Seagal makes Silva even more deadly in preparation for UFC 117

Mir vs. Nogueira 2 will headline UFC 119

The Nogueira brothers will compete on the same card at UFC 119 on September 25th in Indianapolis, Indiana. Mir (13-5) will be facing Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, the man he brutally TKO'd back in December of 2008. Despite seeing his immediate hopes of a rematch with Brock Lesnar dashed after suffering a TKO at the hands of Shane Carwin, Mir will look to rebound against the Brazilian. Nogueria has also seen many up and downs of late. After looking spectacular during his victory against Randy Couture at UFC 102, it appeared that the Nogueria had returned to his legendary form. Unfortunately for Nogueira, he ran into ultra talented prospect Cain Velaquez who stopped him with punches early in the first round. The second fight should be much more entertaining then the first. Although Mir scored a definitive second round knockout, it was apparent from the onset that Nogueira didn't enter the octagon at 100%. In fact, it later surfaced that Nogueira had been hospitalized prior to the fight and had suffered from a severe staph infection. In the co-main event, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (lil Nog) will face Ryan Badr.

Can Soneen untangle the web of Silva? At least we know he can talk trash

Condit rumored to be Hardy's next opponent at UFC 120

Lesnar weathers early storm to submit Carwin in 2nd round

Brock Lesnar is one tough S.O.B. Tonight, Lesnar proved that he is more then just a freakish athlete. He is a tough, durable, and rapidly improving champion with a vast array of weapons at his disposal. Despite getting dropped to the canvas and severely hurt early in the first round by a vicious uppercut, Lesnar managed to somehow survive a brutal ground and pound beating. Shane Carwin appeared to have victory secured as he mercilessly pounded Lesnar's gigantic head into the mat. Yet, almost miraculously, Lesnar persevered. And as Carwin's punches rapidly lost steam, it quickly became apparent that Carwin had punched himself out. Reminiscent of the infamous Ali v. Foreman heavyweight championship fight, Carwin battered Lesnar, throwing all of his power behind each shot. However, the longer the champion survived, the more tired Carwin became. By the time the bell rang signaling the end of round one Carwin had nothing left. As he sat on his stool, Carwin's shook his head in disbelief. Lesnar had taken his best shots and was still standing strong across the octagon. At that point, Carwin must have known he was in deep trouble. When round two began Lesnar leap to the attack, gaining the early take-down. Once Lesnar achieved mount position the fight was virtually over. Unable to defend himself, Carwin succumbed to a beautifully timed arm triangle.

UFC 116 fight predictions

Carwin def. Lesnar (TKO)

Akiyama def. Leben (decision)

Lytle def. Brown (sub)

Bonnar def. Soszynski (decision)

Sotiropoulos def. Pellegrino (sub)

Biggest heavyweight fight in UFC history

Rejuvenated Silva ready for showdown with "Sexyama

At UFC 116 feared Brazilian striker Wanderlei Silva will fight Japanese superstar Yoshihiro Akiyama in a highly anticipated showdown. After an impressive octagon debut at UFC 100 against talented veteran Alan Belcher, Akiyama is looking to once again electrify MMA fans with an exciting, action packed slug-fest. The fact that Akiyama waited over a year to fight Silva, specifically requesting the legendary Brazilian as his next opponent, proves his willingness to fight only the best competition available. A black belt in Judo, Akiyama is a grappling ace who packs power in both fists. His willingness to stand and trade was evident during his fight with Belcher, who is a skilled Muay Thai striker. There is no doubt however that with Silva's new training regimen, Akiyama will want to take the fight to the ground where he should have the advantage. There is no doubt that this will be an exciting, action packed fight. Both men are courageous warriors who always look to finish their opponents. It would not be surprising if they earn "Fight of the Night" awards.

UFC 116 preview coming soon!

UFC 115 preview

Best comeback knockout in UFC history?

Chicago police officer Mike Russow delivered perhaps the most amazing one punch, come from behind knockout in UFC history on Saturday night. Facing highly toted prospect Todd Duffee, Russow looked to be in over his head from the opening bell. He was in trouble early as Duffee unloaded power shots at will, rocking Russow on numerous occasions. Yet, the granite chinned Russow hung tough and stayed patient despite taking a beating for the first two rounds. As Duffee began to fade late in the fight, Russow began to find his openings. Seemingly out of nowhere, he connected with a blisteringly fast right hand behind the ear of Duffee. Duffee fell in a heap, unconscious on impact and the referee was forced to stop the fight. Russow improved to 13-1 while Duffee fell to 8-1.

Rashad uses wrestling to settle the score

Rashad Evans defeated Quinton "Rampage" Jackson on Saturday night at UFC 114 earning himself a coveted shot at newly crowned champion Shogun Rua. Although the fight didn't come close to living up to the hype surrounding it, Sugar Rashad put on a spectacular performance in which he utilized a brilliant game-plan aimed to stifle the knockout power of Rampage. Evans, who vowed to knock out Jackson during the extended period of pre-fight trash talk, returned to his wrestling roots, pressing Jackson against the fence and even taking him to the mat on occasion. Evans also used his superior footwork and quickness to make Jackson miss with most of his power punches. The former champion was only in trouble briefly during the third round when a uppercut staggered him to his knees and Jackson pounced looking for the finish. Yet, Evans was able to quickly reverse the position and proceeded to dump Rampage on his head once again. Humble in defeat, Jackson gave credit to Rashad for fighting a smart, tactical fight. Although he was disappointed in his performance, Jackson vowed to be back in the octagon as soon as possible.

UFC 114 Preview

Rampage/Evans winner will get title shot

It has been announced that the winner of the highly anticipated matchup between bitter rivals Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and Rashad Evans will get the first title shot against new champion Mauricio "Shogun" Rua. It has been speculated that Randy Couture was in the discussion for the next title shot but these rumors have been put to rest. Many insiders also believed that perhaps Anderson Silva would move up to challenge for the light heavyweight title. However, these thoughts were squashed after Silva's bizarre performance against Demian Maia at UFC 112. Silva must first face gritty wrestler Chael Sonnen. If he defeats Sonnen, Vitor Belfort is set to get the next crack at the belt. Jackson and Evans have a long, tumultuous relationship since coaching against each other on the Ultimate Fighter reality show. They simply hate each other. Rampage was annoyed by Evans constant yapping during the show, made worst by the fact that Evan's team won EVERY fight. It was apparent almost immediately that Evans was a much better coach then Rampage, and Evans took every opportunity to remind anyone who would listen. Skill-wise it is an intriguing fight. I would certainly give the advantage to Jackson in almost every area except wrestling. But this is MMA. Anything can happen. Regardless of the outcome, Shogun will be a tough match-up for either man.

Shogun slays the Dragon

Shogun Rua claimed the light heavyweight title on Saturday night with a stirring first round knockout of Lyoto Machida. Although many people believed that Rua clearly won the first fight, Rua remained respectful and rather then dwelling on the past, used his long layoff to devise a ingenious gameplan meant to exploit tiny wrinkle in Machida's game. Shogun and his coaches noted that when Machida attempted to block Rua's kicks he lowered his guard slightly. In order to exploit Machida's incorrect hand positioning, Rua practiced countering with overhand rights, " In my first fight against Machida, I tried to exploit kicks a lot ", Rua exclaimed. "I noticed that every time he would try to attack by timing my kicks, he was attacking without his guard in the proper place. He attacked with his face exposed...this time I worked a lot not only on kicks, but also on a high overhand right punch to surprise him as he was trying to move in from my kicks...". Rua dropped Lyoto with a perfectly timed overhand right behind the ear and finished the dazed champion with vicious strikes from the mount. Referee Yves Lavigne was forced to end the fight at 3:35 of the first round.

With his stunning knockout victory, Rua has done what no man before him was able to accomplish. He found a weakness in Machida's game and exploited it. As predicted, Rua was much more aggressive then in the first fight. He knew that in order to beat a smart elusive foe like Machida calculated risks had to be taken. Machida prepared himself for a five round war, he was most likely training to endure sustained punishment rather then defend against explosive attacks. Shogun wasn't content to let the judges decide his fate. He proved that with the proper gamplan, patience, resilience, and hard work any dream can be accomplished no matter how long the odds. Congratulations to Shogun for a superb performance. He is once again the top 205lb fighter on the planet.

Koscheck dominates Daley

Josh Koscheck earned a title shot against champion George St. Pierre with a dominate victory over Brit Paul Daley. Using his wrestling to dictate the action, Koscheck avoided Daley's dangerous striking with quick powerful takedowns. It was apparent that Daley spent significant time fighting off of his back during training camp, yet he was unable to threaten Koscheck from any position. After the final bell sounded, a frustrated Daley lashed out at Koscheck hitting him with a sucker punch before the referee could intervene. Ironically, the sucker punch was the only significant blow Semtex landed all night. Despite his impressive performance, Koscheck was booed heavily the entire fight, and did nothing to improve his image by claiming that the Pittsburgh Penguins would easily beat the beloved Montreal Canadians in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Yes, Koscheck is certainly an a hole. But he can fight. Bottom line.

In other action, former NFL defensive lineman Matt Mitrione brutalized crowd favorite Kimbo Slice with chopping leg kicks and crisp punches to win by second round T/ko. Also, Marcus Davis bounced backed from back to back losses with a second round knockout of hometown hero Jonathan Goulet.

Semtex highlights

Here is a great video of some Paul Daley highlights:

Semtex plans to explode on Koscheck

Semtex is described as a plastic explosive,"...especially suited for explosive demolition..." a powerful force that tends to be, "...significantly more explosive than other materials that perform just as well in that field...". Two ufc wins, two knockouts. British welterweight slugger Paul "Semtex" Daley has certainly lived up to his nickname and plans to demolish bitter rival Josh Koscheck at UFC 113 in Montreal, Canada. Much like his teammate and best friend Dan "The Outlaw" Hardy, Daley is a brash, charismatic trash talker who relishes the role of villain. He also shares Hardy's willingness to engage in full fledged psychological warfare with opponents. Against Marcus Davis, Hardy's relentless mockery and stinging insults served as an invaluable weapon prompting Davis to fight with his emotions instead of his brain. As a result, Davis abandoned his game-plan, fought an angry fight, and suffered a painful loss, a loss that Davis has yet to recovered from. Daley's constant references to Koscheck as "The Fraggle" (I'm not sure what that means) and blatant disgust for his "mini fro" while hilarious and probably justified, is both an ingenious strategy and a way to draw attention . Koscheck isn't well liked by MMA fans mostly due to his cockiness, irritatingly loud personality and superiority complex. By putting a voice to the general public's' hatred of Koscheck, Daley has attracted a legion of new fans while introducing his dynamic fighting style to MMA masses.

Nonetheless, when the cage doors close the talking stops. Semtex will definitely have his hands full against Koscheck. No one can deny that Josh Koscheck has come a long way since his stint as a pure wrestler on the Utimate Fighter reality show. He is no longer "just a wrestler" but a truly elite mixed martial artists with a vast arsenal of deadly weapons at his disposal. Not only does Kos have world class division 1 All-American wrestling, but he has vicious knockout power in both fists. On top of improved striking skills, Koscheck has ridiculous endurance and freakish natural athletic ability rivaled by few in the UFC. Koscheck's last two fights have showcased his well rounded abilities as he smashed crafty veteran Frank Trigg and submitted explosive contender Anthony "Rumble" Johnson. Johnson is also a freakishly athletic fighter, who as a welterweight is a absolutely massive physical presence walking around at about 220 pounds.

Perhaps Koscheck's biggest weakness is his ego. Against Paulo Thiago, Koscheck showed no respect for the Brazilian's power and suffered a shocking knockout. Daley's trash talk might prompt Koscheck to stand and trade. That would be a horrible mistake. He doesn't consider Daley a "real" mixed martial artists and refuses to believe the hype surrounding the Brit. If Koscheck got knocked out by Paulo Thiago, he will certainly get knocked out by Daley. Semtex has one punch knockout power and isn't afraid to use it.

Coming soon...preview of UFC 113

UFC 113 Predictions

Main Event: Lyoto "The Dragon" Machida vs. Shogun Rua 2

The first fight between the two Brazilians resulted in perhaps the most controversial decision of the year. All three ringside judges scored the contest 48-47 in favor of the weary champion Lyoto Machida, who looked like he had been hit by a semi-truck rather then retaining his title. However, most, if not all, expert observers scored the fight for Shogun Rua. In fact, almost every person who wore their glasses that night believed Rua won the fight. My scorecards read the exact opposite of the judges, 48-47 for Rua. The rematch should be intriguing. Both men have undoubtedly made adjustments in their preparation, each man has had ample opportunities to analyze and dissect the others' game.

Shogun's strategy will remain the same as in the first meeting. He will look to attack the legs and body of Machida with punishing body kicks hoping to batter the champion, especially in the later rounds. Much of Machida's offense is based on his ability to launch explosive attacks from unusual angles. Speed and elusivness are crucial components of Machida's offense. Without the ability to move effectively, Machida will be a much easier target to hit. This time around, Rua will certainly push the pace. He doesn't want to leave the decision in the hands of the judges. Rua will do everything in his power to end the fight before the final bell, yet he will continue to fight disciplined with measured aggression. Don't expect to see the berserker Shogun that we all loved in Pride.

Lyoto Machida brought karate back from the abyss. Machida showed the martial arts community and the world that karate based techniques are still relevant in modern combat, and that certain ancient philosophies are highly effective when used appropriately. As a third degree Shotokan Karate black belt, Machida epitomizes the traditional martial artist. From a young child, Lyoto was trained to internalize discipline and dedication. He has combined elements from his karate background such as the wide traditional stance, unorthodox striking angles, and fleet footwork with other modern forms of combat chiefly muay thai, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and wrestling. During the first fight, Machida was gradually worn down by the relentless leg and body attack of Shogun. Machida has learned that muay thai is a bad match up for karate. Muay thai is based upon attacking the legs. Muay Thai fighters stalk their opponents picking their spots carefully. With each successful leg kick, the thigh becomes weaker. Many muay thai fighters will attest that it only takes one good leg kick to do lasting damage. Machida cannot wait to counter Rua like he did to previous opponents. The champion was the most successful against Rua when he took the initiative. When he attacked first Rua was forced to retreat and reset. Machida must keep the pressure on Rua and force the challenger to make a mistake. If Machida stands in front of Rua I am certain he will get picked apart with kicks.


Prediction: Muay Thai is not a good matchup for karate. Styles make fights. Rua will claim the championship that eluded his grasp the first time around. Shogun by decision.

Jose Aldo Jr. dominates Faber, proves to be one of MMA's elite

Jose Aldo Jr. (17-1) successfully defended his WEC featherweight championship on Saturday night against Urijah Faber (23-4) in a dominant five round performance. The Brazilian battered Faber for five rounds, doing severe damage with chopping leg kicks and vicious body shots. The California Kid was left battered and barely able to walk by the end of the third round, and was nearly finished on the ground.The former champion and hometown hero never gave up, pressing forward despite a badly bruised front leg, but was unable connect with any significant blows. Aldo's next fight will be against Manny Gamburyan (11-4) who demolished Mike Brown with a stunning first round knockout.

Gamburyan stuns Brown

One of the biggest winner of Saturday night was WEC featherweight Manny Gamburyan (11-4, 3-0 WEC), who shocked former champion Mike Brown with an impressive first round knockout. As a decorated Judo black belt, Gamburyan usually relies on his grappling skills to win fights. Against Brown, Gamburyan seemed content to keep the fight standing and scored early with quick and crisp combinations. After walking through a straight right hand from Brown, Gamburyan landed a flush uppercut to the former champion's chin dropping him in a heap to the canvas. Several unanwersed hammerfists left Brown's body stiff as the referee was forced to rescue him at 2:22 of the first round. The next opponent for the Ultimate fighter finalist will be current champion Jose Aldo Jr (17-1, 7-0 WEC) who completely dominated fan favorite Urijah Faber.

Aldo's keys to victory

Jose Aldo Jr. has taken the featherweight divison by storm. Undefeated for five years, the young Brazilian champion has knocked out his last six opponents in brutal fashion. In his last fight, Aldo mugged feared champion Mike Brown without breaking a sweat. Now he faces the toughest test of his young career in Urijah Faber. These are his keys to victory:

1. Control the center of the cage: Jose Aldo's main attribute is his devastating striking style. He will look to keep the fight standing and explode on Faber when he sees the opportunity. In order to do this, the champ must establish his power early and often. The longer Faber survives on his feet the more confident he will become. Take the center of the cage and make Faber fight your fight. Lure the hometown hero into exchanges and keep away from the cage.

2. Don't be overconfident/Don't underestimate Faber: Big shiny belts have a reputation of making people cocky and comfortable. Riding a six fight win streak must be pretty nice, and to be honest if I was Aldo, I would probably be feeling really confident walking into the cage. It is ok to be confident, but Faber is dangerous. The California Kid is hungry for that belt and is fighting in his hometown. Faber is looking for redemption and will not go down easily. Jose cannot underestimate his opponent's unorthodox style. Faber has the ability to do major damage from almost every position. He has a good chin, world class cardio, heavy hands, and a big heart. Also, Urijah is well rounded enough to stand and bang or take it to the mat.

3. Press the action: Don't lay back and wait. Press forward and pressure Faber with strikes.

4. Use BJJ pedigree only as a last resort: Avoid going to the ground with Faber. Although Aldo is a world class BJJ black belt, Faber is a gorilla on the mat and has submitted many top notch black belts. I believe that Faber is also physically stronger then Aldo and has better wrestling. In a pure BJJ contest Aldo would most likely win, but MMA is much different. Faber is a master of ground and pound and is unorthodox and quick in his scrambling abilities. If Aldo finds himself on his back he should stay busy and look for an opportunity to explode back to his feet.

Faber's keys to victory

Urijah Faber is by far the most dominant featherweight champion in history. He defended his belt a record 5 times and became the face of the WEC. Even after losing his belt to Mike Brown, Faber remains the promotion's biggest drawl due to his cheerful charismatic personality, gook looks, and electric fighting style. However, he has never fought a man as lethal as Jose Aldo Jr, a man who has not been defeated in 5 years and knocked out his last six opponents. Here are his keys to victory:

1. Survive the first round: Faber MUST survive the first round, especially the first 2-3 minutes, without taking any significant damage. The first 2-3 minutes is when Aldo is the most dangerous because he skips the usual "warming up" or "feeling out" process. Aldo is an offensive genius and attacks his opponents at unexpected times. Faber must remember that any "lull" in the action is a dangerous illusion created by the Brazilian. If Aldo senses an opening he will attack quickly and will not let up. So Faber must stay focused and tight. By tight, I don't mean nervous or stiff. He must keep his hands up and his chin down. Faber has a wide open style that is both brilliant and dangerous. Brilliant in that it spawns a creative striking and scrambling attack that keeps opponents off balance, dangerous in that Faber often leaves himself open in at attempt to be creative.

2. Don't rely on striking! Use wrestling base: Jose Aldo's takedown defense is excellent but Urijah needs to use his wrestling and apply constant pressure with takedown attempts and clinch work. Even if the takedown is stuffed, thats ok. Next time throw a quick combination and shoot for the single leg. If the single leg fails, press Aldo against the cage and drop for a double leg. As long as Aldo is forced to think about defending takedowns Faber has a chance. Faber cannot afford to let the champion get comfortable on his feet. The key to keeping Aldo off balance is to change levels and use angles. Urijah cannot abandon his wrestling and he must understand that most of his takedowns will be stuffed. While reviewing Aldo's footage, I noticed that the lone man to defeat Aldo constantly pressured him with takedowns. Finally, after at least five or six takedowns were blocked, Aldo's opponent succeeded in dragging him to the ground. After a dynamic jiu-jitsu battle, Aldo scummed to a rear naked choke.

3. Use the cage: This point is similar to #2. Open space is Faber's worst enemy in this fight. Aldo needs to either have his back against the cage or his back on the mat. Standing with the Brazilian in open space is suicide even to a striker of Faber's ability.

Cowboy gunning for the belt

The co-main event of tonight's' WEC mega event is a rematch of the 2009 fight of the year. The lightweight (155 lb) title is on the line as Ben Henderson faces Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone in a repeat of an epic war of attrition. After five rounds of frantic back and forth action during which each man nearly ended the fight, Henderson was awarded the belt by a highly controversial decision. This time around, Cerrone has vowed to use his much improved wrestling skills to keep the fight standing and punish Henderson early. In the first fight, Henderson was able to take Cerrone to the mat on multiple occasions and dictate the tempo of the fight. As Henderson faded down the final stretch, Cerrone began to take control with sharp combinations and hurt Henderson with punches. Many believe that Henderson won rounds 2 & 3 while Cerrone dominated 4 &5. Round 1 was up in the air as Henderson amazingly escaped various submission attempts that put him in extreme danger. For the rematch, I am predicting another intense back and forth slug fest. However, I believe that the result will remain the same. The champion has improved his striking to the point where he will feel more comfortable on the feet. Henderson can use his stand-up to set up takedowns early and attempt to wear Cerrone down. Cerrone claims to have focused on his wrestling for this fight, so Henderson will probably have to work harder to get "Cowboy" to the mat. I predict another five round battle with "Smooth" Henderson retaining the title. But who knows...anything can happen in MMA!

Tale of the Tape: Jose Aldo vs. Urijah Faber

Aldo vs. Faber is the most exciting featherweight match -up in history!! Both men are in their primes, and both have similar characteristics that makes picking a clear winner difficult. I have come up with a few key attributes that define great fighters and will see how Faber and Aldo matchup...

Speed: Advantage Aldo

- Jose Aldo Jr. is perhaps the fastest fighter in all of MMA. His speed inside the cage is breathtaking, especially when he swarms on opponents with punches, kicks, and knees. No one that I've seen has the ability to move from 0 to 60 as fast as Aldo. He can literally finish opponents in the blink of an eye. His foot speed is ridiculous and when he commits to an attack its always lightening quick. Faber speed is also impressive, but I don't believe he can match Aldo's "offensive acceleration" (for lack of a better term). This attribute grants Aldo the ability to pounce on opponents and finish them quickly.

Cardio: Advantage Faber

-Urijah Faber cannot get tired. Period. His endurance is legendary and his work ethic top notch. Plus, we have ever seen Aldo dragged into a long fight. He usually finishes his victims within the first two rounds.

Power: Even

-My boxing coach used to say "Speed equals power" and he is right. I believe that Faber probably has the heavier hands of the two but Aldo is no weakling. His power is amplified by raw explosive speed and devastating accuracy. The champion's strikes seemingly come out of nowhere and are always on target. Faber is also probably physically stronger then Aldo, which once again means there is some mustard behind his strikes.

Adaptability: Advantage Faber

-Faber is the most well rounded fighter in the division. He is comfortable in every aspect of the fight game and that makes him a very dangerous opponent. Faber can slug it out, clinch against the fence, or take it to the ground. On the ground Faber has submitted many jiu-jitsu black belts although he has no "formal" BJJ training (with a gi). Aldo doesn't want to play the jiu-jitsu game with Faber. Even though he is a BJJ black belt, the ground game in MMA is a completely different animal. Faber has gorilla strength and explosive scrambling abilities. It is also important to note that Aldo's only loss was by rear naked choke.

Killer Instinct: Advantage Aldo

- Aldo is the ultimate finisher. The Brazilian is like a shark in bloody water when he has his opponent hurt, he swarms and rushes in for the kill. If Faber can take advantage of Aldo's eagerness to finish the fight with well placed counter strikes he might catch the champion. However, that scenario is unlikely because when Aldo smells blood it usually ends quickly and violently.

Although neither man has a distinct advantage (2-2), I'm still leaning towards Jose Aldo. I just can't see how Urijah can overcome his speed and explosive power. Faber dropped two decisions to Mike Brown whom Aldo easily destroyed in two rounds. I also think that Aldo will stuff most of Urijah's takedowns and force the fight to remain standing, thus eliminating Faber's advantage on the ground.

Jose Aldo's rise to the top

Jose Aldo is one of my favorite fighters to watch. He is explosive, powerful, intelligent, and fierce. He has flair and wins in spectacular fashion. He is like a mini Anderson Silva but without the clown antics. On April 24th he will fight another of my favorite fighters, Urijah Faber, for the featherweight title. Many have labeled Faber as the most dominate featherweight of all time, and I agree. However, he will have his hands full with Aldo. Here is a nice video I found of some of Aldo's highlight.

Post fight melee is highlight of "Strikeforce on CBS"

The most entertaining part of Strikeforce's show on CBS was the post-fight melee involving Jason "Mayhem" Miller and the entire Caesar Gracie team. Each of the three title fights went the distance, lasting an excruciating 25 minutes and all three were dull wrestling matches. The most impressive performance went to Strikeforce middleweight champion Jake Shields who utterly dominated highly favored Dan Henderson. After being nearly knocked unconscious by Henderson in the first round, Shields bounced back utilizing his slick ground skills to control the former Pride champion. Surprisingly, Shields took down Henderson seemingly at will and was able to keep the gritty veteran on his back for most of the fight. A similar scenario occurred in the light-heavyweight title fight between King Mo Lawal and champion Gegard Mousasi. King Mo, a world class international wrestling champion, took Mousasi to the mat very easily and pressed the action for most of the fight. Before the fight I had Mousasi ranked as perhaps the number 3 light heavyweight in world. Another Caesar Gracie standout, Gilbert Melendez, retained his lightweight title with a beatdown of Japanese submission ace Shinya Aoki. Melendez had a solid strategy coming into the fight, and was able to avoid engaging Aoki in a grappling match which would have surely ended his night early. Instead, Melendez was content with picking Aoki apart on the feet.

White announces next opponent for Silva

On Tuesday night UFC President Dana White announced that Chael Sonnen will be Anderson Silva's next opponent. While appearing on ESPN's "Jim Rome is burning", White declared that the champion's showboating antics would not work against the tough, gritty Sonnen, "He’s got a real tough fight coming up. His next fight’s going to be against Chael Sonnen, and Chael Sonnen’s one of these guys who’s not going to lay back, not do what these other guys (did)". Sonnen impressed many observers in his last fight against top middleweight Nathan Marquardt, whom before the fight was widely considered as the #2 middleweight fighter in the world. Marquardt had no answer for Sonnen's brutally effective pressure tactics, in which he constantly pushed forward and battered Marquardt with repeated takedowns. Chael also showed an improvement in his stand up, as he was able to hold off Marquardt long enough to close the distance and complete takedowns. However, Anderson Silva is no Nathan Marquardt. Although Marquardt is a ultra talented and dangerous fighter, Silva is a unique blend of athleticism, speed, power, grace, and intelligence (although he doesn't always show it). What Sonnen does have an advantage in is trash talk. Sonnen has been talking tons of trash about Silva and his crew. Lets hope he can back it up!

Change in direction

Hey Folks!!

I have made an executive decision to shift the focus of my blog. Rather then focusing my discussion solely on the MMA world, I am now expanding my scope to martial arts in general. I consider myself a lover of all forms of martial arts, and considering that MMA does showcase various styles of fighting it is fitting to include them. I myself am a practitioner of Krav Maga and boxing, so I love to research and try to incorporate various styles into my self-defense philosophy and techniques. Each week I will post a different self- defense tactic, technique, or philosophy that I have picked up during training or have learned via research. Hope y'all enjoy!! Oh yea...UFC 112 predictions are coming soon!

UFC 111 predictions

UFC 111 takes place in Newark, NJ and has the potential to be the most exciting card of 2010. British welterweight powerhouse Dan Hardy faces the toughest test of his career in the form of champion Georges St. Pierre, who has looked nearly unstoppable during his past four fights. Also, former two-time UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir battles top contender Shane Carwin for the Interim heavyweight championship. The holder of the interim belt is guaranteed a shot against current champ Brock Lesnar. Another intriguing match up pits bitter rivals Thiago Alves against AKA product John Finch in a grudge match with possible welterweight title implications.

Main Event: Georges St. Pierre vs. Dan Hardy

Dan Hardy is an 8-1 underdog in this fight and for good reason. St. Pierre has utterly dominated each of his last five opponents and seems to improve upon his vast array of skills each fight. What makes the French-Canadian such a force is his ability to seamlessly transition between the various disciplines of MMA. He is the "complete fighter", meaning that St. Pierre is a master of many disciplines and can use attributes from each to defeat his opponents. St. Pierre is also a freakish athlete and a obsessive perfectionist who trains with perhaps the most elite partners available. Dan "The Outlaw" Hardy is a brash, confident British gunslinger with dynamite in both fists and an unbreakable fighting spirit. Hardy's most distinguishing attribute is his technical, explosive Muay Thai striking. As evidenced by his brutal knockout of Rory Markham, the Outlaw throws a tremendous amount of force behind each blow, always looking to end the fight with one punch. While striking is Hardy's greatest weapon, wrestling is his biggest weakness. Even with a brown belt it jiu-jitsu under Eddie Bravo, Hardy will not feel comfortable on his back in this fight, and he will end up on his back. Much attention and hype has surrounded Hardy's decision to train with Matt Serra in preparation for this fight. I personally don't believe the hype. There is no way that a few weeks training with Serra will negate GSP's stellar ground game. GSP doesn't play the jiu-jitsu game, if a submission opportunity is available he will certainly seize it, but his main goal is control. St. Pierre's ability to take opponents down at will limits their offensive options. One of GSP's training partners explained the dilemma peferectly, "...You get worried about strikes and he takes you down, you think about takedowns then he punches you in the face...". Simply put, St. Pierre is able to take the fight wherever he wants it to go. If he is losing the stand up exchanges, boom, he shoots for a takedown. Even if the takedown fails, it forces the other guy to look for takedowns thus limiting his striking ability.

Hardy has to stay on his feet at all costs especially early in the fight. He does not want St. Pierre's newly bulked up frame, he will now weight about 192 during the fight, smothering him from the top. The Brit should also use his footwork to avoid clinches, especially against the cage. Everytime GSP manages to clinch Hardy has to make him pay with knees and sharp elbows. Even if he gets taken down, Hardy has to stay busy and strike from the bottom. Once there is breathing room he has to explode and get back to his feet and immediatly throw combinations. If Hardy can batter GSP on the feet there is a possibility that the champion will grow weary and impatient. An impatient fighter makes mistakes. Hardy only needs one opening to land a left hook. A left hook to the temple spells doom for St. Pierre.

We all know what Georges St. Pierre needs to do. Stay calm and relaxed. Use footwork and angles to confuse Hardy on the feet. Set up takedowns with crisp striking and don't be afraid of Hardy's power. We tend to forget that GSP has actually fought better strikers then Hardy. BJ Penn is arguably the best boxer in MMA with heavy hands, slick movement, and a granite chin. Thiago Alves is a hulking 170lb striking machine with devastating leg kicks and fast, aggressive punches. In both instances, the French Canadian was able to do enough on the feet to neutralize their attacks and control the tempo. I believe that St. Pierre does in fact have the tools to stand with Hardy the entire fight, but I don't think that would be an intelligent strategy. Why take the risk? GSP needs to use his powerful kicks and stiff jab to control the range and to keep Hardy on the defensive. Once Hardy steps into range and commits to his punches he is vulnerable for the takedown. In my opinion, Hardy's takedown defense is not good enough to stop any of GSP's takedowns. Both Alves and Finch had sturdy takedown defense and were utterly ravaged for five rounds. St. Pierre has nearly Olympic level wrestling despite having no background in the sport. Wrestling will be the deciding factor in this fight, and no one in MMA has better wrestling then St. Pierre.

Prediction: GSP by stoppage. Either submission (rear naked choke) or t/ko via ground and pound.

Cruz dominates Bowles, Benevidez steam rolls Torres at WEC 47

Saturday night belonged to the underdogs. California based challenger Dominick Cruz dominated highly regarded and heavily favored champion Brian Bowles for two full rounds before winning by TKO after a broken hand forced Bowles to throw in the towel. Ultra talented Uriajh Faber protege Joseph Benevidez fought brilliantly against former bantamweight champion Miguel Angel Torres using timing and aggressive wrestling to negate a sizable reach difference. Early in the second round Benevidez faked an overhand and shot in for an easy double leg takedown. While in the closed guard, Benevidez opened a giagantic cut on Torres's forehead, and in the ensuing scramble sunk in a deep guillotine choke forcing the tap.

Biggest Winners:

Dominick Cruz- He had the by far the best performance of his career. The 4 to 1 underdog frustrated Brian Bowles with fast combinations, fluid footwork, and quick takedowns. Although Bowles broke is right hand early in the fight, I'm not convinced that the result would have been different. It was simply Cruz's night.

Joseph Benevidez- Another great performance! Benevidez is a force to be reckoned with at 135lb. He has knockout power in both hands, strong wrestling, and solid submissions. His victory against Torres proved he can be patient and use his speed with calculated aggression.

Biggest Losers:

Jens Pulver: WEC 47 marked the end of his legendary career.

Miguel Torres: Suffered second loss in a row and drops out of pound 4 pound rankings. Torres changed his camp after the upset loss to Brian Bowles but was simply overwhelmed by Benevidez. I was disappointed because I didn't see the fiery, passionate, and aggressive Miguel Torres that won the belt. He should have pushed the pace and forced Benevidez to fight his game. Instead, Torres was intent on sitting back and trying to use his reach. That is ok but it is not what Miguel Torres is all about. That is not what won him the belt, and its not what led him to be undefeated for five years. In being cautious Torres allowed Benevidez to find his rhythm and use his speed advantage. Just because you lose doesn't mean you change EVERYTHING!!!

Re-invented Torres is ready for redemption

After his devastating knockout loss to unheralded underdog Brian Bowles, Torres took a step back and reevaluated his priorities. The proud former champion is a fiercely determined and passionate competitor and is notorious for his unquenchable work ethic. However, these admirable qualities, the very building blocks of Miguel Torres's meteoric rise to the heights of MMA stardom, ultimately turned against him. He was strecthed too thin. Between running his own gym, coaching his fighters, teaching classes, and attending media events, there was very little time for actual training. On top of all these distractions, Torres got cocky. He started to believe the hype. Other fighters, such as WEC commentator Frank Mir, would routinely gush about the vast talent of Torres. The young Mexican-American's ferocity was legendary, and his willingness to engage opponents using thier own strenghts only blostered his almost mystical status. After the loss, Torres took time to reflect on his past mistakes and to settle his business, " I had to take some time to get my life in order. My business, my gym was going crazy, going out of control, getting new members, I expanded into a new place, taking care of my finances, my taxes, stuff like that, my family, my friends...". Once his life settled down, training and improving became priority number one.

Miguel learned that talent and passion alone can only take you so far. In the fight game an athlete must have clear cut priorities. Sacrafices must be made in order to stay on top. UFC welterweight champion George St. Pierre has been quoted as saying, "It is hard to become champion, but even harder to stay champion". Champions have giant targets painted on thier backs. Every young hungry fighter wants a shot at the belt. Brian Bowles was a young hungry fighter on August 9th. Bowles didn't have any distractions. He wasn't pulled in a dozen different directions. Bowles wanted the belt. Plain and simple.

I am looking forward to seeing Torres fight Benevidez. First off, it will be interesting to see how Torres deals with a loss. Will Torres retain his aggressive style or become more cautious? I have heard that some fighters are never the same after being knocked out. Secondly, what improvements have been made in his game? Miguel has trained with boxer Miguel Cotto in preparation for this fight so I am expecting his striking, especially punching combinations, to be sharper then ever. Also, Miguel has sought the expert advice of grappling wizard Robert Drysdale to help fine tune his already lethal BJJ skills.

Jospeh Benevidez is a tough opponent who should not be overlooked. However, Torres seems ready to re-claim the top spot. A fully focused and motivated Miguel Angel Torres is a scary creature for any 135lb fighter. And with redemption within arms reach, Torres is hungier then ever.

The "Outlaw" is gunning for a major upset

Is GSP unbeatable at welterweight? Over his past four fights it certainly seems so. His lethal combination of powerful wrestling and smooth striking have left his opponents scrambling for answers. Even if you know exactly what GSP plans to do you can't stop it. What makes it worst is that the more sh*t you talk the harder he trains to whoop your a$$.

So what makes Hardy any different then the last four victims? To be honest, not all that much. Both John Finch and Thiago Alves are ranked higher then Hardy and have more well rounded skills. And they both got demolished by the French Canadian. Finch is a better wrestler then Hardy and got taken down at will. Alves is a hulking, explosive, and talented Muay Thai striker with some serious takedown defense, yet he got taken down repeatedly and out struck for most of the fight. Grappling legends BJ Penn and Matt Serra own a pair of Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belts but were completely controlled and dominated on the ground. In thier rematch,Serra was overwhelmed in the second round. Penn, whoose takedown defense is legendary, was thrashed for four rounds until his corner mercifully threw in the towel.

Ok, so at this point your probably wondering how Hardy could possibly pose a serious threat to the welterweight kin pin. According to the Brit, the difference is his mindset. Despite the stacked odds, the Outlaw is supremely confident in his abilites and relishes the underdog role. Being an underdog allows Hardy to train harder without the crushing pressure of high expectations. Hardy claims to be "St. Pierre's Kryptonite" and describes GSP as, "...an athlete, not a fighter". He points to the fact that the champion is mainly focused on winning fights and keeping the belt rather than, "putting a beating on somebody". As strange as it sounds, Hardy has a point. GSP is a brilliant technician not a gritty brawler. In St.Pierre's mind, a slug-fest is something to be avoided, especially with a dynamic striker like Hardy. So if by some divine miracle Hardy avoids being thrown around like a rag doll, and manages to force GSP into a shootout, there is a window of opportunity. It is also important to remember that Hardy has nothing to lose. He is expected to lose. And a man with nothing to lose is dangerous.

UFC 111 preview coming soon!!

Frank Mir talks a lot of crap! But can he back it up??

Frank Mir is obessed with Brock Lesnar. Of course if you saw the brutal beatdown he received at the hands of the champ, followed by the absurd taunting, you can probably understand his frustration. Still, Mir had that beating coming to him. Some people just don't learn. Hes like the stupid person at the zoo who throws rocks and agitates the giant Silverback gorilla, then gets mad when his arms are torn off. As much as I respect and admire Mir's skills in the ring, it can't be denyed that he is an arrogant self promoter. It really isn't his fault. He doesn't mean to be one because it is part of his personality. If I was a 265 lb+ former UFC heavyweight champion with a black belt in jiu-jitsu and kempo karate I would probably be pretty cocky myself. That is how he comes across as during interviews, during the pre-fight hype, and even at moments during his WEC commentating. Recently, Mir was quoted as saying, "I want to break his neck in the ring" and that he hopes that Lesnar is the "...first person that dies due to Octagon related injuries." Once again, Mir's words will be fuel for Lesnar's fire. If I were fighting Lesnar I don't think anger is something I want to provoke. First things first. Mir shouldn't look past Shawn Carwin. Carwin also dislikes Lesnar and will probably want to make an example out of Mir. Ouch. Either way, win or lose, it will be a painful trip to the top for the former champ.

UFC 111 preview and predictions coming soon!

Little guys gearing up for a big showdown in Ohio

Gotta love the WEC! I respect the fact that although these guys get half the attention, half the money, and half the promotional opportunities as their peers in the UFC, they continue put on some of the most exciting and memorable fights. Also, the WEC is home to three of my favorite fighters Jose Aldo Jr, Urijah Faber, and Miguel Angel Torres (aka DA MAN) all of whom are, in my opinion, ranked among the elite pound-for-pound fighters in the world. In fact, Aldo was recently selected as FIGHT magazines' 2009 fighter of the year.

Columbus, Ohio hosts the next big WEC event and showcases the ultra talented striker Dominick Cruz facing the current bantamweight champion Brian Bowles. Bowles pulled off the upset of the year against the seemingly invincible Miguel Torres way back in August via violent knockout. Torres, who former UFC champ and WEC commentator Frank Mir described as the "best American born mixed martial artist" prior to the fight, boasted a remarkable 37-1 record. The Mexican-American's dedication and work ethic was legendary, his ferocity and killer instinct unmatched. Yet, Bowles completely dominated Torres from the opening bell. Torres, used to pressing the action, was caught off guard by the Georgia native's power and precision. He was dropped to the mat with a quick right hand within the first 2 minutes and knocked unconscious soon after.

His opponent Cruz looked great in his last victory against Joseph Benevidez. He kept the shorter Benevidez on the outside and used quick footwork, good headmovement, and sharp strikes to secure the victory. He also imployed great defensive wrestling skills on the ground. However, Benevidez doesn't have the explosive punching power of Bowles. The soft spoken champion dropped the iron chinned Torres with a single right hand. Granted, most critics and sportswriters would probably agree that Torres was too aggressive and got caught by a good punch. But the fact remains that Bowles owns a pair of laser guided missles for hands and is a proven finisher, all 8 of his fights have ended via stoppage. Cruz will have to move his head a lot and use his speed advantage to stay out of danger. Bowles will try to draw Cruz into brawl and land heavy blows to end the fight.

UFC 110 reflections

UFC 110 was an awesome event!! The card was stacked with exciting fights from top to bottom and certainly smashed even the most hopeful expectations. The Austrialians proved to be lively, educated, and loyal fight fans nearly blowing the roof off in support of thier hometown heroes. UFC 110 also showcased a wealth of young talent. It was clear that there are many bright young stars on the rise in nearly every division.

Biggest Winners:

Cain Velazquez- To describe Cain Velazquez as a "young hungry lion" is an understatement. Velzaquez is a force of nature, and his brutal knockout of the granite chinned Nogueira thrusts him into the upper echelon of the heavyweight division. As of now, I would place him as the solid #3 heavyweight in the UFC behind only Lesnar and Mir. What amazes me about Cain is his constant and rapid improvement in all areas. Both his striking and grappling are now world class. At first he was merely a top notch wrestler. Now he is both a top level wrestler AND a lethal striker who mixes fluid combinations with lighting fast takedowns. His striking is both powerful and accurate, his timing is impeccable. His chin might as well be made of steel and his cardio is unmatched by any big man. Velazquez will be a handful for any top heavyweight. Although he will give up at least 30 lbs if he faces Lesnar, I don't doubt that Cain has the ability to push the champion to his limits.

George Sotiropoulos- This mans ground game is SICK. He also has very nice hands and great cardio. The Aussie's 15 minute war with Stevenson was a barn burner! Stevenson is no joke and is a legitament test for any man in the 155lb division. He is a judo and bjj black belt with good boxing and gorilla like grappling strength. Despite his strenghts, Stevenson was dominated on the ground and was out boxed. Great performance by the Aussie!

Wanderli Silva- Silva needed a win to stay relevant. He looked excellent. The legend was much more technical and actually had a gameplan. As a pinpoint striker I predicted that Bisping would pick apart Silva on the feet. I was wrong. The brazilian's defense was good and he did not throw wild power shots. He stayed patient and kept his feet moving even mixing in some leg kicks on occasion. Big improvement by Wanderli. I hope to see him in action again soon.

Ryan Badr: Badr could probably knockout a rhino. The throws all his weight behind every punch and it must be scary to fight him because every blow is meant to smash your head like a pumpkin. Despite gassing in the second round, it was a great performance against a intelligent and tough veteran.


Bigest Losers:

Keith Jardine: It was his third loss in a row. Second in a row by KO. Not good. Things looked bright for Jardine going into the third round when it seemed as if Badr had faded. But one right hand, a flying knee, and a crunching left hook put Jardine to sleep once again. I would not be suprised if this is Jardine's curtain call.

Antonio Nogueira: Tough loss. Nogueria looked slow on his feet and a little hesitant to engage and it cost him. The normally iron chinned Brazilian ate numerous leg kicks and finally succumded to a vicious left-right combination to the jaw.

My 2 cents: UFC 110 predictions part 2

Co-Main Event: Wanderli Silva v. Michael Bisping

This highly anticipated match up will be a definite candidate for fight of the night. However,
I'm sensing there will be a juicy knockout of the night check waiting for the winner. I just don't see this one going the distance. Both men are finishers. They are relentless predators that swarm over their opponents like hungry wolves. Once an opening is found it is exploited and usually the fight is finished quickly.

Wanderli Silva is a legend. Plain and simple. He is a wild man with bone crunching power in both hands and an aggressive style that most find hard to deal with. His legacy was built in Japan as the nearly iconic middleweight champion. In Pride Silva was a force of nature, an intimidating presence that defeated most of his oppoents before they even stepped into the ring with him. However, Silva has faced a string of losses of late, winning only 1 out of his last 5 fights. Critics have questioned his chin and point to the massive amount of damage Silva has absorbed as a reason for retirement. However, no critic can question his willpower and heart. He has the ability to violently end a fight at any moment (just check out the Keith Jardine fight) and can also handle himself on the ground. Look for Wanderli to attack Bisping from the opening bell. Once again reunited with the famed Chute Boxe academy, Silva has ramped up the intensity of his training and has re-built his arsenal of weapons. The number 1 weapon of choice should be his knees from the clinch. His gameplan should be to bully Bisping around the ring and to keep his hands high to defend against Bisping's crisp counter punches. Meanwhile, he must close the distance and attack the body. On the feet, Bisping has the kickboxing skills to pick Wanderli apart over 3 rounds so he will try engage at close range. To close the distance, Silva will probably throw wild power shots, but once locked into the Muay Thai plum Silva has free reign to unload the same knee strikes that demolished Quinton "Rampage" Jackson in thier first two fights. The one thing Wanderli has over Bisping is one punch knockout power. One power shot can end Bisping's night early. I still believe that Bisping has been hesitant since the Henderson fight, and if he gets caught like he did against Dennis Kang he will get tucked into bed.

Michael "The Count" Bisping is a brash, confident, and fearless competitor. Much like Silva, Bisping would rather finish fights then allow decisions. Thus, Bisping prefers to beat his opponents into oblivion rather then grind them down. He is an excellent kickboxer with a diverse array of strikes, excellent foot speed, and top notch cardio. Amazingly, he also has good wrestling skills despite never hitting the mat a day in his life before beginning MMA. The Brit also showed solid ju-jitsu skills in his beat down of Kang, by controlling the black belt's posture and employing great hip escapes. He might not need many hip escapes against Silva. Silva will not shoot in for a takedown, the only way the fight will hit the ground is if Bisping initiates it. And he should. Bisping should use strikes to pepper Silva and then look for a takedown. Once on the ground, Bisping can rain down his fierce ground and pound and smash Wanderli. If Bisping insists on slugging it out he will eventually get clipped and finished brutally. The motto of the night for Bisping is "Don't brawl with the brawler". However, I don't belive Bisping will attempt to prove anything by standing in front of Silva. He will pick Silva apart with pinpoint kicks and punches and take the Brazilian down. The fight will be stopped on the ground when Silva eats a barrage of hammerfists and elbows.

Prediction: Bisping 3rd round TKO