UFC 87 Preview

There's no tip-toeing around the fact that UFC 87 is one of the most star-studded cards the MMA world has been treated to all year. The main card, specifically, provides both compelling match ups and a variety of weight class battles. For example, the five televised fights will represent all but one weight class (205 lbs.). Throw in a title fight, an ex-WWE wrestlers, and two of the world's top lightweight talents, and you have all the makings for an absolutely blockbuster night.

It will all start with a bout between Demian Maia and Jason MacDonald. The Brazilian and the Canadian are both submission wizards, having each won submission of the night honors on two separate occasions. On this night, however, only one will be able to win the award. Obviously, you can expect this fight to fly to the ground, where each man thinks he is the better fighter. It should be Maia, the former ADCC champion who ends up taking charge. The Base Pick: Maia, submission in round 2.

The next fight on the card, Manny Gamburyan and Rob Emerson, should be just the opposite. Gamburyan, the formerly injured TUFer and judo star (Parisyan's little cousin), can hang on the ground, but he likes to pound it out with the best of them. Emerson recently won a split decision against Nakamura, but was obviously the better fighter, at least in this blogger's humble opinion. This should stay on the feet with little action until a judo throw ends Emerson's night early. The Base Pick: Gamburyan, TKO in round 1.

What to do with Lesnar vs. Herring? The sexy pick is Lesnar, who should be much improved and much matured since his loss to Frank Mir. The smart pick, however, is Herring, who has had over 40 professional fights. To Lesnar's credit, he's agreed not to take easy fights. It's a credible ethic, but one which will ultimately see him being defeated again. The Base Pick: Herring, unanimous decision.

In one of the most anticipated lightweight bouts of the year (second to Penn/Sherk), Kenny Florian and Roger Huerta do battle in a match of the most evenly paired opponents in recent history. The odds about even on this one, and each man has about as many ways to win as the other. If it goes to a decision, it'll be Huerta. Florian's only chance is to apply a submission sometime during the three rounds. By the way, these will be the quickest and most exciting three rounds we've seen all year. The Base Pick: Huerta, unanimous decision.

The night could have ended with Florian/Huerta and fans would have been satisfied. But to our collective enjoyment, we get a welterweight title fight as well. Jon Fitch will be the toughest test Georges St. Pierre has had since the first time he faced Matt Hughes. Fitch is competent on the ground, on the feet, or wherever the fight may take him. However, GSP is probably just a little bit better in all those categories. Fitch will need to pull a Serra if he wants this one. Sorry, Jon. The Base Pick: St. Pierre, TKO in round 1.

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.

Finding the Right MMA Training Schools

One never just starts competing in MMA out of the blue. Typically, a fighter will train several years before he ever steps into the MMA ring.

The most important aspect of starting out in MMA is locating the right place to train. First, conduct a web search and or look in the yellow pages for MMA schools in the area. If you can't find that, search for quality Brazilian jiu-jitsu schools or Muay Thai schools. You can learn some very good fighting skills to start out with. Even a season of wrestling can get you in shape and provide some critical combat experience.

If you are very serious about training in MMA, you may have to join a few different schools like myself to get the complete range of skills you need to compete. I currently train at one school for BJJ, another for Muay Thai, and another for boxing. It is up to me and my trainers to put the skills all together for MMA. At these different schools you will meet other people with various backgrounds in striking and wrestling. Seek out their advice and utilize them as training partners.

When you find a place, make sure the instructor is reputable and knowledgeable about MMA. Ask for their credentials and review their background. Also, speak and train with their students.

Right now, the MMA, BJJ or Muay Thai community is small enough so that an instructor's lineage can always be verified. If after conducting your research, you are still unsure about your potential instructor's credentials, ask for their instructor's information.

Get on the Internet and ask questions in forums found on MMA.tv. sherdog.com or www.jiujitsugear.com/forum/index.php. They can be very helpful in finding the right school or providing you other relevant information.

You want to join a MMA school that teaches you how to effectively fight from all ranges of combat. That means you will need to know how to proficiently strike, wrestle and grapple on the ground. Also, you must learn the rules of the event you are competing in.

Since getting beat is all part of the training process, a fertile learning environment where people are willing to help improve your overall skills and answer your questions is strongly recommended.

Championship belts or trophies are not a reliable indicator of whether the school is good or not. Great champions and great teachers can be two different things. It has been in my experience that schools with "tough guy" attitudes or the traditional martial arts schools who do not train for real MMA fights, are places where relevant skills are lacking. Those with big egos or people who teach old school and impractical self-defense techniques are often kidding themselves into thinking they know how to fight.

You want to be around fighters who have been in the ring and know what it is like to compete against another skilled MMA fighter. Don't be fooled by wild claims of death touches and ranks. Today's MMA champions are not concerned with black belts or ranking in martial arts systems. They are focused on earning championship belts and sport rankings.

Safety and training smart is a prime consideration when practicing techniques or sparring. Your training sessions, especially your sparring sessions should always be monitored - so nobody gets out of control or gets out of hand. Knowing how to train is just as important as learning the techniques.

Drilling is an important component of training sessions. Practicing the basics and fundamentals can be boring, but this makes the difference between good fighters and great ones. The great ones execute all the little thing perfect where the good ones just become a jack of all trades and masters of nothing. It is imperative that you carry out proper technique without having to do it at full speed or muscle your way through the technique for it to work. Nobody should get injured during drilling techniques. Listen to your instructor and know when it is time to tap out. Learn how to fall properly to avoid injuries.

Being a tough guy when it comes to resisting a move will only get you to the hospital or will take you out of training. It is also important that you let your opponent do the move on you with resistance, so both you and your partner benefit. Later, you will have your time to spar with full resistance. It is ok to tap when sparring and you should certainly tap when drilling submissions. Watch the more advanced students to see how they train and ask them for advice.

When sparring, you and your partner should be under control. You should be aware of your breathe, conscious of your surroundings and not be moving wildly or carelessly. Grunting, flailing arms or legs or employing "cheap" moves like twisting fingers or other small joints, pinching, biting, striking the groin, hard strikes, holding on to submissions or putting on submissions carelessly have no place in training sessions. As a result, you will most likely get kicked out of the school or can make you a target for retaliation.

Your training goal is to always be technical and under control when sparring. This will make you a better fighter and more aware competitor when it comes to the real thing. If you have a problem with a fellow student, be sure to talk to them about it. If that does not work, ask the advice of one of the senior students or instructors.

Author: Kenny Florian

Republished with permission from Kenny Florian. Please visit Kenny Florian's web site at http://www.kennyflorian.com