Mid Year MMA Awards

Best Knockout

Honorable Mention: Luis Arthur Cane KO Jason Lambert, Shane Carwin KO Christian Wellish, Murilio Rua TKO Tony Bonello, Matt Wiman KO Thiago Tavares

5. Anthony Johnson KO Tommy Speer

4. Wilson Gouveia KO Jason Lambert

3. Brian Stann KO Doug Marshall

2. James Irvin KO Houston Alexander

1. Wanderlei Silva KO Keith Jardine

Best Submission

Honorable Mention: Antonio Nogueira submits Tim Sylvia by Guillotine, Yoshiyuki Yoshida submits Jon Koppenhaver by Anaconda choke, Nate Diaz submits Kurt Pellegrino, Cole Miller Submits Jorge Gurgel by Triangle Choke

5. Demian Mia Submits Ed Herman by Triangle Choke

4. Frank Mir Submits Brock Lesnar by Kneebar

3. Rousimar Palhares Submits Ivan Salaverry by Armbar

2. Dustin Hazelett Submits Josh Burkman by Armbar

1. Shinya Aoki Submits Katsuhiko Nagata by Aokiplata

Best Fight

Honorable Mention: Shinya Aoki vs. Gesias Calvancante, Cung Le vs. Frank Shamrock

5. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Tim Sylvia

4. Urijah Faber vs. Jens Pulver

3. Robbie Lawler vs. Scott Smith

2. Quinton Jackson vs. Forrest Griffin

1. Miguel Torres vs. Yoshiro Maeda

Best Fight Card

5. WEC 34: Faber vs. Pulver

4. UFC 80: Rapid Fire

3. UFC 81: Breaking Point

2. DREAM 4

1. UFC 84: Ill Will

Upset of The Year:

Honorable Mention: Jason Day over Alan Belcher,

5. Thiago Alves over Karo Parisyan

4. Kevin Burns over Roan Carneiro

3. Fabricio Werdum over Gabriel Gonzaga

2. Josh Thomson over Gilbert Melendez

1. Forrest Griffin over Quinton Jackson

Fighter Of The Year:

Honorable Mention: Anderson Silva, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Michael Bisping, Georges St. Pierre, Diego Sanchez

5. Miguel Torres

4. Forrest Griffin

3. Thiago Alves

2. Shinya Aoki

1. B.J. Penn (2 Impressive wins over Sean Sherk and Joe Stevenson)

Best UFC Newcomer:

Honorable Mention: Shane Carwin, Brock Lesnar

5. Rousimar Palhares

4. Dong Hyun Kim

3. Yoshiyuki Yoshida

2. Goran Reljic

1. Cain Velasquez

Worst Calls By A Ref. or Judges

5. Forrest Griffin over Quinton Jackson –  Not just that Forrest got the win, but that it was unanimous.  Many, including me scored the fight either a draw or to Jackson

4. Brandon Vera vs. Fabricio Werdum- Dan Miragliotta stopped the fight in round 1 when Werdum was mounted on Vera throwing down punches.  There was just 10 seconds remaining and Vera seemed to be defending himself well. 

3. Nate Marquardt vs. Thales Leites — Leites got the win, but lost the fight.  He lost the fight due to two points taken away from Marquardt.  One point was justified, but the other was due to elbow to the back of the ehad that wasn’t to the back of the head.  I will confess, that another point could have fairly been deducted for an illegal slam, but I hated to see Marquardt get a loss on his record that I feel he won

2. Phantom split decisions — How was Evan Tanner vs. Kendall Grove a split deicsion?  How was Heath Herring vs Cheick Kongo a split decision?  The right person got the decision, but how was it split?

1. Kimbo Slice vs. James Thompson – Dan Miragliotta stopped the fight in the 3rd round while Thompson was still standing and failed to stop it when Thompson was mounted on Kimbo raining down elbows

UFC News: Thiago Alves Fails to Make Weight

UFC 85 has had more problems than we could even remember.  This is one of the strangest events and most difficult to work out.  The main event for Matt Hughes vs. Thigo Alves could be a good fight, but not without one obstacle first.  At today’s weigh ins Thiago Alves failed to make weight.  In fact he didn’t even come close.  He weighed in at 174 Lbs.  They are allowed to be over by one pound which means Alves could have weighed 171 and been fine.  It looks like the fighters have agreed to a catchweight bout and Alves will have to pay Hughes some of his purse.   Not to mention, even if Alves wins this fight it will not help him too much.  He wanted to climb the ladder towards the title.  To me this shows disrespect.  Alves was given a main event fight with a top notch fighter in the welterweight divison and he missed weight by 4 pounds, which is a lot.  He won’t have to cut any weight it doesn’t look like so he won’t be drained from cutting weight, but he will lose some money and some respect.  It may be an indicator of how serious he is taking Matt Hughes, which doesn’t bode well for him tomorrow.  Here is what Dana White had to say:

“I’m wondering if this kid [Thiago Alves] should be at 170 or not. If this were a title fight, I’d be really pissed. What are you going to do? Matt Hughes agreed to fight him at 175, so it’s not all bad. … I can’t wait to get this card behind me, to be honest with you. Eight guys dropped out. The main event guy can’t make weight. It’s crazy.”

Here are the official weight in results…

170 lbs.: Matt Hughes (170) vs. Thiago Alves (174)
185 lbs.: Michael Bisping (184) vs. Jason Day (184)
185 lbs.: Nate Marquardt (185) vs. Thales Leites (185)
170 lbs.: Mike Swick (170) vs. Marcus Davis (170)
265 lbs.: Brandon Vera (22 8) vs. Fabricio Werdum (247)
185 lbs.: Martin Kampmann (186) vs. Jorge Rivera (185)
155 lbs.: Thiago Tavares (154.5) vs. Matt Wiman (155)
170 lbs.: Roan Carneiro (171) vs. Kevin Burns (170)
205 lbs.: Jason Lambert (205) vs. Luis Arthur Cane (204)
170 lbs.: Jess Liaudin (169) vs. Paul Taylor (169)
265 lbs.: Eddie Sanchez (244) vs. Antoni Hardonk (247)

Matt Hughes Interview

Great Matt Hughes Interview where he talks about the Thiago Alves fight, Georges St. Pierre and Matt Serra.

Vodpod videos no longer available.

more about “Rated Exclusive: Matt Hughes Intervie…“, posted with vodpod

 

My UFC 85: Bedlam Predictions

Matt Hughes vs. Thaigo “The Pitbull” Alves

This may at first look like a less than spectacular main event, however, I think this could be a good fight.  The story behind this fight is that Matt Hughes is the most dominant welterweight ever, but many say he is on his way down.  Meanwhile, Thiago Alves is on his way up.  Alves is coming off of a knockout win over Karo “The Heat” Parisyan.  Most people consider Alves a top ten welterweight in the world, however he was out classed and out of his league against Jon Fitch.  There is no doubt that Thiago has excellent striking ability.  However, I expect Matt Hughes to take Alves down and ground and pound him.  I don’t expect Alves to be able to get up agaisnt the bigger Hughes.  The worry for me about picking Hughes is first of all he has been busy lately with book signing and opening a new gym.  That could distract him.  Secondly, he is 34 and Alves is 24.  Third, he wants Matt serra and could be looking straight past Alves to Serra.  A win here would make Matt Hughes clearly back in line for contention of the belt and if he beats Alves and Serra, he will get another title shot even if it is against Georges St. Pierre.  I believe Hughes’ experience will be a help and not a hindrance in this fight. Therefore, I pick Matt Hughes by unanimous decision following three round of slamming Alves and laying on him and elbowing him. 

Brandon “The Truth” Vera vs. Fabricio Werdum

This is a hard pick to make.  Brandon Vera was a rapidly rising star before all the disputes with his manager.  He was great in the octagon as well, however, he sropepd his last fight against Tim Sylvia.  Fabricio Werdum has tons of talent too.  He has beaten some good opponents.  He has beaten Gonzaga twice, Aleksander Emleianenko and Alistair Overeem.  Vera is a great Muay Thai fighter while Werdum is a great jiu jitsu guy.  This fight could go either way.  Werdum showed some great striking against Gonzaga.  The bottom line is that the winner of this fight will most likely get the winner of the Mir vs. Nogueira fight late in the year.  For the sake of making a pick, I will pick Brandon Vera to win by TKO in round 2. 

Michael “The Count” Bisping vs. Jason “Dooms” Day

Bisping looked great at 185 in his last fight.  He could content at 185.  This fight will tell a lot about him as a middleweight.  He destroyed Charles McCarthy.  I believe Jason Day is a step up from McCarthy in talent.  Jason Day is a little bit of a late replacement of the incarcerated Chris Leben.  jason Day destroyed a serious contender in Alan Belcher and prior to that beat David Loiseau.  That shows what Day is capable of doing in the octagon.  I think this will be an exciting fight, and honestly Jason Day could take this fight, but I am going to pick Michael Bisping. He will have the home crowd, he will be ready to go.  A win here means Bisping may next get a guy like Leben, Cote or Almeida next.  I pick Michael Bisping by TKO in round 2.

Mike “Quick” Swick vs. Marcus Davis

When Mike Swick dropped to welterweight I thought he could be a serious contender.  I still think he can be, in fact I have him as my 10th ranked UFC welterweight.  However, he didn’t look good at all against Jos Burkman, in fact he very well lost that fight. Marcus Davis on the other hand has looked dominant.  Mike swick will be a real test for the “Irish Hand Grenade” who is coming off of 11 straight wins.  Whoever wins this fight will be in the title mix.  All I have to judge by is Swick’s one performance at welterweight, so I will pick Marcus Davis to win this one in exciting fashion in round 1.

Nate Marquardt vs. Thales Leites

What a ground game this fight could display.  Thales Leites is really good, but Nate Marquardt is underrated.  He realyl did well against Anderson Silva initially.  Marquardt is a contender in this divison.  I think that Marquardt will win this fight by submission in round 3. 

Martin Kampmann vs. Jorge Rivera

Martin Kampmann showed a lot of promise before his injury.  Rivera has been an on and off again fighter who you never know how he will perform.  We will see how Martin does in his return.  Will he have ring rust or will he be hungry for a win?  I think that training with Xtreme Couture is a huge advantage to him and that Kampmann will prove to be too much for Rivera.  I believe Kampmann will win by first round submission.  (Watch for this fight to creep onto the pay per view showing).

Jason Lambert vs. Luis Arthur Cane

Lambert is coming off that disappointing KO from Wilson Gouveia.  Can is coming off of that DQ in UFC 79.  Both guys are quality fighters, but there isn’t much room for failure in the light heavyweight divison.  The loser could essentially be removed from any possibility of contention.  The winner will take a step up.  I believe that Luis Arthur Cane will prove to be the better striker in this one and will KO Lambert in round 2.

Matt “Handsome” Wiman vs. Thiago Tavares

Matt Wiman has done great since coming off of The Ultimate Fighter.  Wiman very well could be one of the underrated lightweights.  Tavares is a good fighter as well and he is favored to win this fight.  Coincidently, both fighters have recently fought Michihiro Omigawa and both won by unanimous decision.  The cool pick will be Tavares, therefore I will pick Matt Wiman to win this fight by unanimous decision.  Whoever wins here moves into the top 20 of a stacked divison.

Eddie Sanchez vs. Antoni Hardonk

Eddie Sanchez is a late replacement for the injured Neil Wain.  I don’t know how that will affect Sanchez. Hardonk has struggled in the UFC, going 2-2 and losing to Frank Mir and Justin McCully.  Sanchez is 3-1 in the UFC.  I expect Sanchez to move to 4-1 in the UFC.  I don’t expect this fight to last long, maybe into round 2.  Therefore I pick Sanchez to win by TKO in round 2.

Roan Carneiro vs. Kevin Burns

Carneiro is beatable, but I don’t know anything about Kevin Burns.  I have to pick Carneiro by unanimous decision.

Jess Liaudin vs. Paul Taylor

Taylor has already beaten Liaudin once in his career,  Taylor is exciting and if he comes out swinging I expect him to win.  I think Taylor win will by first round KO.

 Upset Watch: Fabricio Werdum over Brandon Vera and Jason Day over Michael Bisping

 

Michael Bisping Speak About Jason Day Fight

Good interview with Michael Bisping about his upcoming fight with Jason “Dooms” Day.

Vodpod videos no longer available.

more about “Michael Bisping Speak About Jason Day…“, posted with vodpod

 

Two More Changes to UFC 85 Card

UFC 85 is a mess. First, it seems that Ryo Chonan will be replaced by Kevin Burns in his fight with Roan Carneiro

UFC newcomer Kevin “The Fire” Burns (4-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) will likely replace Ryo Chonan (14-8 MMA, 0-1 UFC) at UFC 85, where he’ll meet Roan Carneiro (12-6 MMA, 2-1 UFC) on the night’s preliminary card.
Sources close to Burns today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that the Iowa-based fighter has agreed to be a late replacement at next weekend’s pay-per-view event. The reason for Chonan’s likely departure from the card isn’t immediately known. However, if the fighter swap does take place, it would be the latest of numerous changes that have plagued the fight card since it was first announced. Chuck Liddell, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, Chris Leben and James Irvin have all been scratched in recent weeks, and the televised main card has been in a constant state of flux.
Burns, who boasts solid Brazilian jiu jitsu skills, has posted stoppages in all five of his career victories — three by way of submission. Recently, he’s competed for the Victory Fighting Championships and Glory Fighting Championships organizations. In fact, earlier this month, he knocked out Bobby Voelker for the VFC interim welterweight title.
Although he’s a relative newcomer on the professional scene, Burns fought a number of times as an amateur. He is reported to have delivered UFC veteran Josh Neer the only loss of his amateur career.

I am slighlty saddened by this one as I thought it would make a good fight.  I have no idea what is wrong with Chonan.

Secondly, UFC newcomcer Neil wain will be replaced by UFC vet Eddie Sanchez in his heavyweight bout with Antoni Hardonk.  Honestly, I think this makes for a more interesting fight on paper.

Eddie Sanchez (8-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) will step in to replace Neil Wain (4-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) in a UFC 85 preliminary bout with Antoni Hardonk (6-4 MMA, 2-2 UFC).
The organization updated the event’s fight card earlier today.
No reason was giving for the departure of Wain, an undefeated English fighter who recently signed a four-fight deal with the UFC.

UFC News: More UFC 85 Drama

Yesterday evening it was reported that James Irvin was forced to pull from his bout with Rashad Evans due to a broken foot.  UFC.com says…

After more twists and turns than a Hollywood thriller, June 7th’s UFC 85: Bedlam show has finally been set with 11 fights. Included is a move of the intriguing middleweight clash between Nate Marquardt and Thales Leites to the pay-per-view portion of the card, and a scrapping of the Rashad Evans vs James Irvin bout due to a broken foot suffered by Irvin. Evans, who was originally scheduled to take on Chuck Liddell on the card before ‘The Iceman’ tore a hamstring in his right leg, will not be fighting on June 7th

I guess the UFC initially tried to bring in Luis Cane to fight Rashad Evans, but for some reason that fight isn’t happening.  It wouldn’t make sense either.  He is scheduled to fight Jason Lambert already on the undercard.  Cane is 0-1 in the UFC and it wouldn’t make any sense for Evans to fight Cane.  Evans will be fighting more proven fighters.  So, Rashad Evans will be on a card soon.  I look for the UFC to reward him for his patience with a good fight.  It looks as if the cursed bout is finally scrapped.  Have you ever seen a fight with more fighters scheduled to fight? They have had Liddell, Shogun, Evans, Irvin and Cane all talked about in this bout.  Some may say that hurts UFC 85, but I think it helps.  I’d rather see Mardquardt vs. Leites on the pay-per view card anyways. 

Upcoming UFC Fights

I love to play the guessing game with what fights will be booked.  This summer has some good fights planned.  UFC 85 was pulled out of near failure by Matt Hughes and Thiago Alves.  UFC 86 will feature Jackson vs. Griffin for the title.  UFC 87 will have Lesnar vs. Coleman.  It was just announced that UFC 88 will take place September 6.  I thought that Lesnar vs. Coleman was going to be the main event of UFC 87, but UFC.com says otherwise.  There is apparently another bout to be announced.  That means between UFC 87 and UFC 88 there are two main event fights to be announced.  Here are the possibilities…

• Georges St. Pierre vs. Jon Fitch – This fight is going to happen for sure it is just a question of when.  My bet is that this will be on one of the cards main event or co-main event.  I see this at UFC 88 the main event.
• Anderson Silva vs. Yushin Okami –  This fight is also likely to happen.  I would predict this one to be a UFC 87 bout  because it doesn’t stand alone as a main event well because Yushin Okami is not that marketable, but you add it as a co-main event with Lesnar vs. Coleman and it has more draw.
• Rich Franklin vs. Dan Henderson  –  This could be a UFC 88 bout, but not as the main event.  I look for this fight to happen.  It just makes sense. 
• Matt Hughes vs. Matt Serra – My guess is that this will be on the October card, along with the return of Chuck Liddell.  Matt Hughes says that win or lose he is fighting Serra next. 
• Chuck Liddell vs. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua – This fight seems like it could happen we just don’t know when these guys will recover.  Shogun mentioned maybe fighting in September, but I think that is a bit early.  I’d lean towards October or November for this fight.  The winner would be in title talk along with the winner of Jardine/Silva. 

Don’t be shocked if after UFC 84 of 85 one of the guys on that card will fight there.  There are some great fighters on the next two cards who could be featured on a main card by August or September.  I imagine outcomes of these fights may play a role. 

The Mess That Is UFC 85 (Updated)

UFC 85 is apty named Bedlam.  There has been a carousel of fighters on the card.  To start with it was a blockbuster fight between Shogun and Liddell.  Then Shogun gets hurt and pulls out of the fight.  They then tap Rashad Evans to replace him and fight Liddell in the main event.  The Chuck gets hurt and pulls out of the fight creating a big problem.  The problem is what will be the main event of UFC 85.  After a few rumors, the UFC was on the ball and signed Matt Hughes to fight Thiago Alves and got James Irvin to replace Liddell against Rashad Evans.  Not only that but they added some fights, most notably a main card fight of Michael Bisping vs. Chris Leben.  The hoemtown crowd will love to see the new and exciting middleweight Bisping.  However, it was not meant to be.  Chris Leben has some legal issues and turns himself in.  He then is sentenced to 35 days in jail, backing him right up to near the fight.  That fight is now off.  I don’t know if they will tap a replacement.  They can’t give Bisping some joke fighter.  He needs a top 20 guy.  It won’t be Anderson and I doubt it will be Okami.  Franklin and Henderson are out of the question.  Marquardt, Cote and Kampmann all are booked for fights.  My prediction is they will attempt to get Nate Quarry first followed by Jason MacDonald, Demian Maia or Jason Day.  Let’s hope that fight is not off.  We will just wait and see, UFC 85 is full of blunders.  We will see who the next to pull out will be.

UPDATE: It looks like it is official Jason “Dooms” Day has been asked to step up and fight Michael Bispin in place of Chris Leben.  If you look above Day was one of the four names I predicted could fill in for Leben.  How many people can predict like that?  I am glad Joe Silva and Dana White take my posts into consideration.