The MMA Daily

Welterweight Rankings Update: Douglas Lima elevating his stock

January 6, 2014

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Douglas Lima might be the best welterweight not in the UFC minus Ben Askren. And don’t expect “The Phenom” to grace the octagon anytime soon considering he firmly established his commitment to Bellator, signing a new 8-Fight deal with the promotion.

At only 26 year old, Lima carries a record of 25-5, with a finishing rate at 88%. Since joining Bellator, Lima has amassed a 7-1 record and is a two-time welterweight tournament winner. The only blemish on his Bellator record came against Ben Askren, in which he challenged for the Bellator welterweight championship. However, he was defeated by decision. Since, Lima has tallied four knockout victories and is back in a position to challenge for the belt. This time though, it’s not against Ben Askren who vacated the title and left the promotion, but against a fellow welterweight tournament winner in Rick Hawn. A former American Olympic Judoka, Hawn has transitioned into mixed martial arts with success. Since making his mixed martial arts debut in 2009, Hawn has amassed an 18-2 record with 11 knockouts. And, a recent weight class change from lightweight to welterweight has Hawn knocking at the door of Bellator gold. Unfortunately there is no set date on this potential barnburner, but it’s bound to take place sometime in 2014.

The Phenom (Ranked 20th in my Welterweight Rankings) has all the tools to become a star and at the tender of 26 years old, one might wonder if he is either in his prime or if it’s yet to come. And, if it’s yet to come, than we are in store for one scary fighter. Mark my words “Lima will be a contender to be the fighter of the year for 2014”. And, it might finally be the year Lima breaks into stardom. So, strap in and get ready for 2014, The Phenom might just make some noise!
Middleweight Rankings Update: Chris Weidman Building a Legacy

January 4, 2014

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In Mixed Martial Arts, perhaps no one has had a year quite like Chris Weidman. A year in which history was made and cemented, as the pound for pound kingpin Anderson Silva fell twice to defeat against Chris Weidman. And although fans will continue doubt Chris Weidman, citing his two victories as “flukes”, how many rounds or how about minutes did Anderson Silva win in their two fights? None, might be the answer… And, that’s not to discredit Anderson Silva, but to give Weidman his due. He is the middleweight champion, and he’s done what no one else could do in the UFC, not once but twice in the same year. Also, despite Anderson Silva’s last two defeats, I still consider him the greatest of all time, with George St. Pierre and Fedor Emelianenko close behind.

Now, with Anderson Silva behind him, Weidman will defend his belt against Vitor Belfort. Belfort, ranked #3 in my rankings, will look to continue a scary 2013 campaign that included knockout wins over ranked opponents such as Michael Bisping, Luke Rockhold and Dan Henderson. With UFC gold within grasp once again, it will be interesting to see what Belfort does with this opportunity.

As for Chris Weidman, a win over Vitor Belfort would help solidify his claim as one of the pound for pound best. Not only that, but it would be another name to the resume, one in which is starting to look a lot like the start to a legacy.
Light Heavyweight Rankings Update: Emanuel Newton inching in on stardom

October 13, 2013

Emanuel Newton may not be known by the casual mma fan or if he is, he probably is referred to the guy that hit Muhammed Lawal with a lucky punch. But, if you’ve followed Newton’s career, even before his biggest win to date, you’d know at some point, he would be ready for high profile fights. It’s interesting sometimes to look into hypothetical’s, but Newton could of very well been the Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion had he not lost a split decision to current Champion Atilla Vegh. Further diving into the hypothetical, had Newton beaten Vegh, the opportunity to be in the next Bellator Light Heavyweight tournament and face Muhammed Lawal would of never happened. But Anyways, Newton will rematch against Muhammed Lawal in Bellator’s innagural Pay Per View card, headlined by Tito Ortiz and “Rampage” Jackson. Lawal earned a shot at the title by winning Bellator’s 4-man Light Heavyweight tournament, but since Bellator deemed Champion Atilla Vegh injured (which already prevented Newton from his rematch with Vegh), the logical next step was a rematch against Newton, with an Interim Championship Belt on the line.

This could be the fight to stamp Emanuel Newton’s name on the map and silence the critics about the first fight, despite winning convincingly. And although in my ranking (Here & below) I have Muhammed Lawal ranked 17th, still above Newton (20th) despite losing, it’s because of Lawal’s previous track record (Gegard Mousasi). If Newton can beat Muhammed Lawal again, he will certainly be due for a big boost in the rankings, and would be on his way to being star within Bellator.
Heavyweight Rankings Update: The Rise of Travis Browne

October 11, 2013

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Travis Browne’s stock in the heavyweight division may of risen the most this year with two first-round knockouts over the likes of Gabriel Gonzaga and Alistair Overeem. Hovering around the Top Ten for awhile now, these two signature wins, perhaps the Overeem victory the biggest, has put Browne in a position he’s never been in before.

In my Rankings (Here & Below), Browne is the 6th ranked Heavyweight in the division. What’s next for him? A big fight against Josh Barnett who is ranked 7th in my Heavyweight rankings. Barnett recently made a successful return to the UFC with a controversial stoppage victory over Frank Mir. Even though it’s being dubbed controversial because Mir claimed he dropped to go for a takedown, the end appeared inevitable to say the least. Of course though, it’s MMA, and Mir has pulled off the incredible before, submitting Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira while in “Zombie Mode”.

Anyways, Browne and Barnett will do battle at UFC 168 with perhaps big implications, a title shot. Not forgetting about Fabricio Werdum though, who arguably should be next in line, but we’ve seen in the past, something spectacular could alter plans. And Browne, a 4 time “Of the Night” bonus winner, knows how to do something spectacular, just ask Alistair Overeem how his foot smelt.

Fighter Images via ESPN
Fight Night 26: Shogun vs. Sonnen Odds

August 15, 2013

The latest odds on one of best UFC cards on paper this year! Chael Sonnen opened as the underdog, which didn’t last long, and Sonnen soon became the favorite. The line is getting tighter, and I expect this one to be even at the time of the fights. Most of the lines on the card are relatively close, with a bunch of live dogs. The biggest favorite is Uriah Hall who is nearly a 4/1 favorite over replacement & returning veteran of the UFC, John “Doomsday” Howard. The fight closest to even is Cole Miller against Manvel Gamburyan which really is a toss up. Exciting fights come Saturday, and overall a big day for the UFC, as they feature the beginning of a new Sports channel!
Matches to Make after UFC on Fox 8 & UFC 163

August 6, 2013

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Jose Aldo vs Ricardo Lamas

Jose Aldo defended his title for the 5th consecutive time in the UFC, and recorded his 16th consecutive victory. It was an odd fight against Chan Sung Jung in which, both fighters were tentative, and Aldo initiated several takedowns. It can be also noted that in the first round, Aldo had broken his foot, limiting his trademarked leg kicks which weren’t existent throughout the fight. And, if things didn’t get any weirder, Jung’s shoulder dislocated as he threw a punch, and while he tried to pop it back in, Aldo swarmed on him and finished Jung by TKO. The logical next fight for Aldo when he recovers from his foot injury is against Ricardo Lamas, who was skipped twice before. The UFC needs to do the right thing, and give Lamas the fight he deserves…third times a charm!

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Demetrious Johnson vs. Benavidez/Da Silva winner

Demetrious Johnson put in a truly dominant and excellent performance as he headlined the UFC on Fox 8 card. Moraga had no answer for Johnson’s takedowns, and it was on the ground where Johnson very aggressively looked for submissions. Credit to Moraga, who hung in there, survived multiple submission attempts, but in the end succumbed to an arm bar in the 5th round. Now, Johnson has defended his belt twice, and in a shallow division, rematches are a certainty. This bring me to the possibility of a rematch, in Benavidez. Since losing the inaugural Flyweight Championship to Demetrious Johnson by split decision, Benavidez has reeled off two victories, and now faces a Top 5 flyweight in Jussier Da Silva. If “Formiga” can defeat Benavidez, he would instantly become a contender, and the fact that he is a new face, also increases his chances to fight for the belt. Either way, this fight has big implications on the line.

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Rory MacDonald vs. Condit/Kampmann winner

Although MacDonald came out as the winner at UFC on Fox 8, he also received some of the most criticism from Dana White and the fans. MacDonald was technical as he kept his distance, and jabbed his way to a unanimous decision over Jake Ellenberger who seemed stifled by MacDonald’s approach. It was a victory no less, over a big name and someone in the top 5. MacDonald might not of cashed in a title shot with his performance, but is certainly within the grasps of one. The winner of the Condit/Kampmann would be an ideal matchup. A fight against Carlos Condit would probably interest MacDonald considering he’s been vocal in the past about the rematch, and when it was rescheduled, he had to pull out of the fight. Kampmann would be equally as challenging, although coming off a devastating knockout to title challenger Johny Hendricks, a win over Condit would mark his fourth significant win in less than 2 years; which include Jake Ellenberger (TKO), Thiago Alves (Sub), and Rick Story (Dec). Either way, it’s a definite fight to decide the next title challenger.

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Phil Davis vs. Daniel Cormier

Initially I thought Davis & Machida should rematch each other after that controversial decision, but the fight itself wasn’t really entertaining enough to warrant such a thing. With the UFC lining up Glover Teixeira as the next challenger to the belt, pending he can defeat Bader, Davis would logically need to fight again. I also believe, while he is knocking at the door for a title shot, another fight would be ideal to help put the controversial decision to bed. I can’t imagine, especially when the boss thinks you lost all three rounds, you are next in line. It would also be tough to market Davis, so another fight, specifically a number one contenders fight, makes sense. Pending Daniel Cormier can defeat Roy Nelson at UFC 166 in October, he has stated he will drop down to light heavyweight. Cormier believes though, that he should fight for the belt, but I can see him not getting that shot. Even though he has been vocal about Jon Jones, turning beef into a rivalry, I’m not sure his Sonnen-esque tactics will work. This fight would make the most sense though, pending Cormier can win, and would stylistically make for a fun fight.

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Robbie Lawler vs. Brown/Pyle winner

One of the bigger winners on the card was Robbie Lawler, who added his second knockout victory since returning to the UFC. Voelker, a late replacement, had nothing for Lawler’s overpowering striking abilities. Lawler finished the job in the second round via a headkick, and instantly put his name in the hat of contenders of welterweights. Dana White has mentioned a MacDonald against Lawler fight as an interesting possibility, but stylistically I’m not feeling it. A stylistically better fight, and one that would make sense, is against the winner of Matt Brown against Mike Pyle. If Brown wins, it will be his sixth consecutive victory, and he could be very close to a title shot. Brown will probably be vocal for that title shot, but I doubt he will get it, which leads me to the possibility of fighting another contender in Robbie Lawler (who’s stock is very high). Another possibility would be against Mike Pyle should he win, would mark his 5th consecutive victory, and would be a winner of 8 of his last 9 fights. Both Brown & Pyle would be formidable challengers for Lawler, and would instantly boost the winner into the limelight of a title shot.

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Liz Carmouche vs. McMann/Kaufman winner (McMann pulled out due to an injury)

Carmouche lived up to her moniker as the Girl-Rilla, as she handily defeated newcomer Jessica Andrade. Carmouche was very active throughout the fight, constantly looking for the finish, which finally came in round 2. The finish marked her first victory in the UFC, and instantly put her back in the title hunt. She might believe she should get a title shot, but the division is starting to slowly take form, and she is not the only title contender, especially considering she just fought the champion Ronda Rousey not long ago. With Sara McMann and Sarah Kaufman expected to do battle at UFC Fight Night 27, the winner becomes an instant contender. If McMann wins, she will certainly keep climbing the ranks as one of the more promising fighters in the womens bantamweight division, and certainly could find herself in a number one contenders fight. As for Kaufman, a win would put her in an almost similar as Liz Carmouche considering both are Ronda Rousey’s last two opponents. Also to boot, Kaufman defeated Carmouche, a little more than 2 years ago. But, both fighters have evolved since, and are in completely different waters than before. And although this fight could possibly provide a rematch challenger against Ronda Rousey, it also presents a more prepared fighter with redemption on their mind.

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Danny Castillo vs. James Krause

Danny Castillo barely edged late replacement Tim Means at UFC on Fox 8, but no less kept team Alpha Male’s winning ways in tact. Castillo used his wrestling to avoid striking with the lengthy Means, and controlled the fight. It wasn’t the most exciting outing for Castillo, nor dominant, but it was a win no less. As for what next, he stated he wouldn’t be opposed to fighting his originally slated opponent Bobby Green, but in my opinion, I think he is due for an opponent a bit of a step up. In my opinion, the stock of James Krause is at a high after a gutsy performance against a veteran like Sam Stout. In his debut no less, he finished a veteran, and was a late replacement to boot. It would make for the classic wrestler vs striker as well.

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Cezar Ferreira vs. Derek Brunson

Ferreira looked great at UFC 163, disposing of his opponent in a mere 47 seconds by submission. The Vitor Belfort protege clipped Santos immediately with an overhand left, and than later latch on the finishing guillotine choke. The Ultimate Fighter Brazil winner is more so unknown to the North American fanbase, due to lack of resources to watch TUF: Brazil. But, with a performance such as this, and the probability of fighting in North America considering he trains in Florida now, he will be known soon enough. Ferreira is every bit of a middleweight, and makes for some interesting fights with his style. An interesting grappling match would be against someone like Derek Brunson, who equally is impressive in size. It would be a battle of strength, and clash of grapplers.

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Melvin Guillard vs. Ross Pearson

At UFC on Fox 8, the popular Melvin Guillard got back in the win column, quickly taking out Mac Danzig via vicious ground & pound. Guillard, perhaps was fighting for his job because previous to the victory, he had dropped four out of his last five fights. From once, knocking at the door of a title shot, to almost losing his job in the UFC, is a tough reality to grasp. No less, Guillard’s win secured his position in the UFC, and his style makes for very intriguing bouts in the stacked lightweight division. A fight, that he probably wouldn’t have to worry about succumbing to a submission, would be in that of Ross Pearson. Pearson is coming off a beautiful knockout over Ryan Couture, and has been pressing to fight Takanori Gomi. As much as that fight sounds exciting, I’d rather see Pearson face off with a fellow striker in Guillard. The question is though, in Houston or Manchester?

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Rani Yayha vs. Nik Lentz

Yayha recorded his third consecutive victory, defeating the tough and rather unknown Josh Clopton. Yayha’s grappling seems to be ever improving each time he steps foot in the Octagon, and has contributed immensely during this winning streak. The only thing Yayha hasn’t quite got down it appears, is his cardio. In his recent bouts, opponents have been able to steal round 3, and neutralize his Jui-Jitsu. An opponent that will really push Yayha, and engage in a grappling affair would be in Nik Lentz. Noted for his grinding style, Lentz is undefeated at 3-0 since dropping down to Featherweight. Lentz has dominated, and controlled fights, using his wrestling to a tee. It’s an interesting clash of similar styles , and would make for an intriguing grappling affair.

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Ian McCall vs. John Lineker

McCall finally recorded his first UFC win, and by far not the greatest of performances. His footwork was nice, he had solid leg kicks and jabs, as he fought mostly on the outside. However, when Santos landed a punch, mixed in with the crowd’s responses, McCall was lured into brawl scenarios where he didn’t fare all that well. In the end, the decision victory for McCall was the right call, and the top five flyweight is back on track. An intriguing, and most likely a number one contender fight would be in fighting John Lineker who is climbing the ranks quickly. After dropping his debut in a Fight of the Night, Lineker has tallied off three consecutive victories including two second round stoppages. Now, Lineker might get a title shot, but as I alluded to in another matchmaking, I believe that the Benavidez/Da Silva winner makes the most sense. But, of course, a fresh face to fight Demetrious Johnson is always a possibility, and Lineker fits the profile. Only time will tell, but at this moment, I like this match up.

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Daron Cruickshank vs. Bobby Green

Cruickshank bounced back with a very controversial split decision victory, in which the scores were all over. I mean both fighters received 30-27’s, which is bizarre, and really does point a flaw in modern day judging. Anyways, the judges awarded Cruickshank with the victory, and it was his third within the UFC. Cruickshank has some dynamic striking, and makes for some fun striking battles. A fighter that could really test Cruickshank in all areas is Bobby Green. Originally Bobby Green was supposed to fight Danny Castillo, but pulled out due to an injury. Green, is coming off the thrilling comeback against Jacob Volkmann, and the recognition he earned after has his stock high within the UFC. A fun fight to make between strikers is this one, and rankings wise it make sense.

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Anthony Perosh vs. Robert Drysdale

If anyone’s noticed, Perosh has now recorded four wins in his last five, and has only been in the Octagon for 21 seconds in his last two outings. Of course, the first outing he was on the receiving end of a one punch, seven second knockout. But, he erased that quickly with a 14 second knockout over Vinny Magalhaes. It was an upset victory no less, and after all the trash talk from Magalhaes, it couldn’t of been sweeter for the 40 year old Perosh. Now, Perosh may never be a title contender, but his resurgence since 2011 has been remarkable given his age. With that said, there a few fun fights that Perosh can take, and one would be against another Jui-Jitsu practitioner in Robert Drysdale. Drysdale was supposed to fight on this card and make his debut, but dropped out due to an injury. This fight makes for a fun grappling display, which we were all hoping for against Vinny Magalhaes. And I certainly believe this fight will last longer than 14 second!

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Ed Herman vs. Thales Leites

Herman went to war with the unknown Trevor Smith, and earned the Fight of Night honors, as well as the victory. It was another split decision with wacky scores, but it most importantly was a battle, and fight the fans loved. It was a nice bounce back for Herman, after being outnumbered against Ronaldo Souza in his previous fight. On the other hand, Leites made a very emphatic return to the UFC, out grappling Tom Watson from start to finish. Leites, a former title challenger is no stranger to big fights, and one against Ed Herman would certainly be a fun one for the fans. I always thought too, the UFC cut Leites prematurely, but the fire built up away from the UFC was apparent in his return. This fight makes sense, and would be a nice next step for both fighters.

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Germaine De Randamie vs Amanda Nunes

When Amanda Nunes took out Shiela Gaff in the first round, I quickly thought a fight against a fellow striker in Germaine De Randamie made total sense. Again, both are strikers, and would make for quite a scrap on the feet. Nunes displayed some quality ground skills, something she’s not really noted for, but also you need to factor in Gaff’s inabilities on the ground. As for Randamie, she fought a tough Julie Kedzie, looked strong and had pretty good takedown defense to boot. I would be down to see this scrap, and it could help continue to evolve women’s mma to the mainstream with an enticing striking battle.

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Sergio Moraes vs. Ryan LaFlare

Moraes appeared to be the most elated fighting Brazil, and was all smiles from walking to throughout the fight. Moraes was able to get into a clinch with the lengthy Neil Magny, and from there a beautiful trip followed. After that, it was only a matter of time before the master displayed the art of Jui-Jitsu. In moments, Moraes secured a triangle choke from full mount, and it was all over from there. A fun next fight for Moraes would be against the undefeated Ryan LaFlare. This would be another awesome grappling affair, and would be a true test to LaFlare’s overall abilities. Cardio looked like an issue to LaFlare in his debut, and Moraes certainly doesn’t go away. It would be a testament to both fighters, to test abilities that are somewhat similar.
Matches to Make After UFC 162: Winners Edition

July 13, 2013

Winners

Chris Weidman vs Anderson Silva II

Without a doubt, the rematch should be what’s next for both men. I also believe that due to what happened at UFC 162, the rematch would be even bigger than the initial fight because of the story line that came out of the result . And although Silva is unsure of wanting the rematch, Dana will somehow force his hand to get this rematch on Super Bowl Weekend. Book it in my opinion.

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Frankie Edgar vs Cub Swanson

Initially I was thinking that a Cub Swanson against Ricardo Lamas rematch would be perfect to decide the next number one contender, but stylistically I think that Edgar against Swanson has fight of the night written all over it. This fight has the potential to catapult Swanson into not only heading a UFC card, but giving him the victory that can’t deny him of a title shot. On the other hand for Edgar, this fight would continue to challenge him as he climbs up the rankings, and I think a fight like this would certainly help his cause to rematch Jose Aldo.

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Tim Kennedy vs Ronny Markes

Tim Kennedy was able to stifle Roger Gracie’s black belt ground game, and implement his own ground game in route to a decision victory. Other than his name, and few signature wins over some old veterans, Gracie was ranked very highly in some people’s minds. I didn’t see it, but Kudos to Kennedy for capitalizing on such a moment, and getting that signature win in his UFC debut. What’s next? I think a fight against fellow grappler Ronny Markes would be an intriguing one to say the least. Markes is a top prospect in the middleweight division, and since moving down from Light Heavyweight, he is 2-0 with wins over Andrew Craig, and Aaron Simpson. In terms of my rankings as well, which are subjective, I have Kennedy at #17, and Markes at #19 (my rankings cover all mma fighters, regardless of promotion). So, I believe this fight makes sense, and would be an interesting grappling affair.

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Mark Munoz vs Michael Bisping

Mark Munoz returned with a bang, nearly a year since his defeat to the new middleweight champion Chris Weidman. A recognition he might of had, had he beat Weidman on that night. Munoz looked excellent after a back and forth first round, he was able to take control in round 2 & 3 in route to a decision victory. Munoz who is a top ten middleweight in a stacked division, has stated that Weidman hadn’t fought the real Mark Munoz, and insisted on a rematch. Unfortunately for Munoz, real or not, he was defeated rather easily, and their is a list of contenders much more worthy for title shots than him at this present moment. If he wants to get back in the spotlight, a fight with title contender Michael Bisping would be a fun fight, with big implication for each. Bisping’s mindset of a title shot is going to need bigger names than Belcher to stake his claim, so this certainly would be a step in the right direction. I believe that this fight in Manchester would be one for the UK.

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Andrew Craig vs C.B. Dollaway

Although it wasn’t pretty, Craig added a signature win to his young career, and once again came alive in the third round, dropping and almost finishing Chris Leben. Craig, since joining the UFC has gone 3-1, and has had pretty fair competition in terms of opponents. I believe that Craig would be suited to fight another veteran of the UFC and continue to improve his game while building his resume. A fight against CB Dollaway would be perfect in my opinion, and it would test his grappling abilities, which cost him in his first defeat to Ronny Markes.

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Norman Parke vs Reza Madadi

TUF winner Norman Parke tallied his second victory in the UFC, and looks to be a rising prospect in a stacked lightweight division. Parke is clearly improving in the striking department, and would of probably won by knockout had his opponent Kazuki Tokudome not of had an iron chin. Now in regards to the match making, I think that Parke needs an opponent that’s going to push him, and constantly be in his face, someone like Madadi. Madadi is a ball of energy at the age of 35, and has looked good in the UFC with a 2-1 record, the loss being controversial in my opinion. Anyways, Madadi would be the perfect opponent to test Parke’s all around abilties, which is exactly what he needs, and it doesn’t hurt that Madadi is decent name to have on the resume.

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Gabriel Gonzaga vs Shawn Jordan

Although this seems like a gatekeeper-esque type of fight, it’s really not. Gonzaga has made the most of his second stint in the UFC, going 3-1, and with his 17 second knockout victory over Dave Herman, his 100% finishing rate remains in tact. A fight that rankings wise makes sense, and would certainly seem likely to produce a finish, would be against rising heavyweight Shawn Jordan. Jordan himself, holds a 93% finishing rate, and stylistically this fight would be interesting as I think both men have similar qualities within there abilities. I believe this fight makes sense, and that the winner would be catapulted into possibly a top ten fight

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Edson Barboza vs Jorge Masvidal

If Jorge Masvidal can defeat Michael Chiesa at UFC on Fox 8 on July 27th, I think this fight would make sense next. Barboza’s dynamic striking against Masvidal’s well rounded abilities. Barboza needs to face someone who will test him in all facets, and will be in his face. Masvidal is that type of fighter, and will try and put Barboza on his back. Something we have rarely seen, not since the Jamie Varner fight. Barboza after his win, called for a top 5 opponent. But, that’s a bit of a step despite a 6-1 record in the UFC. Barboza is more so looking at a top 15 opponent in my opinion, and if Masvidal can win, he would make sense.

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Brian Melancon vs Sean Pierson

Melancon’s UFC debut couldn’t of gone any better. From having not fought in nearly two years to fighting on one of the biggest cards of the year in the UFC, and facing and knocking out a tough opponent in Seth Baczynski. Some may have not known who Melancon was, despite being in strikeforce, but now his name is known. He clearly has power in his hands like I described in my predictions thread. I just didn’t realize how good his overall abilities were. Well, as for the matchmaking, Pierson seems like an ideal matchup. Pierson is a striker, and more technical in his approach. He has won three in a row via decision, and is likely to get a step up in competition. I though orginally Seth Baczynski would be that step up, but that was derailed by Melancon. With that said, Melancon is a formidable opponent now, and it would make for a fun striking affair.

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Mike Pierce vs Jake Shields

The frequent preliminary card fighter Mike Pierce recorded his 9th win in the UFC, and 4th straight victory. Pierce once again was on the preliminary card, and was the opening bout of the card. It’s odd to see a fighter who before the victory was 8-3 in the UFC, and had only lost to Jon Fitch, and by split decision to Josh Koscheck and title challenger Johny Hendricks. But, he’s often under looked, and underrated. As for the matchup, I think this fight make sense stylistically. Both in a sense are noted for being grinders, and Pierce deserves a high profile fight like Jake Shields. Both men are grapplers, and grinders like mentioned before. Shields grapples to use his jiu-jitsu to submit his opponents, while Pierce grapples to use his wrestling to implement his ground and pound. Both men like to smother their opponents though, and tire them out, so I would be really interested to see how this one would play out. Who’s grappling abilities are better, or will it come down to striking?
UFC 162: Silva vs Weidman Main Card Predictions

July 6, 2013

Anderson Silva vs Chris Weidman

In one of the most anticipated fights of 2013, boy are we ready for more fireworks. The GOAT, Anderson Silva looks to defend his belt for the 11th consecutive time, and extend his UFC record to 17-0. An unremarkable feat to say the least, but his opponent is an incredibly tough one in Chris Weidman. Weidman has been a beast since gracing the octagon, proving to be an excellent grappler with a lethal submission game. Weidman is an improving striker, but no where near the striker Anderson Silva is. Silva has some of the best head movement, and technical and crisp boxing I’ve ever seen. And although Chael Sonnen had his way with Anderson Silva in the first fight, it was pretty evident come the second fight that Anderson Silva was suffering from an injury. Nothing against Sonnen either, but everyone uses that fight, and thinks that Anderson Silva can easily be taken down. Silva’s takedown defense is at 81%, and come round two of the second fight against Sonnen, Silva shrugged off every takedown attempt like nothing. Did I also mention that Silva’s striking accuracy is 68%, and he has 11 knockouts, the most in the UFC ahead of Liddell. And not to continue to gloat about Anderson Silva, I should add that I believe that Weidman is one of the better grapplers in the middleweight division, and is a finisher as well. His striking has improved every fight, and the KO of Mark Munoz was set up with a perfectly times elbow that dropped him. I hate to do this, but I’m a Weidman believer, and a fan. It’s hard to pick against a hometown boy as well, but I think he has the right ingredients within his mix martial arts abilities to dethrone Silva. I don’t think he can finish Silva, and his cardio will certainly be tested, as he enters new territory in this five round fight. It’s almost easier to go with Silva here, given his credentials, but I’m sticking to Weidman, and picking him to win via decision

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Frankie Edgar vs Charles Oliveira

While I believe Oliveira is a young and talented prospect, there is little chance he wins this fight. Every time the UFC has given him a big fight, he has crumbled in the first round of each of those fights. Edgar is on another level, and keep in mind, this is a three round fight only. Edgar hasn’t been in a three round fight since 2009 (yes 2009) against Mat Veach. Edgar is noted for having the one best gas tanks, and the ability to constantly keep a pace for all five rounds. Edgar is going to work over Oliveira, and easily control the fight wherever it goes. And although Edgar hasn’t had a finish since 2011, he will have one come this night, as I expect Edgar to finish Oliveira in the third round by knockout.

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Roger Gracie vs Tim Kennedy

The last Gracie’s to enter the Octagon were Rolles and Renzo in 2010, and both were defeated by TKO, thus ending their time in the UFC. Now, Roger Gracie looks put the iconic name back in the spotlight, and prove he is UFC caliber. Kennedy, will look to build off his submission victory over Trevor Smith at the final Strikeforce card in January. Kennedy, recently made waves, talking about the touchy subject of fighter pay. And the first question of the press conference was to Tim about the comments, boss and all right there. Keep in mind, Tim hasn’t even fought yet in the UFC, and is already stirring the pot. Regardless, this fight is an interesting one as both men are grapplers, Kennedy being the better wrestler, Gracie being the better ground specialist, and both having decent striking abilities at best. Although Gracie has a considerable height, and reach advantage, his sub par striking isn’t going to overwhelm Kennedy. I think Kennedy is going to work Gracie up against the cage, try to get to his suspect chin, or get the takedown and work a smothering top game in route to a decision victory. The one element that is big in my decision is cardio, and Kennedy who has already fought in two 5 round championship fights, has proven to have the ability to continue the pace. Gracie on the other hand, has suspect cardio, and I’ve seen him gas before, ala the Jardine fight. Kennedy will be too much for Gracie, especially come the later stages of the fight when he is fresher.

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Mark Munoz vs Tim Boetsch

An all important fight in the middleweight division as both fighters look to rebound from losses that set them back from being next in line for a title shot. If Munoz had beaten Chris Weidman, he would probably of had his moment against Anderson Silva already, but he lost, battled depression, and is back nearly a year later. Boetsch, who once was undefeated at middleweight, recently had his four fight win streak snapped that included big wins over Yushin Okami, and Hector Lombard. Costa Phillipou proved to be to much for Boetsch, and controlled the entire fight. This fight will come down to who has the better wrestling, as I envision it taking place either against the cage or on the ground. Although, it’s been a nearly a year since Munoz stepped in the cage, and although I think his wrestling is slightly overrated, I liked his overall game better. If he can somehow bring this fight to the mat, his top game, and ground and pound will overwhelm Boetsch. With that, I do believe Munoz can put Boetsch on his back, and finish him.

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Cub Swanson vs Dennis Siver

An exciting fight to open the main card as Cub Swanson looks to extend his winning streak to five, and prove that he should be next in line for a title shot. Dennis Siver looks to stay undefeated at featherweight, extend his winning streak to three, and add his name to the hat of contenders in the 145 pound division. Swanson who is riding on a four fight win streak, has won three by KO/TKO before the fight could reach round 3. A killer to say the least, Swanson’s improving striking combined with his athleticism, and quickness has proved to given him the edge over his recent opponents. Swanson is a fighter, and what I mean by that is that he comes to fight, and put on a show. He doesn’t be back down, he’s in your face and has a killed or be killed mentality. Siver on the hand, or I like to call him “The German Tank” has an impressive, and dynamic striking game. Recently as well, he has shown an improved wrestling, adding it to his mixed martial arts arsenal. Siver’s last fight, was one of the more dominant decisions I’ve seen recently, as Nam Phan had no answer to anything Siver did. Nam Phan though, is not comparable to Cub Swanson at all. As for the result of the fight, I’m going to give the edge to Siver who’s striking is more technical, and dynamic. Swanson can sometimes be a wild man, going for the kill, but in doing so leaves himself open to being tagged. Expect a few spinning back kicks by Siver, and to edge out a fun fight, and early contender to be the fight of the night.
UFC 162: Silva vs Weidman Preliminary Card Predictions

July 2, 2013

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Chris Leben vs Andrew Craig

The popular and longtime UFC veteran Chris Leben returns to take on the hungry but rather unknown Andrew Craig. Craig’s rise to fame came against Rafael Natal, where he showed heart and determination after being rocked several times, resulting in a comeback knockout in the later stages of the final round. Craig, though recently lost by unanimous decision to Ronny Markes, in a fight where he almost came back in once again. Leben returns for the second time since his year long suspension and looks to rebound from a lackluster defeat to Derek Brunson. The 32 year old Leben has fought 31 times, 20 of which in the UFC, and while title hopes are long gone, the highlight reel can always use more film. Leben who carries heavy hands will look to keep this one standing, and knockout Craig, that’s a given. Craig, a wrestler, will look to mix in his improving striking with his wrestling to bring the fight to the mat. Leben has since moved camps from Hawaii to California to train at Alliance MMA, which is home to the likes of Dominick Cruz, Phil Davis, and Alexander Gustafsson. As for the result of this fight, although I believe Craig is a game opponent for Leben, his striking defense is suspect. He has been rocked several times, but also, and to his credit, he has the ability to come back in the final rounds as we’ve seen in the past. But, Leben carries too much punching power in his hands than say Rafael Natal, and with that I think Leben puts Craig to sleep at sometime in the second round.

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Norman Parke vs Kazuki Tokudome

Ultimate Fighter winner Norman Parke returns for his second fight inside the Octagon against the gritty Kazuki Tokudome. Parke carries a record of 17-2, is on a 7 fight win streak, and has won 17 of his last 18 fights. In the victory over Colin Fletcher, Parke was relentless with takedowns, and top position in route to a unanimous decision. Tokudome who made his UFC debut in Japan also returns for the second time inside the octagon. Tokudome is riding on a 3 fight win streak, and has won 7 of his last 8. The former Sengoku and Pancrase title challenger defeated longtime veteran Cristiano Marcello in his debut unanimously. Tokudome survived Marcello’s early strikes, and wore him down with takedowns, a smothering top game, and some striking of his own come the third round. I expect this fight to take place everywhere, but I also think that Parke is more well rounded to control the fight. I take nothing away from Tokudome, who clearly showed he wasn’t afraid of the 4th degree black belt Cristiano Marcello on the ground. I just think that Parke’s overall game is more defined, and I think this one goes the distance with the decision going to Parke.

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Edson Barboza vs Rafaello Oliveira

Rafaello Oliveira is serving a late replacement for the injured John Makdessi, and has a tough task in front of him in the young phenom Edson Barboza. Oliveira’s future in the UFC is heavily dependent on this fight as this is already his second stint, and before winning his last fight, he dropped the first two. Oliveira’s chances in this fight are realistically low unless he can grind down Barboza with relentless takedowns. If this fight stays on the feet like I believe it will be, Barboza who has some of the most dynamic striking in the UFC will easily overwhelm Oliveira. With that said, Barboza will win this one early, tally his 12th victory, and 9th by knockout.

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Gabriel Gonzaga vs Dave Herman

Dave Herman entered the UFC heavyweight division with buzz, and debuted with a TKO victory over Jon-Olav Einemo, in which he earned fight of the night honors for. Since then, it’s been nothing but a downfall with three straight defeats (all finishes), testing positive for Marijuana in his last fight in Brazil, and subsequently being suspended for six months and ordered to undergo treatment . Now Herman returns from this hiatus, and undoubtedly needs a victory to keep his UFC career going. Gonzaga, a late replacement for Shane Del Rosario, will look to bounce back from a quick defeat at the hands of Travis Browne. Before the defeat, Gonzaga had made the most of his second stint in the UFC, going 2-0, with two submission victories. Although the consensus leans to Gonzaga, and for the right reasons. Gonzaga is more well rounded, and it seems obvious that he will take Herman down and submit him. BUT, for some odd reason I see Herman having a Stipe Miocic moment, and using his height and slight reach advantage to out strike Gonzaga. Don’t call it an upset? I would like to add though, I wouldn’t be surprised if Gonzaga submitted Herman in the first round, that is all…

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Seth Baczynski vs Brian Melancon

UFC 162 will mark the first time Seth Baczynski fights since his 4 fight win streak in the UFC was snapped by Mike Pierce. Baczynski aka the Polish Pistola has made the most of his second stint in the UFC, going 4-1 and finishing 3 of those fights. Baczynski’s mixed martial game is most effective when the fight hits the mat, as he has an arsenal of submissions, and is very slick on his back. Melancon will be making his UFC debut, and fighting for the first time in nearly two years. Melancon an ex Strikeforce fighter went 1-1 before an injury, and series of life events that almost caused him to walk away from the sport. When the UFC came calling, Melancon did too, and he has a tough test in not only in his opponent, but in battling ring rust and UFC debut jitters. Melancon although rather inexperienced in mma, carries some heavy hands, and has pretty decent boxing. His flaw is in his striking defense, and opponents have been able to take him down. If Seth Baczynski can avoid slugging it out with Melancon, and take this one to the ground, it shouldn’t be long until he latches on a submission. I think at some point in the second round Baczynski will finish the tough Melancon.

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Mike Pierce vs David Mitchell

I’m not going to over analyze this, and I really don’t understand the matchmaking in this fight. Mike Pierce since joining the UFC in 2009 has recorded 8 wins, and has only has been defeated three times to the likes of Jon Fitch, Josh Koscheck (split decision), and title challenger Johny Hendricks (split decision). Pierce is currently riding on a 3 fight win streak, most recently defeating Seth Baczynski by decision. Mitchell, on the other hand is 1-2 in the UFC, and is coming off his first UFC victory over Simeon Thoresen (whom was cut after the loss). Mitchell was once regarded as an up-and-coming fighter beating the likes of ex UFC fighters War Machine and Tim McKenzie, and also beating current UFC fighter Bobby Green. Entering the UFC, Mitchell was 11-0, but would drop consecutive defeats to TJ Waldburger, and Paulo Thiago. Now, with his UFC career on the line, and at 33 years of age, a tough task in beating a vastly underrated fighter in Mike Pierce stands in the way. Unfortunately for Mitchell, Pierce is an excellent wrestler, has a smothering top game, and can be noted for being a grinder. Pierce has faced tougher competition than Mitchell, and has fared well. Ideally Mitchell’s chances rely in using his height and slight reach advantage to keep Pierce at bay. I really don’t see that happening though, and I expect Pierce to control the fight and grind out another decision victory.
Women’s Pound for Pound Rankings Top 15

June 15, 2013

Photo Credit: ESPN – https://www.espn.com/mma/fighter/_/id/2516131/amanda-nunes

Fighter Images via ESPN