This Saturday's UFC 136 is one of the biggest MMA fight cards of 2011 with two title fights, a number one contender matchup, and many major names. Lets take a look ahead to this Saturday's major matchups:
1. Frank Edgar versus Gray Maynard III will answer more questions than just who will walk away with the belt
When Edgar-Maynard 2 resulted in a Draw it was more than just a disappointment to both fighters but to the rest of the 155 pound division. Due to their draw and needing a third fight, there is a log jam of top level lightweight fighters who are jockeying to be next in line for to fight for the UFC lightweight belt. The winner of Saturdays fight presents a unique challenge to the rest of the division. Edgar is a talented wrestler with excellent stamina and good kickboxing skills while Maynard is an elite wrestler with excellent strength and major power In his hands. Edgar is a fast paced fighter who utilizes agility and constant movement while Maynard who is a grinder who wants to beat down his opponent. Both fighters present unique challenges to the other 155 pound fighters clamoring to be next in line for a title shot. Clay Guida has six MMA losses by submission; Ben Henderson’s last loss was to a dynamic striker. Gilbert Melendez’s last loss was a grinding decision defeat to a grappler. Meanwhile fighters such as Melvin Guillard and Donald Cerrone are not far behind the top conenders with their recent win streaks. Also, if Maynard beats Edgar Saturday night there may be another fighter who may jump into the pool to via for a shot at the title: former UFC Lightweight Champion BJ Penn.
2. Kenny Florian gets another shot at a title and this may be the best chance he will ever have at winning a belt
Kenny Florian has accomplished a lot in his MMA career from making it to the Ultimate Fighter Season 1 Finale, fighting twice for the UFC Lightweight Championship, and becoming the first UFC fighter to compete in four different weight classes. This will be his third shot at winning a UFC title and this may be his best opportunity. That is no negative against current UFC 145 pound champion Jose Aldo but Florian is a much different type of fighter than Aldo has faced since he has rattled off 12 wins and defended his championship belt three times. Aldo has faced fighters with wrestling, judo, and boxing expertise. Florian presents a different challenge: a talented Brazilian jiu-jitsu fighter with good Muay Thai skills. Florian’s 5 career MMA losses have been to four wrestlers and BJ Penn and Aldo did not look his best in his last fight. It will be interesting to see how Aldo reacts when Florian throws the type of kicks that Aldo is use to inflicting on others.
3. Will Chael Sonnen's layoff hurt him against an ever evolving Brian Stann?
The last time Chael Sonnen was in an MMA fight he was 5 minutes away from defeating a man considered the best MMA fighter of all and becoming the UFC Middleweight champion. Then Sonnen tapped due to a triangle choke, got suspended for testing positive for high levels of testosterone, then his suspension got reduced and now more than a year later he is back in action. The bad news for Sonnen is that this Saturday night he is facing a fighter who seems unbeatable in Brian Stann. Stann is the former WEC Light Heavyweight Champion and since moving down to 185 pounds he is on a three fight winning streak with notable knockout wins over Chris Leben and Jorge Santiago. The biggest factor in this fight will be Sonnen’s wrestling prowess since Stann’s last loss was to Phil Davis (a NCAA Division 1 Wrestling National Champion). With every fight Stann has improved his MMA game and he will be tested against a tough and relentless fighter in Sonnen. The real question will be has Stann’s MMA game evolved enough to win or will Sonnen have “ring rust”.
4. Melvin Guillard is on a mission, but will Joe Lauzon or fate get in the way?
Since 2008 Guillard is 8-1 in the UFC with only two fights going to decision. Thanks to his work with Greg Jackson MMA Guillard is finally accessing his full potential as a fighter and it seems like he is on track to get a shot at fighting for the title. But first he has to get by Joe Lauzon and the last time he faced a fight with good standup and good brazilian jiu-jitsu was nate Diaz and Guillard was submitted by Diaz. Since that loss Guillard has faced many talented wrestlers but not another BJJ fighter with above avergae standup skills. Also, if Guillard beats Lauzon his Jackson MMA teammate Clay Guida has a fight next month that could set him up as next in line to fight the winner of Edgar-Maynard and if Guida wins the belt will Guillard really fight his teammate? Only time will tell what fate has in store for Guillard.
Showing posts with label Jose Aldo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jose Aldo. Show all posts
Thursday, October 6, 2011
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.
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.
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