All in all not a bad presser, at least from a fans POV. So let's get all 90's R&B and break it down...
Vitor is back!
All wierdness re: my Single White (Fe)male-ness aside, It's great to have a dynamic fighter like Vitor Belfort back where you may actually get to see him fight! You can't even find this guy on Unleashed! And Franklin vs. Belfort can only be a fantastic match. Right up both fighters' alley. Rich doesn't have to drop to 185 and he gets to fight a guy who is IMMEDIATELY in title contention. I'd like to have seen Vitor get a little bit of a warm up, but it's not like he hasn't been here before. This, to me, is the best news of the call. I'm looking for the Phenom to make an immediate impact in the UFC... I mean if Shogun can get a title shot, why can't he?
Tito is back!?
Looks to me like Tito was just on a break, and as I suspected there was no real way he wasn't coming back to the UFC. I'm hoping he's as rested and healed as he says he is. I'd like to see him be dominant again, but when you consider the opposition, i.e. Rampage, Rashad, Forrest, Machida, Franklin, hell, even Liddell again! and I don't see him in title contention. That being said it will be good to have him back, and good to not have him behind a broadcast booth. Gook luck Mr. Jameson.
The Fedor deal is dumb
There is no reason on this earth that UFC would co-promote with anyone. Ever. If that is the sticking point, then M-1 and Fedor can take this borscht and shove it. D Dubbs has nothing to gain from making that sort of deal. You show me a co-promotion deal and I'll show you one of two things: 1)A failure or 2)a going no where promotion. Also, I'll probably show you my rump.
Hendo gets the Spider!
This is GREAT news! Hendo is the only guy so far to really give Anderson Silva some trouble... in a long time. He's earned another shot. Glad to see he's getting it. Not sure why Vitor moved up, but since he's been so rad at 185, hopefully he'll move back down after the Ace fight.
Network deal etc...
I guess there is one in the works... meh. I'm happy with Spike and Vs. the best part about MMA is that you can watch it all year 'round. Hopefully this won't ever saturate. Also, ESPN+UFC+UK=meh for me. Good for them though.
Hopefully we can stop talking about Fedor now. He has proven that he doesn't want to fight in the UFC and it's really all about the money to him and his promoters. UFC already has the most recognizable heavyweight, maybe even mainstream fighter, in the world... Best of luck fading back into relative obscurity. Hopefully he'll get his head on straight and sign the deal. I'd like to see it, but I won't be broken-hearted not to.
|
This list is, of course, all my opinion. Which is all that counts...
1. Vitor Belfort signs a deal to take him to retirement.
I <3 him! Leave me alone!
2. Ace is fighting neither Hendo nor Tito.
There's been a lot of speculation that Tito may return to the UFC and that he may fight Rich Franklin in place of Dan Henderson (which is already a dumb match up). Please let Ace make a run at the LHW title. Please. While the Hendo fight MAY put him on the right path, Dan wants Silva. Give Rich a solid 205er like Thiago Silva or the Dean of Mean, Keith Jardine. Tito, at this point, means nothing until he also can string some fights together. No, that is, other than a payday.
3. The UFC will now broadcast on the moon.
This one's a little out there, but since we won't be hearing about the Fedor signing, I figure shoot for the stars. Literally.
4. Anderson Silva is relinquishing his belt and moving up.
and/or
5. Anderson Silva has agreed to fight GSP.
They really can't give him anyone else. All the other up and comers are great fighters, but not even in his league. I can't think of a 185er that would give him a solid challenge, except Hendo again. The GSP fight is coming... no doubt. Drop the belt, hold a 1 night tourney, old school style, and let Silva fight who ever the hell he wants. The UFC has proven over and over again that the big money is more important than the title picture anyway, and the Spider is ripe for some big time fights (assuming he can get past Forrest).
6. Dana and Tito are doing a Bosom Buddies remake.
I can only dream...
What else?
|
Last week I wrote that August was going to be the greatest month in MMA history. As is always the case with such grandiose statements (at least those made by me), shiz happens. But ain't nothing gonna' break my stride! Nobody gonna' slow me down! Oh no! I got to keep on moving!
So here are my imaginary predictions for the psuedo-imaginary main card fights (we'll still see some of them) that would have taken place at the now historic (also, now imaginary) Affliction: Trilogy event that should have been...
Main Card:
Fedor doing calistenics.
Fedor Emlienenko (100000-1) vs. Josh Barnett (o-3 vs pee tests):
The fight that ended it all. The battle of the flabby midsections... nonetheless this should have been a great fight. But then, so should Fedor vs. Arlovski have been. There's no reason to believe that the Thrilla from Rubizhne wouldn't have steam rolled Barnett. Cycle or not, The Baby Faced Assasin only seems to be on top when either a) he is using the 'roids or b) isn't being tested for using the 'roids (see part a.). But who knows? Maybe Fedor might have had a bad day? Maybe all those ice creams would have caught up with him? Maybe... ah who am I kidding.
-Fedor by submission due to strikes, Rd 2
Renato "Babalu" Sobral (1-0 vs David Heath's swallow reflex) vs. Gegard Mousasi (undefeated when fighting in the US):
Babalu will forever be remembered for 2 things; the afore-alluded to mugging of David Heath and being Chuck Lidell's title run fodder. Truth is, he's a talented fighter and has been doing his best to remind people of that lately. Gegard's an up and comer with a solid record against people not on Cat Ballou's level. I was (and will be) looking for "The Dreamcatcher" to take the next step in competition by putting Sobral down like a clown. With a frown.
-Mousasi by KO due to headkick, Rd 2
Vitor Belfort (1-0 vs my heart) vs. Jorge Santiago (1-0 vs a guy named LaVerne)
Soooooo... I'll admit to having a bit of a man-crush on Mr. Belfort. He was one of my favorite fighters in the early days, so it warms my heart to see him look as dominating as ever. He's mostly lost to "names" though, which means he needs to step it up. A devastating KO against an exciting journeyman like Santiago should've put him right on the cusp of where he needs to be for a title somewhere. I'd would have expected an exciting battle, but I also heart Vitor Belfort.
-Belfort by knuckle sammiches, Rd 2
Gilbert Yvel (undefeated vs. refs) vs. Paul Buentello (1-0 vs Tank Abbot... in 2007)
Two guys with a poop-ton of striking stoppages between them... could have been a fight filled with "fistic" (please look up that word and tell me it's not real) fireworks. More likely they would have worn each other out. Not really sure why this fight is on the main card, while Rothwell, Heiron, Horodecki, and Lauzon aren't. Maybe too much salary here? Maybe another reason why Affliction ran out of money? Who knows... anywho. Punches. Punches. Punches. You get the idea.
-Yvel by decision, Rd 2
Takanori Gomi (0-0 vs. stoners) vs. Rafaello Oliveria (0-1 vs Wikipedia)
Look, I'll be the first to admit that I know close to nothing about the Japanese MMA scene. But I do know Gomi. So suck it!
-Gomi by fireball, kid!, Rd 2
PS. Thank you for sending Ben Rothwell to the UFC. He's probably the best heavyweight that no one seems to care about. This is where he belongs. Do I think he can beat Brock? Not yet... but I do think he makes for some compelling match-ups, especially for the UFC's "new HW guard".
Loading image
Click anywhere to cancel
![]()
![]()
|
So it's pretty clear that Josh Barnett made a huge, idiotic, career altering mistake. Twice. IMO, there's no clearer sign that you no longer belong in the "big leagues" than if your success seems directly tied to your use of banned substances, as it does in this case.
But...
Let's not pretend for a minute that the Babyface is to blame for Affliction's woes. They, to simplify, suffered from the same problem EliteXC did: They put all of their chickens in one basket. One pudgy, yet incredibly talented, Russian basket. Who knows how much undisclosed money they funneled to Fedor, not to mention all of the "high profile" fighters that fought Fedor and never fought for Affliction again. Simply, as you all know, they spent more than they had. They took a gamble and it didn't pan out... all signs pointed to them not making it much further than 3 anyway.
Affliction goes back to sponsoring the UFC, Barnett goes back to Japan... all is right with Dana White. Fedor goes back to relative main stream obscurity? Let's hope not. Let's also hope that Strikeforce doesn't decide to counter program the UFC with a multi-million dollar Fedor fight. At least not yet...
PS: Here's a great knock-out highlights vid, courtesy of Sportsviews.com. There's a dis-proportionate amount of vintage Wandy, but when has that ever been a bad thing?
|
Ok. So I was all set to christen this new site with an in-depth, well thought out and provocative post on how August is going to be the greatest month in MMA history. With no less than 5(!) events from major organizations happening in the next 30+ days, numerous title matches, intriguing mid-card fights, and future title match implications, August should have been spec-freaking-tacular.
But wait! Clasp your Clydesdales! What's this? Josh Barnett is going to, once again, attempt to ruin his MMA (in the U.S. any way, since Japan clearly doesn't care) career, as well as severely damage Affliction's future prospects? Alistair Overeem STILL can't defend his Strikeforce title? Kimo has died?
So will August still be the greatest month in MMA history? I argue,"Yes, you fool!"
Here, in no particular order (because there is no person alive that would describe my brain as "in order") is why I'm one pizzumped chump for August:
Gina Carano vs. Cyborg for a women's title. The ramifications for this are amazing. This isn't like the WNBA. These women are headlining a fight card filled with dudes! Headlining! And this will be no cat fight... these ladies are as tough as they come, in case you live on Mars and haven't seen them brutalizing anyone lately. A five round title fight. I can't wait.
Anderson Silva gets some competition! So what if Forrest Griffin was only the champ for one day (or something like that), he's still pretty bad arse. And while I'm not sure he will pull it off, it will at least be interesting. I think... hope. Silva is steadily staking a claim as the pound for pound most boring fighter. Forrest is always at the top of the opposite list. Even when he's flopping around on the ground.
Vitor Belfort fights... Fedor?! Sweet mother of Zod! This isn't a good idea on any level. But The Phenom is one of my favies of all time, and any chance to get to see him test his mettle against the best in the world is ok with me. If he wins... does he get the belt?
Other highlights:
Miguel Torres vs. Brian Bowles
BJ vs. Kenny... this has gotten awesome written all over it, depending on which BJ shows up. BTW, pool jumping is cool.
A couple of old guys duke it out(I keed!) on the same card that I get to watch Damain Maia roll some slick Jitz all over Nate Marquardt.
Bob-a-loo vs Guh-gard
Diaz vs. Riggs II
Sanctioned MMA in Philly! Super-stardom awaits whoever utilizes the Kensington Curb Kick!
And on and on and on...
What the funk? This is going to be an expensive (and worth every dollar) month for fight fans...
What else am I missing?
|
