while the referee tried to sort the mess out.

If round eight would have start as scheduled, Cintron would have still been reeling a little and Martinez could have kept the pressure on. And if the referee would have known to start the 10-count right away, Cintron may never have made it to his feet in the seventh.

After all of that mess, the judges delivered a terrible decision and the fight ended in a draw though Martinez was clearly the better boxer on Saturday.

The fight was a perfect example of how a replay system could help. There could be a "judge" who is designated to watch replays throughout the fight and let the referee know of any changes that should be made in scoring between rounds.

With the excellent camera work that boxing allows, there should be no reason to miss a call. We have all seen the super slow motion shots on HBO and Showtime, the detail is amazing.

The tools needed are already at boxing's dispense. They would not have to take any extra time to view a replay and it could really help in determining illegal blows and head clashes. Give it a chance all you boxing commissions, it will be worth it.

If nothing else, it's another excuse to watch the cool super slow motion shots that truly show the power of a solid punch.

Not even paper's champion

2009-02-16T12:39:00.000-08:00

No matter how many belts Nate Campbell wins, he just wasn't meant to be a superstar.

When there are four recognized world champions in each weight division in boxing, it's easy to get overlooked.

Despite holding three of the four major titles in the lightweight division, Nate Campbell was never one to command much attention and Saturday night was no different. He always had to fight his way to the top the hard way and work through difficult times.

When he stepped on the scales at the weigh-in Friday, his story of tough luck and hard breaks continued. He was three pounds over the weight limit, meaning he would be stripped of all his titles.

Campbell had plans to move up the 140-pound division after the fight, but losing titles and a loss in the fight would have meant the end of the career for the 36-year-old who worked tirelessly to win the titles after a huge upset over "Baby Bull" Juan Diaz last summer.

Campbell was never groomed to be a champion such as Roy Jones Jr. or Miguel Cotto, so a loss would end his chance to secure big money fights. Losing his titles by not making weight already hurt, but Campbell said at 36 years old his body just wasn't able to make the cut anymore.

Just a few months earlier he was scheduled to fight Joan Guzman for $400,000, but Guzman had to pull out of the fight and Campbell was left again with nowhere to go. Saturday was Campbell's first fight since beating Diaz and he had to take on Ali Funeka.

Funeka is a giant at 6 feet, 1 inch tall — a four inch difference compared to the 5-foot-7 Campbell. The South African brought a story of his own to the ring. Despite being 30-1-2 with 25 knockouts, he could hardly get noticed in his own country, which has always been a hotbed for boxing prospects.

He finally had his chance Saturday and he showed why he has compiled 30 wins. He was knocked down with a violent right hand in the second round, but bounced back and used great technique and strategy to win rounds three through nine.

On one hand, Campbell was about to see everything he worked for slip away in his first ever defense, and on the other, Funeka was about to open the door for a better life. After taking poundings in 30 fights for small purses, he was about to get a payday that could support his family.

But then the momentum started to slowly shift in the 10th round. Funeka was not throwing as many punches and Campbell was finding his way inside and throwing punishing blows to the body.

In the 11th round, Campbell was in control again and knocked down Funeka once more. Campbell went on to dominate the 12th round and win the fight via majority decision. He only won because of his two knockdowns as he was out boxed for a majority of the match.

Funeka knew it too. He fell to his knees in his corner, put his head down and cried. He completely broke down and wept because he knew this was the match that could have taken him from a man struggling in South Africa to a man making championship money.

Campbell raised his hands in the air and was lifted up by his corner men because everything he worked for was still in tact. For at least one more fight, he would be able to attract a big payday against a top opponent.

It took nine years for Campbell to become a champion and more than 10 years for Funeka to get his shot. Funeka went back to South Africa with his dreams of big paydays dashed. Campbell stayed in Florida ready for a run to become champion at 140.

It was an intensely emotional night for both men and it was a story they told with their punches, their willingness to pick themselves up off the mat and their tears.

But it was not on pay-per-view and it wasn't in a big arena. A holder of three world titles was fighting on HBO's Boxing After Dark.

Campbell and Funeka proved they have the heart and desire of a champion, but because they were not groomed to be at the top and they are not hyped by big-shot promoters...

Well...they are not even paper's champion.

Strikeforce strikes back

2009-02-12T16:27:00.000-08:00

Jake Shields is one of the best fighters in the world, and one of the few not in the UFC. Strikeforce hopes he can carry the promotion into UFC territory.

The best basketball players have always gone to the NBA, the best football players to the NFL and the best baseball players to the MLB.

In the short history of modern mixed martial arts, the place to be has always been the UFC. Most combat sports such as boxing, kickboxing and grappling have allowed fighters to float from promotion to promotion, but the UFC has visions of becoming more like than NFL.

And in its effort to be the elite fighting organization, it has squashed its competition. It took down the super successful PRIDE, destroyed the flashy Elite XC, absorbed WEC and is on the verge of eliminating the financial juggernaut that is Affliction.

One company though, has flown under the radar. It went silent for the final months of 2008 but is ready to make a big comeback in hopes of creating an alternative to the UFC.

Strikeforce first splashed on to the scene in March of 2006 with a record-setting event that featured Frank Shamrock versus Cesar Gracie. The event also introduced lightweight stars Clay Guida and Josh Thomson to an American audience.

Strikeforce has gone on to have 15 more successful events and it has made some major announcements within the last month. The company has purchased the Elite XC for a very fair price of $3 million. The deal came with 42 fighter contracts and the defunct organization's video library.

On top of adding world-class fighters to its organization, it also announced a TV deal that will land it shows on CBS, Showtime and HDNet.

I have enjoyed Strikeforce in the past and the fighters it has required will make it even better, but there is a reason they are a far second place to the UFC. The new and improved Strikeforce will put on its first show April 11 and the card is already stacked.

Frank Shamrock versus Nick Diaz will headline the card with a Thomson/KJ Noons and Scott Smith/Benji Radach match already confirmed. Others expected to compete include Robbie Lawler, Gilbert Melendez, Jake Shields and Gina Carano.

If the card lives up to its potential, it could be one of the best shows in 2009. And while I enjoy Strikeforce, it will need to make changes to its presentation and production to really make an impact.

1) I do not want to hear Phil Baroni or Frank Shamrock do color commentary. I am all for fighters doing commentary, but they need someone like WEC's Frank Mir. Mir does a great job explaining the fight in simple terms and giving the viewer an idea of what to expect next in a fight.

2) The presentation also needs to be more professional. I do not need to see cheerleaders dancing around all over the arena. Having a ring girl is fine, it's tradition, but cheerleaders dancing all around the arena comes across very amateurish and adds another stereotype that MMA is a testosterone driven barbaric sport.

3) Your not the UFC, so don't try to copy it. They should feel free to make some visual differences. Put some white trim around the edge of the cage. Let fighters choose what color gloves they wear. It seems simple, but it could go a long way in differentiating its product.

I don't know if any company will be able to really compete with the UFC, but Strikeforce has a great opportunity to make a push. This seems like a great card to start the year, and if it is able to, it should try to run one show a month, even if it is with unknown fighters.

It could build its own stars and running one show a month would keep the organization relevant in the fans' minds.

Mixed martial arts is still growing so the more competition the better. Maybe one day the sport can have a merger like the AFL and NFL and all the best fighters in the world will be in one place. Until then, I wish Strikeforce luck and hope organizations outside the UFC find a way to survive.

The not-so-terrible towel

2009-02-11T12:45:00.000-08:00

I don't understand why people in sports fear towels so much.

There are the maniacs in Pittsburgh who swing their yellow towels around, apparently in an effort to intimidate or instill fear in the opposing team. Then there is the "Hate The Yankees Hankies," "The Homer Hanky" and some white towel people swing around for the Philadelphia Phillies.

I don't think I will ever be afraid of towel, but it seems to work in sports so the tradition will probably continue to grow.

While it may be all fun and games in football and baseball, it is a very serious issue to be afraid of the towel in boxing. And believe me, many fighters and trainers are afraid of the towel.

That frightening piece of white cloth was given to corner men so they could throw it in the ring to signal their fighter has had enough in the event the referee is too slow to wave off the fight. Unfortunately, the culture of boxing has evolved into one that makes it taboo for a corner to throw in the towel.

Boxers see it as a cowardly move, but in reality, it prolongs careers and saves lives in some instances. Vic Darchinyan's destruction of Jorge Arce on Saturday was a perfect example of a fight that should have ended two or maybe even three rounds earlier.

While the referee should know when a fighter has had enough, the fighter's corner should know the fighter well enough to realize when their man has no chance of winning. Arce was clearly outclassed. He shouldn't have to take punishment on top of punishment to show his skills, on a certain night, are inferior to his opponents.

I hate comparing boxing and mixed martial arts because they are two completely different sports. But the one thing they have in common is the responsibility to make sure fighters are safe. In that sense, mixed martial arts is executed in a more fighter friendly way, theoretically.

The standard fight only has three rounds at five minutes each. This allows a fighter to get sufficiently tired during a round, which would allow an opponent to take advantage and end the fight. The referee also can wave off the fight after one knockdown.

While the referee can wave off the fight at anytime in boxing, it is much more likely he will let the fighter hit the canvas and give him 10 seconds to recover. This allows for multiple knockouts within the course of a fight.

Ten to 12 rounds at three minutes each allows fighters to get in precarious positions at the end of rounds and have enough time to recover before going back out and getting pounded all over again.

I am all for giving boxers the chance to make a dramatic comeback, but the towel should be respected and used. The ringside physician should be there to examine fighters after a fight, but their role has changed to the point where even the referee looks to the doctor to see if he should stop the fight.

I long for the days when the referee had the courage and confidence to say "I don't care if you are still standing, I am stopping this fight because you are getting beat down."

It still happens, but it should happen more often. And when the referee does not make the stop, I beg you corner men, throw in the towel. Maybe we can make it something more "manly" so they won't be so afraid of those scary towels.

I elect that boxing's sanctioning bodies let corner men throw in a baseball. Not only would it feel more natural to throw in a baseball, but it would be entertaining to see the referee duck away from a Freddie Roach curveball.

Sometimes breaking the rules pays off

2009-02-09T12:57:00.000-08:00

Future opponents should be ready to take in that view of Vic Darchinyan.

There are two golden rules in boxing: Keep your hands up and chin down.

If a young, aspiring boxer wants to work towards a world championship, he is taught to keep his hands on both sides of his head and throw counter punches from that position. But Vic Darchinyan lives in a parallel universe.

The undisputed champion in the super flyweight division continued the hottest streak in all of boxing by dismantling a tough Jorge Arce via 11th round TKO on Saturday night. And he did it his way; hands lows, chin up and just daring his opponent to hit him.

Darchinyan has the most unorthodox stance of any world champion I have seen. His shoulders are hunched over, his lead right hand is below his waist and his powerful left is cocked back ready to fire at any time. It's a recipe for disaster for most fighters, but not Darchinyan who is 32-1-1 with 26 KOs and holds wins over world class fighters such as Arce, Cristian Mijares and Dimitri Kirilov.

The Armenian-Australian showcased why he is one of the top-10 pound-for-pound fighters in the world with his dazzling quickness and lethal left hand. It's not often a man fighting at 115 pounds has a left hand powerful enough to drop middleweight, but Darchinyan certainly does.

The first round was a clinic as Darchinyan poked his head out of his akward stance, causing Arce to swing wildly for a knockout. The "Raging Bull" would then quickly step to his right and deliver a left uppercut right to the chin of Arce. The left uppercut landed all night for Darchinyan but he also showed he was not afraid to use his right hand.

Darchinyan has been criticized for focusing too much on throwing his left and not enough on throwing jabs and short hooks with his right. But on Saturday, he delivered beautiful combinations, mainly a right jab, left uppercut and even a left cross, right hook. Those two combinations, which consistently landed throughout the night, showed just how much Darchinyan has improved within two years.

By the time the second round ended, the champion had been so dominant that I seriously started considering moving him into the top-5 of my personal pound-for-pound rankings — but then round three happened.

Round three was the only round I scored for Arce and it was because Darchinyan got tempted into brawling with hard-hitting Mexican slugger. Arce had some great body shots in the round and Darchinyan later conceded that Arce did hit hard to the body. The third round is proof that even with his recent dominance, Darchinyan has a ways to go before he can be considered one of the top-5 boxers in the world.

The rest of the fight was a great display of speed and power from Darchinyan and also a frightening display of courage from Arce who probably should have thrown in the towel by the eighth or ninth round.

It seemed Arce had a chance to gain some momentum after the third round, but for some reason he kept circling to his right. By circling to his right he was walking right into Darchinyan's powerful left hand. His corner failed him by not instructing him to bail left after jumping inside.

Darchinyan proved when he is focused, he is one of the most dangerous boxers on the planet. After cementing himself as the king in the super flyweight division, he appears to be ready to move up to bantamweight or even junior featherweight.

Matches against Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez could solidify Darchinyan as one of the best boxers of this generation and a move up to featherweight where a challenge such as Chris John would be awaiting could definitely make him a legend.

2009 has already showcased two brilliant boxing clinics put on by Shane Mosley and now Vic Darchinyan. Two more great fights are scheduled for this Saturday with lightweight champion Nate Campbell taking on Ali Funeka and Sergio Martinez squaring off with Kermit Cintron.

The last two years have been a nice comeback for boxing and Darchinyan proved again Saturday why he is one of the fighters spearheading the revival.

Thanks Joe

2009-02-06T12:01:00.000-08:00

I'm not a boxer. I'm not a fighter. I am just a simple writer.

At 20 years old, I am fortunate to know that I want to be a writer. Many people are still confused as to what they want or where they want to go in life. I know I want to go where the stories are, wherever that may be.

I didn't get my inspiration from the writers that told the stories, but the characters of the stories. It's why I fell in love with boxing. No story is more compelling than a young, aspiring fighter coming up the hard way and putting a whole city on his back. The fighter works his way through the amateur ranks and blossoms into a seasoned professional with one shot to bring a world championship to his city. Boxing is the only sport where one man has the weight of a city or country riding on his shoulders.

That story happens in many different ways with many different twists, but it was Joe Calzaghe who lived it best. It was Joe Calzaghe that made me want to become a boxing writer.

The 36-year-old from Wales announced his retirement Thursday, closing the book on one of the finest careers, and stories, ever seen in boxing. He was 46-0, one of the only undefeated boxers in the history of the sport, and an amazing 22-0 in championship bouts.

Calzaghe was never supposed to succeed, he was trained by his father who was a professional jazz musician. While his father may not have been from a boxing pedigree, he knew two things — rhythm and the importance of pushing a fighter to the limits in training.

Calzaghe's training sessions were legendary. Myth has it that he would throw 1,000 punches on a heavy bag at superhuman speeds. I have heard he could throw that many in as fast as three minutes.

That type of speed is usually only see in lightweights, not super middleweights. The speed he threw punches at sometimes drew criticism from boxing writers because it looked more like slapping than punching. But his ability to sneak in multiple punches on the inside while his opponent tried to throw power punches kept him in control at all times.

Calzaghe only fought twice in America and defeated legends Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr. He only had a few of his fights hyped and shown to the American public, including fights with Jeff Lacey, Sakio Bika, Peter Manfredo and Mikkel Kessler.

I more or less only caught the final six bouts of Calzaghe's career, which makes him even more special to me. I read about Calzaghe in articles from Europe, and because I could not see his fights he seemed more mythical than man. The stories painted vivid pictures of his speed and dominance. By the time he was about to fight Jeff Lacey, I was one of the few American boxing fans who thought he could win.

I didn't think he could win because I was smarter than anyone, I thought he could win because I saw Lacey fight before. Lacey fought on American television for a long time and I had every opportunity to see his weaknesses. But Calzaghe...well he was as sure of a thing as the words I read about him. He had no weakness in my eyes, because I watched his fights through words and not screens.

Calzaghe is beyond a legend in his hometown. He still lives there and when he goes to the little local shop, he sees articles about his past fights all over the walls. He is a true people's champion and his hometown should be proud.

For as excellent as Calzaghe was in the ring, he was even more excellent out of it. He kept a low profile, was always respectful and stayed active in his community.

There was always a great story with Calzaghe fights. From the unbeatable Kessler to the "I will never lose to a white boy" Bernard Hopkins fight, Calzaghe made every opponent eat his words. And at the end of the day, it will be the words not spoken by Calzaghe, but written about Calzaghe, that will live on in boxing history.

Many boxers come back after retirement, in fact, most of them do. But not Joe, he has a "0" he plans on keeping. He left at the top of his game, a hard reality for fans to accept, but a noble move that will secure his spot in history.

His father and trainer, Enzo Calzaghe, summed up his son's career perfectly when he said, "You we're brilliant Joe." He was brilliant, there is no doubt about that.

I am sad to see the story that inspired me to write about boxing come to an end, but it has come full circle. Before he fought Lacey, I had never seen Calzaghe in a ring. He was a mythical man from across the Atlantic that I could only read about. Now no one will be able to see Calzaghe in a ring. And once again, he is just a mythical man we can all read about.

Vaseline and plaster

2009-02-03T17:42:00.000-08:00

What's under that glove Antonio?

When I think of boxing and mixed martial arts, images of quick counter hooks and beautiful submissions come to mind. But there has been a recent trend the last two weeks in my favorite two sports and I am not too fond of it.

Instead of counter hooks and submission attempts, I am now left thinking about vaseline and plaster.

Yes...you read correctly. Unfortunately, the actions Antonio Margarito and Georges St. Pierre have led me to write a whole blog on two substances I never thought I would have to write about.

Margarito had a tremendous fight with Shane Mosley on Jan. 24 (though he was pretty much a punching bag for most of the match), but that fight could have been badly tarnished if Mosley's trainer, Nazim Richardson, did not have the eyes of a hawk.

Richardson saw Margarito's hand wraps were bigger than normal, so he asked for them to be unwrapped. Once the wraps came off, pieces of hardened plaster fell out. Margarito went into battle without the aid of his plaster-assisted hand wraps and Mosley made him pay.

Mosley had no problem picking apart the former welterweight champion through nine rounds, and it was because of his speed. It is ironic that Mosley beat Margarito by getting off his punches faster. Imagine how much worse it would have been if the plaster was in Margarito's hand wraps. His punches would have been slower and Mosley probably would have had an even easier time.

However, the situation is pretty serious and smuggling weapons inside of gloves is a sure way to open up possibilities for serious injury to an opponent. Boxing is dangerous enough, we don't need stunts like Margarito's to make it more violent.

The California State Athletic Commission rightfully suspended Margarito last Wednesday. I would like to see the Tornado back in action one day, but only after he is ready to fight with nothing but the power of his own punch.

If Margarito's suspension was not bad enough, the most hyped match in UFC history had some post-fight controversy of its own. Rumors began flying around that Georges St. Pierre had Vaseline applied to his back in between rounds of his demolition of BJ Penn Saturday night.

This is a little more comical than Margarito's attempt to cheat, but Vaseline on the back of a fighter in a mixed martial arts fight can be a huge advantage. A world-class jujitsu player like Penn would not be able to control his opponent on the ground if he is slippin' and slidin' all over the place.

While there were legitimate concerns in the hours after the fight, the situation has been examined further and even Penn has come out and said that while GSP may have had a minimal amount of grease on his back, it was not enough to affect the fight.

It turns out, GSP's corner man was putting vaseline on right above the eyebrows, which is perfectly legal, and then did some weird energy channeling exercise that required him to touch GSP's back. There was a minimal amount of grease left on his hand when he touched GSP's back.

Normally, this would sound like an insane excuse, but since GSP is fighting out of Greg Jackson's camp, I can believe it. Most of those fighters are very superstitious and believe in those spiritual exercises that channel natural energy. Apparently, rubbing GSP's back and right above his nipple simultaneously aligned the energy within his body.

I don't know if that works, but like I said, I believe that was actually the case. So it is nice to know GSP didn't cheat, but Margarito tried, and that is very unfortunate.

Hopefully this trend of controversies in main event fights is just a little fad and will not continue throughout the rest of 2009. This weekend's big fight is between Vic Darchinyan and Jorge Arce. Hopefully these two tremendous boxers will leave their plaster, vaseline, sledgehammers and any other sort of foreign object at home.

2009 is still young, so let's clean up the little mess that has happened and get back to some quality competition.

Don't "Rush" To Conclusions

2009-02-02T13:16:00.000-08:00

The historic UFC 94 card has come and gone. It was the first time two champions from two different weight classes faced off against each other in the UFC, it brought in a staggering $4.3 million at the gate and was one of the company's most purchased pay-per-views.

The results of the fights will have, and in many ways have already had, tremendous implications for the fighters' futures; especially BJ Penn and Georges "Rush" St. Pierre.

The main event between these two champions was hyped more than any fight in UFC history with the three-week program, "UFC Primetime." And while the fight was an impressive display of skill and athleticism, I thought it failed to live up to the epic battle it could have been.

St. Pierre dominated Penn from the opening bell until Penn's brother waved the fight off before the beginning of the fifth round. The fight was a major difference from GSP's split decision victory over Penn in 2006.

On Saturday, GSP once again displayed his wrestling prowess by securing multiple takedowns on Penn and impressively passing the guard of the jujitsu black belt at will. In 2006, GSP seemed content to fight in space, which gave Penn a much better chance to get good shots off while the fight was standing.

Saturday's performance solidified GSP as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world and possibly the best athlete in mixed martial arts. But two myths have already been started by the mainstream mixed martial arts media. One claim is that Saturday's victory makes GSP the best fighter in the world and the other claim is that Penn could be done.

I was surprised how dominant GSP looked against Penn, but I also know he should be ranked the No. 3 pound-for-pound fighter in the world. UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson "The Spider" Silva is clearly the best fighter on the planet. His combination of Muay Thai and jujitsu, along with his power, makes him the most dangerous fighter in the world. He has gone 8-0 in the UFC with all of his wins coming via KO, TKO or submission. He also moved up to the 205 pound weight class and knocked out James Irvin in one minute.

The No. 2 fighter in the world is WAMMA Heavyweight Champion Fedor Emelianenko. The 32-year-old Russian does not seem to be slowing down as he has won his last four fights in the first rounds, including a submission victory against Tim Sylvia and a knockout over Andrei Arlovski.

St. Pierre is a great fighter and I believe he is the third best fighter in the world, but he still has plenty to prove to be considered the best. A win over the very dangerous Thiago Alves will be another big step forward for St. Pierre.

As for Penn, he has nothing to hang his head about. He moved up in weight and fought a dominant champion. "The Prodigy" is still young and still extremely skilled. He belongs in the lightweight division and there are plenty of qualified challengers for his title. Matches with Kenny Florian, Tyson Griffin and Roger Huerta would all be interesting to see and there are plenty of promising challengers on the way up. I know Penn loves the megafights, but being a dominant champion in the lightweight division could give him the legacy he seeks.

So no, GSP is not quite the best fighter in the world yet, and Penn is not on his way out the door. His hunger to compete and win is still too strong to walk away from the sport this early.

UFC 94 Quick Hits

Lyoto "The Dragon" Machida had a crazy knockout victory over Thiago Silva with one second left in the first round. Machida is a perfect 14-0 and should get the next shot at the light heavyweight title. Yes, even before Quinton Jackson gets a shot.
Jon "Bones" Jones looks like the real deal. I picked him to beat Stephan Bonnar, but he looked more impressive than I expected. Once Bones gets his cardio to championship level, he will be tough to beat.
They should have named this UFC 94: Split Decision. Five matches ended in a split decision. It's a little unnerving to think judges see the same fight that differently.

St.Pierre/Penn: The Force from the North

2009-01-31T10:29:00.000-08:00

The story of Georges St. Pierre is a familiar one. St. Pierre grew up in Quebec, Canada with not much money. He was picked on at school and took up karate to learn how to defend himself. As he grew older, he worked odd jobs such as being a bouncer and a garbage man while he chased his dream of being UFC champion.

Nearly 20 years later, GSP climbed to the top of the mountain — a true rags-to-riches story.

The UFC Welterweight Champion has earned some of the highest accolades from his peers and the media. Many consider GSP to be one of the top-5 pound-for-pound fighters in the world if not the best fighter in the world. At only 27, he is a two-time welterweight champion with wins over Matt Hughes, Frank Trigg, Sean Sherk and of course BJ Penn.

There is only one question that surrounds GSP and that is his mentality. He puts so much pressure on himself to not only win, but to win in dominant fashion, that sometimes he has not been able to handle adversity.

There is no question GSP could be the most dominant fighter in the UFC. He is the most athletic fighter in the organization's history and he has the drive and the skills to stay on top for as long as he wants. Tonight will the be the toughest test of his young career, but his history shows he could come out on top.

A "Rush" of Hype

St. Pierre got his first taste of mixed martial arts when he won his first amateur bout at the age of 16. It didn't take long for GSP to make his debut in the professional ranks and he didn't disappoint as he won five straight fights and a welterweight championship before making his UFC debut.

Once he did make his UFC debut, he did not disappoint. St. Pierre drew the feared Judo practitioner Karo Parisyan for his first UFC fight. St. Pierre won a convincing unanimous decision in an eye opening upset. GSP then had an impressive knockout over Jay Hieron which led to his first shot at the welterweight championship against Matt Hughes.

With only seven professional fights under his belt, Hughes was too much of a challenge to overcome. Hughes showed why he was considered the best fighter in the world when he secured an armbar and forced GSP to tap with one second left in the first round.

The loss fueled GSP to work harder and the improvement was visible right away. St. Pierre racked off wins against tough opponents including Jason Miller, Frank Trigg, Sean Sherk and finally BJ Penn. His wrestling seemed to improve by leaps and bounds every time out.

The impressive streak of wins led to a rematch with Hughes for the welterweight championship. It would be the match that made GSP one of the most feared and respected fighters in the world.

Pound for Pound

On November 18, 2006, GSP was back home in Quebec, Canada ready to face Hughes again. St. Pierre did not disappoint his hometown fans as he had a dominant performance against the welterweight champion. GSP hit him with crisp and quick strikes on his feet before winning via TKO in the second round.

After the Hughes fight, everyone expected GSP to begin a reign of dominance over the welterweight division, much like Anderson Silva's dominance in the middleweight division. GSP's first defense was against the mandatory challenger, yet huge underdog, Matt Serra. Virtually all experts expect GSP to dominate, with only the chance for a submission keeping Serra in the fight.

Then GSP became acquainted with Serra's right hand. Serra rocked GSP with a looping punch early in the first round and then jumped all over the champion to win by TKO just three minutes in to the first round.

The loss was devastating to GSP, but the Canadian came back stronger and better than ever before. His first test back was against wrestling powerhouse Josh Koscheck. GSP surprised everyone when he dominated the national champion wrestler at his own game, securing takedown after takedown on his way to an easy unanimous decision.

GSP then went on to completely dominate Hughes and Serra to reclaim the championship. His finest performance to date may have been against Jon Fitch in his most recent defense. Fitch was 8-0 in the UFC when he finally met GSP. It was expected to be a hard fought battle, but St. Pierre dominated the fight, winning every round. At times he seemed like an elite professional boxer and at other times, an Olympic wrestler.

The rematch with Penn could solidify GSP as one of the best welterweights of all time even though he is only 27 years old. The Canadian has been training with the best camp in the world, which is Greg Jackson's crew in New Mexico. GSP will also be going into the match with his newly acquired Brazilian Ju-Jitsu black belt. Another dangerous dimension to an already seemingly complete fighter.

St. Pierre/Penn: The Pride of Hawaii

2009-01-29T17:05:00.000-08:00

By now, any fan of any sort of fighting knows the biggest fight in the history of mixed martial arts is coming up Saturday. For the first time in the history of the UFC, it will pit two of its champions against each other.

And not just any two champions, but two fighters considered to be top-5 pound-for-pound fighters. Lightweight Champion BJ "The Prodigy" Penn will move up weight classes to face Welterweight Champion Georges "Rush" St. Pierre in a rematch from 2006.

This will be the first part in a four-part series that will conclude Saturday before UFC 94. Here is a list of things to expect: 1. BJ Penn feature 2. GSP feature 3. The first meeting 4. Predicitions

The rise of a "Prodigy"

BJ Penn was born in Kailua, Hawaii on December 13, 1978. He grew up in a family where his father and three brothers, along with himself, sported the name Jay Dee Penn. To help differentiate between one another, BJ adopted the name "Baby Jay" since he was the youngest and has gone by BJ ever since.

As far as his fighting career goes, it started when he was 17. After training under Ralph Gracie and Andre Pederneiras for five years, Penn earned the nickname "Prodigy." 2000 was his breakout year, becoming the first non-Brazilian to win the World Ju-Jitsu Championship in the black belt division. He was 22 years old.

The world championship brought immediate hype to Penn, and before he even made his UFC debut, he was considered one of the best lightweight fighters in the world. Penn exploded onto the scene in May 2001, knocking out Joey Gilbert. The same Joey Glibert who boasts a 16-1 professional boxing record and competed on The Contender. Yeah, that's an impressive debut.

The win already had fans talking about an eventual showdown with lightweight king Jens Pulver. Penn had two more explosive wins that year against top fighters Din Thomas and Caol Uno. His violent finishes earned him a shot at Jens Pulver, one of the most anticipated UFC fights since the organization switched ownership to Zuffa.

The result of the fight with Pulver would lead fans to tag Penn with a stigma he carries to this day.

After a five round war with Pulver, Penn lost a majority decision and was clearly the more tired of the two. From that fight on, fans questioned Penn's stamina, and people still point to Penn's stamina as his only true weakness.

Penn would go on to fight three more times in the UFC, defeating Paul Creighton, Matt Serra and fighting to a draw with Caol Uno. Penn left the UFC after the fight with Uno because the organization suspended the division. Even with all of his tremendous performances, I would say his greatest moment is when he called out Satan, and then later called him a coward for not ever showing up.

From "Prodigy" to "Present"

Penn started his post-UFC career with questions swirling all around him. People did not know if he would be able to fight in marquee matches outside of the UFC and establish himself as one of the best lightweights in the world. Penn answered that question in his first fight out.

The "Prodigy" beat the man considered to be the No. 1 lightweight in the world, Takanori Gomi, via rear naked choke. While that was an impressive performance, the world just got a preview of what Penn had in store next.

With no lightweight division in the UFC, Penn decided to move up to the welterweight division and challenge the man considered to be the best fighter in the world, Welterweight Champion Matt Hughes. Most people, including me, thought Penn had a snowball's chance in hell against the much stronger Hughes. Four minutes into the fight, Hughes was tapping from a rear naked choke and Penn was having the welterweight title strapped around his waist.

Unfortunately, he never defended the title because he could not agree on a new contract. All Penn did after that was go to Japan and beat Duane Ludwig and then moved up again in weight class and beat Rodrigo Gracie as a middleweight.

Penn bit off a little more than he could chew when he challenged light heavyweight Lyoto Machida, who is 50 pounds more than Penn's natural fighting weight. Penn lost a unanimous decision.

That impressive streak of fights changed Penn from a prodigy of his sport to the master of his sport.

Becoming a champion

For as dominant as Penn was throughout his young career, he only won the one title and never defended it. UFC brought back its lightweight division and Penn came back with it, though he opted to stay in the welterweight division, which proved to be a mistake.

Penn suffered back-to-back losses against two of the best fighters in the UFC, Matt Hughes and Georges St. Pierre. His loss to St. Pierre was debatable, but his loss to Hughes once again showed Penn lacked stamina in championship contests.

Penn dropped back down to his home in the lightweight division and immediately avenged his loss to Pulver. The performance was one of Penn's most inspiring, reassuring fans he was still the man to beat. Penn went on to have brutal and beautiful wins over top ranked fighters Joe Stevenson and Sean Sherk , becoming lightweight champion along the way.

Penn has never looked better. His boxing is some of the best in all of MMA and he is still one of the best submission artists in the game. His legacy could be made Saturday night.

A DREAM come true

2009-01-28T15:41:00.000-08:00

I must apologize for not updating yesterday, but a snow day is a dream come true for a college student so I had to take full advantage.

A dream come true for a fight fan is good, old-fashioned grand prix. The Japan-based mixed martial arts promotion, Pride, was famous for its grand prix, especially the open weight tournaments that gave fans exciting matchups that pitted fighters from one weight class against another.

With Pride defunct, DREAM has taken over as the country's flagship fighting organization. It has already offered some memorable matches with fighters such as Joachim Hansen, Eddie Alvarez, Shinya Aoki and Gesias "JZ" Calvancanti. And as Japan's flagship promotion, it is ready to pay homage to Pride by holding a 16-man featherweight grand prix.

This should be a great tournament for all MMA fans, considering the featherweight division is often overlooked. If DREAM runs this tournament correctly, there could be multiple fight of the year candidates within this single tournament.

The grand prix is scheduled to begin March 8th at DREAM 7. There have been talks of making the featherweight weight limit 138 pounds instead of the usual 145 pound limit. This would be a clear advantage to the Japanese fighters, especially Norifumi Yamamoto, but the good international and American featherweights should still be able to cut to that weight.

So far there have only been three confirmed participants. Arguably the best featherweight in the world, Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto, is confirmed and was reportedly offered a first-round bye. Former WEC Bantamweight Champion Chase Beebe has been confirmed as well as the always tough Takafumi Otsuka. Two world-class fighters and a gatekeeper have already been confirmed for the tournament, and while it's a nice start, I am hoping for more.

I will offer a list of a few fighters I think should be included in the 16-man featherweight grand prix.

1. Urijah Faber — When talking about the best featherweight in the world, it always comes down to "Kid" Yamamoto or Urijah Faber. If Faber and Kid ever met, it would be one of the most anticipated fights in Japan's history.

2. Miguel Torres — The current WEC Bantamweight Champion seems to be an unstoppable force and is very well-rounded. He fights at 135, so a jump to featherweight should be just fine. I think Torres would be a favorite to win the grand prix if he was included.

3. Jeff Curran — I think Curran's wrestling could give a lot of fighters fits in the grand prix. He is always a tough out and would make it very hard for whoever he fights to stay 100 percent throughout the tournament.

4. Masakazu Imanari — Considering all the fighters I just mentioned are under contract for WEC, I think this could be the most likely addition. Imanari is pretty inconsistent, but when he is focused, he is one of the toughest competitors in the division, especially on the ground.

5. Joe Benavidez — Faber's protege was supposed to fight "Kid" last year until Yamamoto went down with an injury. This 9-0 prospect is the future of the division and would be a dark horse to take home the trophy.

6. Yoshiro Maeda — How could you not put in the man who pushed Torres to the limit? He is a tough competitor and you know anytime he steps in the ring you are going to see a great fight.

7. Rani Yahya — Yahya is a handful for any fighter when it goes to the mat. 11 of his 12 wins have come by submission and in a division full of strikers and wrestlers, that could be deadly.

8. Fredson Paixao — He hasn't fought in more than a year, but if anyone is better than Yahya on the ground it's this guy. Paixao has had a great career to this point at 8-2, but he hasn't fought since 2007. This would be a great way to get back in the mix.

9. Mike Brown — The current WEC Featherweight Champion has been on a great run lately with an eight-fight win streak including victories over Yves Edwards, Jeff Curran and most recently Faber. He could ride his streak to the top of the featherweight world.

10. Jens Pulver — Yes, I just said he should consider retiring, and no, he couldn't win this grand prix. But he is the founding father of this division and it would be a shame not to see the legend compete. Give him a chance to pull off a Rocky type upset.

Now, none of this will ever happen and I know that — that is why it is a dream. But if for one tournament only, promotions could ease up and let its fighters go abroad, this would be the tournament to make. I can always have a dream, but either way, the real DREAM should have a great grand prix.

Mosley likes his Margarito shaken, stirred and on the rocks

2009-01-26T12:34:00.000-08:00

Saturday night's fight between Antonio Margarito and Shane Mosley was a collision I was looking forward to for a long time. I viewed plenty of their old fights as I tried to play out scenarios in my head for how their meeting would transpire. I decided it would end with a ninth round knockout after a close fight for the first five rounds.

I was right...but also completely wrong. The fight ended with a ninth round knockout, but it was Mosley who walked away with the welterweight championship after one of the most impressive performances I have ever seen in a boxing ring.

"Sugar" Shane looked good as new and implemented one of the most brilliant gameplans. I thought Mosley would need to jump in close, fire off a combination and jump back out to make Margarito chase him.

Instead, Mosley let Margarito walk right in. And when the Tijuana Tornado would start to close the distance, Mosley would double or even triple up his jab and then unleash lightning fast combinations with plenty of power behind the closing shot.

The fight may have been Mosley's best performance and the Los Angeles crowd knew it. The crowd was extremely pro-Margarito, but Mosley slowly won the crowd over. Exchanges at the end of the third, fifth and eighth rounds were some of the most dramatic moments of the fight.

Mosley knocked down Margarito in the eighth round right as the time was expiring. Margarito barely got to his feet and then smiled at Mosley as if to say he knew his title was slipping away. At the beginning of the ninth, Mosley came out and got Margarito on the ropes. Margarito stood and accepted his defeat as Mosley unleashed one last combination as the towel was thrown in.

Mosley looked unstoppable and I am confident saying he is the true champion in the welterweight division. It was one of the best fights in recent years and if you get a chance to check it out, do so immediately.

One Punch Wonders

For all the weeks of intense training top-level mixed martial artists go through to prepare for a big fight, there is still a chance a fight could last no longer than a few seconds. Affliction 2 was a perfect example of what can happen with one punch. The two best fights of the night were ended with one big shot.

In the main event, Fedor Emelianenko retained his WAMMA Heavweight Championship with one perfectly placed right hand to the chin of Andrei Arlovski. The Freddie Roach-trained Arlovski displayed beautiful boxing, using a crisp jab and good angles to keep the unbeatable Emelianenko off balance.

Arlovski stunned Emelianenko early with a good right and stayed patient, making sure not to rush into a powerful shot from the champion. Later in the round, Arlovski had Emelianenko stumbling again with a powerful kick to the body, but this time "The Pitbull" rushed in. Arlovski went airborne, looking to score with a superman punch, but a quick right hook from the champion landed right on the chin and Arlovski went to sleep immediately.

Clearly, Arlovski trained hard for this fight and looked great. But one punch can get the job done and Fedor Emelianenko continues to build his legacy to mythological proportions.

Vitor "The Phenom" Belfort also showed the power of the punch with his very impressive win over Matt Lindland. Belfort showed his hand speed with a beautiful left jab, right hook combination that landed cleanly on Lindland. "The Law" hit the canvas and it took one more punch for Belfort to get the win.

Belfort looked tremendous Saturday and a middleweight title shot should be in the works for him as he seems to have returned to form. Lindland had a scary moment as he struggled to get to his feet and seemed totally disoriented, but I give credit to the great medical staff on hand as they tended to Lindland immediately and kept him safe.

Three strikes and he's out?

Featherweight powerhouse Urijah Faber and MMA legend Jens Pulver met for the second time Sunday night and unfortunately for "Lil Evil," the result was the same.

Faber showed why he is considered the best featherweight in the world (even though he lost the title to Mike Brown in November) by putting Pulver away with efficient striking and a guillotine choke.

The loss means Pulver has now lost three consecutive fights in the WEC, which would make one think how much he has left. Pulver is a 34 years old, which is still fairly young, but he has fought 31 times. I think there are still good fights left in "Lil Evil," but I don't think he will ever be champion. If he is satisfied to just compete, he should continue. If he wants to be champion, he should probably walk away and focus on coaching since he is a natural in that aspect.

The other main event for WEC on Sunday night was Lightweight Champion Jamie Varner vs Donald Cerrone. Let me just say, Cerrone must be built of granite. I had no idea he could take that type of punishment and I don't think Varner did either.

Varner retained his championship after a split decision, but there will definitely be a rematch. After an unintentional knee to the side of the head, Varner was awarded a 5-minute recovery period. The champion said he could not see, so the fight was stopped and it went to the scorecards where the judges awarded Varner the decision.

The crowd booed Varner for being unable to continue, as the knee seemed to barely graze his head and many believe he stopped the fight because he could not throw his punches as effectively after he broke it earlier in the fight. Varner is tough as nails and so is Cerrone. The two will meet again and I expect another war. Hopefully Varner will be ready for another go by June.

San Diego Slugfest

2009-01-25T16:20:00.000-08:00

Last night the city of Los Angeles was rocked with two great fighting events. Tonight, San Diego will host another mixed martial arts event when World Extreme Cagefighting presents a double feature with the rematch between Jens Pulver and Urijah Faber and a lightweight title fight between champion Jamie Varner and red hot Donald Cerrone.

This is not as strong of a card as recent WEC events, but that is understandable since this is the first time it will not have any middleweights or light heavyweights on the bill. The card is still interesting enough for the top two fights and a few prospects filling out the undercard.

The main event of the evening pits Faber against Pulver in a rematch of their classic featherweight title fight back in June. The California Kid displayed tremendous striking against Pulver throughout all five rounds. To Pulver's credit, he was able to take everything Faber had to offer, but it was still shocking to see such a feared striker get picked apart on his feet.

Faber's win over Pulver was convincing enough to make me believe that there is no way he is going to lose this fight. He just lost his title to Mike Brown in a shocking knockout loss, which will make him even more hungry to prove he is still the most dominant 145 pounder in the world.

Pulver, on the other hand, has lost four out of his last five bouts. He is still young at 34 years old, but he doesn't seem to have the same aggressiveness he once possessed. He has never lost three fights in a row in his career, but this fight will probably make that happen. I don't know if Pulver will walk away from the cage if he loses, but if he does, he is going to be a great coach.

While I am certain Faber will win, I am still interested in how it will play out. In the last fight, the two pretty much slugged it out for five rounds, but since Faber just got knocked out, I think he might opt to use his tremendous wrestling to take Pulver to the mat.

The explosive first fight was great to see, but I think a competition on the ground could be just as exciting and would give the matchup a fresh look. However, the only way Pulver could win is by hitting a one-hitter quitter much like Mike Brown did to Faber. Pulver still has pop in his punches, but I just don't see it happening.

Faber wins via 2nd round TKO stoppage

The other main event is a five round matchup between WEC Lightweight Champion Jamie Varner and Donald "The Cowboy" Cerrone. These two guys love to stand and bang and both of them never seem to lose. This could be an instant classic if it goes all five rounds.

Varner is 15-2 and is riding a four-fight win streak with all three of his WEC bouts ending in a TKO. Cerrone is 9-0 in his blossoming career with eight of those wins coming via submission despite his preference to trade leather.

Both fighters are red hot right now, which means the winner will be determined by the fighter that sticks with the correct gameplan and doesn't get suckered into turning the fight into a brawl like many young fighters do. Cerrone is going to want to stand and trade, but he should be looking to jab and then shoot all night long.

If Cerrone puts the fight on the ground, his chances of winning are significantly higher. If he gets caught up in the moment and the adrenaline and opts to box with Varner, then he will come out on the losing end.

Varner is so crisp with his jab and his footwork that most opponents, especially opponent's in their first title fight, cannot hang with him. Cerrone has power, but he keeps his hands low and throws wild punches off balance. Varner will pick him apart all night if he tries to box.

Varner is also a decent wrestler though, and if it does hit the ground, I expect he would be able to scramble to his feet. I think Varner wins by knockout or decision and if Cerrone hopes to walk home with the gold, he needs to go for the submission and get the fight on the ground.

Varner retains title via 4th round knockout

In the undercard, WEC regular Charlie Valencia will welcome Seth Dikun in his debut. Valencia has been losing a lot lately, and at 5' 3" tall he is a little too short to keep competing a featherweight division that keeps getting tougher and tougher. Dikun seems like a good athlete and I expect him to pull out a nice win in his debut.

Hiromitsu Miura is back in action after his great title fight with Carlos Condit. Look for Miura to rebound with another crowd-pleasing performance over Edgar Garcia.

The other two prospects to keep an eye on are Dominick Cruz and Jose Aldo. Cruz is a promising featherweight at 11-1 and has a slightly tougher test against the gritty Ian McCall.

Aldo, a lightweight, brings a 12-1 record into his match against Rolando Perez and has looked good in his first two WEC appearances.

Forecast in LA: Bloody with a chance of a Tornado

2009-01-24T12:31:00.000-08:00

If you live in Los Angeles and you feel the earth beginning to rumble underneath your feet, don't worry, it's not an earthquake, it's probably just Antonio Margarito.

The Tijuana Tornado returns to the ring tonight for the first time since his epic fight with Miguel Cotto in July to defend the Welterweight Championship against Shane Mosley. Margarito is headlining a wild night of fights in Los Angeles with his highly anticipated mach with Mosley happening just 30-miles away from Affliction 2. It's sure to be on the bloodiest nights in Los Angeles.

Margarito captured my heart and support after his tremendous fight against Cotto, so this has been a match I have been looking forward to for quite some time. Mosley has solidified himself as one of the finest boxers of this generation, but as he pushes 38 years old, this could be his swan song.

If Mosley loses, I would expect him to look for another fight against a fairly big name because he is still good enough to go out on top. If he wins, I think he might call it a career, though many experts think he will continue to fight for at least two more years regardless of the outcome.

But the storylines outside of the ring are nowhere near as intriguing as what will be told in the ring. This is a classic matchup of power vs speed. Margarito will walk right through punches to deliver his crushing body blows while Mosley will jump to the inside and fire off lightning fast combinations before retreating outside of striking distance.

In many ways, I see this fight going similar to the Cotto/Margarito fight. I think Mosley will start off strong and win the first three or four rounds. By round five, I think he will start to slow down and Margarito will start to deliver the punishment.

Both fighters have their weaknesses though. Look for Mosley to keep his right hand low, really low. When Mosley gets in a rhythm with his jab, which he is sure to do, he gets a little too loose and starts opening his stance really wide when he throw his jab, leaving his right hand down near his knee. If this happens Margarito should look to throw a left hook as Mosley jabs. The hook will do major damage whether it lands to the body or the head.

For Margarito, he tends to forget about his jab. He tends to have a height advantage against his opponents and he will again as he stand two inches taller than Mosley at 5' 11." But if Margarito fails to use his jab, he will be unable to keep Mosley on the outside. "Sugar" Shane should then be able to jump inside and hit his patent combinations at will.

Though Mosley has never been knocked out in his career, there is a first time for everything and I expect that first time to happen tonight. Margarito will work a lot to the body and slow down Mosley throughout the fight, eventually scoring a knockout in the later rounds.

Antonio Margarito retains Welterweight Championship via 9th round knockout

On the undercard of Margarito/Mosley is the return of Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero. Guerrero lived up to his nickname the last 11 months as he was nowhere to be found because of contractual problems with Goosen. Now that Guerrero has finally severed ties with Goosen, he is ready to debut at junior lightweight under the Golden Boy banner.

The two-time featherweight champion was one of the most promising boxers before having to sit out a year, as he had one of the most impressive victories I have seen when he knocked out red-hot prospect Jason Litzau in one of this three title defenses. All his defenses ended with his opponent staring at the arena lights.

Guerrero should be even stronger and faster at his new weight class and I am hoping for another exciting knockout over Edel Ruiz (31-21-4) .

I have not seen any of the other fighters on the undercard but Ring Magazine has tagged Matt Korobov and Adrien Broner as two fighters to keep an eye on.

Affliction Preview and Picks

2009-01-23T12:14:00.000-08:00

Another big weekend of fights is on tap with Affliction 2, Antonio Margarito vs Shane Mosely and WEC 38. That means I have plenty of picks to make and I will start with Affliction 2.

The second installment on mixed martial arts action from the clothing company seems like a winner. Oscar De La Hoya is helping promote it, Tito Ortiz is commentating and one of the biggest heavyweight matchups of all time is headlining the card. The event had its road bumps though.

The company has been rumored to be on the verge of bankruptcy, though owner Tom Atencio firmly denies it. They also struggled to sell tickets for the event and the general consensus is the pay-per-view purchases won't be enough to offset the financial losses the event will most likely accumulate.

If that wasn't enough, it received heartbreaking news just a few days ago when Chris Horodecki was not medically cleared by CSAC to fight Saturday. I was looking forward to Horodecki getting back in action, especially against a quality opponent like Dan Lauzon.

But if this is the last card Affliction puts on, then it is going down in a blaze of glory. Though I think Affliction's new financial backer, Donald Trump, might be able to throw some cash at them if they need it.

Anyways, this isn't an economics class, so lets get to the picks that will be the sure money makers for all you gamblers out there.

Jay Hieron vs Jason High

Hieron has had a lot of praise lately, and while he has improved, I think he may be getting a little overhyped. However, the Xtreme Couture member draws an inexperienced fighter in Jason High. High is 5-0 with a win over tough Kevin Burns, but Hieron's athleticism and experience should be enough to get the win.

Hieron via unanimous decision

Paul Buentello vs Kiril Sidelnikov

This is going to be an exciting fight. Buentello loves to go for the knockout and Sidelnikov is Fedor Emelianenko's protege. Though Buentello has faced much better competition and is much more experienced, every future star needs a breakout fight and I think that's what this will be for Sidelnikov. Here is the upset pick.

Sidelnikov via 1st round knockout

Antonio "Minotoro" Nogueira vs Vladimir Matyushenko

This should be a war. Nogueira, the brother of the former UFC heavyweight champion, is a jujitsu ace and is tough as nails. Matyushenko was dominant in the IFL and is also a tough out. I expect Matyushenko to put Nogueira on his back and try to ground and pound, but Nogueira's jujitsu will be too good. The fight will get back on the feet where Nogueira should put Matyushenko down.

Nogueira via 3rd round knockout

Josh Barnett vs Gilbert Yvel

Yvel is dangerous on his feet, but for some reason I just don't get excited about this matchup. Barnett will look to shoot alot and secure his share of takedowns and probably put Yvel away with some tough work and ground-and-pound offense. Yvel's only chance is a perfectly timed kick on a Barnett shot, but I think this one is pretty much decided. This is the sure bet.

Barnett via 2nd round TKO stoppage

Vitor Belfort vs Matt Lindland

This is tough. Lindland is maybe the best wrestler in MMA, but he only has two fights in the last two years and is 38 years old. Belfort can be a phenom, like his nickname suggests, but he loses focus at unpredictable times. Lindland trains very hard, but Belfort has confidence with a three-fight winning streak going. If it's on the feet I think Belfort, if it's on the ground it could go either way. Time to make a decision.

Belfort via 2nd round knockout

Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou vs Renato "Babalu" Sobral

This is probably not right of me, but anytime I think of Babalu I think of him getting knocked out by Jason Lambert. I know Sobral is a great fighter, and people have jumped on his bandwagon again, but I'm not ready to. I know he really wants to fight Tito Ortiz and the only way to do that is win, but I think Sokoudjo is too explosive of a striker and will knock him out.

Sokoudjo via 1st round knockout

WAMMA Heavyweight Championship: Andrei Arlovski vs Fedor Emelianenko

I am beyond excited for this fight. Arlovski is a Chicago guy and brought in legendary boxing trainer Freddie Roach. Emelianenko is...well...he is Emelianenko. This one will have fireworks throughout and while I think Arlovski will have his moments, Emelianenko has no quit. When asked about Arlovski's training with Roach, Fedor just smiled. Not in a cocky way, but in the way you know he has it won. There is something very scary and unexplainable about him.

Emelianenko retains title via 3rd round knockout

"Pac" it in

2009-01-22T10:24:00.000-08:00

If you're a boxing fan, you have already heard the news about the highly anticipated fight between pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton being cancelled. The projected May 2 fight was axed after Pacman declined to sign the offer sheet from Hatton's camp by the Wednesday deadline.

Let us take a moment to mourn the loss of this fight.......OK, that's enough, now it's time to rip these coddled superstars for being spoiled and once again turning their backs on boxing fans.

There is no denying boxing has lost some of its popularity and some of it can be attributed to the inability for promoters to pull off the big fights at the right time. This was a chance to book an important match with both fighters still close enough to, or even in, their prime. But that evil color green reared its ugly head once more and the dollar sign delivered another knockout punch to boxing fans.

While both fighters are to blame, the brunt of the blame should fall on Pacquiao. His win over Oscar De La Hoya has inflated his ego as well as his price to step into the ring. The pride of the Philippines did not get his fair share for fighting the Golden Boy, I will give him that, but he shouldn't take it out on the fans.

Hatton's camp offered Pacquiao a 50-50 split on the purse, not a bad deal considering it would net Pacquiao a minimum of $12 million, which is the most he would have ever made in his career. Considering $12 million was the base, I have no idea why Pacquiao wanted to push the purse split higher.

Pacman reportedly wanted a 60-40 split, which is ridiculous considering Pacquiao is moving up in weight to challenge the Super Lightweight Champion.

I can understand Pacman wanting to have the "superstar split." After all, he was pretty much robbed when he agreed to fight De La Hoya on a 68-32 split in the Golden Boy's favor. However, Ricky Hatton fights have drawn some of the biggest crowds in recent years as he drew 57,000 in Manchester and 30,000 in Las Vegas.

The guaranteed sold-out crowd along with the pay-per-view purchases should have been enough for Pacquiao to agree to a 50-50 split, but Hatton's camp budged a little near the end of negotiations and offered a 52-48 split for Pacman. Still the offer wasn't good enough as Pacquiao's camp said they would not even begin to listen until a 55-45 offer was on the table.

So Hatton grew tired of the stubborn superstar and the deal was pulled Wednesday night, leaving both fighters scrambling for an opponent. Hatton said he would still like to fight May 2 and he has quite a few options. Matches with either De La Hoya, Juan Diaz, Floyd Mayweather, Juan Manuel Marquez or David Diaz could be pursued.

Mayweather is very unlikely as they have already fought once and it was clear Pretty Boy Floyd was the better man. It is also unlikely because one reason Pacquiao may have backed out of the Hatton fight was because he had his eyes set on a match with Mayweather in the fall. Risking a loss to Hatton in the spring would make the Mayweather fight much less attractive.

But if Pacquiao were to fight Mayweather in the fall he would have to take a 60-40 split or even another 68-32 split in Mayweather's favor as he is the biggest draw in boxing. Pacquiao said he pulled out of the fight because he thought he could get his 60-40 split fighting Edwin Valero or Juan Manuel Marquez and make just as much money. He might be able to get his split, but it would not even come close to the money he could make with Hatton.

It has been estimated the Hatton/Pacquiao fight could have brought in close to $57 million. And after the promoters, managers, venue and networks all get paid, I would still split that 50-50.

There is still one last hope this fight could be back on. That one last hope is Bob Arum. Arum, Pacquiao's promoter, is one of the best, if not the best promoter in boxing. When he found out Pacquiao turned down the deal, he set up a face-to-face meeting with his star boxer to find out what in the world he was thinking about.

Arum is a very powerful man in boxing and when he takes time to fly to the Philippines to meet with a fighter, you know he is serious. Arum saw his dollar signs fly out the window when Pacquiao shrugged off the contract, so I still have hope Arum can convince Pacquiao to wake up and take the deal within the next week.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is why they are called prizefights and not boxing matches.

HBO spikes...well...Spike

2009-01-21T12:53:00.000-08:00

A big time fight should be every TV stations' dream. The nature of a fight already has all the drama one could ask for. A fight is a battle of wills, a measurement of a person's heart and willingness to overcome adversity.

But it can be hard to master the art of translating all the emotion and drama of a big fight through a television screen to someone sitting on a couch. HBO, however, did master it with its tremendous show, "24/7."

The show has previewed some of the biggest fights in recent years and does a spectacular job not only hyping the fight, but showing the human side to athletes commonly seen as ultra warriors. The best of the series was the Oscar De La Hoya vs Floyd Mayweather fight. But other great boxers such as Joe Calzaghe. Manny Pacquiao, Ricky Hatton and Roy Jones Jr., have been profiled as well.

HBO raised the bar on how to cover a big fight, so with the biggest fight in mixed martial arts history set to happen Jan. 24th, the UFC was willing to give its best shot at mimicking "24/7."

On Jan. 14, the UFC debuted the first episode of a three-part series called UFC: Primetime, a show created to build up the mega fight between Georges St. Pierre and BJ Penn. There was a lot of things to like about the first episode, especially the way it was able to show just how hard it is to be a top-level mixed martial artist.

Whether it was GSP going from training with the national wrestling team to hitting the mat with jujitsu masters, or GSP going from the weight room to the boxing ring, it became clear that it takes a tremendous amount of work and dedication to be the UFC Welterweight Champion.

But what about being the UFC Lightweight Champion? This is where the show goes off the rails and becomes significantly inferior to HBO's "24/7."

BJ Penn, who is known for his uncanny natural ability as much as he is known for his lack of training, is shown as a fighter with all the riches of being a naturally gifted champion that has nothing better to do but hang out on the beaches of his native Hawaii. The trouble is, he is much more than that.

While Penn is criticized for his dedication to training, there is no doubting he is taking this fight very seriously. In his fight against Joe Stevenson, he slept in a high-altitude bubble just to increase his stamina. That level of dedication will only grow for a fight he has been waiting years for.

So while Penn is hitting the gym and training, we only get to see the laid-back personality of the lightweight champion. Meanwhile, the show portrays St. Pierre working harder than anyone else at his craft until he becomes the best, much like a modern day Rocky.

That would be fine if it was true, but it is obvious to see UFC is forcing this good guy vs bad guy story. Penn is the champion that is too confident, while St. Pierre is the champion that has never lost sight of where he came from. Great drama, but it comes across phony and forced.

UFC should stop trying to create storylines and portray the fighters for who they really are, just like "24/7" showed how Roy Jones Jr. had to struggle with his age or Manny Pacquiao struggled with media attention he had never seen before.

Penn brings some of it on himself as he always was a charismatic individual. Saying things like "I am going to kill you," in reference to his fight with St. Pierre, will bring attention to more than his training ethic. I have no problem with them showing that side of Penn, but they also need to show the side of him that works and trains like a champion fighter.

The first episode portrayed Penn in such a negative light, that the lightweight champion actually cut off the taping and interview session for future Primetime episodes and no longer wants to participate in the show.

Primetime can do for UFC what "24/7" did for HBO, but it will have to get away from the Rocky III theme and start letting the fighters true personalities fully shine. There is nothing more dramatic and powerful than a big fight and I hope the UFC just lets that natural drama come through.

I hope Obama doesn't like alphabet soup

2009-01-20T11:00:00.000-08:00

It is one of the most exciting days of my young life as Barack Obama is now officially the president of the United States of America. President Obama (it's nice to finally write that) has high expectations after promising change we can believe in throughout his campaign.

While he must focus on actual problems like war and the dying economy, he has given some lighthearted interviews talking about changes he would like to see in sports. On the top of his list is a playoff for college football, which I would like to see, and making the basketball court bigger for NBA games.

I'm sure Obama isn't losing any sleep over college football or basketball, but if sports fans can ask for change from their new president then I would like to make an official request on behalf of all boxing fans. Please Mr. President, unify the sanctioning bodies and let us have undisputed world champions in each weight class.

Every boxing fan I have ever talked to has one major problem with the sport and it is the multiple world champions. Between the WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO there are enough belts to clothe the NYPD. I believe great boxers should be awarded with championships, but the meaning of the title is diluted when more than one man can claim to be the world champion.

Ring Magazine decided it would be the judge of the "true" world champion and started crowning fighters in each division "The Ring Champion." While they do a decent job of choosing the true champion in each division, their selections must be scrutinized since the magazine is owned by Golden Boy Promotions, meaning they could favor fighters in their stable.

Much of the national media recognizes the Ring Champion as the true champion of their respective division.

But as long as the WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO exist, there will always be an "alphabet soup" of champions. So until President Obama brings the change boxing fans can believe in I will do my best to find the real world champion in each division.

I will give my selection for World Champion in each division from Lightweight (135 lbs) to Heavyweight. While there are weight classes below 135 lbs, I believe the best boxers are able to work their way up the weight divisions to at least 135 pounds (ie. Manny Pacquiao, Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez).

However, there are tremendous boxers below the 135 pound division and I will classify those boxers as the best of the rest. So here goes my attempt at giving you the true World Champions until our new president can demolish all those evil sanctioning bodies.

Best of the Rest

1. Ivan Calderon 2. Vic Darchinyan 3. Israel Vazquez 4. Chris John 5. Edwin Valero

All five of those men are tremendous boxers in their own right and very decorated. Darchinyan is the only unified champion in boxing right now. Chris John is a pure winner with a record of 42-0-1, but Edwin Valero is the man to look out for as he makes the move to lightweight.

Lightweight (135 lbs): Manny Pacquiao

Pacman is possibly the best boxer in the world right now, and for the time being he is in the lightweight division. Juan Manuel Marquez is probably the best fighter in this division for the long haul with Pacman expected to move up to super lightweight.

Super Lightweight (140 lbs): Ricky Hatton

Hatton's only loss is to Floyd Mayweather, so he is one of the best around at 45-1. However, with a possible matchup against Pacquiao in the future and the emergence of Timothy Bradley, Hatton could be thrown off his throne.

Welterweight (147 lbs): Antonio Margarito

The Tijuana Tornado blew through highly regarded Miguel Cotto to claim the welterweight crown last year. I expect Margarito to stay atop the welterweight division for a while as he should beat Shane Mosley in their match this Saturday.

Super Welterweight (154 lbs): Paul Williams

Williams seems to be ready to move to middleweight permanently, but when he fights at 154 pounds he is a beast. His large frame is a huge advantage and his only competition in this class is Vernon Forrest and maybe Sergei Dzindziruk.

Middleweight (160 lbs): Arthur Abraham

The sexy pick in this division is Kelly Pavlik, but after a loss to Bernard Hopkins in a non-title match, I have to go with Abraham. The Armenian champion has eight successful defenses, including one where he fought with a broken jaw. He is very underrated.

Super Middleweight (168 lbs): Mikkel Kessler

This is an unimpressive division at the moment, but Kessler is still the king though he hasn't fought anyone noteworthy since losing to Joe Calzaghe. Hopefully Allan Green starts finding top fights and takes the championship. Or Carl Froch could emerge.

Light Heavyweight (175 lbs): Joe Calzaghe

Calzaghe currently calls this division home, which makes him the champ since he is 46-0 and has looked good doing it. I don't think he has many fights left though, so after he leaves this division belongs to Chad Dawson and Zsolt Erdei.

Cruiserweight (200 lbs): Tomasz Adamek

This division belongs to David Haye if he wants to come back down from heavyweight, but until then it is Adamek's. Adamek is very good, but this is a tough division. Johnathon Banks might be the next great champion.

Heavyweight (unlimited): Wladimir Klitschko

This is an easy call as there are no other heavyweights close to the same league as Klitschko. He is completely dominant and an eventual challenge from David Haye might be the only thing to stop him. Chris Arreola is promising, but still too young.

So President Obama, crown these men the true world champions and then let the pieces fall as they may. It's time boxing fans get true world champions to cheer for (or boo).

The First Round

2009-01-19T17:29:00.000-08:00

Just like a boxer in the 10th round of a championship fight, this blog is picking itself up off the canvas and is ready to make a comeback. The blog formerly known as "Beatdowns, Boxing and Basketball" is back as "The First Round." The blog will be entirely dedicated to the sports of boxing and mixed martial arts.

After studying the fine art of blogging under the tutelage of Luis C. Medina, (chief blogger at "The Big Dead Sidebar") I feel prepared to run a successful blog of my own. All great blogs include the readers so I will do my best to take suggestions and encourage you to voice your own opinions through the comments.

Like most weekends, there was a lot of action on the fight scene so I will do my best to wrap up a weekend full of fights that could have world title implications in the future.

UFC 93: No title fight, no problem

Some big matches with some shocking performances made for a pretty satisfying night of fights considering there was no title on the line. Three different weight classes had significant fights that should lead to interesting matchups down the line.

205 pounds of danger and 205 pounds of disease

If you want to see some of the best of what the light heavyweight division has to offer, watch the Rich Franklin vs Dan Henderson main event from UFC 93. If you want to see some of the worst, then watch the co-main event between Mauricio "Shogun" Rua and Mark Coleman.

Franklin and Henderson had a great fight that resulted in the former PRIDE champion winning a split decision. Henderson was just crisp enough on his feet for the first two rounds and dominant on the ground. Franklin was great in the third round, but didn't do enough in the first two. Throughout the fight though, there was no lack of technique or conditioning as both men proved why they are considered two of the best fighters in the world.

Shogun was once considered one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world. On Saturday, he looked like someone who had put on too many of those pounds as he inexplicably gassed halfway through the second round. Shogun needed a convincing performance after losing to Forrest Griffin his last time out and suffering a bad ACL tear. Instead, he was satisfied just toying with the 44-year-old Mark Coleman (who gassed halfway through the first round.)

Shogun knocked Coleman out with a nice uppercut in the third round, but it looked like he was throwing punches in slow motion. I will cut Rua a break for his showing since it is his first fight back from major knee surgery, but if he wants to be a contender again he will need to do much more. The light heavyweight division is deep and the title seems to change hands on every defense. Rua will get run out of the UFC if he shows up like he did on Saturday.

Time to recognize "The Talent"

Middleweight Alan "The Talent" Belcher seems like a gatekeeper. He has enough talent to push a fighter to the limit, but the great ones should beat him. It turns out he is better than that. Belcher shocked me yet again Saturday with a slick rear-naked choke victory over highly regarded Denis Kang. Kang dominated the first round and was living up to his anticipated debut, but like always, Belcher remained calm. He came out in the second and the fight hit the ground where Belcher made a beautiful transition to Kang's back and sunk in the choke.

Belcher has enough Muay Thai skills to knock anyone out and enough patience on the ground to work a submission. I don't see him dethroning the seemingly unbeatable Anderson Silva, but matches against some of the top fighters such as Yushin Okami, Nate Marquardt and hopefully Patrick Cote should be on the horizon.

In other middleweight action, Rousimar Palhares dominated another tough veteran in Jeremy Horn. His jujitsu is some of the best I have seen in the middleweight division and I think he could be a contender in a year or so. It may be a little early, but I would love to see him fight submission ace Demian Maia.

Punching a hole to nowhere

Marcus Davis had another great display of boxing en route to his win over former professional boxer Chris "Lights Out" Lytle Saturday. The win pushed Davis' record to 6-1 over his last seven fights. Even though he has wins over tough opponents such as Lytle, Pete Spratt and Paul Taylor, there does not seem to be room for Davis in title contention talk in the competitive welterweight division.

To be fair, Davis lost his last "step up" fight when Mike Swick took a unanimous decision back in June. I think Davis should get another shot at a top name. Maybe Jon Fitch would be too much, but since Fitch is coming off a loss to Georges St. Pierre, it could be good for both fighters.

The Boxing Scene: A shooting star and a falling star

If you haven't already heard about WBC Welterweight Champion Andre Berto, then now is the time to watch him rise. The young, promising fighter past the test Saturday. The test that either stops the career of a potential star or vaults that star into the million dollar fights. Berto passed that test with a statement.

Going into the 11th round with former world champion Luis Collazo, Berto knew he had to win the next two rounds convincingly. The young Haitian dug as deep as he could inside himself and boxed brilliantly in the 11th and the 12th for his second successful defense. When Berto had to leave it all out in the middle of the ring, he did. That quality is not found in a lot of fighters and it makes me think a matchup with the likes of a Zab Judah could be sooner rather than later.

He's not your "Buddy"

Two-time world champion Buddy McGirt was a great boxer and like in many sports one would think the next generation would continue to build on that legacy. James McGirt Jr, son of Buddy, seemed like he could carry the name into the 21st century. Going into Friday's matchup with Angel Hernandez, McGirt Jr. was 18-1-1 with his only loss coming to the tremendously talented Carlos De Leon.

The draw on his record was a disappointment as he should have had no problem with Marcus Upshaw, but instead had an embarrassing performance on Showtime that resulted in a draw. McGirt had his chance for redemption with a televised bout on ESPN 2 against the pudgy Hernandez. But McGirt didn't deliver. Instead, the much shorter Hernandez got on the inside and pounded to the body of McGirt the whole fight.

McGirt probably thought he could unleash a knockout hook to Hernandez, and while he did land good shots, it would have been much smarter to use his jab and keep his range. But at the end of the day Berto is one step away from a huge paycheck and McGirt is one step away from the exit.

Gone in 60 Seconds

2008-07-07T20:53:00.000-07:00

If you didn't see Kendall Holt vs Ricardo Torres Saturday night, you missed a classic.

Luckily, the internet exists, which means you can still catch the fight and the great thing is you only need one minute of free time.

Torres, the champion, showed how dominant he can be, dropping Holt TWICE in thirty seconds. Torres was untouchable and made Holt look like an amateur (which he is definitely not).

Right when Torres had it, Holt dropped the hammer. The third knockdown of the round saw Torres fall into the ropes and never get up as Holt became the new world champion. It was a sight to see, boxing fan or not. Sports don't get any more exciting than those sixty seconds of non-stop action.

Fall Out From UFC 86
Well I predicted about half the bouts correctly, so it wasn't a great day of pick'em, but I was happy with the card. There were some close decisions however, that could have gone either way and will have big effects on future world championship bouts.

Forrest Griffin, the kid with a lot of heart, edged a decision from Rampage Jackson, the FORMER world champion. Griffin completed his rise from Ultimate Fighter to World Champion, but not without a little controversy.

Rd 1: Jackson, Rd 2: Griffin, Rd 3: Either Way, Rd 4: Jackson, Rd 5: Griffin

I'm no mathematician, but that seems like a draw to me, and when a fight is so close that it could go to a draw, then the champion keeps it.

I'm proud for Griffin, he is a tough fighter, he isn't as good as Jackson in my eyes. But it seems the UFC is about to do the right thing again and give Jackson an immediate rematch, at least according to numerous rumors.

Caught In A Spider Web
The other close decision happened in the Middleweight division where a title shot was up for grabs. Heavy-handed Patrick "The Predator" Cote took a split decision over Ricardo Almeida. Obviously, a split decision means it was close and I agree. Either man could have won.

But there is a big problem with Cote winning. His future matchup with champion Anderson Silva is a given - he is getting knocked out. No middleweight in the world can hang with Silva on his feet and most MMA fans know that. Almeida would have tried to take it to the ground, leading to a few more possibilities.

Could he have gotten the fight to the ground? Could he have submitted the pound-for-pound king? Chances are very slim, but the possibility was there. With Cote, it will be another explosive, quick knockout for The Spider.

Fast and Furious

Check out the MMA going down July 19. A stacked Affliction card and free Anderson Silva on Spike TV
Why is MMA the fastest growing sport? Because Mandy Moore is hot and is assured to be shown at least once on every UFC PPV
WEC Bantamweight Champion Miguel Torres was shown at UFC. It's for us to find out who he is fighting next (hoping for the Maeda rematch)

UFC 86 Predictions

2008-07-04T12:52:00.000-07:00

This Saturday is UFC 86: Griffin vs Jackson, which means it's time to give my "expert" opinion on the winners and losers. The card looks pretty solid on paper with an undercard featuring a match for a shot at the Middleweight championship and a promising heavyweight looking to get back on track. The main event of course pits "Ultimate Fighter" coaches Quinton "Rampage" Jackson against Forrest Griffin...so lets get to it!

Gabriel Gonzaga vs Justin McCully
Gonzaga looked like UFC's savior in the heavyweight division after he decapitated "Cro Cop" with a left high kick for one of the biggest upsets in UFC history. Unfortunately, Gonzaga got a nose job from Randy Couture's ground and pound and then looked lost in a fight against Fabricio Werdum. After two losses though, he is ready to get back in the win column. McCully has trained with Tito Ortiz in the past (mainly as his human punching bag) and I expect Gonzaga to punish him the same way with his tremendous physical strength.

Gonzaga via 1st round TKO

Cole Miller vs Jorge Gurgel
This is very tough to call. Gurgel has underachieved his whole career, but he is a great coach as witnessed by the success of his students in the UFC. Miller has overachieved in my eyes and hasn't faced great competition except for Jeremy Stephens, who he lost to. This will be the last time I pick Gurgel if he loses, but I hope he shows what he is capable of. Expect Gurgel to get a decision after controlling the fight on the ground.

Gurgel via unanimous decision

Dennis Siver vs Melvin Guillard
I absolutely hate Guillard. He got kicked out of the UFC after trying to start a fight after losing a fight in the 1st round. He is the biggest talker this side of Mike Tyson and he can't back it up when facing top competition. Unfortunately, he isn't against top competition this weekend. He draws Dennis Siver, a good grappler who isn't good enough to make the jump in competition. Look for Guillard to score the knockout (and then talk until the next 4th of July).

Guillard via 2nd round KO

Corey Hill vs Justin Buchholz
Hill is a special athlete. He fights at lightweight (155) despite being 6' 4". If he is progressing like expected, the beanstalk should keep winning. Buchholz is the fighting pride of Alaska...but that's the problem. He built his great record in Alaska.

Hill via unanimous decision

Joe Stevenson vs Gleison Tibau
It's nice to see Joe Daddy back. Last time we saw him he was shedding more blood than a "Hostel" movie. That came at the hands of one of the top 5 fighters in the world though, so its excusable. Stevenson is a tremendous fighter and will use his excellent wrestling and ju-jitsu to finish off Tibau. Stevenson should get back into title contention.

Stevenson via 1st round submission

Ricardo Almeida vs Patrick Cote
This one is for a future shot at the middleweight title. Cote has been on a Cinderella run as of late with impressive KO victories, but I think it stops Saturday. Almeida is a ju-jitsu monster, and I think if the fight hits the floor just once, Cote will be tapping.

Almeida via 2nd round submission

Tyson Griffin vs Marcus Aurelio
This looks like a great technical fight. No flash or flair here, but it's a coin toss. Aurelio hasn't looked as good in the UFC as he did in PrideFC, so a tough opponent like Griffin could be the difference. I think Griffin literally wrestles a decision away from Aurelio.

Griffin via unanimous decision

Chris Lytle vs Josh Koscheck
Classic striker vs grappler match. Both need a win, but Koz will get it. His wrestling is some of the best in MMA today and it's very difficult to stop his takedown. His striking should be good enough to survive on his feet and he should be back in the win column.

Koscheck via 2nd round TKO stoppage

Quinton "Rampage" Jackson vs Forrest Griffin
The main event for the Light-Heavyweight Championship. Rampage has been tremendous with the title, defeating Liddell with KO to win it and beating Dan Henderson in a 5 round war to retain. Griffin had a shocking win over Maricio Rua to get the shot, but Rampage is going to be too strong. Quinton is technically sound at striking and super strong on the ground. Griffin is a little wild and will probably get caught with a hard punch.

Jackson retains title via KO in 3rd round

The Draft and The Shaft

2008-07-01T20:24:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the first ever edition of beatdowns, boxing and basketball. I will be offering my latest thoughts on the wide world of mixed-martial arts, boxing and basketball for all you sport nuts out there.

Some big things happened last week so I figured I would catch you all up on the two biggest events.

Ok, so good news or bad news first?

I agree...The good news is the Milwaukee Bucks (my absolute favorite team of all-time) had a solid draft. Trading Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons for Richard Jefferson was a brilliant move by new G.M. John Hammond (mastermind behind the Pistons).

I am sad to see Jianlian go as I think he will be a great player and he is a great ambassador of the sport, but the Bucks had salary cap trouble and big defensive problems that should be remedied with Jefferson and....

Joe Alexander and Luc Richard Mbah A Moute. Both players are great defenders, especially Mbah A Moute who has been compared to Bruce Bowen and Ron Artest (without the headache...and jumpshot).

Alexander, who a tremendous writer once called "Vanilla Sky," is just that...a white guy with sick hops. He should bring plenty of athleticism, energy and defense to an improved team with hard-nosed Scott Skiles at the helm. Here we come Eastern Conference playoffs!

Now the Bad News
I had been looking forward to Saturday night for a longtime. David Diaz, Chicago's only world champion boxer, had a chance to defend against the pound-for-pound king, Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao.

Diaz was a 4-1 underdog, but with Pacman moving up in weight, I had my boy Diaz by KO in the late rounds. Turns out Pacman can keep his lightening speed while putting on muscle. The "Mexicutioner" put down another great Mexican boxer after nine rounds of lightning fast combos that ended with a devestating left hook to turn out Diaz's lights.

Chicago is without a world champion for now, but congrats to Pacman who became the first Asian boxer (he is from the Philippines) to win four world championships in four separate weight classes.

On a side note, the undercard of Diaz vs Pacquiao had a whole lot of controversy. World champion Humberto Soto destroyed Francisco Lorenzo with a fourth round KO due to violent lefts. Referee Joe Cortez saw a phantom punch to the back of the head while Lorenzo was falling to his knees....the result....Lorenzo wins by DQ.

Cortez, you need to get the Chris Henry'd out of boxing for that call.

Thanks for reading everyone, come back next time when I talk about the latest MMA news.*

*All subject matter subject to change