Updated UFC commentary

Although UFC has acquired Pride FC, it appears that the two entities will remain separate for now. This was made evident when, on April 7th, Dana White signed former Pride superstar Antonio Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira. This could create some very interesting match ups in the ever stellar Heavyweight division considering the fashion in which the newly-signed Brazilian beat current star Cro Cop in 2003. Cro Cop is currently getting a huge push in the next UFC event (broadcast for free on SpikeTV), so the signing of Minotauro puts them on a fast track to face one another. With this addition, the list of UFC Heavyweight contenders looks like this: Randy Couture (Champion), Tim Sylvia, Andrei Arlovski, Cro Cop, and Minotauro. Look for a Couture title defense at around UFC 74 or UFC 75, possibly a rematch against Sylvia. If he wins this fight, you can expect to see the Cro Cop-Minotauro winner to face him next. If the UFC could somehow move Fedor across brands, it would make the heavyweight division as strong as it has ever been.

Comparatively, the Light Heavyweight division is weak. That's right, the division that owns Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz is weak. That's how good the Heavyweight division is. Rampage Jackson and Liddell should provide some short-term fireworks at UFC 71, but there's not enough star power to provide longevity. My suggestion: sign the super fight with Liddell and Wanderlei Silva. Of course, if Rampage upsets Liddell (like Serra just did with St. Pierre), we have a whole new ballgame. I know that Rampage won their last fight, but I can't imagine Liddell being listed as the underdog in the rematch or any match, for that matter.

The Welterweight division, usually the definition of consistency with Hughes at the reins, has experienced a title change in its last two title defenses. That's three champions in two events. Notorious for good but not great wrestlers (such as Frank Trigg, Sean Sherk, and others), the division finally has some new-found story lines with the recent rash of changes. Now, to figure out who gets the first title shot...

The Middleweight division features a boring champ who immediately jumps into a Muay Thai clinch at the beginning of every round and a cast of rejects from "The Ultimate Fighter." The Lightweight division features a champ who is only champ because he couldn't cut it with the Welterweights and had to drop (Sean Sherk) and two bonafide superstars who won't fight until the end of the next season of "The Ultimate Fighter" (BJ Penn and Jens Pulver). With their fight booked already, it will be months before either can provide a challenge to Sherk. If the UFC needs to move talent from Pride to any two divisions, these are the ones. Sure, I'd like to see some dream Heavyweight matches, but the talent in those divisions is already there. In these two, it is dangerously lacking.