UFC 139 Results

This was a great card and from what I saw it did not disappoint.

Dan Henderson def. Maurcio Rua (unanimous)
What's a UFC event without controversy? Dan Henderson did very well for the first three rounds and then proceeded to shut it down and get his ass handed to him by Shogun Rua for the next ten minutes. Fortunately for him, the judges gave him 3 out of the 5 rounds and he got the unanimous decision. So where's the controversy? Well, if there was EVER an argument for a 10-8 (or even 10-7) round, Rua's utter dominance of Hendo in round #5 was it. Rua SLAUGHTERED Henderson for five full minutes. Shame on Rua for not finding a way to end it (submission, anyone?) but you HAD to give him 10-8 or better. Not ONE judge gave him the 10-8 margin, though, which would have made all the difference. I had it 47-47 and a draw - a fitting end to a fight that was so evenly matched overall. These guys deserve to go at it again. A win for Hendo was a bit disgraceful, considering how pathetic he looked for the final two rounds. And if he gets a TITLE SHOT after this?! Please. No one tuning in half way through could have possibly imagined the man on the bottom, getting relentlessly pummeled, could have POSSIBLY won that fight. Chalk another on up to bizarre judging. (0-1)

Wanderlei Silva def. Cung Le (TKO 2)
Wow. This was awesome. Silva looked tentative and nervous at first, and hung out on the periphery while Le measured him. But then Silva started letting his shots go and the tide turned quickly. Le has a questionable gas tank and Silva exploited it in the second round. In the end, Silva was just too much and Le was messed up. Great fight between two free swingers. (1-1)

Urijah Faber def. Brian Bowles (sub 2)
Give Faber credit for getting the submission against a tough opponent. Thanks to this, Faber will get YET ANOTHER title shot. Is there a fighter in MMA who gets more credit for wins than Faber? I dunno. Maybe other guys should get a shot once in a while? (1-2)

Martin Kampmann def. Rick Story (split)
Controversy again, in my mind. Story MAY have won round one, but who in their right mind had him winning one of the last two rounds? Kampmann clearly won those two. A split decision does not do Kampmann's win justice. This should have been at least 29-28 across the board. (2-2)

Stephan Bonnar def. Kyle Kingsbury (unanimous)
Bonnar fought smart (but dull) while Kingsbury honestly just did not show up. I thought Kingsbury would have an advantage in the wrestling department, but Bonnar flat-out schooled his less experienced opponent. Once Bonnar got on top, he used his underrated jiujitsu to secure the win. This was a big step back for Kingsbury. (2-3)

Ryan Bader def. Jason Brilz (KO 1)
Quick fight. Bader used his power, clipped Brilz behind the ear and it was all over. Puts Bader back on track. Look for him to get put back on the fast track with a much tougher opponent. (3-3)

Michael McDonald def. Alex Soto (KO 1)
McDonald looked great. He used his stand-up effectively and Soto got KTFO in under one minute. Things are looking up for the youngster. (4-3)

Chris Weidman def. Tom Lawlor (sub 1)
Weidman continues to surprise and look good. Lawlor is no push over, but Weidman seemed to finish him with ease. This kid has lots of potential. (5-3)

Gleison Tibau def. Rafael Dos Anjos (split)
Didn't see it. Fight metrics show Tibau got in more shots and a couple of take downs. (6-3)

Miguel Angel Torres def. Nick Pace (unanimous)
Didn't see it. Looks like it may have been the mismatch I expected. (7-3)

Seth Baczynski def. Matt Brown (sub 2)
This wasn't pretty, but it went the way I thought it would. Brown likes to swing and throw knees inside but he doesn't seem to have the complete game that is needed. He tends to get caught somehow and he did here, once again. Too bad. (8-3)

Danny Castillo def. Shamar Bailey (TKO 1)
Debatable early stoppage - especially with 8 seconds left in the round - but Bailey was pulling the turtle and was warned by the ref to fight back. Castillo pretty much dominated. (9-3)

Not bad!

UFC 139 Picks

I didn't bother making picks for UFC on Fox. It was a pretty crap card aside from the main event and the Henderson-Guida fight, which was awesome. Some people didn't give Dos Santos much of a chance against Velasquez, but it came as no surprise to me that he won. Velasquez had never really had his chin tested, except a bit against Kongo when he got rocked but recovered. I knew that if Dos Santos could stuff the takedowns he'd have a pretty good chance. Turns out he only had to stuff one before getting the big KO.

But now it's on to a real card - UFC 139. Let's get to it.

Dan Henderson vs. Maurcio Rua (light heavyweight)
So Hendo is back in the UFC and still can't seem to settle on a weight class. I think he'd have more success as a middleweight, personally, but if he wants to take on bigger guys, good for him. This is a huge fight for him. If he wins, he's right back in the title picture. If he loses, though, a lot of people will say he has lost it and point to his loss to Jake Shields as proof, despite his more recent victory over previously highly-touted Fedor Emelianenko. Rua is coming off his gimme win over Forrest Griffin (another no-win scenario fight for Griffin to take) and is looking to get back in the title hunt after getting smoked by current champ Jon Bones Jones. Both of these guys have power. Hendo has wrestling going for him, which appears to be a bit of a weakness for Rua. But Rua is smarter, more skilled, and has BJJ on his side. Can Hendo get Rua down? I dunno. I see this as a stand up war. I see Rua getting the decision. I'm picking Rua.

Cung Lee vs Wanderlei Silva (middleweight)
Silva has lost 6 of 8. Normally, that would get you kicked out of the UFC, but the UFC likes keeping legends around. This, again, falls into the category of guys getting fights for who they are not what they are. But Lee is not exactly a top level opponent at this time, so he has a chance. Lee has been away from MMA, pursuing an acting career. Frankly, the only reason we know his name is because he was a big fish in the small Strikeforce pond. For the most part, he has fought guys who couldn't cut it in the UFC. Sure, his record is good, but it's inflated, much like Fedor's. He's flashy and can throw punches and kicks from crazy angles, but can he withstand a Silva berserker attack. Silva isn't exactly known for fighting smart, so it remains to be seen if he can execute a proper gameplan. I could see Lee getting a decision, but Silva getting a KO. I don't like Silva's chances, but I'm gonna pick him anyway. I'm going with Silva.

Brian Bowles vs Urijah Faber (bantamweight)
This could be fight of the night. Talented, relentless guys in a speedy weight class. Faber is the name, but Bowles is the favourite in my mind. Frankly, I think Faber is overrated. Sure, he puts in the effort, but he seems to worry too much about putting on a good show and not enough about winning smart. I'm picking Bowles.

Martin Kampmann vs Rick Story (welterweight)
Another good fight. Both of these guys have done well and were on the rise before getting derailed. On paper, Kampmann is the more talented, well-rounded fighter. Story has shown, though, that he can overcome odds and upset favoured opponents. Still, I think Kampmann will fight smart and get the W. I'm picking Kampmann.

Stephan Bonnar vs Kyle Kingsbury (light heavyweight)
Another terrific match-up. This could be a war. Kingsbury is a beast, but does not necessarily fight smart. Bonnar is a relentless machine who takes punishment and keeps coming. This is not likely to be the prettiest fight of the night, but it's another FOTN candidate. If Kingsbury is smart, this could be a walk in the park - he just needs to take Bonnar down and keep him there. Boxing would be a mistake. I like Bonnar and all, but I'm picking Kingsbury in a disappointingly dull decision.

Ryan Bader vs Jason Brilz (light heavyweight)
How the mighty have fallen. Bader was considered a very strong up-and-comer until he ran into current champ Jon Jones and got slaughtered. Then the got submitted by a very fortunate Tito Ortiz and suddenly he's on the undercard. On paper, this is a mismatch in Bader's favour. He has more skills than Brilz, a better record, and he has beaten guys Brilz has lost to. So, no surprise, I'm picking Bader.

Michael McDonald vs Alex Soto (bantamweight)
Alex Soto is a replacement for Johnny Eduardo and is in tough against the more experienced McDonald. I'm picking McDonald.

Tom Lawlor vs Chris Weidman (middleweight)
Weidman is pretty raw, but has been impressive. Lawlor has talent, but has been upset more than once. Lawlor should have the experience edge, but he's fighting a guy who is also a wrestler, so he can't really rely on his top strength. I'm gonna go with the upset and pick Weidman.

Gleison Tibau vs Rafael Dos Anjos (lightweight)
Tibau is back again. I never know what to make of this guy. Sometimes he looks great, other times he looks awful. Dos Anjos is super talented at BJJ, but Tibau has some skills, too. Tibau is likely better ion the feet, though, which is where this fight will likely remain. Tough call. I'll pick the more experienced Tibau.

Miguel Angel Torres vs Nick Pace (bantamweight)
Speaking of fallen mighties...Holy cow. Torres was a big shot in WEC and a champ they thought would be on top forever. Suddenly he's near the bottom of the undercard? I guess losing 3 of 5 will do that. And how does a guys who is 38-4 get a fight against a guy who is 6-2? I thought they had commissions for this very reason. If Pace wins, I think it'll be a serious upset and perhaps the beginning of the end for Torres' long career. I'm picking Torres.

Matt Brown vs Seth Baczynski (welterweight)
Brown is a likable guy, but to be honest he simply isn't that good. After losing three in a row, he avoided being cut and got a win over John Howard. Baczynski is bigger than Brown and knows submissions - something by which Brown is prone to getting defeated. I'm picking Baczynski.

Shamar Bailey vs Danny Castillo (lightweight)
Bailey is known to TUF fans where he was favoured but did not reach the finals. Castillo does not have Bailey's celebrity, but he does have a more impressive resume, having fought some of the top dogs in the lightweight division. In fact, his only losses are against top guys, with the exception perhaps of Jacob Volkmann to whom he lost 29-28 on all cards. Both are wrestlers, but Castillo is also a striker. I'm gonna pick the upset and take Castillo.

Great card. I hope I get to see it!

UFC Live: Sanchez vs Kampmann Results

Pretty darn good event last night. Let's see how I did.

Diego Sanchez def. Martin Kampmann (unanimous)
Crazy. Kampmann kinda gave this one away because he let doubt creep into the minds of the judges. he should have run away with this fight. He massacred Sanchez in the first round, but let up a bit in the second and third. Even though he probably won the stand-up in those rounds in terms of accuracy, Sanchez was more ferocious, coming forward, throwing flurries and getting the odd takedown after numerous stuffs. This planted the seed in the judges' minds that maybe Sanchez deserved rounds two and three - hende the decision. If you looked at the fighters' faces after the fight you would have thought the judges were crazy. Sanchez was beaten to a pulp, much like he was by BJ Penn. But somehow he got the decision. I was on the fence as to whether he won those rounds, but I think this lends credence to the idea that there must be a score instituted for who wins the fight overall. Kampmann lost the fight because of the ten point must system. He deserved the win, and he should have won. This is a massive setback for him because Sanchez really isn't going anywhere in this division. Sanchez looked small and pudgy. He should be at lightweight. (0-1)

Mark Munoz def. CB Dollaway (TKO 1)

Some people thought this might have been stopped early, but Dolloway was clearly on dream street. Quick but good stoppage. Once again, Dolloway loks less than stellar. (1-1)

Chris Weidman def. Alessio Sakara (unanimous)
Another fight more lost than won. Sakara should have won this easily, but he let Weidman get on top and just smother him. Sakara was clearly the better fighter on the feet, but he let this one slip away. But I picked it! (2-1)

Brian Bowles def. Damacio Page (KO 1)

Page was winning this fight on the feet until Bowles caught him, put him down and then grabbed his neck. (3-1)

Danny Castillo def. Joe Stevenson (unanimous)

Seriously... Joe Daddy has to go, daddy. (3-2)

Cyrille Diabate def. Steve Cantwell (unanimous)
This one was never much in doubt. Cantwell couldn't get inside and take the big guy down or get a decent shot in. Diabate coasted to victory. Both of these guys looked awful. (4-2)

Shane Roller def. Thiago Tavares (KO 2)

See if this sounds familiar: Tavares was winning this fight on the feet until Roller caught him. Story of the night. This one was spectacular, though, as Roller knocked Tavares falt off his feet a la Franklin-Quarry. (5-2)

Takeya Mizugaki def. Reuben Duran (split)

Picking the underdog almost paid off again...except it didn't. Oh well. Didn't see it. (5-3)

Dongi Yang def.Rob Kimmons (TKO 2)

This time it did pay off. Yang demonstrated his power. Didn't see it. (6-3)

Rousimar Palhares def. Dave Branch (sub 2)

A kneebar win? Wish I'd seen it. Palhares is SICK on the ground. (7-3)

Igor Pokrajac def. Todd Brown (TKO 1)

Brown couldn't come out for the second round after getting his bell rung good. Not sure Pokrajac is the real deal, but he looked decent. (8-3)

Huh. 8-3 and a controversial decision in the main event. 9-2 is pretty amazing, I'd say.

UFC Live: Sanchez vs Kampmann Picks

This is actually a pretty decent card for a free event. Some tough choices. Let's have a look...

Diego Sanchez vs Martin Kampmann (welterweight)

There's a lot on the line in the match-up. Two guys who have been highly touted in the past but who are not on the way up and can't seem to win the big fights to get into title contendership. Sure, Sanchez fought for the title, but that was at lightweight where he was a monster. He got beaten up badly by BJ Penn, and yet he has decided to return to welterweight - a bad decision if you ask me. Earlier, he had lost big welterweight fights to Josh Koshcheck (did he even show up?) and Jon Fitch (split decision), and lost his return to welterweight against John Hathaway (unanimous decision). If he were a lightweight, he'd be a top 5 guy. At welterweight, he probably isn't top ten. That could change if he can upset Kampmann who is another dangerous guy who is snake-bitten when it comes to big fights. He lost spectacularly to Paul Daley, a win that earned Daley a #1 contenders bought against Josh Koshcheck. Then, after rebounding with a pair of victories, he lost a controversial split decision to Jake Shields - a win that earned Shields a title shot. If Kampmann loses, it'll be another big step backwards when he seems to be on the cusp of a title fight. If Sanchez loses, I think he'd have to consider a return to lightweight, especially now that Penn is not the champ and seems to be on the verge of retirement. Sanchez's best hopes of a title are at lightweight. In this fight, I'm picking Kampmann.

CB Dollaway vs Mark Munoz (middleweight)

Munoz is kind of a small middleweight - at least in stature. He has size around his waist. He also has heavy hands. Dollaway, on the other hand, is a talented guy with a brain problem - he just does not have the right attitude and does not fight smart, it seems. He is good at submissions, though, and can finish guys off quick. Munoz is a BJJ guy, though, so Dollaway won't be able to take advantage of his opponent's ignorance in this department. Though their records are similar, Munoz has faced tougher opposition. I could see Munoz getting a TKO, or Dollaway getting a decision. Will it go the distance? Let's hope not. I'll pick Munoz.

Alessio Sakara vs Chris Weidman (middleweight)

Weidman comes in as an injury replacement. He is only 4-0 so this is a BIG step up. Sakara is ok, but not great. He seems to have problems with power punchers (with the exception of James Irvin) and Weidman seems to fit the bill. Sakara has fought some tough opposition, but no one in the top ten. What do you say we go for the massive upset in this one and pick Weidman?

Brian Bowles vs Damacio Page (bantamweight)

Don't know much about these WEC guys, other than Bowles was champion at one point. Strangely, this is a rematch of a fight Bowles won easily in the first round. So why fight again? Dunno. Doesn't seem as though Page has earned it. I'm picking Bowles.

Joe Stevenson vs Danny Castillo (lightweight)

How is it that Joe Daddy still has a job with the UFC? Only 3 wins in his last 8 fights and two straight losses. Surely this is yet another "last chance". It might work out for him, though, as he fights a former WEC guy who will no doubt be a bit intimidated by the big show (though this is only a Fight Night Live). Styles match up well, too, as both are wrestlers who like to stand and fight. Castillo seems to have better KO power, but Stevenson is hard to take out. I like Stevenson in this one.

Steve Cantwell vs Cyrille Diabate (light heavyweight)

This could be fun. Diabate is a tall guy who can finish guys off fast, but he seems to lack aggressiveness - he relies on his opponents making a mistake. He looked great in his debut, awful in his sophomore fight. I'm gonna pick Diabate in this one and hope he picks up his game.

Thiago Tavares vs Shane Roller (lightweight)

Another UFC versus WEC match-up. Roller has a rep, but this is still a step up. Tavares' three losses were all Fight of the Night and he has faced tougher competition. Roller has faced the best of the WEC with mixed success. Roller is very dangerous, though, and can finish guys fast. Both like submissions, but Roller is a wrestler while Tavares is a BJJ guy. That should mean Roller will decide where this fight takes place. On the feet, Roller seems more dangerous. Dunno if it's an upset, but I'll pick Roller.

Takeya Mizugaki vs Reuben Duran (bantamweight)

Who? Hm... Ok, Mizugaki has WEC experience, but with mixed results. Duran doesn't even have a Wikipedia page. When in doubt, go with the known guy. But... Mizugaki goes to decision way too often. Duran is a finisher. I'll pick Duran. Underdog again!

Rob Kimmons vs Dongi Yang (middleweight)

Well, I've heard of Kimmons... He has a decent record but zero significant wins. Yang has decent power, it seems, but lost to Chris Camozzi in his UFC debut. Not good. Still, in the night of upsets, I'll pick Yang.

Rousimar Palhares vs Dave Branch (middleweight)

Palhares gets no respect. This guy is INSANELY dangerous on the ground. Branch is a bigger guy and is also a BJJ black belt. But is he on the same level as Palhares? I doubt it. Look for Branch to keep it standing and hope for a decision. He should have a significant reach advantage. Still, I'll pick Palhares.

Igor Pokrajac vs Todd Brown (light heavyweight)

Pokrajac has one win in 4 UFC fights yet still has a job. Brown is 15-2 but no significant fights except a loss in his UFC debut. Who to pick....? Toss up. I'll go with the fitter looking Pokrajac.

Ok, maybe it isn't such a great card. Let's hope it surprises us!

UFC 121 Thoughts

Was pretty busy, so didn't have time to post my picks. Oops. I know you're all terribly disappointed.

I can give you my quick two cents, though.

Cain Velasquez def. Brock Lesnar (TKO 1)
This fight really exposed Lesnar's chin. He can throw a mean right hand, but he also cowers and covers up at the first sign of strong resistance. Not good. Lesnar need sot get punched in the face a few times by training partners to get over this impulse. His weaknesses seem to be psychological. you need to keep your wits about you when your opponent is standing over you dropping bombs. This is a tough task and requires significant mental discipline. So Velasquez is the new champ. Will it last? I dunno. He's good, but considering how much trouble he had against Cheick Kongo, you'll forgive me if I don't bestow godhood upon him. I could see him getting taken out by a wise veteran like Randy Couture or Frank Mir. Even Shane Carwin has to be foaming at the mouth. What's next for Lesnar? Well, some rest for one. But who else can this guy fight? I mean he's already beaten Couture, Carwin, Mir and Herring, so you can't really put him up against also-rans like Cro Cop or Barry or Kongo... So does Lesnar just keep getting title fights? He'll get a tune-up and, if he wins that, surely he'll get a rematch. But frankly he needs experience. Seven fights ain't much.

Jake Shields def. Martin Kampmann (split)
I wasn't surprised by the decision (unlike others) but I was not impressed by Shields. Does this fight earn him a title fight? Hell no. At least, not in my opinion. Dana White seems to think otherwise. Shields hasn't beaten anyone of significance in the UFC (Kampmann is tough, but not THAT tough) and his Strikeforce/EliteXC days can kiss my ass. How do these welterweights keep getting title fights without having to fight other top contenders? Shields should have to beat Fitch or Koscheck or Hardy or Alves or Hughes or SOMEONE who has fought for the title in the last five years before getting GSP. This is goofy.

Diego Sanchez def. Paulo Thiago (unanimous)
Would the real Diego Sanchez PLEASE stand up? Seriously. Diego has been LOST his last few fights, even if he got a title shot against Penn, but he shows up like a mofo against the very tough Thiago. Where has this guy been? Let's hope he keeps it up. He should still drop to lightweight in my opinion, though.

Matt Hamill def. Tito Ortiz (unanimous)
How long before the UFC cuts Ortiz? Who knows. He is a shadow of his former self, that's for sure. He needs a good camp. He needs someone to show him what he's doing wrong. His style is antiquated and isn't going to get him anywhere. He hasn't won a fight in four years and his two wins prior to that were over the geriatric Ken Shamrock. The UFC keeps Ortiz but cuts the very game Patrick Cote who is coming off an injury layoff and lost to a lay and prayer? Doesn't seem to make much sense... Hamill didn't look THAT good.

Brendan Schaub def. Gabriel Gonzaga (unanimous)
Pretty dull fight. Not a lot of leather thrown and Gonzaga didn't try hard enough to get this to the ground. not sure what his gameplan was.

Court McGee def. Ryan Jensen (sub 2)
McGee looked alright. Needs a lot more seasoning before he moves up the ladder.

Tom Lawlor def. Patrick Cote (unanimous)
Boring as hell. Cote couldn't get past Lawlor's ground game and the ref didn't stand them up enough to save him. Cote gets cut afterwards despite being two fights removed from a title fight (in which he was doing alright against Anderson Silva) and getting pile driven by Alan Belcher. Lawlor lays and prays his way to victory. Let's hope Cote can get his act together and come back.

Daniel Roberts def. Mike Guymon (sub 1)
Roberts looked good. Guymon looked lost.

Sam Stout def. Paul Taylor (split)
Didn't see it. I imagine it was a decent boxing match.

Chris Camozzi def. Dongi Yang (split)
Didn't see it.

Jon Madsen def. Gilbert Yvel (KO 1)
Yvel is in the UFC...why? He sucks. Seriously.

UFC 115 Results

I missed this one, but let's see how I did.

Rich Franklin def. Chuck Liddell (KO 1)
I switched my pick and chose Liddell 'cause I didn't wanna root for his demise. But it came, and in surprising fashion as Franklin got the KO. Liddell's chin is glass now and he ought to retire. Too bad. (0-1)

Mirko Cro Cop Filipovic def. Pat Barry (sub 3)
Shocking ending as Cro Cop gets a submission. It looks like this was an entertaining fight, though, with the sluggers doing just that for the majority of the three rounds. Eventually, it was Barry who withered and the vet took over. Good for him. Barry will rebound. (0-2)

Martin Kampmann def. Paulo Thiago (unanimous)
Ouch. (0-3)

Ben Rothwell def. Gilbert Yvel (unanimous)
Finally - a win! (1-3)

Carlos Condit def. Rory MacDonald (TKO 3)
Apparently MacDonald was winning until he got finished in the third with 7 seconds left! Ouch. (2-3)

Evan Dunham def. Tyson Griffin (split)
I'm sorry I missed these fights. (3-3)

Matt Wiman def. Mac Danzig (sub 1)
Controversy here as Danzig didn't tap. Yves Lavigne thought Danzig was out, but the guillotine was only covering one side. The thing is, though, that Danzig did not respond when Lavigne tried to determine whether he was unconcious. That lack of response prompted Lavigne to watch out for the fighter's safety and he stopped the fight. A rematch is in the works for sure, giving Danzig a reprieve from the chopping block. He's clearly not a top-notch fighter, though. (4-3)

Mario Miranda def. David Loiseau (TKO 2)
Again, I was pulling for a guy who wasn't likely to win. Too bad for Loiseau. (4-4)

James Wilks def. Peter Sobotta (unanimous)
Didn't see it. (5-4)

Claude Patrick def. Ricardo Funch (sub 2)
Patrick looked pretty good, I have to say. (6-4)

Mike Pyle def. Jesse Lennox (sub 3)
Didn't see it. (7-4)

Didn't do well on the main card, but not bad overall.

UFC 115 Picks

Unfortunately, I'm likely to miss this one, so my post-fight analysis may be lacking, but I'm still gonna put in some picks.

Chuck Liddell vs Rich Franklin (light heavyweight)
This is a tough fight. It’s the end of the line for one of these two fighters. There’s very little upside. If Franklin wins, he beat the semi-retired Liddell and it does little to move him up the 205 ladder. If Chuck wins, he beat a guy who really hasn’t established himself as a light heavyweight so it probably doesn’t get him in title contention quickly enough to reclaim the belt before retirement claims him. It would also be devastating for Franklin’s career. His best hope after that would be to drop back down to 185 and hope Anderson Silva moves up to 205. This fight ends in one of two ways: Liddell KO or Franklin by decision. Any other way, and I’d be pretty shocked. Liddell’s style is poorly suited to getting enough points to score a decision and Franklin rarely KOs an opponent. Franklin managed to survive against the berserker attack of Wanderlei Silva, but Liddell is much more precise, patient striker. Can Liddell catch Franklin within 15 minutes? Tough call. Franklin doesn’t have the best chin, so one big shot might be enough. It’s 50/50 in my book, but I’ll pick…Liddell for fun (just 'cause if he loses, it's over).

Mirko Cro Cop Filipovic vs Pat Barry (heavyweight)
Cro Cop’s heart has seemingly disappeared, but for once he’s fighting a guy who is smaller than he is – that means he has a chance. But Barry has insane power. This ought to be fun. I’ll pick Barry.

Paulo Thiago vs Martin Kampmann (welterweight)
Could be Fight of the Night. These guys are smart, skilled and usually put on a good show. Thiago’s only loss is to Jon Fitch by decision – no shame there. He KO’d Koscheck who is now getting a title fight (how do you figure?). Kampmann also has a stellar record. I’m gonna pick Thiago.

Ben Rothwell vs Gilbert Yvel (heavyweight)
A battle of two underachievers. Rothwell was an IFL champ but has lost to Cain Velasquez in his UFC debut and Andrei Arlovski not long before that. Yvel has a decent record, but has fought lots of guys who were smaller than him (and lost some). He looked like garbage against Junior Dos Santos. These guys need to make an impression if they wanna stick around in the UFC. Look for the KO and look for Rothwell to get it.

Carlos Condit vs Rory MacDonald (welterweight)
Condit was a big deal in the WEC. So far, I’m not drinking the Kool-Aid. He represents a massive step up for MacDonald, though. Both guys have decent records and lots of submission victories. I hate to go against the Canadian, but I bet Condit the veteran finds a way to stay clamer and secure the submission. I’m picking Condit.

Tyson Griffin vs Evan Dunham (lightweight)
Both of these guys have a wrestling background, but Dunham has jiu jitsu to boot. They both have great records with impressive victories, but Dunham is undefeated and finishes fights whereas Griffin goes to a decision far too often. I’m picking Dunham.

Mac Danzig vs Matt Wiman (lightweight)
Danzig has some horseshoes up his butt to still be around in the UFC. But he’s a TUF darling, so it shouldn’t be that much of a surprise, I guess. Wiman was on the “TUF for losers” season, and came out looking pretty good, but he, too, is in danger of getting cut if he doesn’t get his act together. Both have lost to Jim Miller, with some nice wins and tough losses thrown in. I don’t know if Wiman can pull it off, but I’ll pulling for him ‘cause I’m sick of Danzig. I got Wiman.

David Loiseau vs Mario Miranda (middleweight)
I’m gonna be pulling for Loiseau, but let’s see if he has a chance. Miranda has a great record with a couple of notable wins but nothing too special. Loiseau has been doing well outside of the UFC but hasn’t had much success in the octagon lately. This is his big chance to make a splash in front of a partisan Canadian crowd. Miranda is a wrestler and jiu jitsu guy which is very dangerous and could mean a decision loss for Loiseau. Still, like I said, I’m pulling for him, so I got Loiseau.

James Wilks vs Peter Sobotta (welterweight)
Both have submissions skills but Sobotta also has power. Wilks seems slightly larger but that likely won’t be much of a factor. This could turn into a wrestling match, in which case Wilks’ muay thai could come into play. I’m gonna pick Wilks.

Ricardo Funch vs Claude Patrick (welterweight)
And now the silly picks. I don’t know much about either of these two. They have decent records but Patrick has loads of submissions. I’ll pick the Canadian and go with Patrick.

Mike Pyle vs Jesse Lennox (welterweight)
Despite a nice record, Pyle has lost just about every big fight he’s been in. Sure, he beat Jon Fitch, but that was in Fitch’s first pro fight and it was at 205 lbs. Of course Pyle’s first fight was against Rampage Jackson! Lennox, meanwhile has had only one semi-meaningful fight, losing to Rick Story. I’m picking the more experienced Pyle.

Could be a fun event, even though there aren't too many big names attached.

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 108 Results - Evans Beats Silva

Oops. Seems I've missed a couple of events while on vacation. Let's catch up:

UFC 108 was a surprise hit with some terrific finishes. The event was marred by injuries and many thought this woudl be a dull event. It was anything but. Check it out:

Rashad Evans def. Thiago Silva (Unanimous) - Silva lost but came out on top with the fans by putting on a better show. Evans won by laying and praying which will never earn you points with fans or the UFC. Silva was clearly frustrated and wanted ot bang. No wonder: when they did collide, Silva was coming uot on top and even managed to knock Evans down but was so tired by then that he was unable to finish. Too bad - Evans would have deserved the loss. Funny how Evans decried Silva's taunts and showboating afterwards when Evans is usually the one doing the showboating. Just desserts? If only Silva had won.

Paul Daley def. Dustin Hazelett (KO 1) - This was probably a mismatch. Hazlett was never going to be able to handle Daley's power and it would have been almost impossible for him to wrestle Daley to the ground. In a stand up war, Daley wins no problem.

Sam Stout def. Joe Lauzon (Unanimous) - I'm at a bit of a loss on this one. Lauzon is clearly the more talented fighter, but couldn't secure the victory. After dominating the first round, I can only assume Lauzon ran out of gas. He threw so few right jabs afterwards that I was CONVINCED he had broken his hand (haven't heard anything to that effect since). Stout was praised afterwards, but I didn't see this as a very good showing. Lauzon had better watch out or his stock will fall fast.

Jim Miller def. Duane Ludwig (sub 1) - Miller looked good. Ludwig not so much.

Junior Dos Santos def. Gilbert Yvel (TKO 1) - Dos Santos has some wicked power. He's climbing the ranks FAST.

Martin Kampmann def. Jacob Volkmann (sub 1) - Kampmann is great, but inconsistent. He always seems on the verge of a title shot, then stumbles. He looked good here again.

Cole Miller def. Dan Lauzon (sub 1) - Millers' submission from an inverted triangle was gorgeous.

Mark Munoz def. Ryan Jensen (sub 1) - A submission via strikes is always impressive. Poor Jensen tapped earlier but the ref didn't see it.

Jake Ellenberger def. Mike Pyle (TKO 2) - Don't really remember...

Rafaello Oliveira def. John Gunderson (Unanimous) - Don't remember, but apparently it was dull.