Is Matt Hughes Done?

Georges St. Pierres’ second destruction of Matt Hughes in as many years seemed to confirm what the MMA world had long suspected. In short, Hughes is done. Once the poster boy of the UFC and the welterweight division, especially, Hughes had made his name with wins over Frank Trigg, BJ Penn, Sean Sherk, Royce Gracie, and yes, even GSP.

His UFC 43 submission loss to BJ Penn was largely seen as a hiccup, and one which Hughes avenged soon thereafter. In between the Penn loss and subsequent Penn win, Hughes ran roughshod over the entire division, racking up five straight wins.

The best fighter to never have a nickname seemed primed to beat St. Pierre in what would be their second match up. Unfortunately for Hughes, even the best laid plans don’t always pan out. However, those who watched the fight at UFC 65 were too quick to attribute the TKO win to GSP’s ability. Yes, the Canadian was brilliant and he did execute a great game plan. But, there was something else. Hughes was not himself.

Matt was sluggish and did not appear to have confidence in his abilities. In the past, he would often press his opponent against the cage or look for an early take down. Instead, Hughes seemed complacent and happy enough to wait for St. Pierre to make a move.

Hughes then took on Chris Lytle, and while he did win a decision, it should not have been that close. The old Matt Hughes would have embarrassed Lytle and finished him in one. After all, this is the same man who once finished GSP in one round!

Matt had another chance to avenge a loss at UFC 79 when Georges St. Pierre agreed to fight him on short notice. Just like their meeting at UFC 65, Hughes seemed tentative – maybe even more so – and was simply outmatched once again. It was St. Pierre who was the aggressor, and predictably, it was St. Pierre who was the victor.

Not since Hughes’ UFC 63 match up with BJ Penn have we seen the killer instinct displayed throughout his long title run. Critics even found fault with his early rounds against Penn and suggest that one must go back as far as UFC 60 to find a great performance from Matt Hughes.

It’s one thing to be past your prime and lagging a little in ability. However, it’s another to disgrace your legacy with lazy performances every time you step into the octagon.

What's Next For Anderson Silva?

With Anderson Silva’s sweeping and not-so-surprising win over Dan Henderson at UFC 82, any remaining shred of drama among the 185 pounders has been extinguished. Both Henderson and Rich Franklin, thought to be Silva’s biggest potential challengers, have each proven insufficient. Meanwhile, Silva’s cleared out the majority of the lesser contenders meaning that…well…there’s no one left for him to beat.

If Dana White wishes for Silva to stay at his natural weight, his potential opponents are few and far between. Paulo Filho is the obvious choice, but since he trains with Silva at Black House, both men have stated that they are not willing to fight. Matt Lindland could be a tough test, but his contract dispute with the UFC is far too storied to be resolved in time for Silva’s next fight. The only viable middleweight option has to be Yushin Okami, who holds a DQ win over Silva. Yes, Okami has been impressive as of late, but he also has a loss to Rich Franklin. We all know what Anderson Silva did to Franklin. Using sound logic and basic mathematical principles, it seems obvious what would happen to Okami.

It’s possible that Silva could be bumped up to light heavyweight, but in that case, White would have to offer The Spider a near-immediate title shot. Does the UFC really want either of its champions having a loss on their record? Sure, it would probably be one of the biggest draws of all time, but the result would be a disconfirmed champion.

Same goes for the idea that Silva should cut to 170 and take on Georges St. Pierre. This provide a HUGE draw – probably bigger than if Silva took on Rampage – but can the UFC marketing team rebound from one of these guys losing? Probably not.

If I’m Dana White, I do my best to bring in some MW talent and book Okami in the meantime. I’d even consider signing Ryo Chonan (the guy who infamously heel hooked Anderson Silva) to a one fight title shot contract.

If I’m Anderson Silva, I do the only think that makes sense – retire.

Ultimate Fighter 2008: Almost Mainstream. Too Tame For Ya?

Fans are eagerly anticipating another exciting season of "Ultimate Fighter" to be broadcast on Spike T.V. With Dana White at the helm again, it should be another wildly successful season, giving fans and critics alike plenty of material for future debate.

The two coaches for season seven are Forrest Griffin and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson.
These two experienced MMA fighters are excellent choices to coach the hopefuls. Their legendary exploits fit them for the coaching duties better than anyone. Forrest Griffin won the coveted title of " Ultimate Fighter, in Season 1". Jackson currently holds the light heavyweight world title. These guys don't pull their punches, and will concentrate on skill and morale development among the contestants. They are also scheduled to fight each other in 2008.

There will be sixteen contestants in season seven. These middleweight contestants will film their initial efforts starting in January. The series will air in April, with the finale being broadcast live in July 2008.

Will it be a vicious bloodbath?

UFC's early reputation as " Human cock-fighting, " as Senator Mc Cain described it, was perhaps an accurate description at the time. We're not used to seeing such a display of unrestrained one-on- one violence, except outside the pubs at times!
Here are the top ten moves that got Ultimate Fighting banned from so many States: -

1. Fighters were allowed to head –but opponents. This move can cause serious damage to both fighters.

2. Hair pulling gives an attacker an unfair advantage, by giving him total control of the opponent's head. This move works instantly for dogs, livestock and humans.

3.Using the elbow in a downward jab. The power of this move can incapacitate the victim.

4. Going after a downed opponent who is being examined by the referee. There needs to be a momentary cessation of hostilities while the referee makes his determination.

5. Ignoring clear indications that a contender is afraid to fight. If a contestant won't meet the opponent's eyes with his own, this is clear body language for, " I fear you." Some fighters use this method to cause their opponents to do one of two things:

He may be prompted to beat the shrinking fighter mercilessly and with clear intent to incapacitate him.
He may strive not to hurt him, giving the supposedly terrified opponent an unfair advantage.
Any organized fight in our society must take place between two evenly matched and willing contestants.

6. Contestants are not allowed to attack an opponent during a break. We like to think we're " civilized", and can adhere to pre-arranged rules. Breaking this rule offends our sensibilities greatly.

7. All attacks upon a downed opponent are now fouls. This has banned the shocking sight of fighters kicking the heads of men who have been knocked down. Fighters must never knee or stomp downed opponents' heads.

8. It is no longer permitted to pull, twist or otherwise dislocate the opponent's fingers or toes. Not only is the pain of this move excruciating, but it frequently results in permanent damage. The surgical insertion of screws , pins and plates can never completely return the dexterity of the small joints.

9. Opponents are not permitted to throw each other out of the ring. The use of the octagon with its enclosed sides has virtually eliminated this problem, but the octagon is not always used in every venue.( Interestingly enough, the UFC has been able to "Trademark" the geometrical shape of the octagon. Todd Meacham, a competitor of UFC lost his fight to entitle him to use the octagonal shape in his ultimate fighting activities with the Total Fighting Alliance. He claims that the octagon is a generic shape which has a history of use in the Mixed Martial Arts field.)

10. The final turn-off for the viewing public is the display of behaviors which appear to be completely unsportsmanlike. These include spitting, pinching and twisting skin, ignoring the referee, using foreign objects in the ring, " rabbit punching" and elbow striking.

With the elimination of these brutal aspects of the fighting experience, there is the possibility that the general public may take another look at the sport. But even if they don't , this sport has enough fans now to keep it in the public eye. Anything with the amount of exposure that the UFC is now getting is guaranteed to be around for a long time to come. The UFC is here to stay. Check your T V Guide.

The Ultimate Coach (Part 2)

At first glance, Rampage's path to being named an Ultimate Coach might seem a bit odd. He struggled in PRIDE, knocked out one of the biggest stars on the planet, and then defeated the man who knocked out Wanderlei. However, the man formally known as Quinton holds no candle to Forrest Griffin.

With all of his successes in the Octagon, it's easy to forget that Forrest started his UFC journey as a TUF alum. He won the very first installment of the show with a scintillating three-round slugfest against Stephen Bonnar. The fight was so exciting that it's viewership actually increased during the fight -- people were calling their friends and telling them to watch what was happening. Many recognize this fight as one of the greatest of all time, and even more recognize it as fight that saved the UFC. If nothing else, it at least set the groundwork for the future seasons of this popular series. In other words, Forrest got himself a job that he didn't even know he was applying for.

Ever since that fight against Stephen Bonnar, Griffin's career has been up and down, but it's always been one thing -- exciting. Whether he was knocking out legendary Elvis Sinosic or losing a close but exciting decision to Tito Ortiz (called the fight of the year in 2005), Griffin has done it with a tough guy "I just want to fight" attitude. This is one of the reasons, along with his "everyman" personality, that makes him a great choice for both the show and the title shot.

However, it wasn't long ago that Griffin seemed to be out of the title picture and certainly out of sorts. At UFC 66, he was knocked out early by Keith Jardine, which handed him a second loss in three fights. It appeared that he was destined to remain in that middle class of 205 pounders. He rebounded with an expected win against Hector Ramirez. Unfortunately (or at least it seemed unfortunate at the time), he was booked against newcomer and #1 ranked LHW Mauricio "Shogun" Rua It was well known that if Rua won, he was going to be granted a title shot against Rampage Jackson. In other words, Forrest was the stepping stone. But when the bell rang, all conventions changed. Shogun looked out matched, out cardioed, and out just about anything else you could be. Forrest appeared to be cruising to a decision when, late in the third and final round, he ripped the decision out of the judges hands when he secured a deep Rear Naked Choke for the submission victory.

Forrest earned his initial TUF victory over Bonnar and there's no question that he earned the right to coach against Rampage Jackson in TUF 7. It should be an exciting season with two talented and entertaining coaches.

The Ultimate Coach (Part 1)

All of the past seasons of The Ultimate Fighter have featured some of the biggest money earners and long-time legends as coaches. Names like Chuck Liddell, Randy Couture, Tito Ortiz, and Ken Shamrock are just some of the stars who have coached the up-and-coming fighters in the world's premiere fighting reality show. This season, the seventh installment of the popular reality series, should prove to be different. And it all starts with one of the coaches, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson.

He hasn't been around that long (just three UFC fights), but his appearances have made an indelible mark on both the sport and the organization. He's not one of the biggest money earners or the most well known fighters, but when you don't lose in nearly three years, knock out Chuck Liddell, and have the best sense of humor in the sport, it's easy to rise to the top. And that's exactly what Jackson has done.

After a quick tune up against Marvin Eastman, Jackson made everyone forget about his PRIDE appearances as he made short work of then-unbeatable Liddell. Before the fight, it was easy to call Jackson just another contender, considering his embarrassing losses at the hands of Wanderlei Silva and Mauricio Rua. The knockout of Liddell and subsequent decision of Henderson erased all doubts as to who is the top 205 pounder. It's even made MMA analysts question how the ex-Chute Boxe prodigies would far against the seemingly-changed Jackson.

We may get to see Rampage avenge those brutal losses, but not until he finishes with The Ultimate Fighter and Forrest Griffin. While he's not as well known to the sports world as an Ortiz or Liddell, it should take about ten minutes into the first episode for UFC exes to realize they made a great decision. Jackson's explosive combination of fists and personality should make for excellent coaching and even better television.

Unfortunately, the end of this reality road won't be easy. He'll be rewarded for his coaching and ratings increase with a tough match up against fan favorite Forrest Griffin, who is fresh off a win against the man who destroyed Rampage, Mauricio Rua. This will certainly be a point of discussion when their title fight rolls around.

Check back next week for Part 2 of The Ultimate Coach as we examine Forrest Griffin and his unusual path to coaching stardom.

Ultimate Fighter: From the Gutter to Pay-Per-View - Part I

Martial Arts enthusiasts have a reputation for being honorable, highly skilled and self disciplined. Their study of the Martial Arts genre of their choice leads them forward on a path of self-improvement. Their physical training requires a mental attitude of devotion to an ideal. They strive to reach their physical potential through time-honored practices and a personal commitment to excellence. However, as well as the student's competition with himself, competition with others is a natural, healthy outgrowth of his pursuit of excellence. Without competition and the honest assessment of their own weak and strong points, how would a student of Martial Arts know whether or not his performance is improving? The drive to excel comes with the inevitable drive to exceed the skill level of comparable students. This normal human desire to compete and to win is the basis for all organized sporting events. It has long been evident that there is an appeal for spectators in sporting displays of Mixed Martial Arts. The spectators are made up of people of all skill levels. Everyone enjoys seeing a competition between experts. Whether the spectator is actively involved in the sport or is a couch potato with no athletic skills, he can appreciate watching a hard-won victory, or a crushing defeat. It is not only entertaining during the match, but spectators frequently become fans of particular contenders. This fan base is the support beneath the current popularity of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

What exactly is the Ultimate Fighting Championship?

The Ultimate Fighting Championship is a business, which was founded in 1993 by Art Davie and Rorion Gracie. Art Davie's background was in advertising and promotion, and Rorion Gracie is a member of the family, which has given its name to Brazilian wrestling, (also known as Gracie Jiu Jitsu.) The Gracie family has long been a multi-generational powerhouse in the Mixed Martial Arts field. Rorion's dedication to Brazilian Wrestling stems from his belief that this style of fighting is the best system for self defense in a street fight. So, when Davie and Gracie combined their skills and interests in the "Ultimate Fighting Championship," it was a real crowd pleaser that struck a chord with certain MMA fans.

The UFC sought to bring more safety and less controversy to matches which are known as No Holds Barred fights. As the name implies, this form of Mixed Martial Arts is a dangerous and sometimes deadly sport. The recent death of Texas MMA contestant, Sammy Vasquez only highlights the extreme nature of MMA fighting. The UFC takes steps to minimize the preventable dangers inherent in the staging of such fights. Despite the UFC's stringent rules, fighters take a calculated risk when stepping up to a UFC challenge.

UFC's New, Improved " No Holds Barred" Competitions.

Even though the promoters of UFC used the line, "There are no rules, " the organizers did, in fact, make it clear to contestants that certain tactics were not to be used. Contestants were warned that head butting was discouraged, along with the pulling of hair, and direct groin strikes. Furthermore, as public outcry caused an outright ban of Ultimate Fighting in thirty-six states more restrictions were introduced. There was a total ban on the gouging of eyes and on the use of teeth by the opponents. With the introduction of weight classes, the five-minute round and the inadmissibility of head and rear neck strikes, the spectacle gradually became less horrifying. All contestants had to wear gloves, also. This reduced the amount of blood spilled, drastically. With all these precautions in place, the UFC finally gained some mainstream acceptance. But it was still a young sport, and selling it to the general public was not yet possible, despite its popularity with its fans.

When the Feritta brothers and Dana White bought UFC in 2001, the entire operation was put under the control of Zuffa, LLC. Although the UFC had been driven underground by public outcry, the new owners were able to re-introduce it in a reality –show setting, with great success. The televised Ultimate Fighter series has now had 6 successful seasons, and is preparing for its 7th. It has gradually grown in acceptability and as it approaches 2008, appears to be the fastest growing sport in the United States.

The Decline & Rise of the UFC

Entering its 15th year as the marquee organization of mixed martial arts (MMA) sports events, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has seen a dramatic surge in popularity in recent years. Emerging from 2006 as the top grossing pay-per-view (PPV) promotion generating over $200 million in revenue, beating even the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) and boxing, UFC programs have a global reach of all countries via satellite.

The UFC features tournaments based on a hybrid sport which brings together top athletes from various martial arts disciplines such as jiu-jitsu, boxing, karate, Thai boxing to wrestling, in a bid to become the champion fighter.

However, with its iconic champion Randy Couture reiterating his decision to retire from the sport on CNBC’s documentary “Ultimate Fighting: From Bloodsport To Big Time”, questions have again been raised on the UFC’s ability to maintain its popularity. With other promotions waiting in its wings, will the UFC survive growing competition to remain on top?

This would not be the first time the UFC has had to face such challenges. Championing a sport once maligned as “human cockfighting”, the UFC was roundly banned in many states during the late 1990s. Yet, fast forward to 2007 and MMA has found widespread mainstream acceptance. The UFC also enjoyed another bumper year with the acquisition of competitors World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC), Pride and World Fighting Alliance (WFA). The clamor for the sport to be included as part of the Olympics, has also added to its credibility.

Zuffa, LLC, the parent company of the UFC, has built a proven track record of promoting MMA events. Through widespread advertising and securing corporate sponsorships, Zuffa improved the UFC’s visibility, mainly via pay-per-view. PPV buy rates shot through the roof in 2006 and led to phenomenal growth of the company. Many were expecting more this year.

The recent Moody credit downgrade had been attributed to PPV numbers trending down. Observers have reacted negatively and accused Zuffa of greed as the quantity of the UFC PPV shows have increased with a marked decrease in quality. Whether this has led to lower overall revenues is anybody’s guess. President Dana White has steadfastly refused to divulge any official figures.

Many have also questioned the buyout of rival organization Pride earlier this year. The UFC has not produced any shows of significance since the buyout. Zuffa has also not made any strong inroads to the Japanese and overall Asian markets, on which the Pride brand was developed. Has it been a case of money flushed down the drain?

It is still too early to gauge the success of Zuffa’s buyout of Pride. They could still be trying to secure a TV deal in Japan, or it might simply have been a business decision. The acquisition effectively meant the company owns all rights to the potentially lucrative Pride brand, and eliminates one of their top competitors in the MMA field, at least for the time being.

The UFC also stands to benefit with the crossing over of the best Pride fighters to their stable of stars. This will contribute to an increase in fan base as supporters of these fighters turn their sights on the UFC. Japanese fans could also migrate to the UFC, although a void has also resulted with which previous Pride rivals like K-1 could be ready to fill.

Another less acknowledged fact is that the UFC has always worked to be in line with regulations, ever since it received sanctioning in 2001 from the Nevada Athletic Commission. Not only does it help to improve the organization’s legitimacy, it is smart business acumen to play by the rules to ensure longevity. This exact conformity revived the organization and the sport as a whole, returning them to TV screens and the public’s subconscious.

Many other competing organizations might look to increase the violence in their products as the UFC continues to form stricter rules. The more blood and gore you have, the more fans might be drawn to it. But given the choice of being in business after the next 10 years or to be banned, it should be a pretty clear decision. Witness the backlash felt by the International Fight League (IFL) when the premiere of IFL Battleground in early 2007 was roundly derided for its perceived glorification of violence. The key is to provide a continuing spectacle within the boundaries allowed, and the UFC has perfected that to a fine art.

The UFC occupies the prime seat in terms of popularity and reach, with its Spike TV deal. Its competitors such as the IFL and M-1 Global might currently be the preferred options with the most popular MMA fighter Fedor Emelianenko. This comes amidst negative publicity of the UFC disrespecting its fighters. Still, how often in sports have we seen that an individual does not make a team? Other fighters lurk in the shadows to take over, and the UFC offers the best global stage to display their talents.

The UFC might be facing a mini crisis with their top draw Randy Couture, but the path to success is often paved with temporary failures. M-1 Global, in particular, is waiting to pounce as they attempt to build partnerships with other organizations. But what other competitors have in budding enthusiasm and eye for quick profit, the UFC more than makes up for with their experience, early niche foothold, sound business fundamentals and financial resources.

The UFC will continue to rule the roost for some time yet, as recent results have shown. What might be uncertain is how long this will continue. You can never rule out other possibilities. The UFC has strong fan interest, while backed by savvy marketing and shrewd creativity. If they clean up their act with regards to fighters’ accusations of poor treatment and financial payouts, it would be unwise to discount the UFC from growing strength to strength.

How To Get Into The UFC

In today’s dynamic MMA landscape, there are a myriad of ways to successfully enter the sport. These paths are as diverse as the styles which the sport’s fighters employ. From being in the right place at the right time to being called in as a specialist, with the right skill and a little bit of luck, anyone can achieve their dreams of fighting for a major MMA organization.

Martial Base writer Ben Zeidler sat down with UFC fighter Drew McFedries to ask him about how he got his start. The beginnings are about as humble as they get. “Really, I don’t know how I got in. I had been training at MFS [Miletich Fighting Systems] for years. I was just coming out of my battle with Crohn’s disease and I was helping Sam Hoger train for Rashad [Evans] at that point, and somehow I managed to get into pretty good shape. I had a local show that was for an extreme challenge or something. My manager said “Hey, you’re doing well, lets look for more fights.” I didn’t know he’d be looking into the UFC. I was doing fights for 600 bucks, you know? He says “I got a fight for you. The guy’s name is Allesio Sakara.” I was thinking “Why would he come to Iowa?” And that’s when he told me that it was for the UFC. I asked him if he was serious…I couldn’t believe it. Here’s the kicker: he called me 17 days out so I only got 14 or 15 days of training. [I] fought Sakara [and] won that fight and it was just a great experience. I’ve never had [a] thrill ride like that. I was lucky enough to train with guys who are really good and I was just helping guys get ready for fights but I got into such good shape and the UFC opportunity came up.”

For guys like McFedries, and most of the non-household names in the UFC, simply being around some of the best trainers and consistently staying in shape is the best route to a major fighting organization. However, if you’re a specialist with existing talent in one field of MMA, you would be wise to follow the Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou route, who was originally brought into Team Quest to help Dan Henderson trains his Judo for an upcoming fight. When he was simply a Judo specialist, none of the majors were looking at Sokoudjou. But, with some Team Quest experience and Henderson’s word, Sokoudjou was a shoe-in for PRIDE FC and eventually, the UFC.

During an interview with Sokoudjou, he told us the following story: “I met him in November before his Nakamura fight. They were looking for a judo guy to help him train and they called me in and he beat me up bad. I was 240 and he was 183 and he still beat me up pretty bad. Then, they called me in again before Machida. I used to think that MMA was just a bunch of guys in their underwear in a cage, but after training with them, I really respect the sport.”

With skills like Sokoudjou or determination like Drew, any aspiring fighter can make their way to the big time.

Sylvia-Vera Serves As Tantalizing Precursor To Main Event

For as much hype as is swirling around Silva-Franklin (as well there should be), there is equally little being dedicated to the next most important fight on the card, Sylvia-Vera. Sylvia is still reeling from his loss to Couture while Vera is undefeated and on the fast track to a title shot. With Cro Cop's loss and Nogueira's less than stellar performance (and even worse promoting), this looks to be the bout which will feed the fans their new #1 contender. Of course, nothing has been announced (expect that at the post-conference), but I can't imagine anything else happening.

If Sylvia wins (which he isn't "supposed" to, just like Jardine and Forrest weren't "supposed" to), the fans will have to deal with Couture-Sylvia II. If Sylvia were to pull that off, it would be just about the worst thing that could happen to the UFC's Heavyweight division. Right now, Dana White only has two marketable champs, and he doesn't need that knocked down to two. In fact, I would be comfortable arguing that if Sylvia manages to beat Couture, not only will Cro Cop get a title shot, Fedor will be signed. White won't have a choice.

If Vera wins, we'll have an awesome showdown between young and old, and no matter who wins, fans should expect to see a rematch. White and the UFC have been waiting to get Vera involved in the title picture for some time now, and he'll offer a fresh face to combat the disappointments of CC and Big Nog. Look for White to build Vera into his Golden Boy, pitting him against the PRIDE HWs.

Although Silva-Franklin should be really fun, make sure to keep an eye on this bout too. It might just steal the fight of the night away from the Middleweights, and provides insight into a far more interesting and deep division.

Which Schools Dominate The UFC?

As with any sport, the way to win has developed over time. In baseball, good pitching used to rule the day whereas now, teams rely on sluggers to pound the ball to victory. In basketball, quick passes and good defense used to win championships. Now, deadly shooting and high-flying moves do the trick. The same goes for a sport like Mixed Martial Arts. I've defined the sport into three main categories during its short history, with a different school of fighting dominating the game, eventually ending at the hybridized style we see from almost every fighter today.

It doesn't take an expert to figure out that Gracie Jiu Jitsu (a slight variation on classic Jiu Jitsu), as utilized by Royce Gracie, was the single most imposing force in early UFC. This style, based on joint locks and body control, was perfect for smaller fighters facing much larger and stronger opponents. Royce highlighted the style's strengths during a fight with Dan Severn, in which he submitted the man 70 pounds his heavier. And oh yeah, between 1993 and 1994, Gracie won 11 fights by submission and won the UFC 1, UFC 2, and UFC 4 tournaments. Most of these were against strictly boxers or strictly wrestlers, and Gracie's grappling technique proved to be superior.

Gracie's grappling, with a slight twist, ruled the Middle Ages of the UFC, manifested in Miletich Fighting Systems. Founded by former Light/Welterweight Pat Miletich, MFS incorporates BJJ (thanks, Gracie family), Sambo, Judo, and Boxing for a more improved Mixed Maertial Artist who is dangerous on his feet and the ground. We saw a changing of the guard at UFC 60 as MFSer Matt Hughes was able to take down Royce Gracie and then debilitate him with a BJJ move. It was beautiful in its irony, and signified that Royce's prowess on the ground was no longer enough to win a fight. MFS fighters, including Hughes (former Welterweight champ), Rich Franklin (former Middleweight champ), and Tim Sylvia (former Heavyweight champ) helped to make this fighting system (the first true hybrid) and extremely successful one until very recently.

Look closely at the previous paragraph and you'll notice that all the MFS guys are FORMER champs. What happened? Fighters like Rampage Jackson, Georges St. Pierre, and Chuck Liddell have become so adept at forcing other fighters to fight their fight that they don't need to hybridize. Of course, GSP is dangerous anywhere, but he can also control a fight to the point where if he wants it to go to the ground, that's where it goes. If he wants to stand up, take a guess where the fight is going to end... Liddell has perfected his sprawl to the point where he never goes down. His fights always stay on the feet which serve him well until...he comes upon a another guy who doesn't want to go to the ground, and is an even more dangerous striker. I used to say that the new UFC fighter is a perfectly balanced and hybridized figher who can adapt to any situation or opponent. I'd like to correct that statement. The NEW UFC fighter is the one who is a master at his craft and can make everyone else try to match his style. See: Sean Sherk, Matt Serra, Anderson Silva, Rampage Jackson, Randy Couture. They all have something in common and it's not the fact that they're champions.

UFC 75 Results

So maybe it wasn't the explosive card most expected, but it provided enough big hits, big submissions, and controversy to classify it as a quality event.

Houston Alexander vs. Alessio Sakara
Alexander continued his post-Jardine KO rise to the top with another dominating performance, this time over more-than-competent Sakara. He should start to get some legitimate contenders in his sights if he continues this run.

Marcus Davis vs. Paul Taylor
I'm going to go ahead and call this the most exciting fight of the night. The Irish Hand Grenade (Davis) took an early lead only to barely get knocked out later in the first round. He fought hard from the Brits guard, eventually ceasing the pounding and ending the fight with what later won "Submission of the night."

Cheick Kongo vs. Mirko Filipovic
Kongo flat out dominated Cro Cop in this three round decision. When striking, Kongo didn't let himself get in CC's range while delivering inside leg kick after inside leg kick. On the ground, where Kongo was supposed to be most suspect, he seemed in control, even though CC had put in weeks with guru Dean Lister. Kongo looked like the former Champion while CC looked confused, nervous, and overwhelmed.

Michael Bisping vs. Matt Hamill
Although this fight has garnered much controversy, it wasn't as close as some media outlets make it sound. Each fighter had his moments during the fight in a see saw battle that had Bisping ending strong. Personally, I had the fight 29-28 Hamill. No one agreed with me, as two judges put it 29-28 Bisping and one had 30-27 Hamill. I'd expect to see a rematch.

Quinton Jackson vs. Dan Henderson
In the most anticipated bout of the evening, Jackson and Henderson exchanged some flurries but generally remained limited in their exertion. Jackson did win definitively, but it wasn't a bad loss for Henderson, at it was his first trip inside The Octagon. With Liddell and Hendo out of the way, Jackson can now set his sights on Shogun and Wanderlei, two guys who absolutely destroyed him in PRIDE.

UFC Fight Night 11 Features Best Of TUFers

Despite the appearances of Chris Leben and Nate Quarry, two of the most disappointing TUF alums, UFC Fight Night 11 is shaping up to be a decent card with four other (physically competent) TUFers.

Kenny Florian, TUF 1 finalist and participant in an awesome bloodbath with current LW Champ Sean Sherk, will take on Din Thomas in the main event of the evening. This should be a great fight, with both guys looking for one last push in their respective careers. Both are good fighters and both have suffered some big losses in the UFC. Recently, they've been exhibiting winning ways and they'll collide on their way back to the top in a very uncertain LW division. It's anyones for the taking and these two guys are well aware of that fact.

The TUF 5 winner Nate Diaz will face his first real test in Brazilian Junior Assuncao. Even though his Gamburyan win was less than impressive, Diaz was without a doubt the most technically impressive fighter on the series. After all, his brother is Gogoplata-master Nick Diaz...what would you expect? He'll get a chance to validate his status in the UFC with a tough test here.

Two other TUF5ers, Gray Maynard and Cole Miller, both of whom displayed great promise during the series will battle at UFC FN 11, just not against each other. In an attempt to give the younger talent a push, Maynard will go to battle against unknown Joe Veres while Cole will lay the smack down on Leonard Garcia.

The TUF alums that separate themselves from the very large pack (possibly doing so at this very event) will set themselves up for some bigger fights and potential title shots in the future. After all, it was current Middleweight Champ Anderson Silva who embarrassed Chris Leben at Ultimate Fight Night 5. What may seem like a small event in between PPVs might very well be a coming out party for the next UFC Champ.

Fedor Meeting Goes Poorly

A UFC source who spoke to FIGHT! Magazine contributor Sam Caplan said that the big Thursday meeting with Fedor did not go well. According to UFC Junkie, there were a variety of sources that said a deal was tentative:

A variety of reports today stated...that a tentative deal worth about $2 million per fight had been reached. However, Caplan reports that his source gave no indication that a deal was imminent.

Caplan's report, along with the little that Dana White admitted to knowing, culminate in a less than favorite report regarding the possibility of having Fedor in the company anytime soon. This is despite the fact that White acknowledged Fedor would receive an immediate title shot if he signed:

During Thursday’s UFC 75 media conference call, UFC President Dana White said that if Emelianenko signs with the organization, he could be next in line for a title shot with current champ Randy Couture. White, though, gave no indication that a deal was close, and even joked that the conference call members should “put in a good word” for him.

"Could be" in Dana White language usually means "is definite" and there are few things in mixed martial arts less definite than the deservedness of Fedor Emelianenko, a man who has beat the two fighters that can lay claim to a shot at Fedor's belt (Nogueira, Cro Cop). Couture-Fedor would probably draw one of the largest buy rates in the history of the sport and would be yet another boost for the unfazeable progress of mixed martial arts.

New UFC 75/76 Site Highlights Stacked LHWs

In another brilliant business move by someone at the top of Zuffa, the sites for UFC 75 & 76 have been combined into a slick flash design intended to highlight the strength of the Light Heavyweight division. Both events feature LHWs as their main event as well as a myriad of LHWs on the undercard.

The power at the top of the division is obvious, with PRIDE's transfers making the old UFC 205 pounders look weak at best. Of the top 5 fighters in the division, only one (Liddell) is a UFC original. Of course, Liddell's lost twice to the weakest of the PRIDE guys (Rampage). Add in Wanderlei, Henderson, and Shogun, and this division is easily the strongest in MMA history.

Like most fans, I'm able to note the strength of the division, but usually only focus on the top. I overlook all the rest of the guys, who, if they were in any other division, would be one of the best. The Lightweight division has two or three excellent fighters. The Welterweight division has about five and the Middleweights have two (maybe three...). By my count, and with assistance of the new site, the Light Heavyweights have a whopping nine solid guys. I left out these seven, which made UFC's list of sixteen total: Alessio Sakara, Renato Sobral, Kazuhiro Nakamura, Keith Jardine, Matt Hamill, Forrest Griffin, and Houston Alexander.

Even with my omissions, the Light Heavyweight division is light years ahead of all others, even the Heavyweight division which has five solid guys. This incredible strength of talent will make UFC 75 and UFC 76 two very exciting shows, which are cleverly highlighted by the UFC marketing machine.

UFC Balance Of Power Regains Normalcy

With the wins of Randy Couture and Georges St. Pierre on Saturday night, the pair finalized UFC's return to general predictability (a good thing) following a span of upsets which stretched from 68 to 71, effectively throwing three of the five title pictures in disarray. With Sherk's win (let's forget about the steroids for a moment), Couture's first successful defense of the HW title, and St. Pierre displaying his ability to shake the Serra blues, it appears that we can start narrowing the talent into some Superfights.

No need to give Gonzaga another title shot now. And after St. Pierre's dismantling of Koscheck, it's obvious that St. Pierre and Hughes are the only guys who deserve to be on the top of that division. Not Sanchez, not Kos, not Parisyan, and certainly none of the other guys who were said to be in line for a title shot. Just the best of the best. Had Koscheck won the fight on Saturday, it would've taken even more legitimacy from the division and possibly...just possibly set up for Koscheck-Serra. Instead of being forced to witness that eyesore, it looks as if we're on track for GSP-Hughes III, which is the best fight for the fighters, the fans, and of course, the sport.

Couture's huge win marks the reality of his second coming in the UFC as he has now dispatched of two contenders (Sylvia and Gonzaga) who have at times been heralded as greats, but have now been reduced to pawns. This is significant because now Couture can start wading through the real contenders, the PRIDE guys. Similar to the Koscheck-Serra scenario, I think I speak for everyone when I say we really dodged a bullet with the potential Gonzaga-Nogueira matchup. Instead, we should be treated to Couture-CC, Couture-Nog, or even Couture-Fedor. With CC's recent loss and Nog's less than stellar opening show, there really is no contender in the UFC who should be considered a favorite against "The Natural." It may be up to White to sign someone who can fill these shoes.

The narrowing of competition continues at UFC 75 with the Henderson-Rampage match, a virtual win-win for the UFC. With a Liddell and Shogun wins at 76, the UFC should be set up perfectly for a winter to remember. Silva and Franklin will kick things off with what should be a war. We will most likely see Shogun against the winner of Rampage-Henderson. Couture will almost definitely fight Cro Cop or Nogueira. And barring something amazing happening, Hughes will get another crack at GSP. It may have not been the most exciting event in the world, but UFC 74 has now set the stage for the success that is to come.

White: Fedor Won't Relate To UFC Fans

Dana White, while talking about the most talented free agent (and martial artist) in the universe, said that he just wouldn't relate to UFC fans. Now whether this is simply an excuse for the lack of contract or White actually believes this, no one knows. But what is known is that the man simply recognized by his first name, Fedor, needs a place to fight. Never has one man been so dominant. Even Matt Hughes suffered a legendary defeat at the hands of BJ Penn at UFC 46. Fedor has no such blemish.

White compared Fedor's potential entrance to that of Cro Cop, citing over and over again that for whatever reason, Fedor is simply not ready:

The hard core fans who know who Fedor is are a minority. Believe me when I tell you that. My (UFC) fans don't know who he is. I'd have to build him up. You can't just say 'Fedor's here,' and open the doors and expect people to come in. It doesn't work that way.

I even had to build up Cro Cop. It's taking a while for us to do that. After we introduce him to our fans, then you can do that kind of a thing.

Okay, so there's probably something to be said for the bloodthirsty fans who come to the events just to see a knockout. But for every one of those, I'd bet that there are two fans who have taken the time to understand the intricacies of the ground game and other minutia of the sport. It is growing rapidly and newer fans will take the time to learn MMA the right way. Whether or not White thinks Fedor can relate to these fans (it obvious he doesn't), he has a duty to the fans to bring Fedor in. When Zuffa purchased PRIDE, White made it clear that his intention was to huddle the world's best under one tent. Until Fedor is under that tent, White hasn't done anything.

Eastman To Enter UFC Middleweight Ranks

Former Light Heavyweight contender and current corrections officer, Marvin "The Beastman" Eastman has announced his plans to drop to Middleweight and fight grappling expect Demian Maia, despite The Beastman's current 0-3 record in the UFC.

Eastman made this announcement on his blog with the following declaration:

The smashing [continues] at 185 until I get a title fight against the belt holder in the middleweight division in the UFC. I will get there and win that belt.

Although Eastman hasn't done much as of late, I wouldn't count him out just yet. The man who holds an early win over Quinton "Rampage" Jackson would be an excellent complement to the UFC's weakest division. Following the UFC 77 bout between Silva and Franklin, there won't be an anyone who will be able to make an obvious and definite claim to a title shot. Eastman has a much better chance here than with the Light Heavyweights, which now contains just about every big name in the business. Add in the fact that Kang and Filho, two of the world's Top 5 Middleweights aren't in the UFC, and it becomes obvious that Marvin has just made the best business decision of his career.

His bout against Maia should be fascinating as well, comparing a buff and savage brawler against a slick former ADCC champ. The bout should be a throwback to older UFC's, which were a true test of skill vs. skill. The winner will not only make his respective martial art proud, but he may also be able to lay claim to the least challenged belt in the UFC.

Wanderlei Addition Makes UFC 79 Card Top Notch

It's been expected for months, but Wanderlei (pictured, credit: PRIDE FC) finally confirmed that he'll be making his UFC debut at UFC 79 on December 29th. Although it's unknown who will face "The Axe Murderer," whoever it is will have his hands full: Wanderlei has been training with Randy Couture. Many are hoping that Liddell will be Wanderlei's first match up, which doesn't bode well for The Iceman. After all, who knows Liddell's style better than the man who has faced him the most amount of times? Additionally, Wanderlei holds two wins over Rampage Jackson who holds two wins over Liddell. The math isn't good.

However, Wanderlei will probably be given a warm up bout a la Shogun-Griffin, Rampage-Eastman. We'll have to wait for the Wanderlei-Liddell fight, which will probably happen after Wanderlei faces the winner of Rampage-Henderson. Dana White has said Liddell needs two wins before a title shot, so he'll beat up on Jardine, fight someone else around the the time of the Wanderlei-Rampage/Hendo bout, and then get the winner of that.

Whether or not we get to see Liddell at UFC 79 is still up in the air, but Wandy will definitely be there. His introduction, along with the Hughes-Serra title fight will make this winter card one of the best of the year. Hughes and Serra seem to have a real grudge against one another (not just this Tito Ortiz hyped drama) and should put on a war for the fans. Personally, I'm hoping to see the title belt returned to a real Champion, but I'll be happy enough if Hughes and Serra produce more than three rounds of action. A truly great card features a mixture of striking and ground work across a variety of weight classes. UFC 79, with the help of Wanderlei Silva, is shaping up to be just that.

The Ultimate Fighter Season 7

Dana White recently announced the contenders for TUF 7, and two things of note stood out immediately. One, the season will focus on Light Heavyweights, not the Middleweight division which is in such dire straits. However, this is another discussion for another article. The more important aspect of the new season to discuss is the fact that the roster features generally new fighters. Most of them have only been in 4 or 5 sanctioned MMA bouts compared to the well-traveled contestants of season's past.

This is a huge mistake on White's part as he will be taking away two elements that make the series what it is. First, since past contestants such as Michael Bisping (pictured) have held title belts in other organizations (like Cage Rage), they know their way around the Octagon, are able to put on professional and entertaining matches, and have some credentials to back up all the talking. Even so, you occasionally get a fighter like Danny Abbadi who, at least during the season, looked like he had never fought in an MMA bout in his life. Now, imagine if the entire season was composed of fighter's with similar skill levels. It would be a disaster, reminiscent of a Kimbo Slice YouTube video. The fact of the matter is that fighters who know what they are doing is really what the show was created for. It was meant to give quality fighters who may have otherwise been overlooked another shot at rising to the top. See: Bisping, Evans, Sanchez. It was not meant for a bunch of brand-new fighters (some of which hold 1-0 records...no joke) to figure out if they are any good.

The second reason fighters should be a little more experienced is that it allows for more story lines to be created. I defy any other expert in the field to find me a story line for fantastically tangled than Joe Lauzon, fighting on Penn's team (who lost to Pulver), AGAINST Pulver (who Lauzon knocked out as an 11-1 underdog a year earlier). The fighter was able to do something that his coach wasn't WHILE holding a KO over the opposing coach. I'm a creative guy, but I couldn't write that if I tried. If you take away the element of history, you delete the story line that kept me watching all season long.

The UFC should receive suffered ratings as a result of this move and rebound with a season for experienced Middleweights. As long as we don't have to see Chris Leben, it'll be better than this.

Henderson Sheds Light On Sokoudjou's Destination

In an article on July 27th, Irish Whip Fighting announced that Toast Of The Town Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou pulled out of his deal with EliteXC. This created mounds of speculation as to where the man who knocked out Ricardo Arona and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira would land. Although he trains with mostly UFC-composed Team Quest in Portland, Oregon, rumors were swirling that Sokoudjou would head to K-1 and use his well-rounded skills in the world of kickboxing. That is, until today.

In a new interview with PRIDE FC Champion Dan Henderson, Hendo revealed not only that he manages Sokoudjou, but that Sokoudjou has indeed made up his mind as to where he is going to go. In the interview, Henderson mentioned that although his relationship with the UFC was new, it was going well and he expects to end his career in the UFC.

Now, let's piece this together. The man who is managing Sokoudjou is in the UFC, is happy with the UFC, and may be a champion of the UFC come August 24th. Of course, nothing is set in stone and I doubt Henderson would want to have the possibility of facing the younger and more athletic Sokoudjou...but I'd keep my ears open for an announcement during UFC 74.