UFC 136 Results

Let's have a look...

Frankie Edgar def. Gray Maynard (TKO 4)
Looks like Maynard had Edgar in trouble in the first once again and, yet again, could not finish him. Edgar clipped Maynard in the fourth and managed to get the job done. (0-1)

Jose Aldo def. Kenny Florian (unanimous)
Florian was game, but Aldo was better. (1-1)

Chael Sonnen def. Brian Stann (sub 2)
Big win for Sonnen puts him right back in the title picture. (2-1)

Joe Lauzon def. Melvin Guillard (sub 1)
So much for Guillard's title run. A loss to a guy who is arguably just outside the top ten is a big setback. A loss in under a minute? Fuggetaboutit. (3-1)

Nam Phan def. Leonard Garcia (unanimous)
Phan came out of the right side of this one. LOTS of punches thrown. (4-1)

Demian Maia def. Jorge Santiago (unanimous)
They stayed on their feet until Maia decided to wrestle Santiago to the ground. Not a very interesting fight. (5-1)

Anthony Pettis def. Jeremy Stevens (split)
Decent stand up fight. But Pettis was better. (6-1)

Stipe Miocic def. Joey Beltran (unanimous)
Upset special! (7-1)

Darren Elkins def. Tiequan Zhang (unanimous)
Looks like Zhang couldn't get the KO shot he hunts for. (7-2)

Aaron Simpson def. Eric Schafer (uanimous)
Looks like Shafer may be on his way out again. (8-2)

Mike Massenzio def. Steve Cantwell (unanimous)
Loser goes home? (8-3)

Lots of decisions in this one. Not a very entertaining night, it seems; at least on the undercard. Still, 8-3? I'll take that!

UFC 136 Edgar vs Maynard III Picks

Here we go again!

These two put on a good show, so I'm not complaining. Who's gonna win? Let's find out.

Frankie Edgar vs Gray Maynard (lightweight)
Third time's a charm, right? So by that rationale, Edgar ought to take this... These guys are pretty evenly matched, with Edgar having the edge in speed and Maynard the edge in power. What will be different this time? Probably not much. Maynard could certainly fight smarter. He had Edgar at his mercy last time out, but instead of finishing off the champ with precision punches and elbows or even a choke, he threw punches in bunches and tired himself out without doing enough damage to end the fight. Lots of guys make this mistake when they have a guy on the ropes. If he fights smarter, I have Maynard taking it. If not, Edgar will take the decision. I'm picking Maynard.

Jose Aldo vs Kenny Florian (featherweight)
It's hard to go against Kenny. He's a smart fighter and knows what he has to do to win. But this is only his second fight at featherweight and he is taking on a very game champ. They are both BJJ/Muay Thai/boxing guys, with Aldo having the edge in power and Kenny having a slight reach/size advantage. Can Aldo knock out Kenny? Can Kenny choke out Aldo? Honestly, I don't like Kenny's chances here. He doesn't have featherweight speed. I could see him gassing or getting caught by a big punch. I'd like to pick him, but it wouldn't be smart. I'm picking Aldo.

Chael Sonnen vs Brian Stann (middleweight)
These two are very evenly matched as well, but Sonnen is the smarter fighter and has more to prove. ...But he hasn't fought in a year. Stann has two fights this calendar year alone. Impressive as they were, they were both against guys willing to bang. I don't see Sonnen being that stupid. He'll take Stann down and work him from there. Stann has proven in the past to have trouble off his back. A year ago, I would have picked Sonnen hands down. Now I'm not so sure. A year off is a long time. Still, I'll pick Sonnen.

Melvin Guillard vs Joe Lauzon (lightweight)
This ought to be interesting. A true clash of styles. Guillard is lightning fast with incredible power. Lauzon is a tactician with great submissions skills. Can Lauzon get Guillard to the ground? If he does, he takes it. If he doesn't, he's toast. I could see Lauzon getting KTFO or taking it easily by submission in the first round. I like Lauzon, while Guillard still comes off as a child in a man's body. I'll pick Lauzon.

Leonard Garcia vs Nam Phan (featherweight)
The rematch. Garcia got the decision the first time while Phan got robbed. He deserved the decision, but somehow the judges saw it differently. It was an ugly fight and this one probably won't be much prettier. Garcia is a wild man. He throws looping punches with abandon. Phan will be more technical and the winner will likely be determined by which judges are sitting octagon-side. While Phan did well on TUF he is hardly a top-notch fighter. He has lost his last two fights, 4 of his last 5, 5 of 7, and 7 of 11. Garcia, for his part, is hit and miss, but at least has faced decent opponents. He just can't beat any of them. His claim to fame is a controversial (again) win over the Korean Zombie as well as a KO win over an over-ripe Jens Pulver. So who takes this one? Let's go with Phan for fun.

Demian Maia vs Jorge Santiago (middleweight)
I like Maia. As long as he takes the fight to the ground. Recently, he has been relying a bit too much on his standup and taking fights to a decision. Santiago lost to Brian Stann the last time out and seems to have trouble inside the octagon in general. He has also lost fights to Diego Sanchez and Manvel Gamburyan (a 0:21 KO!). He has a lot of experience, but Maia is a top-notch BJJ fighter and I sense Santiago isn't quite up to his level. I'm picking Maia.

Anthony Pettis vs Jeremy Stevens (lightweight)
Could be fight of the night. Pettis is the former WEC lightweight champ and might have been UFC lightweight champ had he not dropped the ball against the always tough Clay Guida. Stevens is always game, always shows up to fight - he just tends to come out on the short end of decisions against top-flight competition. Pettis is definitely top flight. I'm picking Pettis.

Joey Beltran vs Stipe Miocic (heavyweight)
Beltran is hit and miss. You never know what you're going to get. He isn't fancy, but he's tough. But...Stipe who? Exactly. But guess what: this guy is a former Golden Gloves champ and NCAA Div I wrestler. He's also 6-0 with KO wins and a submission by LEG KICKS. His resume seems weird, though, with wins over guys named Gregory Maynard (not Gray), Jeremy Holm (not Horn) and Paul Barry (not Pat). Assuming this isn't a gag, this guy could prove to be very tough. Let's hope for fireworks. I've never been a big fan of Beltran's, so I'm gonna go with the dark horse upset special here and pick Miocic.

Tiequan Zhang vs Darren Elkins (featherweight)
Elkins is a wrestler with KO power and submission skills. Very dangerous. Zhang finishes guys fast and has only one loss - by decision. This could be over quick. Zhang has some wrestling in his background but he is definitely a submissions guy. If Elkins tries to take this to the ground, it could get very interesting. I'll pick Zhang.

Aaron Simpson vs Eric Schafer (middleweight)
Both of these guys are mid-carders looking for a break. Both tend to lose against top guys but have otherwise been impressive. Schafer is getting a second chance with the UFC as an injury replacement after being cut a year and a half ago. Simpson is 5-2 in the UFC and in no immediate danger of being cut, it seems. So will desperation lead to a win for Schafer? I don't see it that way. I'm picking Simpson.

Steve Cantwell vs Mike Massenzio (middleweight)
I'm not quite sure why this fight is on the card. Cantwell has lost three in a row and is dropping down to middleweight. Massenzio is often cannon fodder as well, having lost 3 of 4 and 5 of 7. I assume the loser goes home in this one. I don't like the looks of either of these guys but Cantwell is a former WEC champ and Masenzio has a loss to CB effing Dollaway on his resume. I'm picking Cantwell.

Too bad I'm gonna miss this event due to Thanksgiving. Most of the card looks great.

UFC 125 Results

Okay, okay - I've been totally slacking. It's been busy at my paying job, so the volunteer work has had to take a back seat.

Pay me for this and I'll be posting like clockwork.

...Please!

Let's catch up with UFC 125. I didn't see it because of New Year's Eve celebrations out of town, but I did catch some stuff.

Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard (draw)
Wish I had seen this. Sounds like Maynard was smoking Edgar in the first round but failed to finish. Apparently it was easily a 10-8 round, maybe an unheard of 10-7. Either way, Maynard did not get the job done and may have gotten a bit too comfortable with his lead or may have even tired himself out a little. The draw sets up a rematch - their third fight, actually - with Edgar yet to secure a win over Maynard. Now that Maynard has a five rounder under his belt, the rematch bodes well for him. He may be the favourite in the next fight.

Brian Stann def. Chris Leben (TKO 1)
Looks like Leben went toe-to-toe again and lost. No style points for the guy. He just sticks his chin and fists out. Stann capitalized and was able to KO the troubled fighter. Kudos to him. Leben was on the rise and this is a nice feather in Stann's cap. Will the Leben-Wanderlei fight still happen?

Thiago Silva def. Brandon Vera (unanimous)
Vera was gien his walking papers after this one. A massive fall for a guy who came in with such promise and was boasting he'd be the first guy to hold the heavyweight and light-heavyweight belts at the same time. Not so much. He hasn't improved and looks timid in the octagon. That won't keep you employed at the new and improved UFC. Silva keeps looking good. his only major setbacks have been against future champs.

Hyun Dong Kim def. Nate Diaz (unanimous)
The stats suggest Diaz did well, but Kim got the nod. Another example of Diaz just not fighting smart? He needs to avoid getting taken down. He's way too comfortable there, but it never looks good in the judge's eyes to be on your back.

Clay Guida def. Takanori Gomi (sub 2)
Not surprising that the ultra slow Gomi could not keep pace with hyperactive Guida. Gomi has not impressed me and yet this win has people buzzing about a title shot for Guida. THIS fight? Well, maybe if he defeats Anthony Pettis in his next fight...

Jeremy Stevens def. Marcus Davis (KO 3)
Poor Davis. Apparently, he was clearly winning the fight until he got caught in the third round. The loss got him cut from the UFC even though he has always been a good performer and this was his first fight at lightweight. Tough break. No doubt a direct result of Zuffa merging the WEC with the mothership and the resulting surplus of lightweights in the UFC.

Dustin Poirier def. Josh Grispi (unanimous)
Ok.

Brad Tavares def. Phil Baroni (TKO 1)
F***ing retire already! What was this guy doing back in the UFC?!

Diego Nunes def. Mike Brown (split)
Remember when Mike Brown was a somebody?

Daniel Roberts def. Greg Soto (sub 1)
Ok.

Jacob Volkmann def. Antonio McKee (split)
Can't bet on Volkmann.

UFC 118 Results

Ok, let's see how I did on the predictions:

Frankie Edgar def. BJ Penn (unanimous)

Like I said, I was shocked when Edgar got the nod the first time, but this one was a no-doubter. I'd be interested to hear whether or not Penn had any illness or injuries coming into this fight because the minute I saw him he didn't seem right. Was he nervous? Sick? Was he wearing coloured contact lenses? He looked like a different man. It showed in the fight, too, as he had no answer for The Answer and looked completely out of it. So now there's talk of him moving back up to welterweight? What for? So he can killed again by GSP? Why run away from the lightweight division where only one man seems capable of beating him, only to take on bigger guys and yet another man he can't beat? Stay at lightweight, BJ. (0-1)

Randy Couture def James Toney (Sub 1)

This was over as soon as Couture got Toney down,just as everyone predicted. The only drama was in the first 13 seconds. The rest was academic. Why in the world would the UFC want more boxers to come over to MMA? Unless they train for years and become multi-disciplined, it's just another waste of everyone's time. This fight was a joke. (1-1)

Demian Maia def. Mario Miranda (unanimous)

Maia clearly outclassed Miranda who was an overhyped substitute. In this battle fo jiu-jitsu practitioners, Maia looked incredible. (2-1)

Gray Maynard def. Kenny Florian (unanimous)

This was the real main event as it had the most drama. These two have been on a collision course for a while and Maynard finally got to prove that he deserves the title shot. His fights might be boring as hell, but you can't argue with results. Edgar vs Maynard ought to be interesting as it pits two wrestlers against each other. Edgar is by far the better boxer so Maynard will have to try to challenge Edgar's wrestling skills if he is to have a snowball's chance of winning. (3-1)

Nate Diaz def. Marcus Davis (Sub 3)

This was a bit sad to watch as Davis was getting pummeled by Diaz. The problem, though, is that Davis was clearly cut by an accidental clash of heads. That put Davis at a disadvantage in the striking game and Diaz took advantage. When Davis was forced to the ground, it was over. Davis is entertaining, but this likely spells the end of any title shot hopes he might have had. Diaz, on the other hand, will be groomed for a title run. (4-1)

Joe Lauzon def. Gabe Ruediger (Sub 1)

Wow. Lauzon looked awesome. Ruediger was beyond outclassed. He was supposed to have turned his career around and be on the comeback trail, but this ended that in a hurry. Lauzon was at his jiu-jitsu best. Unbelievably good. (5-1)

Nik Lentz def. Andre Winner (unanimous)

Hardly a barn-burner, but Lentz clearly earned the win. Winner looked lost. (6-1)

Dan Miller vs John Salter (middleweight)

Miller looked solid as always. (7-1)

Nick Osipczak vs Greg Soto (welterweight)

Didn't see it. (8-1)

Mike Pierce vs Amilcar Alves (welterweight)

Pierce submitted Alves. Wow. Guess my upset special didn't pan out. (8-2)

8-2! Not bad...

UFC 118 Picks

UFC 118 promises to be interesting if not comical. It features the return match between BJ Penn and the man who (shockingly) took his title, Frankie Edgar – but it also features a ridiculous match-up between hall of famer Randy Couture and boxing legend James Toney.

Whatever.

Let’s get to the picks:

Frankie Edgar vs BJ Penn (lightweight)

I was shocked when Edgar got the nod the first time. Sure, he got a takedown or two, but overall I thought Penn won the boxing match-up, despite Edgar being more active. Add in the fact that Penn was the champ and I thought for sure he’d get the decision. Now we’ll see the real contest. Penn won’t take Edgar lightly and he’ll be hungrier than in their first meeting. I’m not sure what Penn can do differently other than use his jab more effectively to keep Edgar at a distance and maybe score a knockdown or two. Edgar has the tools to beat Penn, but I just don’t see it happening this time. I’m picking Penn.

Randy Couture vs James Toney (heavyweight)

How does this fight get sanctioned? I thought the gaming commission would have to agree that the fighters are evenly matched and of similar experience. Experience in a boxing ring is not experience in a cage. Couture ought to win this fight in under a minute and by submission. Of course there’s always the possibility that Toney will crack Couture in the jaw before the Natural can take him down. There’s no way Toney makes it beyond the second round before completely gassing out, so, barring that first punch knockout, I’m picking Couture.

Demian Maia vs Mario Miranda (middleweight)

Mario who? How did this guy earn a fight against a top contender? Well, he has a nice record, for one, but is 1-1 in the UFC, losing to Gerald Harris by TKO but then turning the tables on David Loiseau. I like Loiseau but he’s not exactly a top guy. So is this meant to be a rebound fight for Maia so he can get back on track toward a title shot? Who knows what Joe Silva is thinking (see Toney fight). Miranda has power, but Maia is a ground god. I’m still gonna pick Maia.

Kenny Florian vs Gray Maynard (lightweight)

This is the fight I want to see. This will likely determine who gets the next title shot. I like both of these guys, but it’s Maynard’s time. KenFlo has had his chances and Maynard already has a win over champ Frankie Edgar (which is why he should have had first crack and Penn should have had to win one before getting a rematch – like most deposed champs do). A win by Florian makes the division messy; does he get a THIRD shot? I’m gonna be pulling for Maynard.

Nate Diaz vs Marcus Davis (welterweight)

Still not sure what Diaz is doing at welterweight. He ought to drop back down and take his chances against the lightweights. I can’t see him going very far at welterweight where the fighters are bigger and smarter. That said, Marcus Davis is almost tailor-made for Diaz. Davis is a boxer who has decent but not spectacular ground skills. If the fight goes to the ground, Diaz ought to be able to submit the Irish Hand Grenade. On the feet, Diaz will have a reach advantage and might be able to keep Davis from landing anything too devastating. As we’ve seen with Ben Saunders and Mike Swick, Davis does not do well against taller opponents. I don’t like his chances here. I like Davis and Diaz is a bit of a douche, but my brain tells me to go with Diaz.

Joe Lauzon vs Gabe Ruediger (lightweight)

WTF? What is Ruediger doing back in the UFC? The guy drops out of the Ultimate Fighter for not making weight, gets schooled in the octagon when he does get the chance and somehow he gets a fight against the talented Joe Lauzon? I guess winning 6 fights in a row (and a title) against nobodies will do that for you. Still, Lauzon ought to walk through this guy unless he has re-invented himself. I’m picking Lauzon.

Andre Winner vs Nik Lentz (lightweight)

Night of the lightweights, I guess. Both of these guys tend to go to decision. Lentz has faced and beaten tougher competition, though. Winner is decent, but I think he might lack some seasoning. I’m picking Lentz.

Dan Miller vs John Salter (middleweight)

Dan Miller on the undercard? Not getting a lot of respect. Sure, he’s lost three in a row, but two were against guys who then fought for the title and one was against UFC darling Michael Bisping who is certainly being groomed for an eventual title shot. (and all three were decisions) He’s a talented guy. Salter has a nice record, but one win was over Jason MacDonald due to injury, which ought to not count in my books. I’m betting Miller’s experience proves the difference. I’m picking Miller.

Nick Osipczak vs Greg Soto (welterweight)

Both of these guys have decent records for newbies, and both have fought Matt Riddle. Osipczak won by TKO while Soto was DQ’d for an illegal upkick. I don’t know Soto very well, and I like Nick so I’ll pick Osipczak.

Mike Pierce vs Amilcar Alves (welterweight)

Alves doesn’t have a pic up on the UFC page, which is never a good sign. He has a great record though and finishes guys off fast, usually by submission. Pierce is a wrestler and tends to win by decision; he’s also had some tough opponents in the UFC. He has the experience edge, for sure. Can the wrestler smother the jiu-jitsu practitioner or can the Brazilian get the submission? I’m gonna go with the upset and pick Alves.

Let's hope I actually get to SEE this one...

UFC news: Liddell vs Franklin + Penn-Edgar rematch?

Bit of news hitting the wires this morning.

UFC 115

The UFC has released the fight card for UFC 115 taking place in Vancouver, BC. This is another big deal event as it marks the debut of the UFC in Western Canada. Vancouver is only the second city in Canada to host a UFC event, which has made rabid Toronto fans quite envious, to be sure.

The card was supposed to feature a battle between the latest TUF coaches, which everyone presumed to mean Chuck vs Tito III. But a strange thing happened on the way to the octagon as rumours and leaked photos suggested Tito was off the show and Rich Franklin had taken his place. Then, it was made public that Ortiz had been hospitalized. Still, Dana White told all who would listen that the Tito-Chuck fight was still on. Whether this was just a ploy to avoid spoiling the TUF season surprises or his actual belief, I don't know, but it has been confirmed that Tito is out and Franklin is in for UFC 115.

Some are greeting the announcement with disappointment, but, to be honest, I think this makes for a more interesting fight. Liddell-Ortiz III wasn't going to settle anything since Chuck was up 2-0. Besides, Ortiz hasn't been relevant for quite some time while Rich Franklin has still been fighting top dogs and is making a bid for a light heavyweight title shot in the future - something Ortiz was likely never to get.

Franklin is best at middleweight, if you ask me, but he was never going to reclaim the belt while Anderson Silva was patrolling those waters. Now, if Silva moves up to light heavyweight...

But that's another story.

In the meantime, a Chuck-Rich fight is an interesting proposition. Both are popular fighters and former champions. A few years ago, this fight seemed unlikely to ever happen (being in different weight classes), but fortunes have changed for both men and this main event offers them an opportunity to get back into the light heavyweight conversation. There's a lot at stake here. The winner will be elevated in the rankings, while the loser will face retirement questions. UFC 115 will mark a turning point - and that's why it matters.

But the disappointment being expressed at 115 isn't limited to the main event. The undercard is a bit underwhelming on the surface.

Cro Cop vs Barry - Mirko simply isn't the same fighter in recent years.
Thiago vs Kampmann - Ok, but not sexy.
Condit vs MacDonald - Condit is known, MacDonald not so much.
Griffin vs Dunham - Ok, not great.
Danzig vs Wiman - Two inconsistent fighters.
Rothwell vs Yvel - Finally some fireworks! But may not be broadcast. Oh.
Wilks vs Sobotta - Wilks is known, Sobotta not so much.
Funch vs Patrick - Never a good sign when the website doesn't have a photo.
Pyle vs Lennox - Pyle is known, Lennox not so much.

Ok, so it isn't the sexiest card we've ever seen. But let's not bury it just yet. Sometimes these cards end up having the best fights. All of these fighters, known or not, will be looking to make an impression. None of these fighters are the cream of their weight class crop, but that means they won't be complacent. They need the wins. I bet the Thiago-Kampmann fight will be terrific.

Still, one would have hoped that the UFC would have made more of an effort to make the card a monster, it being a new market and all. The problem, of course, is that many of the top dogs in the UFC have fought recently and there are only so many fighters available for this June event.

Let's hope the fighters surprise us and put on a terrific show.

Penn vs Edgar rematch?

Normally, when a champ loses their belt, they are forced to earn a tune-up victory before getting a rematch with the new champion. GSP did this with Koscheck, Hughes did this with Alves (he lost), Liddell did this with Jardine (lost), Couture did this with Van Arsdale, and then there's Griffin, Rampage, Evans, etc etc.

But it seems that the UFC is in talks to reunite BJ Penn and Frankie Edgar in the octagon for the lightweight belt. Edgar, you'll recall, won the belt from Penn at UFC 112 in Abu Dhabi in a stunner of an upset and with some questioning the judging. The "controversy" surrounding this one, though, does not appear to be on the same scale as the Mauricio Rua vs Lyoto Machida judging that prompted the perhaps ill-advised (it was a snoozefest, to be honest) rematch to be scheduled for Montreal at 113.

So why the immediate rematch? Is the UFC catering to Penn who had been built up as the "greatest lightweight of all time" in recent months? Does it have anything to do with Penn's rumoured desire to leave the division (with the belt) and move up to 170? Does the UFC lack confidence in the marketability of Edgar vs Maynard? Is the lightweight division so thin that no other match-up is palatable?

Who knows.

I'd love to hear the explanation, though. The real explanation.

UFC 112 "Invincible" = Disgraceful

UFC 112 went off on Saturday in Abu Dhabi, a significant event in the history of the organization. By the end of the event, it would become a public relations nightmare. The storm may calm over the coming days and weeks, but at the time it was clear that everyone outside of Anderson Silva’s camp thought the main event was a disgrace to the sport. Dana White was fuming.

I sincerely hope the UFC finds a way to punish the middleweight champ for his antics in the octagon and the embarrassment he brought to the sport on this massive stage. If I were the UFC president, I’d consider stripping Silva of the belt and creating a Sonnen vs Silva, Belfort vs Marquardt tourney for the right to claim the title. Even if Silva won the belt back, he’d have to earn it and the 6 months removed from the title of middleweight champ would be a clear message that this sort of crap would not be tolerated.

Anderson Silva def. Demian Maia (unanimous) – In case you missed it, Silva spent five rounds dancing away from Maia, acting like an ass and landing just enough jabs to bloody his opponent and retain his belt. Silva’s taunting of Maia was almost violent as he urged the challenger to attack him. Message to Anderson Silva: counterstriking is YOUR game. Forrest Griffin and Chris Leben proved that attacking you with reckless abandon is just this side of suicidal. Why does Maia have to play your game? How about you attack him and finish him if he is so unworthy? Let’s get something straight: this was another example of terrible match-making. Sure, the UFC might have had this particular pairing thrust upon them because Sonnen, Belfort and Marquardt were all unable to fight on this date (and apparently Silva insisted on fighting in Abu Dhabi) but there was little doubt that this fight would be a repeat of the Silva-Leites fight that set the stage for Leites’ exit from the UFC. How is a jiu-jitsu practitioner with no real power in his fists supposed to handle Silva if Silva won’t go to the ground? It’s called a stalemate. Boring as hell. Maia, to his credit, did attack Silva more in the later rounds and landed a few good shots on the champ. Silva even said afterwards that he was surprised by Maia’s power. Was Silva so scared that he decided to just jump on his bike and backpedal for the last 5 minutes? Maybe. I’m glad Dana White did not try to sugar-coat the facts with some PR spinning. In fact, he showed his anger before the fight was even over, giving the belt to Silva’s manager and telling him to put the belt on “the champ”. I’m praying this is not the end of this story and that Silva will be sanctioned somehow. (1-0)

Frankie Edgar def. BJ Penn (unanimous) – This was the shocker of the night. Did anyone see this coming? Penn was apparently a 7-1 favourite. But did Edgar deserve the decision? I dunno… See, I always believed that to be the champ you had to beat the champ. If it was a close fight and it went to decision, odds were the champ would retain. I look at Arlovski-Silvia III for the best example of this. In my mind, Arlovski won that fight on points, but it was close, lacklustre and went to decision with Silvia getting the nod. Ok, fine. So what about this fight? Well, Edgar spent the five rounds dancing and circling around Penn, trying to land punches and feigning takedowns here and there (at least, I assume they were feints because if they were real efforts he failed miserably). He did land one takedown in the 5th round (I think) which I felt would give him that round, but for the rest of the fight it was Penn who was landing the more effective strikes. Edgar threw far more punches, don’t get me wrong, but Penn’s were landing at a far greater rate, it seemed. Penn did seem to fade in rounds four and five, but even then he seemed to be getting the better of the exchanges. When the scores were announced, I was disappointed that one judge had the fight 50-45, meaning he didn’t think Edgar deserved even that one takedown round. I was floored when the unanimous decision was actually going Edgar’s way, meaning that HE was being given all five rounds by that one judge. Wow. So what happens now? Will Penn want to regain his belt or will he use this as an opportunity to move back up to welterweight? (Man, I hope not – at least not if it means an undeserved second rematch with GSP!) It would seem inconsistent with Penn’s ego to vacate the lightweight division without the title in his hands, so I’m betting on a rematch in a few months, with Penn moving on if he wins that night. If that isn’t the plan, look for lightweights to be positively salivating at the prospect of facing Edgar for the belt and not Penn. First up, the man who last beat Edgar – Gray Maynard. Boy, wouldn’t Kenny Florian be pissed, too, since Edgar didn’t have to go through him to get his shot. If Penn, like other champs who have lost their belt, is forced to take a redemption fight before getting a rematch, then I’d love to see him square off against the Energizer bunny, Clay Guida. (1-1)

Matt Hughes def. Renzo Gracie (TKO 3) – When the fight card was announced, I feared it might turn into a complete dud of an evening with three boring fights to end it off. Aside from the shock of Edgar’s win and the insanity of Silva’s behaviour, I was right. All three main event fights were uneventful, boring fights. The fact that this one actually ended before it went to the scorecards is testament to the fact that Renzo had no business inside the octagon. Before this fight, Gracie hadn’t fought in 3 years. By his own admission, he hadn’t trained in two and a half years leading up to the six months of training for this fight. That’s ridiculous. Why did the UFC even make this fight? The guy makes his UFC debut at 43? WTF? Matt Hughes fights once a year and this is the match-up you give him? What a waste of time. That said, it’s not like Hughes dominated Gracie. He landed very few clean shots, basically wearing his opponent down with kicks. But Gracie still looked terrible. He clearly did not have the gas for this fight and went down at every occasion simply from fatigue. One knockdown was clearly a phantom punch. Eventually, Herb Dean stepped in not because Hughes was threatening to hurt his defenseless opponent but because Gracie simply could not continue. Pathetic. And he has a six fight contract? Let’s hope the UFC cuts him. (2-1)

Rafael Dos Anjos def Terry Etim (sub 2) – Sure, the main events were garbage, but the prelims/undercard fights weren’t bad. Etim had Dos Anjos in serious trouble in the first round with a deep guillotine choke but Dos Anjos turned the tables in the second, securing an arm bar submission for the win. Good fight. (2-2)

Mark Munoz def. Kendall Grove (TKO 2) – This was another one where one guy dominated in the first but got put away in the next round. Munoz took a big uppercut in the first and was on queer street for the rest of the round. His wrestling saved him as he was able to tie up Grove against the cage and ride out the storm. He didn’t look much better in the second, but still managed to land a few shots that shook Grove and then he dropped some bombs from the top to draw the ref’s mercy. Grove’s soft chin was exposed again. (3-2)

Phil Davis def. Alexander Gustafsson (sub 1) – I’m not sure why I picked Gustafsson in this one. Davis was insanely impressive in his beatdown of Brian Stann though he did have holes in his game. Still, they weren’t holes Gustafsson was going to be able to take advantage of on his feet and once this went to the ground it was pretty much over. Davis secured an anaconda choke that had Gustafsson tapping with just 5 seconds left in the round. Ouch. (3-3)

Rick Story def. Nick Osipczak (split decision) – Apparently Story eked this one out after a tough battle with the always game Osipczak. Wish I had seen it. (4-3)

DeMarques Johnson def. Brad Blackburn (TKO 3) – Didn’t see it, but Johnson earned KO of the Night. (5-3)

Paul Kelly def. Matt Veach (sub 2) – Oh well, my underdog pick didn’t pan out. Kelly was very successful in his lightweight debut, finishing Veach with a guillotine. Veach’s face was a mess afterwards. I’m looking forward to seeing Kelly’s future lightweight matches. (5-4)

Jon Madsen def. Mostapha Al Turk (unanimous) – Ok, that’s three losses in three appearances for Al Turk. Surely this is the end of his UFC career. I thought he’d redeem himself, but I was wrong. Time to go. (5-5)

Paul Taylor vs John Gunderson – This fight didn’t happen for medical reasons. I was a bit confused as to the weight class for this fight and apparently Taylor was, too.

So a .500 record for the night. A couple of dogs didn’t pan out and you can’t blame me for not picking Edgar. Still, I thought I’d do better. Next time.

UFC 112 : Silva vs Maia in Abu Dhabi

This has been an insanely busy few weeks for the UFC, and it all culminates with UFC 112 in Abu Dhabi.

This is going to be an open air event, which ought to pose some new and interesting challenges for some of the fighters. It will be a 7pm local start time, so it’s hard to say if the sun will be a factor – even a bright reflection could be distracting. Temperature and humidity may also play a part in these fights. This could turn into something out of a Pro Line commercial.

Alright, let’s get to the picks.

Anderson Silva vs Demian Maia (middleweight) – Anyone who tells you they think Maia will win is lying or an imbecile. Sure, Maia has a chance, but there’s no way anyone would bet on it without some serious odds – and even then a win would be like wining the lottery. We’ve seen what Silva does with jiu jitsu guys: he stands and bangs and when they fall down to try to lure him into their guard, Silva politely invites them to stand back up. The last jiu jitsu guy to try that got booted out of the UFC soon afterwards for one of the most lacklustre efforts ever seen (with the notable exception of Kalib Starnes, of course). Add in the fact that Maia’s chin has previously been exposed thanks to Nate Marquardt and this has all the makings of a walk in the park for Silva and a very very boring fight. Silva will win.

BJ Penn vs Frankie Edgar (lightweight) – Another fight featuring a massive underdog but in this one he has at least a puncher’s chance. Edgar is an up-tempo spirited fighter but I’m not sure he’s anywhere near ready for the likes of BJ Penn. He has beaten some great fighters (Mark Bocek, Jim Miller, Spencer Fisher, Tyson Griffin, Sean Sherk), with his only loss against Gray Maynard – the guy most likely to get the next shot (and probably should have gotten this one). Penn is a well-rounded fighter looking to get yet another re-match against GSP for the welterweight crown when, really, he should be focusing on the belt he has. It’s sad that people are already talking about Penn having “cleaned out” the lightweight division when he has only defeated Kenny Florian, Diego Sanchez and Sean Sherk since earning the crown. Is that all the lightweight division has to offer? Sure, Sanchez and Florian are top dogs, but 3 defenses do not make for a “cleaning out” if you ask me. The problem is that Florian is acting as a bodyguard, protecting Penn from challenges by the likes of Clay Guida, Roger Huerta and even Takanori Gomi by defeating these guys before they can get their hands on Penn. Personally, I’d love to see a Penn-Guida fight to see if Penn could handle the intensity. For now, while I’d love to see Edgar take the Ego from Hilo down a notch, I’m picking Penn to win.

Matt Hughes vs Renzo Gracie (welterweight) – This is strictly a stunt fight. That’s to say that it was made not because these guys are on equal footing but because of their names and rivalry. Hughes defeated a geriatric Royce Gracie back in 2006 and now I guess cousin Renzo is out for revenge. Good luck with that. If Hughes, once dubbed the most dominant welterweight champion in UFC history, can’t defeat the likes of Renzo Gracie then he ought to retire. Renzo hasn’t fought in 3 years and has only 6 fights since 2001. He’s riding a three fight win streak, but against has-beens Pat Miletich and Carlos Newton and a DQ win over Frank Shamrock. Before that, he’d lost 6 of 7. I don’t know what Hughes thinks of these fights the UFC has been giving him (one fight per year?) since he lost his belt to GSP, but they certainly aren’t the ones that will get him back in contention. I’m picking Hughes to ground and pound his way to a decision.

Terry Etim vs Rafael Dos Anjos (lightweight) – This could be a very good fight and might steal the show. Dos Anjos has dangerous jiu jitsu while Etim is a well-rounded fighter with, I feel, a more impressive history. I imagine this will be fast-paced and lots of fun. I’m picking Etim.

Kendall Grove vs Mark Munoz (middleweight) – I like Grove, but he has always been one of those “on the bubble” fighters to me. He looks great in some fights and absolutely horrendous in others. He’s susceptible to knockouts and that’s Munoz’s game. I gotta say I like Munoz in this one if he can get inside.

Alexander Gustafsson vs Phil Davis (light heavyweight) – This is another candidate for fight of the night and features a battle of the unbeatens. I’m betting this one ends in a TKO early. Davis is the only one with a name on his record (a very impressive mauling of Brian Stann) but Gustafsson has more fights and tends to end them faster. Not to mention that he, too, has a wrestling background and ought to be able to defend against any Davis takedown attempts. I’ll pick Gustafsson.

Paul Taylor vs John Gunderson (welterweight?) – Can’t say I know much about Gunderson (listed as a lightweight), but Taylor always puts on a good performance (he has earned Fight of the Night three times in eight UFC fights). While he has an impressive record, Gunderson’s only fight of note is a loss to Bart Palaszewski three years ago. Taylor is susceptible to submissions, though, and Gunderson is a sub specialist. Tough call… I like Taylor, but I’ll pick Gunderson for the upset.

Nick Osipczak vs Rick Story (welterweight) – Nick doesn’t have many fights on his record, but he was impressive at times on The Ultimate Fighter. Story has been fairly impressive so far in the UFC and his wrestling background may prove to be the difference. I like Nick, but I’m going to pick the more experienced Story.

DeMarques Johnson vs Brad Blackburn (welterweight) – This is a tough one to pick because neither one of these fighters has been particularly impressive. Johnson famously lost the TUF finale to James Wilks while Blackburn has a mediocre record including a loss to Amir Sadollah. Johnson ought to pose similar problems as Sadollah did for Blackburn, with perhaps even better jiu jitsu. I’ll take Johnson.

Paul Kelly vs Matt Veach (lightweight) – Kelly is another Brit who puts on good shows. In fact, he defeated Paul Taylor in a Fight of the Night match-up a couple of years ago. He has had mixed success in the UFC, though, losing to Marcus Davis and, in his last fight, Dennis Siver via highlight spinning back kick. Veach was undefeated until he ran into Paul Kelly in his last fight. SO Kelly beat Taylor who beat Veach. Does that make Kelly the favourite? Probably. Kelly tends to go to decision, though, whereas Veach is a finisher. I’m gonna go against the odds and pick Veach in this one.

Jon Madsen vs Mostapha Al Turk (heavyweight) – The only heavyweight fight on the card and it’s a dark match. This is another tough one to call. Al Turk has more experience, but has had mediocre outings recently, losing to Cheick Kongo and Mirko Cro Cop (thanks to a poke in the eye). Madsen was only so-so on TUF. Both like to bang, but Madsen has a wrestling background and would be wise to use it. If Turk loses, surely it will mean his exit from the UFC, thin division or no. Against my better judgement, I’ll pick Al Turk to redeem himself and earn a reprieve.

Whoa - 11 fights, including two title fights. That's one packed card. Will it be a boring, predictable one, or will one of these underdogs shock the world?