Here is my NFL Draft recap for the NFC teams:
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys
Best Draft Picks: Tyron Smith, OT (Round 1), Bruce Carter, LB (Round 2), Demarco Murray, RB (Round 3), Dwayne Harris, WR (Round 6)
Draft Grade: B+
Comments: This may be one of the Cowboys best drafts of the last decade. They drafted according to need and the best player available. Smith is an athletic, strong Tackle who can play on either side of the line. Carter can play any of the Linebacker positions; he is fast, strong, and dynamic. Murray is probably most underrated Running Back in this year's draft. People forget how good he played at Oklahoma so relying of NFL Combine stats doesn't tell the whole story.
New York Giants
Best Draft Picks: Prince Amukamara, CB (Round 1), Marvin Austin, DT (Round 2), Greg Jones, LB (Round 6), Tyler Sash, S (Round 6)
Draft Grade: B
Comments: The Giants used the draft to beef up their defense. Amukamara reminds me skills-wise of Pro Bowl Corner Nnamdi Asomugha. Austin is a first round talent who dropped to the 2nd round because of off the field issues. Jones and Sash have great football instincts and hit hard. The only negative about the Giants draft is that they didn't do much to address this offensive line depth.
Philadelphia Eagles
Best Draft Picks: Danny Watkins, OG (Round 1), Casey Matthews, LB (Round 4), Dion Lewis, RB (Round 5), Brian Rolle, LB (Round 6)
Draft Grade: B
Comments: The Eagles needed help on Defense and their Offensive line. Good news is they did address most of their needs. Watkins can start as a rookie and do well. Matthews and Rolle are underrated, talented Linebackers while Lewis was LeSean McCoy's backup at University of Pittsburg. Bad news is the Eagles did a poor job addressing their needs at defensive back by drafting raw, unproven players.
Washington Redskins
Best Draft Picks: Ryan Kerrigan, DE (Round 1), Leonard Hankerson, WR (Round 3), Roy Helu, RB (Round 4), Evan Royster, RB (Round 6)
Draft Grade: B
Comments: It looks like the Redskins used the draft to get the players to fit the system they tried to run last season. Kerrigan plays the position of Defensive End in the 3-4 defense that Albert Haynesworth refused to do. Hankerson is one of the best possesion receivers in the draft with great hands. Helu is a speed back who can shed tackles while Royster is a power back who runs hard down hill and tries to run through linebackers. Adding talent and depth to the Redskins is part of Shanahan's plan to rebuild this team into a contender.
NFC North
Chicago Bears
Best Draft Picks: Gabe Carimi, OT (Round 1), Stephen Paea, DT (Round 2)
Draft Grade: C+
Comments: The Bears had only five draft picks this year because they traded away picks to the Broncos to get QB jay Cutler. The grabed good players with their first couple picks but the rest of the picks were head scratchers. Carimi was one of (if not the best) Offensive Tackle in college football last year and he can immediately step in to help an offensive line that was the worst of all last season's NFL playoff teams. Paea is a raw talent who is still learning to play the defensive tackle position but he showed last season he can be an unstoppable force.
Detroit Lions
Best Draft Picks: Nick Fairley, DT (Round 1), Titus Young, WR (Round 2), Mikel Leshoure, RB (Round 2), Douglas Hogue, OLB (R5)
Draft Grade: A-
Comments: The Lions offered their first 3 draft picks to the Cardinals to move up to 5th overall to get Patrick Peterson. Since that didn't work out the Lions made the best of those three picks, literally. Fairley reminds me of Warren Sapp, so think about a young Sapp playing next to Ndamukung Suh. Young was the top offensive target in Boise State's high powered offense last season and he is the perfect compliment to Calvin Johnson. Leshoure is a power back that can split time with the speedy Javid Best. Hogue played lineback in college but because of his excellent coverage skills the Lions could turn him into a Strong Safety and develop him.
Green Bay Packers
Best Draft Picks: Derek Sherrod, OT (Round 1), Randall Cobb, WR (Round 2), Alexander Green, RB (Round 3), DJ Williams, TE/HB (Round 5)
Draft Grade: B+
Comments: The Packers had ten draft picks in the 2011 draft but they made the best of their first three. Sherrod is a solid Tackle to help protect Aaron Rodgers. Cobb was arguably the best player and biggest weapon at the University of Kentucky last season as a Kick and Punt Returner, Wide Receiver and he played in the Wildcat formation a couple times. Most people do not know about Green since he played for Hawaii; his skills appear to be a combination of Ryan Grant and Ahmad Green. Williams is one of those offensive talents who doesn't have a real position on the field but a smart offensive coordinator will get him on the field so he can make an impact.
Minnesota Vikings
Best Draft Picks: Christian Ponder, QB (Round 1), Kyle Rudolph, TE (Round 2), Christian Ballard, DL (Round 4), Mistral Raymond, S (Round 6), Ross Homan, LB (Round 6)
Draft Grade: B
Comments: Although I agree with most people that the Vikings serious reached picking Ponder at 12th overall, I think Ponder can be a good pro Quarterback. Ponder is very similar to Chad Pennington except Ponder is more athletic and has a stronger arm. Rudolph has the skills to be a Pro Bowl caliber Tight End. Ballard, Raymond, and Homan all have good football instincts along with being versitle players; they can be developed into solid starters on the defensive side of the ball.
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons
Best Draft Picks: Julio Jones, WR (Round 1), Akeem Dent, ILB (Round 3), Jacquizz Rodgers, RB (Round 5), Cliff Matthews, DE (Round 7)
Draft Grade: C+
Comments: Although the Falcons drafted good players who can contribute as rookies in 2011, they gave up too much to move up to get Julio Jones. Is any player worth two 1st round picks and several other picks?!? Dont get me wrong, Jones is a big time talent with great potential but in college he wasn’t the most dependable player and defenses in the SEC were able to make him a non-factor at times and take him out of the game. Dent could become a solid NFL starter at Middle Lineback while Rodgers was very underrated talent who could be the next Warrick Dunn in the NFL.
Carolina Panthers
Best Draft Picks: Terrell McClain, DT (Round 3), Sione Fua, DT (Round 3), Kealoha Pilares, WR (Round 5)
Draft Grade: C-
Comments: I am not a fan of the Panthers taking Cam Newton number one overall in this year’s draft. Newton is a super talent, but he comes off as over confident and he only played one season in college. The fact that people have said he is a “better version of Tim Tebow” is an insult. Tebow played in college four years and had to deal with teams game planning against him. Newton was a one year suprise; when a team had a month to gameplan for him (University of Oregon in the national title game) Newton looked limited. McClain and Fua are upgrades for the Panthers on the defensive line so atleast Carolina did something right in the draft.
New Orleans Saints
Best Draft Picks: Cameron Jordan, DE (Round 1), Mark Ingram, RB (Round 1), Martez Wilson, OLB (R3), Nathan Bussey, LB (Round 7)
Draft Grade: B+
Comments: The Saints found a way to get two of the best players in the draft at their positions in the first round. Jordan has the potential to be a force on defense and Ingram is an NFL-ready Running back who could be an offensive rookie of the year candidate if he gets enough touches. Wilson is an underrated talent who could be developed into a solid NFL starter. Bussey could easily be the next Steve Tasker.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Best Draft Picks: Adrian Clayborn, DE (Round 1), Da’Quan Bowers, DE (Round 2), Luke Stocker, TE (Round 4), Ahmad Black, S (Round 5), Allen Bradford, RB (Round 6)
Draft Grade: B+
Comments: The Buccs draft can be characterized by one word: Steals. Getting a super talent like Bowers in the second round when they already drafted a solid defensive end in the first round gives the Buccs many more options on defense with schemes and blitz packages. Black may not have shown much at the NFL combine but he was the leader of the Gator defense at Florida and is one of the smartest, toughest, most instinctive Safeties to come out of college in years. Bradford and Stocker provide depth at positions that are thin for Tampa.
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals
Best Draft Picks: Patrick Peterson, CB (Round 1), Ryan Williams, RB (Round 2), Sam Acho, DE (Round 4)
Draft Grade: B-
Comments: For a team that was in the Super Bowl a couple years ago, they have many needs to fill on both sides of the ball. Peterson is the player who I consider the best player in the NFL draft this year. He has excellent coverage skills, solid tackler, and can be a star in the punt and kick return game. Williams is a power Running Back for a team that got little production from its RB’s last season. Acho has Reggie White type abilities. The problem with Arizona’s draft is that there are a few players they drafted with some questions about their ability to be successful at the NFL level and they didn’t select enough “can’t miss” talent.
St. Louis Rams
Best Draft Picks: Robert Quinn, DE (Round 1), Lance Kendricks, TE (Round 2), Austin Pettis, WR (Round 3), Greg Salas, WR (Round 4), Jermale Hines, S (Round 5)
Draft Grade: A-
Comments: The Rams are big time winners in this year’s draft. They got a super talented, athletic pass rusher (Quinn), a Pro Bowl caliber receiving Tight End (Kendricks), two Wide Receivers who are great route runners with good hands (Pettis and Salas), and an underrated Safety who reminds me of Brian Dawkins (Hines). I’m not sure who should be more happy with these draft selections: Quarterback Sam Bradford or Rams fans.
Seattle Seahawks
Best Draft Picks: John Moffitt, OG (Round 3)
Draft Grade: D-
Comments: The Seahawks draft was so confussing and questionable that my head spins just thinking about it. They overreached to draft James Carpenter in the first round. The rest of their picks (not named John Moffit) make little sense for their team. After beating the defending Super Bowl champions in the playoffs, they did almost nothing to get better. Being the team in a weak division with the worst draft class is a bad sign for the 2011 season.
San Fransisco 49ers
Best Draft Picks: Colin Kaepernick, QB (Round 2), Kendall Hunter, RB (Round 4), Ronald Johnson, WR (Round 6), Colin Jones, S (Round 6)
Draft Grade: B-
Comments: The first draft of the Harbaugh Coaching Era in San Fransisco was solid. I know many people like their first round selection of Aldon Smith but I think they could have gotten a similar type of talent later in the draft. Kaepernick has the potential to be a good NFL Quarterback and Hunter is reminds me of Brian Westbrook. Johnson and Jones strengthen the 49ers’ depth at their respective positions.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
2011 NFL Draft Overview: AFC
Now that I have had time to digest the three day media frenzy known as the NFL Draft, I will proceed to review each teams draft picks and grade how they did in terms of who they drafted and what each team needed. Today I will review the AFC teams. Next blog will be the overview of NFC team's draft picks.
AFC East
Buffalo Bills
Best Draft Picks: Marcell Dareus, DT (Round 1), Aaron Williams, CB (Round 2), Kelvin Sheppard, LB (Round 3), Chris Hairston OT (R4)
Draft Grade: B+
Comments: The Bills had many needs on both sides of the ball coming into this game. They showed heart and toughness last season but without enough talent you can't win many games in the NFL. Its hard to give the Bills too much credit for pick with the 3rd overall pick the player who I considered the second best defensive player in the entire draft when he happened to be available. But in drafting Sheppard and Williams they upgraded their defense with two talented players who have excellent potential and can contribute sooner then later. Also they drafted a good offensive line prospect in Chris Hairston who flew under the radar mostly because he was arguable the best offensive lineman on a team which had a rough season doing much on offense.
Miami Dolphins
Best Draft Picks: Mike Pouncey, C/OG (Round 1), Daniel Thomas, RB (Round 2)
Draft Grade: C
Comments: The Dolphins had two good picks in the early rounds but as the draft went on they kept picking players that either didn't fit what they need or players who are limited in skills. Pouncey and Thomas can contribute immediately for the Dolphins which is helpful for a team with limited depth. But they needed more offensive weapons along with secondary help yet I doubt Edmund Gates (WR) or Jimmy Wilson will be able to solve either of those needs.
New England Patroits
Best Draft Picks: Nat Solder, OT (Round 1), Ras-I Dowling, CB (Round 2), Stevan Ridley, RB (Round 3), Marcus Cannon, OT (Round 5)
Draft Grade: B-
Comments: The Patriots' biggest need was pass rushers on defense. The closest they got in filling that need was a 6th round defensive end who is as raw talent wise as vegetables just picked out of one's garden. Solder has the potential to me a great offensive lineman while Dowling and Ridley are better then the "experts" give them credit for. Only time will tell if not picking a dynamic pass rusher in this years draft will hurt the team's ability to get back to a Super Bowl any time soon.
New York Jets
Best Draft Picks: Kenrick Ellis, DT (Round 3), Jeremy Kerley, WR (Round 5), Greg McElroy, QB (Round 7)
Draft Grade: B-
Comments: The reason I give the Jets the same grade as the Patriots is because of their top pick Muhammed Wilkerson. Wilkerson is a physical specimen and one of the best talents in this years draft. Yet there were times in games he disapeared and not because he was double teamed. The Jets could have taken Da'Quan Bowers, a player they could have lined up at multiple positions like the Baltimore Ravens have with Jarret Johnson and Haloti Ngata. Wilkerson in a hands down defensive lineman that I am unsure if he is polished enough of a player to make an impact in the next 2 years. Picking up Ellis and Kerley adds depth to their respective positions on the field and can help this coming year. Meanwhile, Greg McElroy could be to the Jets what Frank Reich was to the Buffalo Bills during their Super Bowl years. Reich was the backup of Hall of Famer Jim Kelly and whenever he got time on the field he was a leader yet good enough that the Bills did not need to rush Kelly back onto the field before recovering from injuries.
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens
Best Draft Picks: Jimmy Smith, CB (Round 1), Torrey Smith, WR (Round 2), Tandon Doss, WR (Round 4), Anthony Allen, RB (Round 7)
Draft Grade: B+
Comments: The Ravens did a good job at drafting value in each round. Jimmy Smith in my opinion was a better college cornerback then Prince Amukamara (who was drafted earlier in the 1st round). Torrey Smith is a deep threat wideout and Tandon Doss is an excellent possesion receiver who is great on third down and in the Red Zone. They needed depth for their secondary and wide receiver corp so they addressed both successfully.
Cincinnati Bengals
Best Draft Picks: AJ Green, WR (Round 1), Andy Dalton, QB (Round 2), Dontay Moch, LB (Round 3), Ryan Whalen, WR (Round 6)
Draft Grade: B
Comments: With Carson Palmer wanting out of town and the uncertainty of Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson's future production the Bengals needed to do some retooling. They drafted the best Wide Receiver in the draft (Green) while picking up in the second round the most underrated Quarterback in this year's draft class (Daulton). Andy Daulton skills and collegiate career compare very well to another underrated Quarterback who was drafted in the second round: Drew Brees. Moch and Whalen add depth to the team at their respective positions. Their draft grade would have been higher if they had addressed the offensive and defensive lines in the draft.
Cleveland Browns
Best Draft Picks: Greg Little, WR (Round 2), Jordan Cameron, TE (Round 4), Owen Marecic, FB/LB (Round 4)
Draft Grade: C-
Comments:The Browns used their first 2 picks on defensive lineman that did little to impress me in college. Phil Taylor showed flashes on talent but was inconsisten while Jabaal Sheard was not as a big a factor while playing at Pitt as the "experts" hype him to be. Little can be a solid NFL Wide Receiver while Cameron has similar skills to Kellen Winslow Jr. (who the Browns drafted in 2004). Owen Marecic is a great locker room guy who works hard and plays bigger then his size. Yet in the end the Browns could have done more to address their needs at Wide Receiver, Offensive Line and Linebacker.
Pittsburg Steelers
Best Draft Picks: Cameron Heyward, DE (Round 1), Marcus Gilbert, OT (Round 2), Curtis Brown, CB (Round 3), Keith Williams, OG (Round 6)
Draft Grade: B
Comments: The Steelers organization understands that if they want to stay a playoff contender they must keep reloading through the draft. They are getting old on the offensive and defensive lines. Heyward is a beast and an underrated talent in a deep defense line class. Curtis Brown was the "other Texas Cornerback" playing opposite of the talented Aaron Williams. Brown is a smart corner who can immediately contribute as a solid Nickel cover guy. I was expecting the Steelers to pick up a Running Back in the middle rounds but instead they passed on many of them which makes me wonder if they will add to their RB depth via free agency.
AFC South
Houston Texans
Best Draft Picks: JJ Watt, DE (Round 1), Brandon Harris, CB (Round 2), Shiloh Keo, S (Round 5)
Draft Grade: C
Comments: The Texans are changing to a 3-4 with new Defensive Coordinator Wade Phillips and JJ Watts is the perfect Defensive End for that scheme. But Watt is the major highlight of the Texans draft since they used most of their picks on players who most teams were not looking at it seems. Harris and Keo will add depth and can contribute their rookie seasons but the Texans did not get any real "steals" in this years draft.
Indianapolis Colts
Best Draft Picks: Anthony Castonzo, OT (Round 1), Benjamin Ijalana, OT (Round 2)
Draft Grade: C+
Comments: Colts beefed up their Offensive Line with two big, solid Tackles to protect Peyton Manning. Castonzo is the best NFL ready OT in the draft while Ijalana is probably the most underrated Offensive linemen in this year's draft class. After those two good picks, the Colts had only three other draft picks and they didn't do much with those picks. Sixth round pick Chris Rucker is a wild card for the Colts because he has the talent to be a Pro Bowl level Cornerback but Rucker had maturity issues at Michigan State and has made some bad off the field choices in the past.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Best Draft Picks: Blaine Gabbert, QB (Round 1)
Draft Grade: D+
Comments: This is the second straight year the Jaguars have had a draft full of players that makes me scratch my head. They have one of the most accurate, solid starting Quarterbacks in the NFL yet they draft a talented QB "for the future". Since they gave up draft picks to move up to pick Gabbert, the Jags used their remaining four picks to select players who really did not stand out in college. Being able to workout great in shorts and looking good in a weightroom does not always translate to on the field production (just ask the Packers how Tony Mandarich worked out for them).
Tennessee Titans
Best Draft Picks: Jake Locker, QB (Round 1), Akeem Ayers, LB (Round 2), Jurrell Casey, DT (Round 3), Colin McCarthy, LB (Round 4), Karl Klug, DL (Round 5)
Draft Grade: B+
Comments: Some people think the Titans reached for Jake Locker yet people forget that Locker would have been the number one pick in last year's draft AHEAD of Sam Bradford. Locker went back to school to get his degree. Sure he had a down year but that down year can help him develop into an even better NFL QB. He reminds me of a right handed Steve Young; many of the criticisms of Locker coming out of college is what the "experts" said about Young when he was drafted. The Titans also drafted one of the most talented Linebackers available, two underrated-hard working Defensive linemen, and a hard-nosed Inside Linebacker. They got a franchise QB to replace the departing Vince Young and strengthened their defense with guys who can play as rookies.
AFC South
Denver Broncos
Best Draft Picks: Von Miller, LB (Round 1), Rahim Moore, S (Round 2), Orlando Franklin, OG (Round 2), Quinton Carter, S (Round 4), Virgil Green, TE (Round 7)
Draft Grade: A-
Comments: Denver had one of the worst defenses in the NFL last season. So they hired a new Head Coach who knows how to build defenses and be a winner. John Fox is the perfect head coach to rebuild this team and this draft is a great foundation for their future. Von Miller could be the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year this coming season while Moore can start next to Brian Dawkins Week 1. Franklin has the skills to develop into a solid starting Guard. The criticisms of Green that he "lacks size" and needs to develop as a better route runner and blocker was also said about a former Bronco that he reminds me of: Shannon Sharpe.
Kansas City Chiefs
Best Draft Picks: Jonathan Baldwin, WR (Round 1), Allen Bailey, DE (Round 3), Ricky Stanzi, QB (Round 5)
Draft Grade: C+
Comments: The Chiefs drafted what they needed in this year's draft. They needed depth at Wide Receiver, Defensive and Offensive Line, as well as at Linebacker. Selecting Stanzi is a nice backup for Matt Cassel (since Brody Croyle has never won an NFL game). But none of their picks were exciting or flashy. Maybe thats what the Cheifs wanted: good, professional football players. They didn't really fill all of their needs though so if I was a Chiefs fan it would be hard for me to get too excited.
Oakland Raiders
Best Draft Picks: Stefen Wisiniewski, OL (Round 2), Chimdi Chekwa, CB (Round 4), Danarius Moore, WR (Round 5)
Draft Grade: C
Comments: Raiders picked up some solid players in this year's draft. Wisiniewski can start immediately in the NFL and could develop into a 10 year, solid starter. Chewka was one of the best defensive backs in the Big Ten Conference this past season. Moore got some bad reviews from "experts" because he did not have the performances or stats other SEC receivers did yet he was the Vols go to receiver and played under a different offensive coordinator with difference offenses in each season he was at Tennessee. But as usual the Raiders drafted the NFL Combine stars who showed little while in college (Demarcus Van Dyke, Taiwan Jones, Joe Barksdale) so the good picks balance out with the bad selections.
San Diego Chargers
Best Draft Picks: Corey Liuget, DL (Round 1), Marcus Gilchrist, CB (Round 2), Shareece Wright, CB (Round 3)
Draft Grade: C+
Comments: While the Chargers strengthened their defensive depth, they did so with players who are not going to "wow" anyone. Liuget has the most potential to be a good starter but he needs to work at it. Gilchrist is a jack-of-all-trades defensive back who needs a specific position. Mouton made some good plays at Michigan State because most Big Ten teams gameplanned against letting his teammates beat them. Aside from Wright, the rest of their 3rd round and later draft picks did not impress me in college. Obviously the key to those excellent drafts the Chargers use to have was former Head Coach Marty Shottenheimer and not General Manager A.J. Smith.
AFC East
Buffalo Bills
Best Draft Picks: Marcell Dareus, DT (Round 1), Aaron Williams, CB (Round 2), Kelvin Sheppard, LB (Round 3), Chris Hairston OT (R4)
Draft Grade: B+
Comments: The Bills had many needs on both sides of the ball coming into this game. They showed heart and toughness last season but without enough talent you can't win many games in the NFL. Its hard to give the Bills too much credit for pick with the 3rd overall pick the player who I considered the second best defensive player in the entire draft when he happened to be available. But in drafting Sheppard and Williams they upgraded their defense with two talented players who have excellent potential and can contribute sooner then later. Also they drafted a good offensive line prospect in Chris Hairston who flew under the radar mostly because he was arguable the best offensive lineman on a team which had a rough season doing much on offense.
Miami Dolphins
Best Draft Picks: Mike Pouncey, C/OG (Round 1), Daniel Thomas, RB (Round 2)
Draft Grade: C
Comments: The Dolphins had two good picks in the early rounds but as the draft went on they kept picking players that either didn't fit what they need or players who are limited in skills. Pouncey and Thomas can contribute immediately for the Dolphins which is helpful for a team with limited depth. But they needed more offensive weapons along with secondary help yet I doubt Edmund Gates (WR) or Jimmy Wilson will be able to solve either of those needs.
New England Patroits
Best Draft Picks: Nat Solder, OT (Round 1), Ras-I Dowling, CB (Round 2), Stevan Ridley, RB (Round 3), Marcus Cannon, OT (Round 5)
Draft Grade: B-
Comments: The Patriots' biggest need was pass rushers on defense. The closest they got in filling that need was a 6th round defensive end who is as raw talent wise as vegetables just picked out of one's garden. Solder has the potential to me a great offensive lineman while Dowling and Ridley are better then the "experts" give them credit for. Only time will tell if not picking a dynamic pass rusher in this years draft will hurt the team's ability to get back to a Super Bowl any time soon.
New York Jets
Best Draft Picks: Kenrick Ellis, DT (Round 3), Jeremy Kerley, WR (Round 5), Greg McElroy, QB (Round 7)
Draft Grade: B-
Comments: The reason I give the Jets the same grade as the Patriots is because of their top pick Muhammed Wilkerson. Wilkerson is a physical specimen and one of the best talents in this years draft. Yet there were times in games he disapeared and not because he was double teamed. The Jets could have taken Da'Quan Bowers, a player they could have lined up at multiple positions like the Baltimore Ravens have with Jarret Johnson and Haloti Ngata. Wilkerson in a hands down defensive lineman that I am unsure if he is polished enough of a player to make an impact in the next 2 years. Picking up Ellis and Kerley adds depth to their respective positions on the field and can help this coming year. Meanwhile, Greg McElroy could be to the Jets what Frank Reich was to the Buffalo Bills during their Super Bowl years. Reich was the backup of Hall of Famer Jim Kelly and whenever he got time on the field he was a leader yet good enough that the Bills did not need to rush Kelly back onto the field before recovering from injuries.
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens
Best Draft Picks: Jimmy Smith, CB (Round 1), Torrey Smith, WR (Round 2), Tandon Doss, WR (Round 4), Anthony Allen, RB (Round 7)
Draft Grade: B+
Comments: The Ravens did a good job at drafting value in each round. Jimmy Smith in my opinion was a better college cornerback then Prince Amukamara (who was drafted earlier in the 1st round). Torrey Smith is a deep threat wideout and Tandon Doss is an excellent possesion receiver who is great on third down and in the Red Zone. They needed depth for their secondary and wide receiver corp so they addressed both successfully.
Cincinnati Bengals
Best Draft Picks: AJ Green, WR (Round 1), Andy Dalton, QB (Round 2), Dontay Moch, LB (Round 3), Ryan Whalen, WR (Round 6)
Draft Grade: B
Comments: With Carson Palmer wanting out of town and the uncertainty of Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson's future production the Bengals needed to do some retooling. They drafted the best Wide Receiver in the draft (Green) while picking up in the second round the most underrated Quarterback in this year's draft class (Daulton). Andy Daulton skills and collegiate career compare very well to another underrated Quarterback who was drafted in the second round: Drew Brees. Moch and Whalen add depth to the team at their respective positions. Their draft grade would have been higher if they had addressed the offensive and defensive lines in the draft.
Cleveland Browns
Best Draft Picks: Greg Little, WR (Round 2), Jordan Cameron, TE (Round 4), Owen Marecic, FB/LB (Round 4)
Draft Grade: C-
Comments:The Browns used their first 2 picks on defensive lineman that did little to impress me in college. Phil Taylor showed flashes on talent but was inconsisten while Jabaal Sheard was not as a big a factor while playing at Pitt as the "experts" hype him to be. Little can be a solid NFL Wide Receiver while Cameron has similar skills to Kellen Winslow Jr. (who the Browns drafted in 2004). Owen Marecic is a great locker room guy who works hard and plays bigger then his size. Yet in the end the Browns could have done more to address their needs at Wide Receiver, Offensive Line and Linebacker.
Pittsburg Steelers
Best Draft Picks: Cameron Heyward, DE (Round 1), Marcus Gilbert, OT (Round 2), Curtis Brown, CB (Round 3), Keith Williams, OG (Round 6)
Draft Grade: B
Comments: The Steelers organization understands that if they want to stay a playoff contender they must keep reloading through the draft. They are getting old on the offensive and defensive lines. Heyward is a beast and an underrated talent in a deep defense line class. Curtis Brown was the "other Texas Cornerback" playing opposite of the talented Aaron Williams. Brown is a smart corner who can immediately contribute as a solid Nickel cover guy. I was expecting the Steelers to pick up a Running Back in the middle rounds but instead they passed on many of them which makes me wonder if they will add to their RB depth via free agency.
AFC South
Houston Texans
Best Draft Picks: JJ Watt, DE (Round 1), Brandon Harris, CB (Round 2), Shiloh Keo, S (Round 5)
Draft Grade: C
Comments: The Texans are changing to a 3-4 with new Defensive Coordinator Wade Phillips and JJ Watts is the perfect Defensive End for that scheme. But Watt is the major highlight of the Texans draft since they used most of their picks on players who most teams were not looking at it seems. Harris and Keo will add depth and can contribute their rookie seasons but the Texans did not get any real "steals" in this years draft.
Indianapolis Colts
Best Draft Picks: Anthony Castonzo, OT (Round 1), Benjamin Ijalana, OT (Round 2)
Draft Grade: C+
Comments: Colts beefed up their Offensive Line with two big, solid Tackles to protect Peyton Manning. Castonzo is the best NFL ready OT in the draft while Ijalana is probably the most underrated Offensive linemen in this year's draft class. After those two good picks, the Colts had only three other draft picks and they didn't do much with those picks. Sixth round pick Chris Rucker is a wild card for the Colts because he has the talent to be a Pro Bowl level Cornerback but Rucker had maturity issues at Michigan State and has made some bad off the field choices in the past.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Best Draft Picks: Blaine Gabbert, QB (Round 1)
Draft Grade: D+
Comments: This is the second straight year the Jaguars have had a draft full of players that makes me scratch my head. They have one of the most accurate, solid starting Quarterbacks in the NFL yet they draft a talented QB "for the future". Since they gave up draft picks to move up to pick Gabbert, the Jags used their remaining four picks to select players who really did not stand out in college. Being able to workout great in shorts and looking good in a weightroom does not always translate to on the field production (just ask the Packers how Tony Mandarich worked out for them).
Tennessee Titans
Best Draft Picks: Jake Locker, QB (Round 1), Akeem Ayers, LB (Round 2), Jurrell Casey, DT (Round 3), Colin McCarthy, LB (Round 4), Karl Klug, DL (Round 5)
Draft Grade: B+
Comments: Some people think the Titans reached for Jake Locker yet people forget that Locker would have been the number one pick in last year's draft AHEAD of Sam Bradford. Locker went back to school to get his degree. Sure he had a down year but that down year can help him develop into an even better NFL QB. He reminds me of a right handed Steve Young; many of the criticisms of Locker coming out of college is what the "experts" said about Young when he was drafted. The Titans also drafted one of the most talented Linebackers available, two underrated-hard working Defensive linemen, and a hard-nosed Inside Linebacker. They got a franchise QB to replace the departing Vince Young and strengthened their defense with guys who can play as rookies.
AFC South
Denver Broncos
Best Draft Picks: Von Miller, LB (Round 1), Rahim Moore, S (Round 2), Orlando Franklin, OG (Round 2), Quinton Carter, S (Round 4), Virgil Green, TE (Round 7)
Draft Grade: A-
Comments: Denver had one of the worst defenses in the NFL last season. So they hired a new Head Coach who knows how to build defenses and be a winner. John Fox is the perfect head coach to rebuild this team and this draft is a great foundation for their future. Von Miller could be the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year this coming season while Moore can start next to Brian Dawkins Week 1. Franklin has the skills to develop into a solid starting Guard. The criticisms of Green that he "lacks size" and needs to develop as a better route runner and blocker was also said about a former Bronco that he reminds me of: Shannon Sharpe.
Kansas City Chiefs
Best Draft Picks: Jonathan Baldwin, WR (Round 1), Allen Bailey, DE (Round 3), Ricky Stanzi, QB (Round 5)
Draft Grade: C+
Comments: The Chiefs drafted what they needed in this year's draft. They needed depth at Wide Receiver, Defensive and Offensive Line, as well as at Linebacker. Selecting Stanzi is a nice backup for Matt Cassel (since Brody Croyle has never won an NFL game). But none of their picks were exciting or flashy. Maybe thats what the Cheifs wanted: good, professional football players. They didn't really fill all of their needs though so if I was a Chiefs fan it would be hard for me to get too excited.
Oakland Raiders
Best Draft Picks: Stefen Wisiniewski, OL (Round 2), Chimdi Chekwa, CB (Round 4), Danarius Moore, WR (Round 5)
Draft Grade: C
Comments: Raiders picked up some solid players in this year's draft. Wisiniewski can start immediately in the NFL and could develop into a 10 year, solid starter. Chewka was one of the best defensive backs in the Big Ten Conference this past season. Moore got some bad reviews from "experts" because he did not have the performances or stats other SEC receivers did yet he was the Vols go to receiver and played under a different offensive coordinator with difference offenses in each season he was at Tennessee. But as usual the Raiders drafted the NFL Combine stars who showed little while in college (Demarcus Van Dyke, Taiwan Jones, Joe Barksdale) so the good picks balance out with the bad selections.
San Diego Chargers
Best Draft Picks: Corey Liuget, DL (Round 1), Marcus Gilchrist, CB (Round 2), Shareece Wright, CB (Round 3)
Draft Grade: C+
Comments: While the Chargers strengthened their defensive depth, they did so with players who are not going to "wow" anyone. Liuget has the most potential to be a good starter but he needs to work at it. Gilchrist is a jack-of-all-trades defensive back who needs a specific position. Mouton made some good plays at Michigan State because most Big Ten teams gameplanned against letting his teammates beat them. Aside from Wright, the rest of their 3rd round and later draft picks did not impress me in college. Obviously the key to those excellent drafts the Chargers use to have was former Head Coach Marty Shottenheimer and not General Manager A.J. Smith.
Monday, May 2, 2011
UFC 129 Aftermath
In front of the largest crowd in UFC history, the biggest MMA fight card of the year played out and now its time to review and look ahead
UFC Welterweight Champion George St. Pierre vs. Jake Shields
Result: St. Pierre via Unanimous Decision
George won in very unenthusiastic fashion. While this is a big name for GSP to add to his legacy as he builds his resume as one of the best in MMA history, he has shown a pattern of wanting to win safely more so then win convincingly. Both fighters refused to turn this into a war; neither Shields or St. Pierre really went after the other. Even when GSP had damage to his eye Shields did not capitalize. St. Pierre won because he did more then Shields not because he really "won" the fight.
Next for GSP: It seems like when the stage is the biggest (UFC 100 against Thiago Alves; UFC 129 against Jake Shields) George can't muster enough aggression when expectations are high for whatever reason. Hopefully someone in his camp will take the time to explain to him that putting on an indifferent perfomance hurts his image, reputation, and legacy as a fighter. I do not want to see GSP fight Anderson Silva until he shows in a fight the drive to dominate and be the best. A matchup with Strikeforce Welterweight Champ Nick Diaz would answer a lot of questions at this point.
Next for Shields: The reason why Shields won 15 fights in a row because he was determined to find a way in every fight to win at all costs. Yet Saturday night he looked nervous and unwilling to push the pace of the fight. The best thing for Shields is to get back into the Octagon and fight again soon. A matchup with Josh Koscheck would be good for the morale of both fighters after they both lost to GSP.
UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo vs. Mark Hominick
Result: Aldo via Unanimous decision
This was one of the most exciting fights of the night. Hominick showed that a solid standup fighter who is willing to maul an opponent on the ground has a chance against Aldo. Have to give alot of credit to the Champ for perservering through Hominick's pressure for five rounds. Aldo won more rounds then Hominick, its just ashame someone had to loose.
Next for Aldo: At the post-fight press conference, UFC President Dana White announced that Aldo would next defend his Featherweight belt against Chad Mendes at UFC 133 in Philadelphia. Seems like a short amount of time between fights for a guy who got his share of damage in a five round war. Three months and a week? Before you know it Aldo will channel his inner-Nick Diaz and complain he is being overworked and forced to fight too often....I'm just kidding.
Next for Hominick: Hominick may not have won the fight but he earned great respect from the fans, other fighters and the UFC brass. After he has sometime to heal from his "cosmetic injuries" and time with his new born child, a fight with either Josh Grispi (if he beats George Roop) or Diego Nunes (if he defeats Kenny Florian) would make sense and also ensure he doesn't drop to far back in the rankings top heavy featherweight division.
Randy Couture vs Lyoto Machida
Result: Machida via Knockout
Either Randy Couture didn't execute his gameplan right or the Lyoto Machida that dominated Tito Ortiz, Thiago Silva and Rashad Evans is back. Machida used an old school Kyokushin Karate kick (also known in Kung Fu as a form of the "Craine Kick") to knockout Couture. Steven Seagal and the Blackhouse Camp can try to spin this all they want, but Machida's extensive background in Karate is where that kick came from.
Next for Machida: This win stops a two fight losing streak for "The Dragon" and gives him the opportunity to start working his way back into contention for the light heavyweight belt. Although he wants to fight on the UFC 134: Rio card, all of his potential competition is booked for the next couple months. Best thing for Machida is to take sometime and see how fights such as Jackson-Hamill, Griffin-Shogun, Franklin-Little Nog, and Evans-Davis turn out. Only other option is for Strikeforce to loan the UFC Renato Sobral to fight Machida on the Rio card (unlikely, but it would be an interesting fight between two brazillians).
Next for Couture: After the fight Couture looked convinced he was done fighting. He's going to be 48 years old and he said he doesn't want to do what Chuck Liddell did (you know receiving brain damage in your last few fights before you get a desk job as a UFC executive). Couture has many hollywood options to go with and he will appear from time to time as an "advocate" for MMA fighters. The man is a legend and one of the best all time, let him walk away on his terms.
Vladimir Matyushenko vs. Jason Brilz
Result: Matyushenko via Knockout
Vlad "The Janitor" showed that there is still serious power left in his hands. Brilz lacked the saavy or refined skills to stay with Matyuskenko for long and the fight was over quickly.
Next for Matyushenko: Vlad isn't going to be working his way up the ranks to fight for the belt at this point in his career, but he is good enough to hang around for some interesting matchups. If Tito Ortiz beats Ryan Bader then you can have Ortiz-Matyushenko 2 or if Vlad "The Janitor" doesn't want to wait around too long for his next fight a matchup with Brandon Vera would workout for both fighters.
Next for Brilz: Going 3-3 in six fights in the UFC is respectable but its not going to help your chances of staying in the big leagues. After losing two fights in a row against MMA veterans, Brilz needs a fight against a fighter who isn't so saavy. A fight with Alexander Gustafsson would be interesting, testing Brilz standup skills and Gustafsson's wrestling skills.
Mark Bocek vs. Ben Henderson
Result: Henderson via unanimous decision
Although it was not the most exciting fight, Henderson won because he wanted it more the Bocek. Bocek had the crowd behind him but it wasn't enough as Henderson got his Mojo back and was able to counter Bocek's takedowns and not allow Bocek to do any damage.
Next for Henderson: Now that he has excercised the demons of his loss to Anthony Pettis in December, Henderson needs to keep working his way up the ranks of the crowded lightweight division. A matchup with either Sean Sherk or Takanori Gomi would be a good test for the former WEC Lightweight Champ.
Next for Bocek: At this point in his career, Bocek has showed that he is basically a gatekeeper to the top level of the lightweight division in the UFC. His four losses have been to Ben Henderson, Jim Miller, Mac Danzig, and Frank Edgar. Maybe its time that Bocek and Kurt Pellegrino fight to see who stays relevant in the UFC Lightweight division.
Quick thoughts on some Preliminary Card Fights
Rory McDonald vs Nate Diaz: After consecutive losses to McDonald and Dong Hyun Kim its apparent that Diaz does not have the strength to hang in the Welterweight division. McDonald threw him around like a rag doll in their matchup. Diaz put on some entertaining fights as a lightweight so maybe he will go back down to 155 or maybe he needs to spend more time in the weightroom ASAP. Meanwhile McDonald bounced back well from his last second loss to Carlos Condit. A fight with Paulo Thiago would be interesting.
Sean Pierson vs. Jake Ellenberger: Ellenberger has now won four straight fights. He is a tough fighter and has proven that he can hang in the UFC's welterweight division. Matching him up to fight John Hathaway would be an interesting measuring stick for both young fighters. In the meantime, Sean Pierson isn't getting any younger. The UFC may keep him around for the next Canada fight card after Vancouver and there is no telling when that will be.
UFC Welterweight Champion George St. Pierre vs. Jake Shields
Result: St. Pierre via Unanimous Decision
George won in very unenthusiastic fashion. While this is a big name for GSP to add to his legacy as he builds his resume as one of the best in MMA history, he has shown a pattern of wanting to win safely more so then win convincingly. Both fighters refused to turn this into a war; neither Shields or St. Pierre really went after the other. Even when GSP had damage to his eye Shields did not capitalize. St. Pierre won because he did more then Shields not because he really "won" the fight.
Next for GSP: It seems like when the stage is the biggest (UFC 100 against Thiago Alves; UFC 129 against Jake Shields) George can't muster enough aggression when expectations are high for whatever reason. Hopefully someone in his camp will take the time to explain to him that putting on an indifferent perfomance hurts his image, reputation, and legacy as a fighter. I do not want to see GSP fight Anderson Silva until he shows in a fight the drive to dominate and be the best. A matchup with Strikeforce Welterweight Champ Nick Diaz would answer a lot of questions at this point.
Next for Shields: The reason why Shields won 15 fights in a row because he was determined to find a way in every fight to win at all costs. Yet Saturday night he looked nervous and unwilling to push the pace of the fight. The best thing for Shields is to get back into the Octagon and fight again soon. A matchup with Josh Koscheck would be good for the morale of both fighters after they both lost to GSP.
UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo vs. Mark Hominick
Result: Aldo via Unanimous decision
This was one of the most exciting fights of the night. Hominick showed that a solid standup fighter who is willing to maul an opponent on the ground has a chance against Aldo. Have to give alot of credit to the Champ for perservering through Hominick's pressure for five rounds. Aldo won more rounds then Hominick, its just ashame someone had to loose.
Next for Aldo: At the post-fight press conference, UFC President Dana White announced that Aldo would next defend his Featherweight belt against Chad Mendes at UFC 133 in Philadelphia. Seems like a short amount of time between fights for a guy who got his share of damage in a five round war. Three months and a week? Before you know it Aldo will channel his inner-Nick Diaz and complain he is being overworked and forced to fight too often....I'm just kidding.
Next for Hominick: Hominick may not have won the fight but he earned great respect from the fans, other fighters and the UFC brass. After he has sometime to heal from his "cosmetic injuries" and time with his new born child, a fight with either Josh Grispi (if he beats George Roop) or Diego Nunes (if he defeats Kenny Florian) would make sense and also ensure he doesn't drop to far back in the rankings top heavy featherweight division.
Randy Couture vs Lyoto Machida
Result: Machida via Knockout
Either Randy Couture didn't execute his gameplan right or the Lyoto Machida that dominated Tito Ortiz, Thiago Silva and Rashad Evans is back. Machida used an old school Kyokushin Karate kick (also known in Kung Fu as a form of the "Craine Kick") to knockout Couture. Steven Seagal and the Blackhouse Camp can try to spin this all they want, but Machida's extensive background in Karate is where that kick came from.
Next for Machida: This win stops a two fight losing streak for "The Dragon" and gives him the opportunity to start working his way back into contention for the light heavyweight belt. Although he wants to fight on the UFC 134: Rio card, all of his potential competition is booked for the next couple months. Best thing for Machida is to take sometime and see how fights such as Jackson-Hamill, Griffin-Shogun, Franklin-Little Nog, and Evans-Davis turn out. Only other option is for Strikeforce to loan the UFC Renato Sobral to fight Machida on the Rio card (unlikely, but it would be an interesting fight between two brazillians).
Next for Couture: After the fight Couture looked convinced he was done fighting. He's going to be 48 years old and he said he doesn't want to do what Chuck Liddell did (you know receiving brain damage in your last few fights before you get a desk job as a UFC executive). Couture has many hollywood options to go with and he will appear from time to time as an "advocate" for MMA fighters. The man is a legend and one of the best all time, let him walk away on his terms.
Vladimir Matyushenko vs. Jason Brilz
Result: Matyushenko via Knockout
Vlad "The Janitor" showed that there is still serious power left in his hands. Brilz lacked the saavy or refined skills to stay with Matyuskenko for long and the fight was over quickly.
Next for Matyushenko: Vlad isn't going to be working his way up the ranks to fight for the belt at this point in his career, but he is good enough to hang around for some interesting matchups. If Tito Ortiz beats Ryan Bader then you can have Ortiz-Matyushenko 2 or if Vlad "The Janitor" doesn't want to wait around too long for his next fight a matchup with Brandon Vera would workout for both fighters.
Next for Brilz: Going 3-3 in six fights in the UFC is respectable but its not going to help your chances of staying in the big leagues. After losing two fights in a row against MMA veterans, Brilz needs a fight against a fighter who isn't so saavy. A fight with Alexander Gustafsson would be interesting, testing Brilz standup skills and Gustafsson's wrestling skills.
Mark Bocek vs. Ben Henderson
Result: Henderson via unanimous decision
Although it was not the most exciting fight, Henderson won because he wanted it more the Bocek. Bocek had the crowd behind him but it wasn't enough as Henderson got his Mojo back and was able to counter Bocek's takedowns and not allow Bocek to do any damage.
Next for Henderson: Now that he has excercised the demons of his loss to Anthony Pettis in December, Henderson needs to keep working his way up the ranks of the crowded lightweight division. A matchup with either Sean Sherk or Takanori Gomi would be a good test for the former WEC Lightweight Champ.
Next for Bocek: At this point in his career, Bocek has showed that he is basically a gatekeeper to the top level of the lightweight division in the UFC. His four losses have been to Ben Henderson, Jim Miller, Mac Danzig, and Frank Edgar. Maybe its time that Bocek and Kurt Pellegrino fight to see who stays relevant in the UFC Lightweight division.
Quick thoughts on some Preliminary Card Fights
Rory McDonald vs Nate Diaz: After consecutive losses to McDonald and Dong Hyun Kim its apparent that Diaz does not have the strength to hang in the Welterweight division. McDonald threw him around like a rag doll in their matchup. Diaz put on some entertaining fights as a lightweight so maybe he will go back down to 155 or maybe he needs to spend more time in the weightroom ASAP. Meanwhile McDonald bounced back well from his last second loss to Carlos Condit. A fight with Paulo Thiago would be interesting.
Sean Pierson vs. Jake Ellenberger: Ellenberger has now won four straight fights. He is a tough fighter and has proven that he can hang in the UFC's welterweight division. Matching him up to fight John Hathaway would be an interesting measuring stick for both young fighters. In the meantime, Sean Pierson isn't getting any younger. The UFC may keep him around for the next Canada fight card after Vancouver and there is no telling when that will be.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
5 things to keep in mind for UFC 129
UFC 129 this Saturday night in Toronto, Canada is the biggest MMA fight card of the year. The Rogers Center (home of the Toronto Blue Jays Major League Baseball team) with be filled with 55,000 MMA fans and the UFC estimates the gate will be around 11 million dollars. Also, there are two UFC Championship belts up for grabs that night. So here are 5 things to keep an eye out for this Saturday:
1. Jake Shields is better then you think he is
Chuck Liddel has described Jake Shield's takedowns as "awkward in a good way" while Jon Fitch has said Shields is "stronger then he looks". UFC Welterweight Champion George St. Pierre has said Shields is the toughest opponent he has faced in a long time and that he is not underestimating him. But even when you are not underestimating Jake Shields, in some way you will overlook some element of his game. The guy has won 15 straight fights for a reason. During his winning streak there have been three different men who have held the UFC Welterweight belt (GSP, Matt Serra and Matt Hughes). Shields always finds a way to win and that should worry St. Pierre the most. You will see the best Jake Shields ever in the Octagon this Saturday; is George St. Pierre really prepared for that?
2. Jose Aldo has never faced an opponent like Mark Hominick.
Since joining the WEC, Jose Aldo has faced fighters who are wrestlers or takedown experts. He has beaten all of them. But Mark Hominick is different then all of Aldo's previous opponents because Hominick has elite level boxing skills and is underrated on the ground. Hominick trains with Olympic level boxers as sparring parteners. The current Featherweight Champ has been known for his excellent standup skills. Yet Aldo's best chance at winning this fight is taking it to the ground and submitting Hominick. I cannot remember the last time Aldo attempted a takedown. He hasn't even submitted an opponent in 6 years. Aldo is considered one of the best fighters in the world yet Hominick has more then a puncher's chance to leave the octagon with Aldo's featherweight belt. Can Aldo handle Hominick on the feet?
3. Can Lyoto Machida find his form or will Randy Couture grind out a win?
Before his last two losses to Maurico "Shogun" Rua and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, Lyoto Machida had never lost a fight. He had beaten aggressive fighters like Thiago Silva and Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou. He has beaten top level wrestlers such as Tito Ortiz and Rashad Evans. In 2005 he was able to stiffle B.J. Penn en route to a Decission victory. So the fact that he is on a two fight losing streak is perplexing. Randy Couture has said that he thinks his style of fighting matches up well with Machida's allussive fighting style. Although Couture has a wrestling base, his style is different then Rashad Evans or Tito Ortiz: Couture is strategist who uses his mind to maximize his physical skills. If Randy can get his hands on Machida, it will be a long night for the former UFC Light Heavyweight Champ. Machida has a good ground game but I'm unsure if he is prepared for a fighter like Randy Couture who is willing to grind out a win. Machida needs this win more then Couture which makes Lyoto a desperate fighter coming into this matchup while Randy is relaxed and ready for war.
4. Ben Henderson has something to prove
Before losing his WEC Lightweight belt to Anthony "Showtime" Pettis, Ben Henderson had won 10 straight fights. He had beaten the best of the WEC lightweight division and people were wondering how he would fair against the best of the UFC. Now Henderson's first fight since losing his WEC belt is against a fighter who some view as the "gatekeeper" to being considered a contender in the lightweight division. Mark Bocek's three losses in the UFC have been to Frank Edgar, Mac Danzig, and Jim Miller. Henderson is more talented then Bocek yet the fight is in Canada and Bocek will have the crowd behind him. The pressure is on Henderson to live up to expectations and forget about his loss to Pettis.
5. There has never been a UFC event with 55,000 fans, how will the fighters handle it?
Veteran fighters like George St. Pierre, Jake Shields, and Randy Couture have fought in many types of enviroments and they know how to handle the pressure and the crowd. But Canadian fighters Mark Hominick, Mark Bocek, Rory McDonald, and Sean Pierson have never been involved in a MMA event such as this. The crowd will be mostly behind them, how will the handle that pressure? Also young fighters such as Jose Aldo, Jason Brillz, Ben Henderson, and Jake Ellenberger have never fought on such a large stage stage before with 55,000 people or an event with the amount of publicity leading up to it. This is a big deal for the UFC and Canada, it will be interesting to see which of these fighters come of age in the Octagon and who will let the pressure crush them.
1. Jake Shields is better then you think he is
Chuck Liddel has described Jake Shield's takedowns as "awkward in a good way" while Jon Fitch has said Shields is "stronger then he looks". UFC Welterweight Champion George St. Pierre has said Shields is the toughest opponent he has faced in a long time and that he is not underestimating him. But even when you are not underestimating Jake Shields, in some way you will overlook some element of his game. The guy has won 15 straight fights for a reason. During his winning streak there have been three different men who have held the UFC Welterweight belt (GSP, Matt Serra and Matt Hughes). Shields always finds a way to win and that should worry St. Pierre the most. You will see the best Jake Shields ever in the Octagon this Saturday; is George St. Pierre really prepared for that?
2. Jose Aldo has never faced an opponent like Mark Hominick.
Since joining the WEC, Jose Aldo has faced fighters who are wrestlers or takedown experts. He has beaten all of them. But Mark Hominick is different then all of Aldo's previous opponents because Hominick has elite level boxing skills and is underrated on the ground. Hominick trains with Olympic level boxers as sparring parteners. The current Featherweight Champ has been known for his excellent standup skills. Yet Aldo's best chance at winning this fight is taking it to the ground and submitting Hominick. I cannot remember the last time Aldo attempted a takedown. He hasn't even submitted an opponent in 6 years. Aldo is considered one of the best fighters in the world yet Hominick has more then a puncher's chance to leave the octagon with Aldo's featherweight belt. Can Aldo handle Hominick on the feet?
3. Can Lyoto Machida find his form or will Randy Couture grind out a win?
Before his last two losses to Maurico "Shogun" Rua and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, Lyoto Machida had never lost a fight. He had beaten aggressive fighters like Thiago Silva and Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou. He has beaten top level wrestlers such as Tito Ortiz and Rashad Evans. In 2005 he was able to stiffle B.J. Penn en route to a Decission victory. So the fact that he is on a two fight losing streak is perplexing. Randy Couture has said that he thinks his style of fighting matches up well with Machida's allussive fighting style. Although Couture has a wrestling base, his style is different then Rashad Evans or Tito Ortiz: Couture is strategist who uses his mind to maximize his physical skills. If Randy can get his hands on Machida, it will be a long night for the former UFC Light Heavyweight Champ. Machida has a good ground game but I'm unsure if he is prepared for a fighter like Randy Couture who is willing to grind out a win. Machida needs this win more then Couture which makes Lyoto a desperate fighter coming into this matchup while Randy is relaxed and ready for war.
4. Ben Henderson has something to prove
Before losing his WEC Lightweight belt to Anthony "Showtime" Pettis, Ben Henderson had won 10 straight fights. He had beaten the best of the WEC lightweight division and people were wondering how he would fair against the best of the UFC. Now Henderson's first fight since losing his WEC belt is against a fighter who some view as the "gatekeeper" to being considered a contender in the lightweight division. Mark Bocek's three losses in the UFC have been to Frank Edgar, Mac Danzig, and Jim Miller. Henderson is more talented then Bocek yet the fight is in Canada and Bocek will have the crowd behind him. The pressure is on Henderson to live up to expectations and forget about his loss to Pettis.
5. There has never been a UFC event with 55,000 fans, how will the fighters handle it?
Veteran fighters like George St. Pierre, Jake Shields, and Randy Couture have fought in many types of enviroments and they know how to handle the pressure and the crowd. But Canadian fighters Mark Hominick, Mark Bocek, Rory McDonald, and Sean Pierson have never been involved in a MMA event such as this. The crowd will be mostly behind them, how will the handle that pressure? Also young fighters such as Jose Aldo, Jason Brillz, Ben Henderson, and Jake Ellenberger have never fought on such a large stage stage before with 55,000 people or an event with the amount of publicity leading up to it. This is a big deal for the UFC and Canada, it will be interesting to see which of these fighters come of age in the Octagon and who will let the pressure crush them.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
How Zuffa's Acquisition of Strikeforce is already benefiting MMA fans
There were many questions and expectations that came from the media and MMA fans when Zuffa (the parent company of the UFC) purchased Strikeforce. There were questions about how Strikeforce would be operated, how long they would stay with Showtime, the potential for Strikeforce and UFC fighters to compete against each other, etc. Although UFC President Dana White claimed it would be "business as usual" for the two MMA promotions, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker confirmed there will be potential "super fights" between fighters from each promotion. We saw UFC media people involved in the Strikeforce event earlier this month. Also, Dana White went to the event with a Strikeforce shirt on! It is certainly a new world in MMA.
Unlike when Zuffa purchased PRIDE and WEC, Strikeforce already had a strong US following and was seen by MMA fans here in North America as a "rival" of the UFC before the purchase. PRIDE was considered by some in Japan as big as the NFL is in the US. WEC was a small, yet successful organization that was seen as the place in North America to go for top level Featherweight and Bantamweight fighters. Eventually, both WEC and PRIDE fighters were absorbed into the UFC. This will probably happen at some point with Strikeforce, but there are still contracts that must be honored. There is the broadcasting agreement with Showtime and unique contracts with fighters such as Fedor Emelianenko (M-1, his agent, has a promotional agreement with Strikeforce and Showtime) and Nick Diaz (who has a clause allowing him to compete as a professional boxer). Also, there is still good money to be made with Strikeforce because of Scott Coker's relationships with CBS and Japan.
The way MMA fans are benefiting from this business transaction is that there is more top level MMA events that do not have conflicting schedules. Fans do not have to choose between Strikeforce and UFC anymore. Strikeforce has had a history of being abit disorganized with their event scheduling and setting up fights. Now with Zuffa as their parent company, it appears Strikeforce is operating more efficiently, which means more great fights for the fans.
A recent example of this is the announcement that Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Dan Henderson will be fighting Fedor Emelianenko this summer. In the past, such big fights would be rumored for months and nailing down the date would appear difficult. This is not a reflection of Scott Coker as we now know, but a reflection of how Strikeforce was operating with limited personnel and resources. Coker is only one man being pulled in many directions. Now with the help of Zuffa's established infrastructure, Strikeforce can operate at full strength in a similar way to how the UFC efficiently operates.
Whether it is Strikeforce Lightweight Champion talking publicly about him potentially fighting the UFC Lightweight belt holder or Jason "Mayhem" Miller suddenly coming to the UFC because his contract "had expired" with Strikeforce, fans are going to get to see the fights they want, which is more money for Zuffa, UFC and Strikeforce. Also, fighters get more exposure which leads to more ways for them to make money outside the octagon. There are rumors that there will come a day when the UFC has its own television network (similar to what the NFL has with the NFL network). Dana White wasn't kidding when he said he wants to make MMA the biggest sport in the world. In the end, this is a real win-win for everyone involved.
Unlike when Zuffa purchased PRIDE and WEC, Strikeforce already had a strong US following and was seen by MMA fans here in North America as a "rival" of the UFC before the purchase. PRIDE was considered by some in Japan as big as the NFL is in the US. WEC was a small, yet successful organization that was seen as the place in North America to go for top level Featherweight and Bantamweight fighters. Eventually, both WEC and PRIDE fighters were absorbed into the UFC. This will probably happen at some point with Strikeforce, but there are still contracts that must be honored. There is the broadcasting agreement with Showtime and unique contracts with fighters such as Fedor Emelianenko (M-1, his agent, has a promotional agreement with Strikeforce and Showtime) and Nick Diaz (who has a clause allowing him to compete as a professional boxer). Also, there is still good money to be made with Strikeforce because of Scott Coker's relationships with CBS and Japan.
The way MMA fans are benefiting from this business transaction is that there is more top level MMA events that do not have conflicting schedules. Fans do not have to choose between Strikeforce and UFC anymore. Strikeforce has had a history of being abit disorganized with their event scheduling and setting up fights. Now with Zuffa as their parent company, it appears Strikeforce is operating more efficiently, which means more great fights for the fans.
A recent example of this is the announcement that Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Dan Henderson will be fighting Fedor Emelianenko this summer. In the past, such big fights would be rumored for months and nailing down the date would appear difficult. This is not a reflection of Scott Coker as we now know, but a reflection of how Strikeforce was operating with limited personnel and resources. Coker is only one man being pulled in many directions. Now with the help of Zuffa's established infrastructure, Strikeforce can operate at full strength in a similar way to how the UFC efficiently operates.
Whether it is Strikeforce Lightweight Champion talking publicly about him potentially fighting the UFC Lightweight belt holder or Jason "Mayhem" Miller suddenly coming to the UFC because his contract "had expired" with Strikeforce, fans are going to get to see the fights they want, which is more money for Zuffa, UFC and Strikeforce. Also, fighters get more exposure which leads to more ways for them to make money outside the octagon. There are rumors that there will come a day when the UFC has its own television network (similar to what the NFL has with the NFL network). Dana White wasn't kidding when he said he wants to make MMA the biggest sport in the world. In the end, this is a real win-win for everyone involved.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Bold (and not so Bold) MLB 2011 Predictions
Baseball is the most unique of the major team sports. A major league baseball season has 162 regular season games, and the World Series ends around Halloween. There are nine unique positions and the American League has a Designated Hitter (so the pitcher can focus on pitching). So when attempting to predict outcomes for a baseball season, understand that the odds of one getting them all correct is ATLEAST 568-1. In other words, you are more likely to get into a car accident going to and from work or school today then correctly predicting the Major League Baseball season winners, losers, League Champions and World Series winner. Now that I have totally destroyed your confidence in any baseball analysist's expertise, here are my Predictions:
AL West Division Champ: Texas Rangers
Reasoning: Why not? Seriously, they won 92 games last season and Cliff Lee didnt pitch that in August and September for them. They went to the World Series after beating the last two American League Champions (Yankees and Rays). They upgraded their offense by adding Adrian Beltre. Yes I know they lost Cliff Lee and Bengie Molina, but they also added Mike Napoli. And look at the rest of the division: Angels big upgrade was Vernon Wells and Oakland got Hideki Matsui. Like that is going to worry one of the best offensive lineups in the American League.
X-Factor: Micheal Young
Young wasn't happy that after being asked to change positions twice he was now asked to become a DH/"Super Utility Player" (who came up with these bizzare title anyway?!?). The guy is the franchise's all-time hits leader and you can't let him keep one position for more then two years at a time? He feels disrespected and the Rangers know that they can't keep him happy much longer. They may trade him to get another starting pitcher. Rumors of a Young to Philadelphia for Joe Blanton deal has not been ruled out by either team. Another possibility is Young going to the Rockies. In the end, how well Young performs in his new role for the Rangers or what he brings back in a trade for them could be the key to the season.
AL Central Division Champ: Chicago White Sox
Reasoning: I have been wavering back and forth before making this choice between the Sox and the Twins. But the more I think about it, the simpler the decission becomes. My faith in the Twins has broken down after numerous first round playoff ousters and the fact that they are hoping Joe Mauer, Justin Moreneau, and Joe Nathan are healthy and back to top form. The White Sox were lacking offense last season. So they added Adam Dunn while keeping Paul Korneko. They will probably make a deal around the trade deadline to improve their starting pitching or outfield depth, but if they stay healthy and consistent they can win the division.
X-Factor: Manager Ozzie Gullien
Let me preface this by saying I'm a fan of Ozzie. The dude is entertaining, cool, brutally honest, and wants to win more then any manager in baseball. Sure he can be crazy but thats why he is great. He isn't a hot head like Lou Pinella or melancholy like Tony LaRussa or whatever Charlie Manuel is. He's smart, maybe too smart. If Ozzie can work his magic with his players like he did several years ago, he can push them to the World Series. Or drive every nuts and they will finish 3rd in the division. Just make sure when he speaks to the media the cameras and tape recorders are on!
AL East Division Champ: Boston Red Sox
Reasoning: They added Adrian Gonzalez (best hitting 1st baseman in baseball who isn't named Albert Pujols), Carl Crawford (2nd best player the Rays franchise has ever produced behind Evan Longoria), and Bobby Jenks (one of the top bullpen arms in baseball). How can you not pick them as the favorite? The Yankees are a year older, the Rays replaced Carlos Pena and Carl Crawford with a 39 year old Manny Ramierez and a 38 year old Johnny Damon, while the Blue Jays dumped Vernon Wells and Shawn Marcum for Juan Rivera and prospects. The only thing that can stop the Red Sox from winning the division is...themselves.
X-Factor: Mental and Physical Health
If this was a video game, this team would be ranked number one in the American League. If "Dice-K" Matsusaka, Bobby Jenks, Carl Crawford, and JD Drew can keep their heads screwed on right while Adrian Gonzalez, Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia, Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, and Mike Cameron stay healthy, this team can win the World Series. The odds of all this happening...
AL Wild Card Winner: New York Yankees
Reasoning: On paper they look good. But their pitching will ultimately hold them back. AJ Burnett is alwaysa question mark. Also, is Freddy Garcia really able to stay good enough for an entire season? Is Joba Chamberlin fat or more muscular? Can Ivan Nova hold up for 25-28 starts? When will Mariano Rivera hit that wall called "age"?
X-Factor: General Manager Brian Cashman
The Yankees will make a deal (or two) before the trade deadline this year. It will probably determine whether or not they make the playoffs (unless the Red Sox collapse and the Yankees have their best season ever then the trades wont be neccessary and then the Twins will win the Wild Card and lose to the Yankees in the first round AGAIN).
AL MVP: Adam Dunn (He has never played in the American League before and he will probably carry the White Sox offense during stretches of the season)
AL Cy Young: Jon Lester (He is one of the best pitchers in the AL and he hasn't met his potential yet. Maybe this year will be the year)
AL Rookie of The Year: Kyle Drabek (The kid is a topic line talent. He maybe be better then his dad Doug Drabek)
NL West Division Champ: San Francisco Giants\
Reasoning: Yeah I'm making a real leap of faith to pick the defending World Series Champs to win their division. On paper, they look deeper and more talented then last year's team. While all of those young pitchers went through the postseason experience and know what it takes to win now. They have one of the best pitching staffs in all of baseball and barring any major injuries they can have all five starters win atleast 10 games each.
X-Factor: Buster PoseyThe NL Rookie of the Year was a major key to the Giants run to win the World Series and the way he handles the pitching staff makes him one of the top catchers in baseball. But will he continue to improve or take a step back this year? What happens if he misses time with an injury? He is the major driving force for this team and if he doesn't atleast perform how he did last season, there will be problems.
NL Central Division Champs: Cincinnati Reds
Reasoning: I wanted to pick the Brewers to win the division but their bullpen and lack of bench depth worries me. I wanted to pick the Cubs to win the division but the fact that they never play up to expectations is a concern. I know the Cardinals are going to have a rough season without Adam Wainwright and the potential of Chris Carpenter being traded to the Yankees (Oh wait, sorry, that was a SPOILER ALERT). So I am left with the Reds. Last year's division champions. Also a team that improved at Shortstop by adding Edgar Renteria. Also, they have the most players on a team in the Central that have a track record of playing up to their abilities.
X-Factor: Scott Rolen
No one will get suprised this year by how good Joey Votto and Jay Bruce are. Rolen is one of the veteran leaders for this team and they need him to have another solid year with his bat and health. Without Rolen in the lineup their defense is much weaker and they lack a serious right handed power bat.
NL East Division Champs: Philadelphia Phillies
Reasoning: The best top three starters in baseball. Think about it in numbers. If Roy Halladay wins 20 games, Cliff Lee wins 19, Roy Oswalt wins 16 then Cole Hamels win 13 games and Joe Blanton 12 games, thats a total of 80 wins just from your starting pitchers! Also, dont forget that they still have a great offense even without Jayson Werth there. This team is full of winners and they will find ways all season to win and stay on top of the division.
X-Factor: Injuries
Chase Utley and Brad Lidge both start the season on the Disabled List. Last year Jimmy Rollins, Placido Polanco, Shane Victorino and Raul Ibanez all delt with injuries that hurt their performance. Also, Roy Oswalt has a history of back issues while young talent Domonic Brown who was suppose to replace Jayson Werth in Right Field is injured too. The team has depth but they still need everyone health if they hope to win the division and make it back to the World Series. Thanks to injuries over the last few years they have gone from World Series champions to World Series runners up to losing in the NLCS. Do they keep digressing or do they get back to the top of the mountain again?
NL Wild Card Winner: Milwaukee Brewers
Reasoning: I have trouble believing that this team wont produce enough offense to keep them close until July when they can trade for more bullpen help. Their starting pitching is underrated because they are in the same league as the Phillies, Giants, and Braves. Prince Fielder has gotten in good shape (well for him atleast) and wants to show how much he is worth since he will be a free agent after this season. Once Zack Greinke, Manny Parra, and Corey Hart come back from the injuries, this team has alot of potential.
X-Factor: Manager Ron Roenicke
He is their new manager and the hope was that a new voice in the clubhouse could change how the team performs on the field. If these guys work together and want it bad enough, they could reach the World Series. But can the new guy motivate them? At times last season it seemed that guys just were disinterested at the plate and were indifferent about winning. That has to change, especially since they acquired 2 young, talented pitchers during the off season. So the pressure in on Ron Roenicke to push the right buttons to get this team rolling.
NL MVP: Carlos Gonzalez (You think he was good last season, imagine how good he will be this season now that he has mommentum, confidence, and more experience. The sky is the limit for him and with the help of the launching pad known as Coors Field, I think this will be his year to get the trophy.)
NL Cy Young: Yovani Gallardo (the best yong pitcher in baseball who most people dont know about. With Shawn Marcum and Zack Geinke getting most of the attention Gallardo can show he is the real ace on this starting staff and dominate the National League with his electric stuff)
NL Rookie of The Year: Kenley Jansen (He allowed only two earned runs in 27.0 innings last year for the Dodgers. His cutter has been compared to Mariano Rivera. He could take over the closer's role by late May and then suprise everyone in the NL with his talent.)
AL West Division Champ: Texas Rangers
Reasoning: Why not? Seriously, they won 92 games last season and Cliff Lee didnt pitch that in August and September for them. They went to the World Series after beating the last two American League Champions (Yankees and Rays). They upgraded their offense by adding Adrian Beltre. Yes I know they lost Cliff Lee and Bengie Molina, but they also added Mike Napoli. And look at the rest of the division: Angels big upgrade was Vernon Wells and Oakland got Hideki Matsui. Like that is going to worry one of the best offensive lineups in the American League.
X-Factor: Micheal Young
Young wasn't happy that after being asked to change positions twice he was now asked to become a DH/"Super Utility Player" (who came up with these bizzare title anyway?!?). The guy is the franchise's all-time hits leader and you can't let him keep one position for more then two years at a time? He feels disrespected and the Rangers know that they can't keep him happy much longer. They may trade him to get another starting pitcher. Rumors of a Young to Philadelphia for Joe Blanton deal has not been ruled out by either team. Another possibility is Young going to the Rockies. In the end, how well Young performs in his new role for the Rangers or what he brings back in a trade for them could be the key to the season.
AL Central Division Champ: Chicago White Sox
Reasoning: I have been wavering back and forth before making this choice between the Sox and the Twins. But the more I think about it, the simpler the decission becomes. My faith in the Twins has broken down after numerous first round playoff ousters and the fact that they are hoping Joe Mauer, Justin Moreneau, and Joe Nathan are healthy and back to top form. The White Sox were lacking offense last season. So they added Adam Dunn while keeping Paul Korneko. They will probably make a deal around the trade deadline to improve their starting pitching or outfield depth, but if they stay healthy and consistent they can win the division.
X-Factor: Manager Ozzie Gullien
Let me preface this by saying I'm a fan of Ozzie. The dude is entertaining, cool, brutally honest, and wants to win more then any manager in baseball. Sure he can be crazy but thats why he is great. He isn't a hot head like Lou Pinella or melancholy like Tony LaRussa or whatever Charlie Manuel is. He's smart, maybe too smart. If Ozzie can work his magic with his players like he did several years ago, he can push them to the World Series. Or drive every nuts and they will finish 3rd in the division. Just make sure when he speaks to the media the cameras and tape recorders are on!
AL East Division Champ: Boston Red Sox
Reasoning: They added Adrian Gonzalez (best hitting 1st baseman in baseball who isn't named Albert Pujols), Carl Crawford (2nd best player the Rays franchise has ever produced behind Evan Longoria), and Bobby Jenks (one of the top bullpen arms in baseball). How can you not pick them as the favorite? The Yankees are a year older, the Rays replaced Carlos Pena and Carl Crawford with a 39 year old Manny Ramierez and a 38 year old Johnny Damon, while the Blue Jays dumped Vernon Wells and Shawn Marcum for Juan Rivera and prospects. The only thing that can stop the Red Sox from winning the division is...themselves.
X-Factor: Mental and Physical Health
If this was a video game, this team would be ranked number one in the American League. If "Dice-K" Matsusaka, Bobby Jenks, Carl Crawford, and JD Drew can keep their heads screwed on right while Adrian Gonzalez, Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia, Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, and Mike Cameron stay healthy, this team can win the World Series. The odds of all this happening...
AL Wild Card Winner: New York Yankees
Reasoning: On paper they look good. But their pitching will ultimately hold them back. AJ Burnett is alwaysa question mark. Also, is Freddy Garcia really able to stay good enough for an entire season? Is Joba Chamberlin fat or more muscular? Can Ivan Nova hold up for 25-28 starts? When will Mariano Rivera hit that wall called "age"?
X-Factor: General Manager Brian Cashman
The Yankees will make a deal (or two) before the trade deadline this year. It will probably determine whether or not they make the playoffs (unless the Red Sox collapse and the Yankees have their best season ever then the trades wont be neccessary and then the Twins will win the Wild Card and lose to the Yankees in the first round AGAIN).
AL MVP: Adam Dunn (He has never played in the American League before and he will probably carry the White Sox offense during stretches of the season)
AL Cy Young: Jon Lester (He is one of the best pitchers in the AL and he hasn't met his potential yet. Maybe this year will be the year)
AL Rookie of The Year: Kyle Drabek (The kid is a topic line talent. He maybe be better then his dad Doug Drabek)
NL West Division Champ: San Francisco Giants\
Reasoning: Yeah I'm making a real leap of faith to pick the defending World Series Champs to win their division. On paper, they look deeper and more talented then last year's team. While all of those young pitchers went through the postseason experience and know what it takes to win now. They have one of the best pitching staffs in all of baseball and barring any major injuries they can have all five starters win atleast 10 games each.
X-Factor: Buster PoseyThe NL Rookie of the Year was a major key to the Giants run to win the World Series and the way he handles the pitching staff makes him one of the top catchers in baseball. But will he continue to improve or take a step back this year? What happens if he misses time with an injury? He is the major driving force for this team and if he doesn't atleast perform how he did last season, there will be problems.
NL Central Division Champs: Cincinnati Reds
Reasoning: I wanted to pick the Brewers to win the division but their bullpen and lack of bench depth worries me. I wanted to pick the Cubs to win the division but the fact that they never play up to expectations is a concern. I know the Cardinals are going to have a rough season without Adam Wainwright and the potential of Chris Carpenter being traded to the Yankees (Oh wait, sorry, that was a SPOILER ALERT). So I am left with the Reds. Last year's division champions. Also a team that improved at Shortstop by adding Edgar Renteria. Also, they have the most players on a team in the Central that have a track record of playing up to their abilities.
X-Factor: Scott Rolen
No one will get suprised this year by how good Joey Votto and Jay Bruce are. Rolen is one of the veteran leaders for this team and they need him to have another solid year with his bat and health. Without Rolen in the lineup their defense is much weaker and they lack a serious right handed power bat.
NL East Division Champs: Philadelphia Phillies
Reasoning: The best top three starters in baseball. Think about it in numbers. If Roy Halladay wins 20 games, Cliff Lee wins 19, Roy Oswalt wins 16 then Cole Hamels win 13 games and Joe Blanton 12 games, thats a total of 80 wins just from your starting pitchers! Also, dont forget that they still have a great offense even without Jayson Werth there. This team is full of winners and they will find ways all season to win and stay on top of the division.
X-Factor: Injuries
Chase Utley and Brad Lidge both start the season on the Disabled List. Last year Jimmy Rollins, Placido Polanco, Shane Victorino and Raul Ibanez all delt with injuries that hurt their performance. Also, Roy Oswalt has a history of back issues while young talent Domonic Brown who was suppose to replace Jayson Werth in Right Field is injured too. The team has depth but they still need everyone health if they hope to win the division and make it back to the World Series. Thanks to injuries over the last few years they have gone from World Series champions to World Series runners up to losing in the NLCS. Do they keep digressing or do they get back to the top of the mountain again?
NL Wild Card Winner: Milwaukee Brewers
Reasoning: I have trouble believing that this team wont produce enough offense to keep them close until July when they can trade for more bullpen help. Their starting pitching is underrated because they are in the same league as the Phillies, Giants, and Braves. Prince Fielder has gotten in good shape (well for him atleast) and wants to show how much he is worth since he will be a free agent after this season. Once Zack Greinke, Manny Parra, and Corey Hart come back from the injuries, this team has alot of potential.
X-Factor: Manager Ron Roenicke
He is their new manager and the hope was that a new voice in the clubhouse could change how the team performs on the field. If these guys work together and want it bad enough, they could reach the World Series. But can the new guy motivate them? At times last season it seemed that guys just were disinterested at the plate and were indifferent about winning. That has to change, especially since they acquired 2 young, talented pitchers during the off season. So the pressure in on Ron Roenicke to push the right buttons to get this team rolling.
NL MVP: Carlos Gonzalez (You think he was good last season, imagine how good he will be this season now that he has mommentum, confidence, and more experience. The sky is the limit for him and with the help of the launching pad known as Coors Field, I think this will be his year to get the trophy.)
NL Cy Young: Yovani Gallardo (the best yong pitcher in baseball who most people dont know about. With Shawn Marcum and Zack Geinke getting most of the attention Gallardo can show he is the real ace on this starting staff and dominate the National League with his electric stuff)
NL Rookie of The Year: Kenley Jansen (He allowed only two earned runs in 27.0 innings last year for the Dodgers. His cutter has been compared to Mariano Rivera. He could take over the closer's role by late May and then suprise everyone in the NL with his talent.)
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Whats next for the fighters from UFC 128 and UFN 24
Exciting last few weeks in the world of Mixed Martial Arts: UFC parent company Zuffa purchases Strikeforce, Jon Jones becomes new UFC Light Heavyweight Champ, and the latest season of The Ultimate Fighter debuts this week. So whats next for the fighters of recent UFC events?
Jon "Bones" Jones (Defeated Rua to win UFC LHW Belt)
Jon Jones will face Rashad Evans in his first defense of the Belt he just won. His performace against "Shogun" Rua was impressive, especially since this guy is only 23 years old. The sky is the limit for Jones. While I think Jones will defeat Evans, no one should under estimate "Suga" Rashad. Evans is an excellent wrestler himself who has great speed and athleticism. Before he lost the UFC belt to Lyoto Machida, Evans had not lost a fight in his UFC career. The question is can Evans overcomer Jones strength, reach, and athleticism. I do not believe he can. As long as Jones continues to improve and work hard, he will hold the belt for a long time. Very few fighters in the UFC Light Heavyweight division can match him in size, strength or athleticism.
Mauricio "Shogun" Rua (Lost to Jon Jones)
There was a time that Rua was the superstar in the making when he was in his early 20's. Seems like he indirectly passed that torch to Jones in a fight in which he looked rusty and not in the best shape. Jones ran through Shogun, but that says more about how great Jones is. Rua is still one of the most dangerous fighters at 205 lbs. This guy has beaten great fighters such as Alistair Overeem (twice), Chuck Liddell, Quinton Jackson, Antonio "Little Nog" Nogueria, and he has avenged most of his losses. Also, Rua is only 29 years old so I doubt he is washed up. A good three fight winning streak puts him back into the title picture. I think a fight with the loser of the Quinton Jackson/Matt Hamill fight makes sense for Shogun at this point. Both fighters will test Rua's durability and could be the kind of fight to help Rua regain his confidence.
Urijah Faber (defeated Eddie Wineland via Unanimous Decision)
Faber is scheduled to face UFC Bantamweight Champ Dominick Cruz in July at UFC 132. These fighters are not on friendly terms. Faber defeated Cruz back in 2007 when Faber was the WEC Featherweight Champion. But since 2008, Cruz has moved down to Bantamweight and dominiated that division. Faber will not be facing the same Cruz he submitted in 2007. Cruz's standup game and takedown defense has become some of the best in MMA. It should also be noted that since Faber has dropped to Bantamweight he seems to still be adjusting to the weight cut along with the speed of his opponents. While I give Faber the edge against Cruz because of his wrestling and veteran saavy, I cannot discount Cruz's speed and excellent boxing skills. Should be a great fight.
Eddie Wineland (lost to Urijah Faber at UFC 128)
Most people agree that Wineland won the first round of his fight with Faber. Wineland is one of the most underrated fighters in 135 pound weight class. He has good takedown defense and solid standup skills. Problem for him is that he tends to want to knockout everyone with his powerful right hand instead of using combinations and fakes to wear guys down. His lack of patience hurts him. He needs to become more of a complete fighter before he is able to work his way back into title contention. A fight with Edwin Figueroa would be a good next opponent for Wineland unless he wants to wait around for the loser of the Miguel Torres/Brad Pickett showdown.
Jim Miller (defeated Kamal Shalorus via TKO)
Jim Miller is the best lightweight MMA fighter that most people don't know about. He has two losses in his entire career: to Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard. Miller looks like he is getting better with each fight. Some people think he should be next in line for the lightweight title. But since Anthony Pettis was originally promised a shot at the belt, I think Miller should face the winner of the Pettis/Clay Guida fight to decide who gets the next shot at the belt. Miller is one of the most well round fighters at 155 lbs and is a handful for anyone.
Kamal Shalorus (lost to Jim Miller)
Shalorus is one of the toughest fighters to come to the UFC from WEC. This was the first loss of his career. Losing to a guy like Jim Miller is nothing to be ashamed of considering how good Miller is. Shalorus is a durable fighter who can put on exciting fights. A matchup with Edson Barboza potentially would be an exciting fight and would test Shalorus in his ability to rebound from a loss.
Nate Marquardt (Defeated Dan Miller via Unanimous Decision)
It was expected that Marquardt would be last minute fill in Dan Miller. It was a good, interesting fight. Nate "The Great" is at a career crossroads because he has fought most of the top level middleweights out there. Marquardt has said he is interested in trying to drop down to welterweight, which I think is hard to believe because how muscular he is. Many MMA fans still want to see Marquardt vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama and that fight still may happen. There is talk about a matchup between Nate and Michael Bisping for later this summer. If Marquardt is serious about dropping down to Welterweight, a logical first fight for him would against Anthony Johnson.
Dan Miller (Lost to Nate Marquardt)
Considering he had to fight a top ten middleweight on one week's notice, Miller put up a good fight. Miller is a game fighter against anyone in the UFC. At this point in his career, Miller is viewed as a "gatekeeper" to determine if a fighter is ready to face the elites of the UFC Middleweight division. A matchup with Mario Miranda would be interesting for both fighters since they are coming off losses.
Brendan Schaub (TKO victory against Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic)
Schaub is working his way up the Heavyweight ranks while showing solid striking and good wrestling skills. But beating Cro Cop at this point in Mirko's career is not as big a deal as it would have been 3 years ago. Schaub is good and has alot of potential, but he is not ready for the winner of Frank Mir/Roy Nelson fight. A fight with the winner of Stefan Struve/Travis Browne fight would really test Schaub against durable, tough, young fighters like him.
Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic (lost to Brendan Schaub in 3rd round)
Mirko is not the same fighter who plowed through Pride on his way to winning the Pride 2006 Open-Weight Grand Prix tournament. He is 3-3 since 2009 in the UFC. He is still a very popular fighter and while he may be close to the end of his run in the UFC, he still has a future as a MMA fighter around Europe where he is still very popular. If he wants to stay in the UFC, he has two options: 1) Work on dropping to Light Heavyweight; he walks around at 230 lbs and many 205 lbs fighters have to cut 15-25 lbs to meet the 205 limit. Cro Cop is too small for days age of Heavyweight fighters, so if he is willing to cut the weight and continue fighting, this is a viable option. 2) A Rematch with Minotauro Nogueria at the upcoming rumored UFC event in Brazil; Mirko is no where near making a run at the UFC Heavyweight title so novelty fights make sense for him at this point. "Big Nog" wants to be on the upcoming UFC in Brazil event and why not fight another Pride legend?
Phil Davis (Defeated Antonio "Little Nog" Nogueria via Unanimous Decision)
Im not sure what was more impressive from this fight: Little Nog's takedown defense or how much Phil Davis' standup game has improved. Not enough fighters use changing level kicks efficiently enough and Davis used those kicks. Davis improves with every fight and he has immense potential. In beating a veteran like Nogueria, Davis had proven he is ready for top 10 level competition. A matchup with the winner of the Tito Ortiz/Ryan Bader fight makes alot of sense for Davis at this stage in his career.
Antonio "Little Nog" Nogueria (Lost to Phil Davis)
Against a less determined fighter, Nogueria would have won. Against a less skilled wrestler, Nogueria would have won. But since Phil Davis is neither of those descriptions, thats why Little Nog lost. I dont think Nogueria is past his prime but I do think his fight style he has used the last three fights has not helped him. Against three wrestlers he has not been agressive enough and seems comfortable picking his spots. Its about time the UFC give him a match up against someone who will stand and bang with Little Nog. How about a fight with either Stephan Bonnar or Rich Franklin? Either one would be interesting fights.
Anthony Johnson (Defeated Dan Hardy via Unanimous Decision)
After a long layoff, Johnson showed that a good wrestler is never rusty when he sticks to what he is good at. Johnson had said he would stand and bang with Hardy but in the end he took him down again and again. Problem is, Johnson didnt inflict much damage to Hardy and didn't seem interested in finishing the fight. Being content to hold a guy down on the ground for three rounds doesn't win you fans or satisfaction from the UFC brass (just ask Jon Fitch how that has worked out for him). Johnson needs to fight someone who he cant take down easily who will seriously push him so we can see if his stamina is any better. A matchup with Johnny Hendricks would be a good fight to test both fighters for who is ready to move up to the next level.
Amir Sadollah (Defeated DaMarques Johnson via submission due to strikes)
After four straight fights that went the distance, Sadollah finally finished a fight for the first time since The Ultimate Fighter 7 Finale. Amir looked better then ever against Johnson. Hopefully this fight is a turning point for Sadollah because there are not enough great strikers in the UFC anymore. A fight with Paulo Thiago would test Sadollah is every area of his game.
DaMarques Johnson (Lost to Amir Sadollah)
Johnson is always involved in interesting fights. In fact, during his time in the UFC his fights have never gone the distance. But in his last fight with Sadollah, Johnson showed he still needs to improve his standup game. How about matching him up with another fighter who puts on interesting fights: John Howard.
Chan Sung Jung (Defeated Leonard Garcia via submission)
With a nickname like "Korean Zombie" most people wouldn't expect Jung to have 7 of his 11 career wins via submission. Jung showed excellent ground skills submitting Garcia with a Twister. Jung is an interesting fighter who was 10-1 before arriving in the WEC. At age 24, Jung still has alot of time to develop as an MMA fighter. A fight with Cub Swanson would definately test Jung in how much his all-around game has developed.
Leonard Garcia (Lost to Chan Sung Jung)
The last time a fight in which Leonard Garcia was involved in that didn't go the distance, he was submitted in 2009 by then WEC Featherweight Champ Mike Brown. Since then Garcia has faught six fights that all went the distance. Garcia showed nice striking in this fight but in the end the excellent execution of a submission by Jung was too much for Garcia. He needs to give Nam Phan that rematch ASAP.
Jon "Bones" Jones (Defeated Rua to win UFC LHW Belt)
Jon Jones will face Rashad Evans in his first defense of the Belt he just won. His performace against "Shogun" Rua was impressive, especially since this guy is only 23 years old. The sky is the limit for Jones. While I think Jones will defeat Evans, no one should under estimate "Suga" Rashad. Evans is an excellent wrestler himself who has great speed and athleticism. Before he lost the UFC belt to Lyoto Machida, Evans had not lost a fight in his UFC career. The question is can Evans overcomer Jones strength, reach, and athleticism. I do not believe he can. As long as Jones continues to improve and work hard, he will hold the belt for a long time. Very few fighters in the UFC Light Heavyweight division can match him in size, strength or athleticism.
Mauricio "Shogun" Rua (Lost to Jon Jones)
There was a time that Rua was the superstar in the making when he was in his early 20's. Seems like he indirectly passed that torch to Jones in a fight in which he looked rusty and not in the best shape. Jones ran through Shogun, but that says more about how great Jones is. Rua is still one of the most dangerous fighters at 205 lbs. This guy has beaten great fighters such as Alistair Overeem (twice), Chuck Liddell, Quinton Jackson, Antonio "Little Nog" Nogueria, and he has avenged most of his losses. Also, Rua is only 29 years old so I doubt he is washed up. A good three fight winning streak puts him back into the title picture. I think a fight with the loser of the Quinton Jackson/Matt Hamill fight makes sense for Shogun at this point. Both fighters will test Rua's durability and could be the kind of fight to help Rua regain his confidence.
Urijah Faber (defeated Eddie Wineland via Unanimous Decision)
Faber is scheduled to face UFC Bantamweight Champ Dominick Cruz in July at UFC 132. These fighters are not on friendly terms. Faber defeated Cruz back in 2007 when Faber was the WEC Featherweight Champion. But since 2008, Cruz has moved down to Bantamweight and dominiated that division. Faber will not be facing the same Cruz he submitted in 2007. Cruz's standup game and takedown defense has become some of the best in MMA. It should also be noted that since Faber has dropped to Bantamweight he seems to still be adjusting to the weight cut along with the speed of his opponents. While I give Faber the edge against Cruz because of his wrestling and veteran saavy, I cannot discount Cruz's speed and excellent boxing skills. Should be a great fight.
Eddie Wineland (lost to Urijah Faber at UFC 128)
Most people agree that Wineland won the first round of his fight with Faber. Wineland is one of the most underrated fighters in 135 pound weight class. He has good takedown defense and solid standup skills. Problem for him is that he tends to want to knockout everyone with his powerful right hand instead of using combinations and fakes to wear guys down. His lack of patience hurts him. He needs to become more of a complete fighter before he is able to work his way back into title contention. A fight with Edwin Figueroa would be a good next opponent for Wineland unless he wants to wait around for the loser of the Miguel Torres/Brad Pickett showdown.
Jim Miller (defeated Kamal Shalorus via TKO)
Jim Miller is the best lightweight MMA fighter that most people don't know about. He has two losses in his entire career: to Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard. Miller looks like he is getting better with each fight. Some people think he should be next in line for the lightweight title. But since Anthony Pettis was originally promised a shot at the belt, I think Miller should face the winner of the Pettis/Clay Guida fight to decide who gets the next shot at the belt. Miller is one of the most well round fighters at 155 lbs and is a handful for anyone.
Kamal Shalorus (lost to Jim Miller)
Shalorus is one of the toughest fighters to come to the UFC from WEC. This was the first loss of his career. Losing to a guy like Jim Miller is nothing to be ashamed of considering how good Miller is. Shalorus is a durable fighter who can put on exciting fights. A matchup with Edson Barboza potentially would be an exciting fight and would test Shalorus in his ability to rebound from a loss.
Nate Marquardt (Defeated Dan Miller via Unanimous Decision)
It was expected that Marquardt would be last minute fill in Dan Miller. It was a good, interesting fight. Nate "The Great" is at a career crossroads because he has fought most of the top level middleweights out there. Marquardt has said he is interested in trying to drop down to welterweight, which I think is hard to believe because how muscular he is. Many MMA fans still want to see Marquardt vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama and that fight still may happen. There is talk about a matchup between Nate and Michael Bisping for later this summer. If Marquardt is serious about dropping down to Welterweight, a logical first fight for him would against Anthony Johnson.
Dan Miller (Lost to Nate Marquardt)
Considering he had to fight a top ten middleweight on one week's notice, Miller put up a good fight. Miller is a game fighter against anyone in the UFC. At this point in his career, Miller is viewed as a "gatekeeper" to determine if a fighter is ready to face the elites of the UFC Middleweight division. A matchup with Mario Miranda would be interesting for both fighters since they are coming off losses.
Brendan Schaub (TKO victory against Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic)
Schaub is working his way up the Heavyweight ranks while showing solid striking and good wrestling skills. But beating Cro Cop at this point in Mirko's career is not as big a deal as it would have been 3 years ago. Schaub is good and has alot of potential, but he is not ready for the winner of Frank Mir/Roy Nelson fight. A fight with the winner of Stefan Struve/Travis Browne fight would really test Schaub against durable, tough, young fighters like him.
Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic (lost to Brendan Schaub in 3rd round)
Mirko is not the same fighter who plowed through Pride on his way to winning the Pride 2006 Open-Weight Grand Prix tournament. He is 3-3 since 2009 in the UFC. He is still a very popular fighter and while he may be close to the end of his run in the UFC, he still has a future as a MMA fighter around Europe where he is still very popular. If he wants to stay in the UFC, he has two options: 1) Work on dropping to Light Heavyweight; he walks around at 230 lbs and many 205 lbs fighters have to cut 15-25 lbs to meet the 205 limit. Cro Cop is too small for days age of Heavyweight fighters, so if he is willing to cut the weight and continue fighting, this is a viable option. 2) A Rematch with Minotauro Nogueria at the upcoming rumored UFC event in Brazil; Mirko is no where near making a run at the UFC Heavyweight title so novelty fights make sense for him at this point. "Big Nog" wants to be on the upcoming UFC in Brazil event and why not fight another Pride legend?
Phil Davis (Defeated Antonio "Little Nog" Nogueria via Unanimous Decision)
Im not sure what was more impressive from this fight: Little Nog's takedown defense or how much Phil Davis' standup game has improved. Not enough fighters use changing level kicks efficiently enough and Davis used those kicks. Davis improves with every fight and he has immense potential. In beating a veteran like Nogueria, Davis had proven he is ready for top 10 level competition. A matchup with the winner of the Tito Ortiz/Ryan Bader fight makes alot of sense for Davis at this stage in his career.
Antonio "Little Nog" Nogueria (Lost to Phil Davis)
Against a less determined fighter, Nogueria would have won. Against a less skilled wrestler, Nogueria would have won. But since Phil Davis is neither of those descriptions, thats why Little Nog lost. I dont think Nogueria is past his prime but I do think his fight style he has used the last three fights has not helped him. Against three wrestlers he has not been agressive enough and seems comfortable picking his spots. Its about time the UFC give him a match up against someone who will stand and bang with Little Nog. How about a fight with either Stephan Bonnar or Rich Franklin? Either one would be interesting fights.
Anthony Johnson (Defeated Dan Hardy via Unanimous Decision)
After a long layoff, Johnson showed that a good wrestler is never rusty when he sticks to what he is good at. Johnson had said he would stand and bang with Hardy but in the end he took him down again and again. Problem is, Johnson didnt inflict much damage to Hardy and didn't seem interested in finishing the fight. Being content to hold a guy down on the ground for three rounds doesn't win you fans or satisfaction from the UFC brass (just ask Jon Fitch how that has worked out for him). Johnson needs to fight someone who he cant take down easily who will seriously push him so we can see if his stamina is any better. A matchup with Johnny Hendricks would be a good fight to test both fighters for who is ready to move up to the next level.
Amir Sadollah (Defeated DaMarques Johnson via submission due to strikes)
After four straight fights that went the distance, Sadollah finally finished a fight for the first time since The Ultimate Fighter 7 Finale. Amir looked better then ever against Johnson. Hopefully this fight is a turning point for Sadollah because there are not enough great strikers in the UFC anymore. A fight with Paulo Thiago would test Sadollah is every area of his game.
DaMarques Johnson (Lost to Amir Sadollah)
Johnson is always involved in interesting fights. In fact, during his time in the UFC his fights have never gone the distance. But in his last fight with Sadollah, Johnson showed he still needs to improve his standup game. How about matching him up with another fighter who puts on interesting fights: John Howard.
Chan Sung Jung (Defeated Leonard Garcia via submission)
With a nickname like "Korean Zombie" most people wouldn't expect Jung to have 7 of his 11 career wins via submission. Jung showed excellent ground skills submitting Garcia with a Twister. Jung is an interesting fighter who was 10-1 before arriving in the WEC. At age 24, Jung still has alot of time to develop as an MMA fighter. A fight with Cub Swanson would definately test Jung in how much his all-around game has developed.
Leonard Garcia (Lost to Chan Sung Jung)
The last time a fight in which Leonard Garcia was involved in that didn't go the distance, he was submitted in 2009 by then WEC Featherweight Champ Mike Brown. Since then Garcia has faught six fights that all went the distance. Garcia showed nice striking in this fight but in the end the excellent execution of a submission by Jung was too much for Garcia. He needs to give Nam Phan that rematch ASAP.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
The chaos known as the UFC Welterweight Division
Thanks to the Majority Draw between B.J. Penn and Jon Fitch at UFC 127, the UFC has to honestly deal with the state of their welterweight division. The UFC has been fortunate that Champion George St. Pierre has dominated the division for close to four years and is one of the biggest superstars in all of Mixed Martial Arts. But now that St. Pierre is looking to close out his Welterweight reign (if he beats Jake Shields in April) the UFC has the potential for chaos.
UFC President Dana White has said if St. Pierre wins in April that he would move up to Middleweight and have a "Super fight" type matchup with Anderson Silva. Since I do not want to discount St. Pierre's next opponent Jake Shields (who has not lost a fight since December 2004) I will not project a victory. But lets theorize the ultimate "What If" question: What if St. Pierre beats Shields, moves up to Middleweight, and vacates the Welterweight Belt? Now What?
Looking at the Welterweight division as is now there is no clear cut next in line type of contender for the belt. The Penn-Fitch matchup was suppose to lay out a clear cut next in line contender for the championship. But they fought to a draw according to the judges. Penn had two serious chances to finish the fight with a rear naked choke on Fitch and this is a technique Penn has used to finish five previous fights! The logical next step would be to have Penn and Fitch rematch to resolve the stalemate.
Even if Shields looses to St. Pierre, one can rationalize he should get another shot to fight for the belt because Shields only loss in over 5 years was to St. Pierre. Looking at who Shields has beaten in the last couple years, its a list of top level competition: Paul Daley, Robbie Lawler, Jason Miller, Dan Henderson, and a close Split Decision win over Martin Kampmann. The only other fighter in the division with such an impressive resume is Jon Fitch. The major difference is that Shields has finished two of his previous five fights while Fitch hasn't been able to finish a fight since 2007. Being a grinder does not give Fitch much leverage in the long run without a signature win over a top five talent fighter (like B.J. Penn).
So if Fitch needs to beat Penn before he gets a shot at fighting for the belt, who else is left? Well here are some names and how close (or far depending on their current streak of wins) each logically is:
Martin Kampmann: There are many people who thought Kampmann should have won that fight with Shields last year. Kampmann looked good against Shields and his only loss since moving down to Welterweight division was to Paul Daley (September 2009). Kampmann's next fight is against Diego Sanchez this week and he needs to beat Sanchez along with atleast one more top ten welterweight fighter in order to make a solid argument of him fighting for the belt.
Thiago Alves: Since November of 2005 there are only two men who have beaten Thiago Alves: George St. Pierre and Jon Fitch. Fitch has been Alves' kryptonite in the UFC and George St. Pierre finds a way to beat everyone in the UFC, so Alves' losses are nothing to be ashamed of. His next fight is in May against Rick Story. If Alves can string together about three wins in a row he should definately get another shot at the welterweight championship because he is one of the most talented Welterweights in the UFC.
Carlos Condit: Before the WEC liquidated its Welterweight Division, Carlos Condit defended the WEC Welterweight Belt three straight times and each title defense never went the distance. Condit has now won three straight fights in the UFC, including a knockout of former number one contender and Tae Kwon Do Black Belt Dan Hardy. Condit was suppose to fight Chris Lytle before he had to withdraw with a knee injury. If Condit can come back soon and get two more quality wins he should get his shot at the division title. Condit is the most underrated and overlooked fighter in the UFC Welterweight division. Before Condit was brought into the UFC he had won eight straight fights.
Josh Koscheck: Previous to being beaten by George St. Pierre's excellent jab, Koscheck had beaten three tough welterweights and he totally shut down all three of them. Koscheck also was able to stop most of St. Pierre's takedown attemps which shows how strong and technically skilled Koscheck is. He typically does not get enough credit for his excellent wrestling skills and athelticism because his "villian" reputation is what most people know him for. Koscheck will be back as soon as he recovers from the damage that St. Pierre's jab did to break his eye socket (Koscheck has also said he suffered some minor nerve damage in his face and he will not be able to run or train hard until possibly May). If Koscheck can string together another three strong wins he will be right back in title contention.
And remember, all of this analysis is conjuecture based on the "What If" of George St. Pierre beating Jake Shields in April. If Shields takes down St. Pierre then who knows what is next! St. Pierre has only lost twice in his entire MMA career and he avenged both of those losses so it is not far fetched to think a loss to Shields would drive him to come back and beat Shields to get the title back. For now, we can only wait and see what will happen April 30, 2011.
UFC President Dana White has said if St. Pierre wins in April that he would move up to Middleweight and have a "Super fight" type matchup with Anderson Silva. Since I do not want to discount St. Pierre's next opponent Jake Shields (who has not lost a fight since December 2004) I will not project a victory. But lets theorize the ultimate "What If" question: What if St. Pierre beats Shields, moves up to Middleweight, and vacates the Welterweight Belt? Now What?
Looking at the Welterweight division as is now there is no clear cut next in line type of contender for the belt. The Penn-Fitch matchup was suppose to lay out a clear cut next in line contender for the championship. But they fought to a draw according to the judges. Penn had two serious chances to finish the fight with a rear naked choke on Fitch and this is a technique Penn has used to finish five previous fights! The logical next step would be to have Penn and Fitch rematch to resolve the stalemate.
Even if Shields looses to St. Pierre, one can rationalize he should get another shot to fight for the belt because Shields only loss in over 5 years was to St. Pierre. Looking at who Shields has beaten in the last couple years, its a list of top level competition: Paul Daley, Robbie Lawler, Jason Miller, Dan Henderson, and a close Split Decision win over Martin Kampmann. The only other fighter in the division with such an impressive resume is Jon Fitch. The major difference is that Shields has finished two of his previous five fights while Fitch hasn't been able to finish a fight since 2007. Being a grinder does not give Fitch much leverage in the long run without a signature win over a top five talent fighter (like B.J. Penn).
So if Fitch needs to beat Penn before he gets a shot at fighting for the belt, who else is left? Well here are some names and how close (or far depending on their current streak of wins) each logically is:
Martin Kampmann: There are many people who thought Kampmann should have won that fight with Shields last year. Kampmann looked good against Shields and his only loss since moving down to Welterweight division was to Paul Daley (September 2009). Kampmann's next fight is against Diego Sanchez this week and he needs to beat Sanchez along with atleast one more top ten welterweight fighter in order to make a solid argument of him fighting for the belt.
Thiago Alves: Since November of 2005 there are only two men who have beaten Thiago Alves: George St. Pierre and Jon Fitch. Fitch has been Alves' kryptonite in the UFC and George St. Pierre finds a way to beat everyone in the UFC, so Alves' losses are nothing to be ashamed of. His next fight is in May against Rick Story. If Alves can string together about three wins in a row he should definately get another shot at the welterweight championship because he is one of the most talented Welterweights in the UFC.
Carlos Condit: Before the WEC liquidated its Welterweight Division, Carlos Condit defended the WEC Welterweight Belt three straight times and each title defense never went the distance. Condit has now won three straight fights in the UFC, including a knockout of former number one contender and Tae Kwon Do Black Belt Dan Hardy. Condit was suppose to fight Chris Lytle before he had to withdraw with a knee injury. If Condit can come back soon and get two more quality wins he should get his shot at the division title. Condit is the most underrated and overlooked fighter in the UFC Welterweight division. Before Condit was brought into the UFC he had won eight straight fights.
Josh Koscheck: Previous to being beaten by George St. Pierre's excellent jab, Koscheck had beaten three tough welterweights and he totally shut down all three of them. Koscheck also was able to stop most of St. Pierre's takedown attemps which shows how strong and technically skilled Koscheck is. He typically does not get enough credit for his excellent wrestling skills and athelticism because his "villian" reputation is what most people know him for. Koscheck will be back as soon as he recovers from the damage that St. Pierre's jab did to break his eye socket (Koscheck has also said he suffered some minor nerve damage in his face and he will not be able to run or train hard until possibly May). If Koscheck can string together another three strong wins he will be right back in title contention.
And remember, all of this analysis is conjuecture based on the "What If" of George St. Pierre beating Jake Shields in April. If Shields takes down St. Pierre then who knows what is next! St. Pierre has only lost twice in his entire MMA career and he avenged both of those losses so it is not far fetched to think a loss to Shields would drive him to come back and beat Shields to get the title back. For now, we can only wait and see what will happen April 30, 2011.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
UFC 126 Aftermath
When there is a fight card that has been so highly anticipated and hyped, one might assume the event might come up short of expectations. But UFC 126 failed to disappoint and major credit to not just the UFC for building the fight card, but to the fighters who rose to the occassion. Now here's the overview:
UFC Middleweight Champ Anderson Silva versus Vitor Belfort
Result: Silva by KO
If anyone doubted Anderson Silva as the top Pound for Pound fighter in all of MMA before this fight, you can disregard most of those doubts. Vitor Belfort seemed like the ultimate challenger: a fighter who has great standup skills, solid wrestling, and good Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. But it was Belfort's hesitation to attack Silva that allowed the Champ to settle in. The kick Silva used to put down Belfort was a fake front kick to the body and he then snapped up a variation of a Tae Kwon Do kick that didn't just stun Belfort, it stunned most of the people watching the fight.
Next for Silva: Anderson Silva has won 13 straight fights in the UFC, including 8 UFC title defenses. There are a few scenarios that are available to him at this point. UFC President Dana White has stated that if Silva won his fight against Belfort and UFC Welterweight Champ George St. Pierre wins his schedule fight against Jake Shields that there would be a "Super Fight" between the two long time Champions. If St. Pierre losses to Shields in April, Silva could either take on number one Middleweight Contender Yushin Okami (who is credited with Silva's last career "loss" due to a Disqualification) or he could move up to Light Heavyweight and take on the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion.
Next for Belfort: This was Vitor Belfort's first fight since September of 2009. Losing to Anderson Silva is nothing to be ashamed off and I think there was some mental "ring rust" on the part of Belfort in this matchup. If Silva ends up facing St. Pierre, it is logical to have Belfort take on Okami. But if Silva instead faces Yushin Okami, it would be interesting to see Belfort face Chael Sonnen if his suspension is over before the end of the summer or Belfort could face the winner the Bisping/Rivera fight later this month.
Forrest Griffin versus Rich Franklin
Result: Griffin by Decission
Having not faught for over a year did not seem to affect Griffin too much. He used his agression and strength to neutralize Franklin's speed and slick striking. Even though Griffin is only a couple inches taller then Franklin, he looked much larger then Franklin inside the Octagon. Franklin also seemed to have no real defensive gameplan to deal with being taken down by Griffin.
Next for Griffin: It is hard to tell if Forrest Griffin wants to really make another run at the UFC Light Heavyweight belt or if he just wants good fights. If Griffin wants to work his way up the UFC Light Heavyweight ladder, then I suggest he face the winner of the Matt Hamill/Phil Davis matchup that will take place in April.
Next for Franklin: At this point in his career, Rich Franklin is running out of time to make a run at another title. He is 5-3 in his last 8 fights, two of those three losses were by decission. He is right now in the middle of the pack in the Light Heavyweight division. A matchup with the winner of the Tito Ortiz/Antônio Rogério Nogueira fight in March would say a lot about what Franklin's future is in MMA.
Jon Jones versus Ryan Bader
Result: Jones by Submission
For someone who has only been a Professional MMA fighter since 2008, Jon Jones is way ahead of the curve. He was better in every aspect of the MMA game against Ryan Bader. His striking was sharper, his wrestling was more technically sound, and his jiu-jitsu was light years ahead of Bader. The submission was just the icing on the cake for Jones in this fight.
Next for Jones: Since Rashad Evan blew out his knee while training to face Maurico "Shogun" Rua, Jon Jones will now face "Shogun" for the UFC Light Heavyweight Belt in March. That means Jones will have a little over five weeks to prepare for one of the top MMA fighters in the world.
Next for Bader: Ryan Bader looked limited in contrast with Jon Jones in this fight. He really needs to develop more as an MMA fighter and not just be a wreslter with above average boxing skills. He needs to face an experienced fighter who will test how much he learned from this fight with Jones Either Krzysztof Soszynski and Vladimir Matyushenko would be an interesting opponent for Bader.
Jake Ellenberger vs. Carlos Eduardo Rocha
Result: Ellenberger by Split Decission
Jake Ellenberger did not do much in this fight until the end of the second round. Rocha dominated the first round and Ellenberger did enough to win the third round on the score cards. Both guys are young, up and coming fighters but this win isn't something Ellenberger should be proud of. He should be happy he came out of it with a win.
Next for Ellenberger: After spending too much time worrying about being taken down by Rocha, Ellenberger needs to work on his off the back grappling defense. In the meantime, a matchup with DaMarques Johnson would be an intriguing fight.
Next for Rocha: For a young fighters' first fight in the US, Rocha did well. He dominated Ellenberger on the ground in the first round and showed above average standup skills through out the fight. He is still very new to fighting in the UFC. A matchup with Charlie Brenneman would be a good choice for him at this point in his career.
Miguel Torres versus Antonio Banuelos
Result: Torres by Unanimous Decission
Miguel Torres' win looked similar to George St. Pierre's win in December against Josh Koscheck: Both fighters used the jab to neutralize their opponent's offense. Torres, who now trains with St. Pierre's head trainer Firas Zahabi, looked sharp on the feet and stayed balanced in his attack for all three rounds. On the other hand, Banuelos looked tenative and unsure of how to execute his coaches' gameplan for him in the fight.
Next for Torres: This seems to be a new look Miguel Torres who uses patience and skill to beat his opponents. After two straight wins, the former long time Bantemweight champion of the WEC needs to face someone who will push him in a fight. Scott Jorgensen would make sense for Torres at this stage of his attempt to get back into contention for the title.
Next for Banuelos: Whether it was the jab that kept stunning him or fear of being knocked out, Antonio Banuelos looked bad in his loss to Torres. He should face another fighter coming off a loss, like Will Campuzano. Maybe both guys in their desperation to not lose another fight will be motivated enough to put on a good fight performance.
Quick thoughts on some Preliminary Card Fights
Donald Cerrone vs. Paul Kelly: Donald Cerrone has been in many big fights during his time in the WEC. He rose to the occasion in this fight against Kelly. Cerrone has a future in the UFC if for no other reason except that he is always involved in interesting fights that usually do not go the distance. Cerrone needs to rack up a couple more UFC wins before he gets next level competition, so him getting to fight the winner of the Spencer Fisher/Ross Pearson fight later this month makes sense.
Chad Mendes vs. Michihiro Omigawa: Chad Mendes is making a great case for himself to get a shot at the Featherweight title sooner then later. Mendes seems to get better with each fight. A matchup with Diego Nunes would clear up which one of those two fighters is ready to make a run at the title and who still has work to do. On the other hand, Omigawa showed a lot of resilince but came up short against the talented Mendes. Omigawa isn't washed up or done just yet as an MMA fighter. Look for him to maybe get a shot at fighting Chan Sung Jung ("The Korean Zombie") as a chance for Omigawa to show he can hang with these younger Featherweights.
UFC Middleweight Champ Anderson Silva versus Vitor Belfort
Result: Silva by KO
If anyone doubted Anderson Silva as the top Pound for Pound fighter in all of MMA before this fight, you can disregard most of those doubts. Vitor Belfort seemed like the ultimate challenger: a fighter who has great standup skills, solid wrestling, and good Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. But it was Belfort's hesitation to attack Silva that allowed the Champ to settle in. The kick Silva used to put down Belfort was a fake front kick to the body and he then snapped up a variation of a Tae Kwon Do kick that didn't just stun Belfort, it stunned most of the people watching the fight.
Next for Silva: Anderson Silva has won 13 straight fights in the UFC, including 8 UFC title defenses. There are a few scenarios that are available to him at this point. UFC President Dana White has stated that if Silva won his fight against Belfort and UFC Welterweight Champ George St. Pierre wins his schedule fight against Jake Shields that there would be a "Super Fight" between the two long time Champions. If St. Pierre losses to Shields in April, Silva could either take on number one Middleweight Contender Yushin Okami (who is credited with Silva's last career "loss" due to a Disqualification) or he could move up to Light Heavyweight and take on the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion.
Next for Belfort: This was Vitor Belfort's first fight since September of 2009. Losing to Anderson Silva is nothing to be ashamed off and I think there was some mental "ring rust" on the part of Belfort in this matchup. If Silva ends up facing St. Pierre, it is logical to have Belfort take on Okami. But if Silva instead faces Yushin Okami, it would be interesting to see Belfort face Chael Sonnen if his suspension is over before the end of the summer or Belfort could face the winner the Bisping/Rivera fight later this month.
Forrest Griffin versus Rich Franklin
Result: Griffin by Decission
Having not faught for over a year did not seem to affect Griffin too much. He used his agression and strength to neutralize Franklin's speed and slick striking. Even though Griffin is only a couple inches taller then Franklin, he looked much larger then Franklin inside the Octagon. Franklin also seemed to have no real defensive gameplan to deal with being taken down by Griffin.
Next for Griffin: It is hard to tell if Forrest Griffin wants to really make another run at the UFC Light Heavyweight belt or if he just wants good fights. If Griffin wants to work his way up the UFC Light Heavyweight ladder, then I suggest he face the winner of the Matt Hamill/Phil Davis matchup that will take place in April.
Next for Franklin: At this point in his career, Rich Franklin is running out of time to make a run at another title. He is 5-3 in his last 8 fights, two of those three losses were by decission. He is right now in the middle of the pack in the Light Heavyweight division. A matchup with the winner of the Tito Ortiz/Antônio Rogério Nogueira fight in March would say a lot about what Franklin's future is in MMA.
Jon Jones versus Ryan Bader
Result: Jones by Submission
For someone who has only been a Professional MMA fighter since 2008, Jon Jones is way ahead of the curve. He was better in every aspect of the MMA game against Ryan Bader. His striking was sharper, his wrestling was more technically sound, and his jiu-jitsu was light years ahead of Bader. The submission was just the icing on the cake for Jones in this fight.
Next for Jones: Since Rashad Evan blew out his knee while training to face Maurico "Shogun" Rua, Jon Jones will now face "Shogun" for the UFC Light Heavyweight Belt in March. That means Jones will have a little over five weeks to prepare for one of the top MMA fighters in the world.
Next for Bader: Ryan Bader looked limited in contrast with Jon Jones in this fight. He really needs to develop more as an MMA fighter and not just be a wreslter with above average boxing skills. He needs to face an experienced fighter who will test how much he learned from this fight with Jones Either Krzysztof Soszynski and Vladimir Matyushenko would be an interesting opponent for Bader.
Jake Ellenberger vs. Carlos Eduardo Rocha
Result: Ellenberger by Split Decission
Jake Ellenberger did not do much in this fight until the end of the second round. Rocha dominated the first round and Ellenberger did enough to win the third round on the score cards. Both guys are young, up and coming fighters but this win isn't something Ellenberger should be proud of. He should be happy he came out of it with a win.
Next for Ellenberger: After spending too much time worrying about being taken down by Rocha, Ellenberger needs to work on his off the back grappling defense. In the meantime, a matchup with DaMarques Johnson would be an intriguing fight.
Next for Rocha: For a young fighters' first fight in the US, Rocha did well. He dominated Ellenberger on the ground in the first round and showed above average standup skills through out the fight. He is still very new to fighting in the UFC. A matchup with Charlie Brenneman would be a good choice for him at this point in his career.
Miguel Torres versus Antonio Banuelos
Result: Torres by Unanimous Decission
Miguel Torres' win looked similar to George St. Pierre's win in December against Josh Koscheck: Both fighters used the jab to neutralize their opponent's offense. Torres, who now trains with St. Pierre's head trainer Firas Zahabi, looked sharp on the feet and stayed balanced in his attack for all three rounds. On the other hand, Banuelos looked tenative and unsure of how to execute his coaches' gameplan for him in the fight.
Next for Torres: This seems to be a new look Miguel Torres who uses patience and skill to beat his opponents. After two straight wins, the former long time Bantemweight champion of the WEC needs to face someone who will push him in a fight. Scott Jorgensen would make sense for Torres at this stage of his attempt to get back into contention for the title.
Next for Banuelos: Whether it was the jab that kept stunning him or fear of being knocked out, Antonio Banuelos looked bad in his loss to Torres. He should face another fighter coming off a loss, like Will Campuzano. Maybe both guys in their desperation to not lose another fight will be motivated enough to put on a good fight performance.
Quick thoughts on some Preliminary Card Fights
Donald Cerrone vs. Paul Kelly: Donald Cerrone has been in many big fights during his time in the WEC. He rose to the occasion in this fight against Kelly. Cerrone has a future in the UFC if for no other reason except that he is always involved in interesting fights that usually do not go the distance. Cerrone needs to rack up a couple more UFC wins before he gets next level competition, so him getting to fight the winner of the Spencer Fisher/Ross Pearson fight later this month makes sense.
Chad Mendes vs. Michihiro Omigawa: Chad Mendes is making a great case for himself to get a shot at the Featherweight title sooner then later. Mendes seems to get better with each fight. A matchup with Diego Nunes would clear up which one of those two fighters is ready to make a run at the title and who still has work to do. On the other hand, Omigawa showed a lot of resilince but came up short against the talented Mendes. Omigawa isn't washed up or done just yet as an MMA fighter. Look for him to maybe get a shot at fighting Chan Sung Jung ("The Korean Zombie") as a chance for Omigawa to show he can hang with these younger Featherweights.
Monday, January 24, 2011
UFC Fight for The Troops 2 Aftermath
Before getting into what happened and what's next for the fighters of the last UFC event, I wanted to reiterate how meaningful it was to see the UFC executives and fighters spending time with the troops stationed at Fort Hood and before the event how they visit injured soldiers as well. Dana White expressed in his video blog leading up to fight night that he felt that there is not enough Patriotism in this country and how there is a special bond between the UFC and the US Military. It is great to see these guys have genuine empathy for the men and women who serve in the US Military. More people needed to be reminded about the sacrifices these men and women make in the work that they do. Whether you support the military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, you can still support those who have volunteered so a draft like there was during Vietnam is not neccessary.
Now to the fights!
Evan Dunham versus Melvin Guillard
Result: Guillard via TKO
These are two fighters whose careers are going in different directions. Dunham was the talk of the lightweight division just 5 months ago and now he has lost two straight fights. On the other hand, Guillard has won six of his last seven fights and has shown he has matured inside and outside the octagon since a great deal since joining Greg Jackson's fight camp. Dunham tried to get Guillard to the ground to no avail which allowed Guillard to use his striking skills and his speed to pick apart Dunham, leaving to the Technical KnockOut.
Next for Dunham: He obviously had no answers for Melvin Guillard's stand up game. While Dunham has shown flashes of skill while on the feet, he needs more work. It should be noted that Dunham has only 13 career pro MMA fights so he is still new to the big time. Dunham needs to be tested by another agressive, stand up fighter who is an up and comer live Dunham. Jeremy Stephens would setup a matchup that would be a good test for both fighers who are still in their 20's.
Next for Guillard: Despite his opinion that he should get a title shot, the lightweight division in the UFC is a crowded field with many talent, elite level fighters. Guillard has 38 pro MMA fights under his belt and he has won four straight fights. I think Guillard should be setup against the winner of the Donald Cerrone/Paul Kelly fight that is on tap in a couple weeks. Cerrone is the former WEC Lightweight champ and if he gets by Kelly would be an excellent test for Guillard.
Matt Mitrione versus Tim Hague
Result: Mitrione via TKO
Matt Mitrione has only four career MMA matches and he has gotten better with each fight. Tim Hague seemed suprised with Mitrione's improved stand up skills. Mitrione brought the fight to Hague and finished him off in the first round via strikes.
Next for Mitrione: Mitrione said after the fight he wants to continue to be challenged and wants to take another step up on competition. But the UFC knows how popular Mitirone is and they do not want to rush his progress. Ben Rothwell would be a good matchup for Mitrione at this point. Rothwell is an experienced MMA veteran who has a background in Kickboxing and Wrestling. Considering most heavyweights are already booked with upcoming fights, Rothwell seems like a good option right now.
Next for Hague: Even though Hague won his last two fights before Saturday's loss to Mitrione, he won those two fights outside of the UFC. In the UFC he has one win in five matches. If Hague is to stay in the UFC, he needs to win his next fight. I could see Hague fighting the winner of the Chris Tuchscherer/Mark Hunt fight that will take place in late February.
Mark Hominick vs. George Roop
Result: Hominick via TKO
Hominick came into the fight with the guarantee that if he won that his next fight would be against Jose Aldo for the UFC Featherweight Belt. Hominick did not waste time, using his boxing to finish Roop in the first round. Roop, who has trained previously with Hominick, was expected to put up more of a fight. Instead, he looked like he was a step below Hominick in skills.
Next for Hominick: Winning five straight matches has earned him a shot at the UFC Featherweight belt. Hominick claims Jose Aldo has never faced a fighter with Hominick's standup skills. While that may be true, Hominick should be careful that he doesn't under estimate Aldo who has shown he is very skilled in every aspect of the MMA game.
Next for Roop: After winning two straight fights, Roop's loss to Hominick shows he is not ready yet for top line competition in the UFc Featherweight division. A fight with Javier Vazquez, who has a background in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, would be an interesting test for Roop since he has little experience in the ground element of the MMA game.
Pat Barry vs. Joey Beltran
Result: Barry via Unanimous Decission
Beltran did a lot of talk about turning this fight between him and Barry into a brawl before last Saturday. He was able to impose his game plan during the first round of the fight. But in the second round Barry got back to what he does best, which is punish his opponent with vicious kicks. By the third round, Beltran could barely stay standing on one of his legs and Barry dominated the third round.
Next for Barry: First off, Barry's post-fight words about the military were very genuine and you could tell how much fighting for the troops ment to him. Despite the win, he still needs to work on his grappling skills since it took him time to stop being so timid with his stand up offense due to worries about being taken down. A guy like Cheick Kongo would be a good matchup for Barry since Kongo is a kickboxer with average wrestling skills.
Next for Beltran: Losing his last two fights, Beltran's days in the UFC may be numbered. There are very few matches that make sense for him at this point that are not re-matches. Beltran is not going to be improving much more then who he is now: a brawler with average striking, grappling, and wrestling skills. Maybe a fight with the MIA Heath Herring would be an interesting fight for an prelimenary card.
Cole Miller vs. Matt Wiman
Result: Wiman via Unanimous Decission
This was one of those fights that helps lineup who is moving up and down in the UFC lightweight ranks. Both fighters had looked really good in their last two fights, but it was Wiman who came out on fire in this matchup. Miller seemed overwhelmed by Wiman's aggressive standup and when they were on the ground, Miller seemed lost against his opponent.
Next for Miller: Cole Miller is 6-3 during his time in the UFC and his three losses have been to aggressive fighters. It is usually Miller impossing his aggression in the Octagon that has led to wins, but he seems to loose that attitude when he is faced with aggressive standup fighters. A fight with Charles Oliveira would be an interesting matchup of two guys with backgrounds in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Next for Wiman: Now on a three fight winning streak, Wiman seemed unable to finish Miller in three rounds. This tells me he still has a great deal of room for growth despite his exponential improvement since his decission loss to Sam Stout. A fight with Nik Lentz would open the chance for both fighters to show who is going to be moving up the lightweight ranks and who is not ready yet.
Quick thoughts on some Preliminary Card Fights
Cody McKenzie vs. Yves Edwards: McKenzie learned Saturday night that just because you have never lost a fight doesn't mean you can get away with relaxing on the ground against a veteran fighter like Yves Edwards. Edwards, who has 57 matches in his Pro MMA career, submitted McKenzie in the second round which showed Edwards still has some left in the tank. Edwards versus Sam Stout would be an interesting standup battle. Cody McKenzie has potential but seems very laid back to be able to achieve much in the UFC.
Mike Brown vs. Rani Yahya: Since losing the Featherweight belt to Jose Also, Mike Brown has lost three of his last five fights. He just is not the same fighter he was before he met Aldo. Its as if Aldo killed his Mojo or his confidence. Whatever the reason, Brown seems to be coming to the end of the road as an MMA fight, despite his popularity. While Yahya has some nice career wins, he has shown an inability to consistently beat top level MMA competition. Maybe a fight with Josh Grispi is in order to see if Yahya has what it takes in the UFC Featherweight division.
Waylon Lowe vs. Willamy Freire: You can't take a win away from a guy, but one can look at Waylon Lowe's last two wins and come away with questions. No one can question Lowe's excellent wrestling skills or his amazing collegiate wrestling credentials. But I can say that the way he wins makes Jon Fitch look like an exciting fighter. He seems to run out of steam quickly and take too much time to regain his energy. Stamina and standup skills are a problem for Lowe. If he expects to have even half the type of career in MMA that he had as a collegiate wrestler, he needs to improve in both of those areas. Lets not forget he lost his UFC Debut by a Knee to the Body from Melvin Guillard.
Now to the fights!
Evan Dunham versus Melvin Guillard
Result: Guillard via TKO
These are two fighters whose careers are going in different directions. Dunham was the talk of the lightweight division just 5 months ago and now he has lost two straight fights. On the other hand, Guillard has won six of his last seven fights and has shown he has matured inside and outside the octagon since a great deal since joining Greg Jackson's fight camp. Dunham tried to get Guillard to the ground to no avail which allowed Guillard to use his striking skills and his speed to pick apart Dunham, leaving to the Technical KnockOut.
Next for Dunham: He obviously had no answers for Melvin Guillard's stand up game. While Dunham has shown flashes of skill while on the feet, he needs more work. It should be noted that Dunham has only 13 career pro MMA fights so he is still new to the big time. Dunham needs to be tested by another agressive, stand up fighter who is an up and comer live Dunham. Jeremy Stephens would setup a matchup that would be a good test for both fighers who are still in their 20's.
Next for Guillard: Despite his opinion that he should get a title shot, the lightweight division in the UFC is a crowded field with many talent, elite level fighters. Guillard has 38 pro MMA fights under his belt and he has won four straight fights. I think Guillard should be setup against the winner of the Donald Cerrone/Paul Kelly fight that is on tap in a couple weeks. Cerrone is the former WEC Lightweight champ and if he gets by Kelly would be an excellent test for Guillard.
Matt Mitrione versus Tim Hague
Result: Mitrione via TKO
Matt Mitrione has only four career MMA matches and he has gotten better with each fight. Tim Hague seemed suprised with Mitrione's improved stand up skills. Mitrione brought the fight to Hague and finished him off in the first round via strikes.
Next for Mitrione: Mitrione said after the fight he wants to continue to be challenged and wants to take another step up on competition. But the UFC knows how popular Mitirone is and they do not want to rush his progress. Ben Rothwell would be a good matchup for Mitrione at this point. Rothwell is an experienced MMA veteran who has a background in Kickboxing and Wrestling. Considering most heavyweights are already booked with upcoming fights, Rothwell seems like a good option right now.
Next for Hague: Even though Hague won his last two fights before Saturday's loss to Mitrione, he won those two fights outside of the UFC. In the UFC he has one win in five matches. If Hague is to stay in the UFC, he needs to win his next fight. I could see Hague fighting the winner of the Chris Tuchscherer/Mark Hunt fight that will take place in late February.
Mark Hominick vs. George Roop
Result: Hominick via TKO
Hominick came into the fight with the guarantee that if he won that his next fight would be against Jose Aldo for the UFC Featherweight Belt. Hominick did not waste time, using his boxing to finish Roop in the first round. Roop, who has trained previously with Hominick, was expected to put up more of a fight. Instead, he looked like he was a step below Hominick in skills.
Next for Hominick: Winning five straight matches has earned him a shot at the UFC Featherweight belt. Hominick claims Jose Aldo has never faced a fighter with Hominick's standup skills. While that may be true, Hominick should be careful that he doesn't under estimate Aldo who has shown he is very skilled in every aspect of the MMA game.
Next for Roop: After winning two straight fights, Roop's loss to Hominick shows he is not ready yet for top line competition in the UFc Featherweight division. A fight with Javier Vazquez, who has a background in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, would be an interesting test for Roop since he has little experience in the ground element of the MMA game.
Pat Barry vs. Joey Beltran
Result: Barry via Unanimous Decission
Beltran did a lot of talk about turning this fight between him and Barry into a brawl before last Saturday. He was able to impose his game plan during the first round of the fight. But in the second round Barry got back to what he does best, which is punish his opponent with vicious kicks. By the third round, Beltran could barely stay standing on one of his legs and Barry dominated the third round.
Next for Barry: First off, Barry's post-fight words about the military were very genuine and you could tell how much fighting for the troops ment to him. Despite the win, he still needs to work on his grappling skills since it took him time to stop being so timid with his stand up offense due to worries about being taken down. A guy like Cheick Kongo would be a good matchup for Barry since Kongo is a kickboxer with average wrestling skills.
Next for Beltran: Losing his last two fights, Beltran's days in the UFC may be numbered. There are very few matches that make sense for him at this point that are not re-matches. Beltran is not going to be improving much more then who he is now: a brawler with average striking, grappling, and wrestling skills. Maybe a fight with the MIA Heath Herring would be an interesting fight for an prelimenary card.
Cole Miller vs. Matt Wiman
Result: Wiman via Unanimous Decission
This was one of those fights that helps lineup who is moving up and down in the UFC lightweight ranks. Both fighters had looked really good in their last two fights, but it was Wiman who came out on fire in this matchup. Miller seemed overwhelmed by Wiman's aggressive standup and when they were on the ground, Miller seemed lost against his opponent.
Next for Miller: Cole Miller is 6-3 during his time in the UFC and his three losses have been to aggressive fighters. It is usually Miller impossing his aggression in the Octagon that has led to wins, but he seems to loose that attitude when he is faced with aggressive standup fighters. A fight with Charles Oliveira would be an interesting matchup of two guys with backgrounds in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Next for Wiman: Now on a three fight winning streak, Wiman seemed unable to finish Miller in three rounds. This tells me he still has a great deal of room for growth despite his exponential improvement since his decission loss to Sam Stout. A fight with Nik Lentz would open the chance for both fighters to show who is going to be moving up the lightweight ranks and who is not ready yet.
Quick thoughts on some Preliminary Card Fights
Cody McKenzie vs. Yves Edwards: McKenzie learned Saturday night that just because you have never lost a fight doesn't mean you can get away with relaxing on the ground against a veteran fighter like Yves Edwards. Edwards, who has 57 matches in his Pro MMA career, submitted McKenzie in the second round which showed Edwards still has some left in the tank. Edwards versus Sam Stout would be an interesting standup battle. Cody McKenzie has potential but seems very laid back to be able to achieve much in the UFC.
Mike Brown vs. Rani Yahya: Since losing the Featherweight belt to Jose Also, Mike Brown has lost three of his last five fights. He just is not the same fighter he was before he met Aldo. Its as if Aldo killed his Mojo or his confidence. Whatever the reason, Brown seems to be coming to the end of the road as an MMA fight, despite his popularity. While Yahya has some nice career wins, he has shown an inability to consistently beat top level MMA competition. Maybe a fight with Josh Grispi is in order to see if Yahya has what it takes in the UFC Featherweight division.
Waylon Lowe vs. Willamy Freire: You can't take a win away from a guy, but one can look at Waylon Lowe's last two wins and come away with questions. No one can question Lowe's excellent wrestling skills or his amazing collegiate wrestling credentials. But I can say that the way he wins makes Jon Fitch look like an exciting fighter. He seems to run out of steam quickly and take too much time to regain his energy. Stamina and standup skills are a problem for Lowe. If he expects to have even half the type of career in MMA that he had as a collegiate wrestler, he needs to improve in both of those areas. Lets not forget he lost his UFC Debut by a Knee to the Body from Melvin Guillard.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
UFC 125 Aftermath
UFC President Dana White has said numerous times that fighters should try to end fights and not leave it in the hands of the judges. The main event of UFC 125, a championship bout between Lightweight Champion Frank Edgar and Gray Maynard, came out as a draw because each of the 3 judges saw the fight differently. Its a shame that after a solid night of fights that a great main event left the sour taste of a "Draw" in our mouths.
UFC Lightweight Champ Frank Edgar versus Gray Maynard
Result: Draw
Maynard came into this fight with the distinction as an undefeated fighter who is responsible for Edgar's only career loss. Maynard had a couple opportunities to finish this fight in the first round when he knocked down Edgar a couple times. Despite the fact the Edgar suprisingly survived that onslaught, it was evident that Maynard has some serious power and has good stand skills. The problem for Maynard was that he threw over 90 strikes in that first round and gassed himself for the rest of the fight. Edgar dominated the second round that included a solid takedown as well. From my perspective, Edgar won the third, fourth, and fifth rounds with his great footwork, solid striking and his ability to stuff Maynard's takedowns. But the judges couldn't agree on the fight: one scored it for Edgar, another scored it for Maynard, and the third scored the fight a 47-47 draw. These two fighters battled for 25 minutes and laid it all out there in the octagon and the judges gave them a draw. Such a disservice to these two athletes is another example of the mess of MMA judging.
Next for Edgar, Maynard: Dana White told MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani that there will be an immediate rematch between these two men. Factoring in the war and damage these two fighters received in this fight, we may not see this rematch until May or July. Remember, Edgar's last rematch with the belt on the line against B.J. Penn that Edgar fought even better the next time round. I expect him to do the same against Maynard the next time around.
Chris Leben versus Brian Stann
Result: TKO by Stann
Chris Leben now has only seven losses in 32 MMA fights and this is only the second time any fighter has stopped Leben with striking. The other guy to do so to the tough Leben is one of the top fighters in all of MMA: UFC Middleweight Champ Anderson Silva. Stann is getting better and better with each fight. His striking and clinch game is constantly improving while his power was on display as he crushed Leben. So if Chris Leben is considered the "toughest man in MMA", does Stann now get that title since he beat him?
Next for Stann: The former WEC Lightweight Champion is looking to work his way up the UFC Middleweight ranks to get a title shot. If Michael Bisping gets by Jorge Rivera, then Stann should get Bisping next. This would be a great stand up battle between two popular fighters in their repsective nations. If Bisping loses to Rivera, then I think Stann should get to take on Nate Marquardt. "Nate the Great" is considered by many a top 10 Middleweight fighter who had two losses in title contender fights in 2010 (against Chael Sonnen and Yushin Okami). Stann says he wants to be challenged and Marquardt definately fits that description.
Next for Leben: Leben had a solid 2010 in which he went 3-0. Starting 2011 on a losing note puts him a step back in the middleweight division ranks. Leben's next fight should be a sort of "where do these guys stand" clarification fight. A matchup with Alan Belcher or Mark Munoz would give Leben and his opponent clarity on who is going to be moving up the middleweight rankings and who is going to stay in limbo.
Brandon Vera versus Thiago Silva
Result: Silva by Unanimous Decission
This was suppose to be the fight that started Brandon Vera's "Comeback". But Thiago Silva was having none of this. Silva (who has not fought in a year due to back problems) showed his superior striking, grappling, and strength in his domination of Vera. Vera seemed lost whenever Silva got his hands on Vera in the clinch and took him down to the ground. It got so bad that in the third round Vera was doing very little to defend himself and Silva started slapping Vera in the face and on his back cause Vera was doing a lot of nothing.
Next for Vera: It seems that when Vera made the decission to drop from Heavyweight to become a Light Heavyweight fighter he choose to cut some muscle instead of just cut fat and try to maintain muscular strength. Vera is maybe too lean to be a topline light heavyweight fighter. Vera has a background in Greco-Roman wrestling and Muay Thai, two disciplines that are known for needed strength to execute their skill sets properly. It seems to me that Vera needs to hit the weight room and take some serious Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training before he gets matched up with any new opponents.
Next for Silva: After going 2-2 over the last two years, Silva needs to get on a consistent winning streak before one can consider him ready to take on the topline light heavyweights in the UFC. Rising UFC star Phil Davis would be a good matchup next for Silva. The fight would give both guys the opportunity for a win against an opponent many consider just outside of the top ten in that weight class.
Clay Guida versus Takanori Gomi
Result: Guida by submission
Gomi had no answer for Guida's movement and grappling in this fight. Gomi looked lost most of the fight and seemed disapointed afterwards. Guida, under the guidence of Greg Jackson, seems to be finally piecing together all of the tools he has to put him on the road to truly meeting his potential. Guida was always a high energy guy who had a pretty good ground game and effective striking. Now he looks like he is skill wise light years ahead of his competition.
Next for Guida: The last time Guida was on a three fight winning streak he lost his next two fights. But that was before Guida was training with Greg Jackson and company in New Mexico. Guida deserves a next level opponent after beating Gomi. Ben Henderson seems like a great matchup on paper: both fights are high energy fighters with great stamina and footwork, effective striking and solid ground games. Also, they both have similar hairstyles...
Next for Gomi: Going 1-2 in the UFC is nothing to be ashamed of especially against competition such as Kenny Florian, Tyson Griffin, and Clay Guida. But Gomi is the former PRIDE Lightweight Champion and has shown a serious weakness in his losses in the ground and submission aspects of the MMA game. He definately needs to take some Jiu-Jitsu classes before his next fight. A matchup with Jamie Varner or Jeremy Stephens would be a brawl type of matchup that favors Gomi's fighting style.
Nate Diaz versus Dong-Hyun Kim
Result: Kim by Unanimous Decission
Whether the reason was Kim is that much better a grappler then Diaz or Diaz's gameplan against Kim was all wrong, the fact is this was a boring fight in which Diaz couldn't get much offense going against Kim until the third round. Kim stiffled Diaz's submission efforts when the two were on the ground and Diaz was not able to get any rhythm against Kim on the feet during the fight. Kim's style leaves something to be desired for the average MMA fan while Diaz seemed ready to forget that this fight ever happened before the judges decission was announced.
Next for Diaz: Before this loss, Diaz had looked solid at 170 pounds and many assumed he would start making a resume of wins to make his way up the UFC welterweight ranks. Now with this setback, Diaz needs to forget this fight and keep improving as a fighter. He needs to stay away from becoming indifferent like he did when he lost three out of his last five fights at lightweight. A fight with either John Hathaway or Rory MacDonald could be enough fireworks to keep Diaz from getting complacent.
Next for Kim: Some lessons in English and Public Relations. His post fight interview was the most rediculous and pathetic interview after a fight I have ever seen. He had no interest in answer Joe Rogan's questions and just wanted the world to know he wants George St. Piere. How about Kim beat someone like Paulo Thiago before we talk about him facing any of the top level fighters in the UFC welterweight division.
Quick thoughts on some Preliminary Card Fights
-Poirier made Grispi "Crispy": Dustin Poirier spent three rounds taking the fight to Josh Grispi, who was suppose to be next in line to face UFC Featherweight Champ Jose Aldo before Aldo sustained an injury. It cannot be dismissed that Grispi had won four straight fights against well respected guys like L.C. Davis, Jens Pulver, and Mark Hominick. But it is fair to say that if Poirier was able to dominate Grispi like that, Grispi probably had little to no chance against Jose Aldo. Also, this loss by Grispi opens the door for this question: Is there anyone in the Featherweight division qualified to face Aldo for the belt?
-Davis Gets KO'ed by Stephens: Marcus Davis dropped down to Lightweight to prolong his fight career. In fact, he was winning the first two rounds of his fight with Stephens. But Stephens changed everything with one solid strike that ended the fight. Davis now has lost four of his last five fights. I'm not sure how many more chances the UFC is willing to give him to right the ship, despite his popularity. On the other hand, Stephens is now 6-5 in the UFC with four wins by KO or TKO and he's only 24 years old.
-Tavares shows Baroni who's "Bad": Phil Baroni may be popular, but his fighting career does not reflect that. He's been in many long, tough fights where he has come up on the short end and the fact that he has been training at American Kickboxing Academy with guys like Josh Koscheck and Jon Fitch shows he is very serious about his fight future. But a knockout loss like he had to Brad Tavares will make anyone disheartened and question their future. Tavares has a bright future in the UFC, but does Baroni have any future at this point?
-Volkmann calls out who?!?: After Jacob Volkmann's split decission win over veteran fighter Antonio McKee, he called out President Obama over Obama's Health Care plan. Come to find out that Volkmann has his own Chiropractic practice and he says that elements of Obama's Health Care plan that was signed into law is bad for people in businesses like his. I doubt we will see ever the President in a UFC octagon ever, but maybe he could make a stop by Volkmann's practice and talk to the typically mild-manner fighter. With all the negative media Obama has been getting over the last few months, maybe a PR move like that could help his approval ratings. Just a thought.
UFC Lightweight Champ Frank Edgar versus Gray Maynard
Result: Draw
Maynard came into this fight with the distinction as an undefeated fighter who is responsible for Edgar's only career loss. Maynard had a couple opportunities to finish this fight in the first round when he knocked down Edgar a couple times. Despite the fact the Edgar suprisingly survived that onslaught, it was evident that Maynard has some serious power and has good stand skills. The problem for Maynard was that he threw over 90 strikes in that first round and gassed himself for the rest of the fight. Edgar dominated the second round that included a solid takedown as well. From my perspective, Edgar won the third, fourth, and fifth rounds with his great footwork, solid striking and his ability to stuff Maynard's takedowns. But the judges couldn't agree on the fight: one scored it for Edgar, another scored it for Maynard, and the third scored the fight a 47-47 draw. These two fighters battled for 25 minutes and laid it all out there in the octagon and the judges gave them a draw. Such a disservice to these two athletes is another example of the mess of MMA judging.
Next for Edgar, Maynard: Dana White told MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani that there will be an immediate rematch between these two men. Factoring in the war and damage these two fighters received in this fight, we may not see this rematch until May or July. Remember, Edgar's last rematch with the belt on the line against B.J. Penn that Edgar fought even better the next time round. I expect him to do the same against Maynard the next time around.
Chris Leben versus Brian Stann
Result: TKO by Stann
Chris Leben now has only seven losses in 32 MMA fights and this is only the second time any fighter has stopped Leben with striking. The other guy to do so to the tough Leben is one of the top fighters in all of MMA: UFC Middleweight Champ Anderson Silva. Stann is getting better and better with each fight. His striking and clinch game is constantly improving while his power was on display as he crushed Leben. So if Chris Leben is considered the "toughest man in MMA", does Stann now get that title since he beat him?
Next for Stann: The former WEC Lightweight Champion is looking to work his way up the UFC Middleweight ranks to get a title shot. If Michael Bisping gets by Jorge Rivera, then Stann should get Bisping next. This would be a great stand up battle between two popular fighters in their repsective nations. If Bisping loses to Rivera, then I think Stann should get to take on Nate Marquardt. "Nate the Great" is considered by many a top 10 Middleweight fighter who had two losses in title contender fights in 2010 (against Chael Sonnen and Yushin Okami). Stann says he wants to be challenged and Marquardt definately fits that description.
Next for Leben: Leben had a solid 2010 in which he went 3-0. Starting 2011 on a losing note puts him a step back in the middleweight division ranks. Leben's next fight should be a sort of "where do these guys stand" clarification fight. A matchup with Alan Belcher or Mark Munoz would give Leben and his opponent clarity on who is going to be moving up the middleweight rankings and who is going to stay in limbo.
Brandon Vera versus Thiago Silva
Result: Silva by Unanimous Decission
This was suppose to be the fight that started Brandon Vera's "Comeback". But Thiago Silva was having none of this. Silva (who has not fought in a year due to back problems) showed his superior striking, grappling, and strength in his domination of Vera. Vera seemed lost whenever Silva got his hands on Vera in the clinch and took him down to the ground. It got so bad that in the third round Vera was doing very little to defend himself and Silva started slapping Vera in the face and on his back cause Vera was doing a lot of nothing.
Next for Vera: It seems that when Vera made the decission to drop from Heavyweight to become a Light Heavyweight fighter he choose to cut some muscle instead of just cut fat and try to maintain muscular strength. Vera is maybe too lean to be a topline light heavyweight fighter. Vera has a background in Greco-Roman wrestling and Muay Thai, two disciplines that are known for needed strength to execute their skill sets properly. It seems to me that Vera needs to hit the weight room and take some serious Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training before he gets matched up with any new opponents.
Next for Silva: After going 2-2 over the last two years, Silva needs to get on a consistent winning streak before one can consider him ready to take on the topline light heavyweights in the UFC. Rising UFC star Phil Davis would be a good matchup next for Silva. The fight would give both guys the opportunity for a win against an opponent many consider just outside of the top ten in that weight class.
Clay Guida versus Takanori Gomi
Result: Guida by submission
Gomi had no answer for Guida's movement and grappling in this fight. Gomi looked lost most of the fight and seemed disapointed afterwards. Guida, under the guidence of Greg Jackson, seems to be finally piecing together all of the tools he has to put him on the road to truly meeting his potential. Guida was always a high energy guy who had a pretty good ground game and effective striking. Now he looks like he is skill wise light years ahead of his competition.
Next for Guida: The last time Guida was on a three fight winning streak he lost his next two fights. But that was before Guida was training with Greg Jackson and company in New Mexico. Guida deserves a next level opponent after beating Gomi. Ben Henderson seems like a great matchup on paper: both fights are high energy fighters with great stamina and footwork, effective striking and solid ground games. Also, they both have similar hairstyles...
Next for Gomi: Going 1-2 in the UFC is nothing to be ashamed of especially against competition such as Kenny Florian, Tyson Griffin, and Clay Guida. But Gomi is the former PRIDE Lightweight Champion and has shown a serious weakness in his losses in the ground and submission aspects of the MMA game. He definately needs to take some Jiu-Jitsu classes before his next fight. A matchup with Jamie Varner or Jeremy Stephens would be a brawl type of matchup that favors Gomi's fighting style.
Nate Diaz versus Dong-Hyun Kim
Result: Kim by Unanimous Decission
Whether the reason was Kim is that much better a grappler then Diaz or Diaz's gameplan against Kim was all wrong, the fact is this was a boring fight in which Diaz couldn't get much offense going against Kim until the third round. Kim stiffled Diaz's submission efforts when the two were on the ground and Diaz was not able to get any rhythm against Kim on the feet during the fight. Kim's style leaves something to be desired for the average MMA fan while Diaz seemed ready to forget that this fight ever happened before the judges decission was announced.
Next for Diaz: Before this loss, Diaz had looked solid at 170 pounds and many assumed he would start making a resume of wins to make his way up the UFC welterweight ranks. Now with this setback, Diaz needs to forget this fight and keep improving as a fighter. He needs to stay away from becoming indifferent like he did when he lost three out of his last five fights at lightweight. A fight with either John Hathaway or Rory MacDonald could be enough fireworks to keep Diaz from getting complacent.
Next for Kim: Some lessons in English and Public Relations. His post fight interview was the most rediculous and pathetic interview after a fight I have ever seen. He had no interest in answer Joe Rogan's questions and just wanted the world to know he wants George St. Piere. How about Kim beat someone like Paulo Thiago before we talk about him facing any of the top level fighters in the UFC welterweight division.
Quick thoughts on some Preliminary Card Fights
-Poirier made Grispi "Crispy": Dustin Poirier spent three rounds taking the fight to Josh Grispi, who was suppose to be next in line to face UFC Featherweight Champ Jose Aldo before Aldo sustained an injury. It cannot be dismissed that Grispi had won four straight fights against well respected guys like L.C. Davis, Jens Pulver, and Mark Hominick. But it is fair to say that if Poirier was able to dominate Grispi like that, Grispi probably had little to no chance against Jose Aldo. Also, this loss by Grispi opens the door for this question: Is there anyone in the Featherweight division qualified to face Aldo for the belt?
-Davis Gets KO'ed by Stephens: Marcus Davis dropped down to Lightweight to prolong his fight career. In fact, he was winning the first two rounds of his fight with Stephens. But Stephens changed everything with one solid strike that ended the fight. Davis now has lost four of his last five fights. I'm not sure how many more chances the UFC is willing to give him to right the ship, despite his popularity. On the other hand, Stephens is now 6-5 in the UFC with four wins by KO or TKO and he's only 24 years old.
-Tavares shows Baroni who's "Bad": Phil Baroni may be popular, but his fighting career does not reflect that. He's been in many long, tough fights where he has come up on the short end and the fact that he has been training at American Kickboxing Academy with guys like Josh Koscheck and Jon Fitch shows he is very serious about his fight future. But a knockout loss like he had to Brad Tavares will make anyone disheartened and question their future. Tavares has a bright future in the UFC, but does Baroni have any future at this point?
-Volkmann calls out who?!?: After Jacob Volkmann's split decission win over veteran fighter Antonio McKee, he called out President Obama over Obama's Health Care plan. Come to find out that Volkmann has his own Chiropractic practice and he says that elements of Obama's Health Care plan that was signed into law is bad for people in businesses like his. I doubt we will see ever the President in a UFC octagon ever, but maybe he could make a stop by Volkmann's practice and talk to the typically mild-manner fighter. With all the negative media Obama has been getting over the last few months, maybe a PR move like that could help his approval ratings. Just a thought.
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