IWF Exclusive: The Future Of The UFC

Although we have a set title fight in our sights (Hughes vs. Serra), a slightly deeper look into the ranks of the UFC will give us a more accurate picture of how the sport should shape up over the next six months. While feuds and rivalries culminate in once-a-month events, the sport is built between those events as every member of the roster fights, bargains, and even pleads for a title shot. The following is a look at each division and who is fighting for the title.

Heavyweights: With Andrei Arlovski missing his new contract, Cro Cop dropping fights like he was bought off, and Couture temporarily out of the fight game, the whole division is really up for grabs. It’s unlikely that White would simply award the belt to the winner of an upcoming fight as it wouldn’t make sense for Kongo or Nogueira to receive a title with very little UFC experience under their belts. He could justify giving it to Sylvia as he was the last guy to hold the belt and is fresh off a win, but I doubt he’d give the title to the least marketable guy this side of O.J. Simpson. What is likely is that we’ll see Sylvia take on the Kongo/Nogueira winner in a mini grand prix of sorts. While the best match up for the sport would have been Vera and Kongo, it was spoiled by Sylvia’s yawn-inducing win last month (not that Vera helped to make it exciting, either…). I’d expect to see Nogueira and Sylvia, but the way the UFC’s cookies have been crumbling lately, I’d probably be better off just flipping a coin.

Light Heavyweights: This is obviously the toughest one to call, with the four big names (Liddell, Henderson, Shogun, Wanderlei) being more than one win from a title shot. That leaves us with three guys who can stake a legitimate claim to Rampage’s belt. They are: Keith Jardine, Lyoto Machida, and Forrest Griffin. It probably won’t be Jardine, because although he’s knocked out Griffin and beat Liddell, he suffered a brutal KO at the hands of Houston Alexander at UFC 71. And while Machida’s been impressive in his UFC fights (3 for 3), two weren’t on the main telecast and he doesn’t have quite enough name recognition or ability to speak English to warrant being one good punch away from a title. He’ll have to win one or two more before getting any serious consideration. The honor, I would bet, will go to Forrest, who the UFC considers the heir apparent to the holy trinity of ratings that is about to retire (Couture, Liddell, Hughes). He fits in with the tough, common man image that has gained the UFC so much popularity and it looks as though he won’t get that fight against Wanderlei due to an injury he’s harbored for quite some time. With Wanderlei looking to fight sooner and Forrest out until early 2008, I don’t think we’ll see Rampage Jackson in action for another 8 months (see: Matt Serra) at which point he and Griffin should meet for an all out war.

Middleweights: Dana White has suggested that the winner of the Okami/MacDonald could potentially get an automatic title shot, but that seems counterintuitive due to what is logical “MMAth.” With Silva’s dominant second win over Franklin, and Franklin’s win over Okami, who in their right mind would want to see Silva run down the food chain to take on a man who will almost surely beat? I’m aware that Okami technically beat Silva via DQ, but that was nearly two years ago and before Silva rattled off six straight wins against some of the toughest competition around. White is clearly having trouble booking anyone against Silva and until he can sign Filho or Kang, he’s going to have to convince Henderson to drop to 185 and take on Silva. Initially against the idea of dropping weight, Henderson has since warmed up to the idea, but would probably take a warm up before tackling The Spider.

Welterweights: Finally, a simple division. GSP will get an automatic title shot at whoever wins the Hughes-Serra fight. And when Matt Hughes destroys Serra, it’ll set up just the third trilogy in UFC history. Is there much else to say? When the dust settles, however, it is more likely that Karo Parisyan would get the title shot instead of Koscheck or Sanchez, who have spent the last year losing and turning in lackluster performances. The St. Pierre-Parisyan feud is one that we could be seeing for the next five years.

Lightweights: This division isn’t as tough as it is downright bizarre. With the title not stripped from Sherk, who is now out of action for a full year, White has wisely decided to move on and book one their biggest moneymakers, BJ Penn, against Joe Stevenson. This is smart booking as Penn and Stevenson have separated themselves from the rest of the pack of Lightweight fighters. Beyond those two, there’s just a ton of really athletic guys who haven’t made that big of a splash. No outrageous personalities, no huge upsets, just about five guys who are all on the same level. The UFC tried to give a few of them title shots (Franca, Florian), but nothing came of it and buys were weak. This is the smartest play considering the situation of the current champion. If the UFC is going to sign anyone now, I’d say that they need to be looking for Lightweights even before Middleweights. If I were Dana White, I’d be throwing a huge contract at Urijah Faber, the Featherweight champion in the UFC-owned WEC. He’d add some star power and charisma to a division which is garnering less and less interest with each passing day..

With more contract disputes, injuries, and signings than ever before, it’s tough to call the future of a sport as dynamic as Mixed Martial Arts, but this guide should serve as a decent start.

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IRISH WHIP EXCLUSIVE: ANDREI ARLOVSKI INTERVIEW

I got a chance to speak with former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei "Pitbull" Arlovski. Andrei Arlovski is ranked, by many around the world, as one of the top 10 MMA heavyweights in the world. Arlovski holds notable wins over a who's who of fighters, which include: former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia, Ian Freeman, PRIDE veteran Fabricio Werdum, heavy hitter Paul Buentello, Vladimir Matyushenko and many others. Arlovski is best known for his incredible striking abilities, mobility on the feet, Sambo skills, dangerous submissions and even his unique mouthpiece, which contains two fangs, an accurate portrayal of his nickname, the "Pit Bull."

See what Andrei Arlovski had to say about his current status with the UFC, Dana White, Fedor and much, much more! An interview by Masson Liang

Masson Liang: First off, how are things between you and Patrycja shaping up? Are you guys thinking of marriage anytime soon?
Andrei Arlovski: Everything is good with us, thank you for asking. We are in love, but not thinking about marriage.

ML: How has everything been going, as far as training goes? With a nearly four-month hiatus now, are you still keeping in tip-top shape and training even though, according to Joe silva, you don't have a fight booked?
AA: I always try and keep in shape. I take a couple weeks off after a fight and then go back to the gym. I get to work on technique for boxing, jiu-jitsu and wrestling and other things that need help. I also do some weights and conditioning.

ML: Many fans are wondering where you've been. When can "Pitbull" fans expect you back inside The Octagon?
AA: Hopefully soon. I was thinking September/October, but it is up to the UFC.

ML: Even though you won your last two bouts, even nearly knocking Marcio Cruz's head off, Dana White stated that you're last showings weren't very great and that it set you back. What are your feelings toward this?
AA: My opinion and my teams opinion is that I did a good job. It’s just the opinion of Dana White.

ML: Has UFC's treatment towards you changed in the past years and would you ever consider moving to another organization?
AA: I am very glad to be with the UFC and still have contract with them. I am UFC fighter now. Everything is good.

ML: What did it feel like to win the Heavyweight title from Tim Sylvia at UFC 51? Did you expect to win via Achilles lock?
AA: It was a very happy moment. I never know how I am going to win the fight but I always have a plan.

ML: In your words, what happened in your second bout with Sylvia? Did you think the fight was over after you rocked him the first time?
AA: I went out very confident that I would win. Yes I did... I thought when I dropped him on the ground I was sure I beat him again.

ML: Many critics said you weren't as aggressive in your fight with Werdum. Is there any reason behind this? Were there any injuries or were you just playing it safe and trying to keep the fight on its feet?
AA: I just follow instructions of my coaches and go and fight. Werdum is a very skilled fighter and I had to be careful with him on the ground.

ML: With PRIDE heavyweights, "Minotauro" Nogueira and Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic, and many newcomers (i.e. Gabriel Gonzaga) now in the UFC, how do you rank yourself amongst the UFC Heavyweights today?
AA: It is very good for the UFC that Dana brought great fighters to the UFC. I hope that one day I will fight one of those new, big names.

ML: Is there any one particular fighter you would like to fight in the UFC? Perhaps a rematch with Tim Sylvia?
AA: I want to fight with the best and become heavyweight champion again. For sure I would like to fight with Tim Sylvia one more time if it is possible.

ML: Many people believe you match-up perfectly with "Cro Cop." How do you think you match-up with him?
AA: I think that we match up very well and if the UFC wants us to fight, we will. He is a very good fighter.

ML: In the ever-popular discussion of "Who can beat Fedor?" your name often appears. What strengths do you have that could carry you to victory over him?
AA: Thank you. When I was a champion I wanted to fight with Fedor but I don’t know that it is possible now. He is a great fighter, but I don’t think he is unbeatable.

ML: You recently landed a role as a Russian fighter in the movie "Never Submit." Can you tell us more about that?
AA: I am not doing that movie anymore.

ML: Well Andrei, we'd like to thank you so much for your time and support and we surely wish you the best in the future and are dying to see your return. Are there any sponsors you'd like to thank or anything to say to your fans?
AA: Yes. Thank you to all my fans for their support after my two losses. Please look at my web site (www.arlovski.tv) and myspace.com/arlovski for updates on me and my career.

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Three UFC Fights That (Almost) Changed The World Of MMA

We usually don't publish stuff from other sites, but this article from Jesse Holland over at ufcmania.com is just too damn good. It just makes me upset that we didn't come up with this first. In case you haven't seen it, the following lists three fights that were extremely close to going a different way. Had they followed that alternate path, MMA would have been changed forever. A guest article (with permission) by Jesse Holland

I remember ordering UFC 61: Bitter Rivals and telling a friend how excited I was to see Andrei Arlovski and Tim Sylvia duke it out to finally see (once and for all) who was the top heavyweight in the UFC.

Like most friends who have no concept of how exciting this sport can be, he nodded politely and feigned interest until he was rescued by our unconversant waitress who was about as interested in getting me another Mr. Pibb as my friend was about hearing me describe a bicep slicer.

Now I can’t imagine how hard I might have laughed had he told me that a retired Randy Couture would once again become the UFC heavyweight champion.

Yet here we are almost a year later and “The Natural” is in fact king of the heavyweights.

I shopped this scenario around to some of my colleagues and the prevailing thought has been “What a difference a year makes.”

While that may be true, there are times when a single fight, possibly even a single punch can alter the course of history.

With that in mind, I present to you three fights that (almost) changed the world of MMA.

Tim Sylvia vs Andrei Arlovski, UFC 59: Reality Check

The origin:
By the end of 2005 Andrei Arlovski had pretty much cleared out the heavyweight division. To call his bout against Paul Buentello a “Main Event” was so much of a stretch I think I recall seeing dried corn syrup on one of the promotional posters.

This is by no means a knock on Arlovski. The heavyweight division was laughably anemic and the usually durable Buentello was asleep in fifteen seconds.

When Frank Mir went Evel Knievel and turned his leg into peanut brittle, it left the UFC little choice but to rematch “The Pitbull” with Tim Sylvia, a man he already bested (in dominating fashion) back at UFC 51.

Like Arlovski, Sylvia was running out of opponents. Although most fans were forgiving enough to accept the rematch, very few (if any) expected such a dramatic turn of events.

The fight:
Not unlike their first encounter, Arlovski came out looking confident and aggressive. After a few brief exchanges, Sylvia was dropped with a devastating right. What looked like a foregone conclusion was anything but.

After flopping around for a few seconds Sylvia (to his credit) made it back to his feet. An overzealous Arlovski rushed in for the kill and instead ate a perfectly placed uppercut that sent him, and his legions of fans, directly to the floor.

Sylvia pounced and it was goodnight Irene.

The significance:
I remember seeing Sylvia hit the floor and thinking that the fight was over. And had Arlovski been a little less reckless, it might have been.

Had Arlovski won, we may never have witnessed the return of “The Natural” to the ranks of heavyweight.

It was after all, the holes in Sylvia’s game that lured him back (that and a nice fat paycheck from the boys in accounting).

Randy Couture told the world that he knew exactly how to beat the tepid “Maine-iac”, and he came out of retirement to do just that.

But if Arlovski was champ, could we assume he would have followed the path of Sylvia and faced Jeff Monson? And would Sylvia have battled Mauricio Cruz and Fabricio Werdum?

Would Arlovski as champ have put Cro Cop on the fast track to the title instead of building up momentum against Sanchez and Gonzaga?

None can say. But good, bad or indifferent, I’m sure glad that Randy’s back. Even if it is just a curtain call.

Matt Hughes vs. Frank Trigg, UFC 52: Couture vs. Liddell 2

The origin:
Much like Arlovski, Hughes was set to face an opponent he’d already owned in their first encounter. With Penn missing in action and St. Pierre still wet behind the ears, Hughes was expected to carry the torch for quite some time.

Take nothing away from Trigg: Aside from getting choked out by Hughes at UFC 45, Trigg had only one other loss in fourteen professional fights.

In addition, Trigg had two easy first round victories over Dennis Hallman, the man who twice defeated Hughes with relative ease.

And Trigg knew how to get under Matt’s skin.

He dismissed the first loss to Hughes, attributing his poor performance-not Hughes dominance as the main factor. To quote “Twinkle Toes:”

“I gave him my back three times. It took him to the third time to finally take it.”

Not content with just verbal abuse, Trigg also planted a little kiss during the staredown-which may or may not have given him a psychological edge (but it certainly gave him a hard shove from Hughes).

The fight:
Early in the first round Hughes was throwing jabs and looking for the shoot. He closed the gap and Trigg tied him up. Hughes pushed him to the fence and Trigg threw a knee that went straight into Hughes groin. Matt buckled for a moment and staggered backwards, writhing in pain.

Hughes made a weak gesture towards referee Mario Yamasaki (who was either out of position or asleep at the wheel) but the unintentional foul went unnoticed and Hughes had no reprieve.

Trigg was not about to look a gift horse in the mouth as he cracked Hughes with a straight left that sent him crumpling to the canvas. Trigg mounted and began dropping bombs and the fight was seconds away from being stopped.

Somehow Hughes managed to weather the storm but had no choice except to give up his back. Trigg had the rear naked choke but once again couldn’t seal the deal and what happened next is perhaps the greatest comeback in UFC history.

Hughes rolled right, scooped up a bewildered Trigg, carried him across the Octagon and slammed him on his back. A few hard elbows forced Trigg to roll to his belly and Hughes finished him for the second time with a rear naked choke.

The significance:
After several replays, I can say that a stoppage would not have been unjustified. Hughes was in a world of trouble and took a few unanswered blows. There have certainly been earlier stoppages in the UFC and Hughes was hanging on by a thread.

A Trigg victory could have quite possibly made Georges St. Pierre a welterweight champion a year before his time.

Trigg’s first fight after Hughes was against St. Pierre. I don’t think that would have changed unless the nature of the win (the groin shot) was played up to hype an immediate rematch.

Karo was next in line against Hughes (which eventually became Riggs after an injury), and since Hughes already faced GSP prior to Trigg, it would have probably been too soon to face him again.

I don’t want to get on Trigg too much about the fight against GSP, but if he were holding the belt, it would have been quickly relinquished.

I don’t remember the exact time of stoppage, but it was such an ass kicking that Trigg made Kenny Stevens look like William the Conqueror.

But how would this scenario have affected the cash dump on the return of Royce Gracie? I find it hard to believe either party would have been interested (at that time) if it was anyone other than Hughes.

And what about the return of BJ Penn? Or the influx of TUF finalists?

Murky waters indeed …

Stephan Bonnar vs. Bobby Southworth, The Ultimate Fighter

The origin:
It may be hard to believe that an exhibition bout could potentially rewrite history, but in retrospect it almost did. The UFC and SpikeTV were testing the waters with a reality show that pitted sixteen MMA fighters against one another with the finalists facing off at a live event later in the year.

At the time of concept (and even through filming), the UFC brass had no idea how the show would be received. It’s risky business to try and promote exhibition fights with fighters that no one has ever heard of in a sport that is still evolving itself.

Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on who you ask), the personalities were able to add a human element to the series, and viewers found themselves curiously addicted.

It was also an easy way to introduce cheapskates and naysayers to a work-in-progress without it costing them forty bucks. It was a recipe for success, but so much of that had to do with the coronation of Forrest Griffin after his war with Stephan Bonnar at the TUF finale.

The fight:
Bobby Southworth had been around the block prior to his stint on TUF, and he looked like an early favorite after his second round KO of Lodune Sincaid on episode three.

Bonnar however was no pushover. In addition to being a former Golden Gloves boxer in Chicago, he trained Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Carlson Gracie.

The fight itself took awhile to get going but once underway things were pretty much even. Bonnar took one on the chin in round two but was able to recover and seemed to be pushing the pace for most of the fight.

With the bout only lasting two rounds it was very difficult to identify a clear-cut winner. The judges awarded Bonnar the split-decision but it could have easily gone the other way.

Always humble in defeat, Southworth went on a tirade that made The Great Santini look like Bob “Happy Trees” Ross.

The significance:
Without question the Griffin/Bonnar fight was a critical moment in UFC history. That battle did more than just galvanize a passive audience; it legitimized the cast of fighters from The Ultimate Fighter and added a much-needed level of credibility to the reality series.

Would there be a Season six without Griffin/Bonnar? Would the financial capability to puchase PRIDE exist without Griffin/Bonnar? That might seem like a stretch, but compare the pay-per-view buys a year before and a year after the TUF finale. Who knows where we might be.

Yet none of it would be possible without a certain variable: Stephan Bonnar. Imagine if the Southworth decision went the other way (which it easily could have)?

If so, perhaps we would have seen Mike Swick against Southworth in episode 12. Swick would have won easily (because it’s my article and I say so) and the finale would have been Mike Swick vs. Forrest Griffin.

A great fight in its own right, but would it have been the war that was Griffin/Bonnar? What direction the careers of Griffin, Bonnar, Southworth and Swick would have taken has its usual “what ifs”, but the significance of Griffin/Bonnar as it relates to a turning point in the history of the UFC cannot be denied.

Without it, I might not even have a website for which to write.

Honorable mention:

Diego Sanchez vs. Josh Koscheck: The Ultimate Fighter
Sanchez won a close split-decision, but it could have just as easily gone to Koscheck. Imagine if Diego was sent home after episode 12? No question he would have lost a lot of the momentum his perfect record brought him. Without it, his entire shtick seems even more obnoxious and megalomaniacal. Would we have seen Koscheck vs. Parisyan?

Rich Franklin vs. David Loiseau: UFC 58: USA vs. Canada
While Franklin dominated the entire five rounds, Loiseau landed a huge left hook in the third round that sent “Ace” to the canvas. Loiseau mounted but couldn’t finish him off. If he had, it’s hard to say where the debut of Anderson Silva would have fit. Franklin took seven months off to heal his injuries and in the interim we might have seen Loiseau face Chris Leben. Maybe Silva/Marquardt a year early?

BJ Penn vs. Jens Pulver: UFC 35: Throwdown
Penn had an absolutely bone-crunching armbar locked in on “Little Evil”. The only problem was it came at the end of round two. A few seconds earlier, and Penn would have ended it. How would that have affected his decision to move up in weight? Maybe he would have never defeated Matt Hughes at UFC 46. That means that The Ultimate Fighter season five would have featured different coaches. Liddell vs. Jackson? If only.

Got another one? Add it to our list in the comments section below.

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Top Strikers of MMA Today

Honorable mention: Melvin Manhoef, Rob McCullough, Mark Hunt, Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto

5. Andrei "The Pitbull" Arlovski
The Pitbull! Though Arlovski last few bouts can’t exactly be considered stellar, I still consider him as one of the greatest strikers in MMA today.

Arlovski is quite the physical specimen, I mean he is absolutely shredded; he has muscles on top of his muscles. Arlovski’s immense power is complemented by his crisp and accurate strikes.

Arlovski is no slouch on the ground. He's an avid practitioner of Sambo. Sambo is a combat spot and self defense system developed in the Soviet Union and greatly resembles mixed martial arts with its blend of judo, jiu-jitsu, and striking techniques. Arlovski has won a European Youth Sambo Championship and the World Youth Championship. He also took a silver medal at the Sambo World Cup and another silver medal at the World Sambo Championship.

Arlovski holds a notable submission victory over former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia and a stunning knockout victory of Vladimir Matsyushenko. Arlovski showed his dominant striking skills against Matsyushenko, who he knocked out with a beautifully landed uppercut.

4. Wanderlei "The Axe Murderer" Silva

Wanderlei “The Axe Murderer” Silva has been an absolute animal, from his earliest bare-knuckle showdowns in the IVC’s to his PRIDE FC career. Silva is best known for his incredible speed, power, and aggressiveness in the ring.

Wanderlei Silva specializes in Muay-Thai and trains under Rudimar Fedrigo at the Chute Boxe Academy in Curitiba, Brazil. With 21 of his 31 wins ending by some form of knockout, it’s no surprise that Silva is considered by many to be one of the best strikers in MMA today. Silva’s arsenal consists of knees from the Muay-Thai clinch, soccer kicks, stomping downed opponents and his “wild looping punches.”

Wanderlei Silva has also earned a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu but prefers having his fights ending by way of knockout.

In my opinion, Silva’s greatest fights are his two knockout wins over current UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton Jackson and his first fight with Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic. I would choose Wanderlei Silva vs. Quinton Jackson II as one of the greatest fights in all of MMA history to date.

3. Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell

Is a description even necessary for The Iceman? Chuck Liddell has to be one of the most accomplished fighters in MMA today. Being MMA’s top celebrity, Chuck Liddell has brought in tons of positive attention towards the UFC.

Liddell’s background began in karate and collegiate wrestling but has grown into almost pure striking. Chuck seems to only utilize his wrestling abilities to avoid being taken down by his opponents. After graduating from college, Chuck began training with current trainer John Hackleman of The Pit in Arroyo Grande, California.

Liddell is most known for his unorthodox style of fighting. Chuck possesses a very wide stance and keeps his hands low most of the time. He's considered to be a counter-puncher and delivers his punches from virtually all angles.

Chuck Liddell possesses deadly punches, kicks, and knees but his most powerful weapon is his ferocious overhand right, which usually gains him his knockout wins. Liddell currently has 13 out of his 20 wins coming by way of knockout. Chuck Liddell holds outstanding wins over some of the best mixed martial artists of today. Tito Ortiz, Renato Sobral, current HW champion Randy Couture, Vitor Belfort, and Alistair Overeem are just a few of the countless top contenders Liddell has defeated.

2. Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic

Cro Cop can is seen as the top striker in the MMA business today. He's well known for being in the majority of MMA highlight reels played around the world today. Cro Cop is not only a world class fighter but a Croatian Anti-Terrorist officer and a former member of the Croatian parliament!

Cro Cop is easily known for his most deadly attack, the signature left high kick. Everyone knows it’s coming, but no one can stop it. Cro Cop best describes his kicking prowess as “Right leg, hospital, left leg cemetery,” I couldn’t have summed it up better myself.

Cro Cop’s outstanding striking abilities have given him much success throughout K-1 and PRIDE FC. On September 10, 2006, Cro Cop was the winner of PRIDE FC’s 2006 Open-Weight Grand Prix in which he had to face two opponents on the same night. Cro Cop faced feared striker Wanderlei Silva and topped the night off with a submission (due to strikes) win over Josh Barnett. Barnett is considered to be one of MMA’s top heavyweights. Cro Cop currently fights for the UFC.

Before entering professional kickboxing and mixed martial arts, the Croatian Sensation held an amateur boxing record of 40-5 (31 KOs).

Cro Cop’s most renowned wins are over Josh Barnett, Wanderlei Silva, Kazushi Sakuraba, Ikuhisa Minowa, Hidehiko Yoshida in MMA and Remy Bonjasky, Peter Aerts, Jerome LeBanner and Mark Hunt in kickboxing.

1. Anderson "The Spider" Silva

And we finally reach the number one spot for strikers in my book, Anderson “The Spider” Silva. Anderson Silva is like a sniper, and his hands and feet are his bullets. Corny? Maybe. True? Absolutely.

Silva is UFC’s current middleweight champion and has been Cage Rage’s longest reigning middleweight champion. Anderson Silva has been successful in PRIDE FC, Shooto, Cage Rage, and Rumble on the Rock and has currently been tearing through the UFC.

Anderson Silva trained in the famous Chute Boxe Academy and left to create the Muay Thai Dream Team and most recently created a new team called Black House with fighters Assuerio Silva, Vitor Belfort, Lyoto Machida and Carlos Barreto.

Anderson Silva is hands down the best Muay Thai practitioner in ALL of MMA. Silva utilizes Muay Thai techniques to the fullest extent with his virtually unstoppable clinch, flying knees, flying elbows, spinning back fists and his dead on kicks and punches. On top of Silva’s deadly arsenal of Muay Thai skills, he possesses an iron chin, best displayed in his bout against Jorge Rivera. Anderson Silva purposely ate numerous punches of Rivera’s on the chin and was not fazed one bit. Silva’s best display of his dominating Muay Thai in the UFC was his fight against Rich Franklin. Fighting for the middleweight belt, Silva completely picked apart Rich Franklin, with his clinch and lethal knees, one of which broke Franklin’s nose. Silva of course walked away victorious and still holds the UFC middleweight belt to this day.

All in all, Anderson Silva has sniper scopes on his hands and feet and is dead on with all his strikes. His deadly precision and top notch striking makes every fight of his a blast to watch. For this reason, I give Silva the number one spot for top strikers in MMA today.

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The Future of the UFC

While it's a good bit of fun to try to figure out who will fight at UFC 75 (just a few months away with no real bouts), I find it even more entertaining to look..oh, say five years ahead and think about who will be fighting who for the title. In five years, Chuck Liddell, Matt Hughes, and Tito Ortiz will all be retired. Current champions Anderson Silva and Sean Sherk will be on the downswing of their careers. And Randy Couture...well, Randy Couture will probably still be fighting. With injuries, streaks, and simple luck factoring into the roulette wheel that is the UFC, I now will do my best to present you with the title fights you will most likely be seeing in five years time. And now, I get to use the catchphrase I've been waiting to use for some time now...Never heard of these guys? Dont worry; you will.

Heavyweight
Andrei Arlovski vs. Gabriel Gonzaga
Now, some of you might dispute this pick, but if you look at the current age and health levels of the PRIDE crossovers (Cro Cop, Minotauro), they just won't be around. Arlovski (pictured), however, is rarely injured and is just 28 years old. This seems impossible since he's been around forever, but the former champion who holds a win over Tim Sylvia will just keep getting better. He'll only be 33 in five years and will be at his prime. Sylvia won't want a part of him then. Gonzaga, also 28, is a Chute Boxe prodigy who took down Cro Cop without a mark on his body en route to a title shot against Randy Couture (coming up at UFC 74). As he fights more top guys, this BJJ (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) expert will improve further and elongate his career.

Light heavyweight
Michael Bisping vs. Rashad Evans
Bisping, 28 and 13-0, is constantly improving and learning new disciplines. With his bringing in a large share of the Western European market (okay, the whole share), he'll get pushed to the top even if he doesn't turn out to be the next Chuck Liddell. Evans (pictured), 27 and 15-0, seems to be the more promising fighter. He's facing Tito Ortiz at UFC 73, and a win there should propel him into matches with the likes of Henderson, Rampage, and Shogun. Evans is an accomplished submission fighter -- something which will help him win fights in a division which rarely utilizes submission as well as keep him out of the path of large, looping lefts.

Middleweight
Kendall Grove vs. Yushin Okami
Grove (pictured), who is a precocious 24 years old and winner of The Ultimate Fighter 3, is a dangerous and smart fighter. If I had a column about fighters who will still be around in 15 years, Grove would probably be on the list. In 5 years, however, he'll just be getting real attention for the first time. And deservedly so -- this Tito Ortiz prodigy and member of Team Punishment is on a 4 fight win streak with 75% coming by way of submission. As I said before, those submission fighters stay around longer than the guys who just trade bombs. Case in point: Liddell was just suspended through June for the shots he took from Rampage at UFC 71. Okami, who is 25 years old and holds an impressive 21-3 record, enters his fight at UFC 72 on a six fight win streak (he's also won 12 of his last 13). Modeled after guys like Caol Uno and Takanori Gomi, his classic Japanese style will serve him well in the Octagon for years to come.

Welterweight
Diego Sanchez vs. Georges St. Pierre
Sanchez (pictured), who is just 25 years old, recently received his first loss at the hands of Josh Koscheck (decision). However, he's still the younger fighter and he's probably the better fighter. Sanchez looked stiff against Koscheck, but that will loosen up with age and experience. And with a decade of fighting ahead of him, Sanchez has that time in his favor. He's beaten Kenny Florian, Nick Diaz, Karo Parisyan, and Joe Riggs, making him one of the more tested Welterweights outside of the Trinity (Hughes, St. Pierre, Serra). Speaking of Georges St. Pierre, I think he will keep getting better and when all is said and done, will be considered the greatest Welterweight to ever compete in the UFC. For all he's accomplished (beating BJ Penn AND Matt Hughes), he's still just 26 years old. He'll have a million more opportunities and countless years to perfect his lethal blend of striking and ground work.

Lightweight
Roger Huerta vs. Joe Stevenson
Huerta, 24 years old and recently on the cover of Sports Illustrated, has won all three of his UFC fights and looks to be one of the more promising fighters in the division. His slightly rudimentary style is suspect at times, but his decisive victories (a 19 second knockout being among them) more than make up for the questions which linger. Stevenson (pictured), also 24 and winner of The Ultimate Fighter 2, has won his last three fights and only seems to be improving his BJJ skills. I consider BJJ to be the most dangerous of the styles featured in the UFC (look at St. Pierre or Royce Gracie), and improved ability in this discipline can only mean more tallies in the win column for Stevenson. With most of his victories coming on the ground, he'll have the health to stick around and be a contender five years from now.

Poll results: 66% of respondents think that the WWE rosters should not be combined (33%-yes) and 75% of respondents believe that Chuck Liddell is still the best fighter in UFC's Light heavyweight division (25%-Shogun).

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The Pitbull Returns!

Behind the massive story lines of Cro Cop's final fight before a title shot and Michael Bisping appearing before his home nation, there's an imposing 6'4" pitbull who doesn't want you to forget him. At UFC 70, he'll do his best to make sure he's never forgotten again. Despite his impressive victories, championship title, and brilliant Sambo skills, Andrei Arlovski has been pushed into the basement of the Heavyweight division.

After losing two of his first three fights to superstars at the time, Ricco Rodriguez and Pedro Rizzo, the bear-like Arlovski went on an absolute tear, winning his next 6 fights over the course of more than 3 years. During this run, he impressively tapped out 6'8" Tim Sylvia at UFC 51. To Sylvia's credit, he avenged the loss against Arlovski with a TKO win at UFC 59. This set up the much-hyped rubber match at UFC 61. On only two PPVs notice, Arlovski lost a close split decision to Sylvia, with two of three judges scoring the bout 48-47. Arlovski apparently had been hit by a leg kick sometime in the second round which left him unable to kick or make any takedown attempts. After the fight, the injury caused his ankle and knee on his left leg to swell up to about four times its normal size. (How bad ass is he?). Sylvia also had injuries after the fight, fainting at his hotel room. Upon hospital examination, doctors discovered a concussion which was undetected after the match. That's what happens when you beat Andrei Arlovski: you lose anyway.

Even though Sylvia lost the title two PPVs later to Randy "Father Time" Couture, he remained at the top of the division and was still regarded as a top fighter in the division. However, Arlovski, who owned the more impressive of the wins in the split between him and Sylvia, was cast to the bottom of the pool. Without notice, he was facing the likes Mario Cruz (who only beat Frank Mir because of the motorcycle accident). Meanwhile, Sylvia, who was on the lucky end of a one point decision, is being considered for a title rematch.

I easily consider Arlovski the better fighter between the two, making him the better choice to line up for fights against guys like Cro Cop, Couture, and Nogueira...not the boring, generally disliked, and out-of-shape Tim Sylvia. Also, the man has fangs. As Carlito would say, "Now that's cool."

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UFC Heavyweight Division Heats Up!

The Ultimate Fighter 5, Chuck Liddell's next title defense at UFC 71 , the new Lightweight division, UFC buying Pride. With all of these things going on in the Mixed Martial Arts world, what I believe to be the most important is the emergence of the Heavyweight division as the powerhouse division in the UFC. With new fighters and amazing upsets, it is easily the most exciting division in all of Mixed Martial Arts.

The UFC has never been known for its strength at the Heavyweight Division. Pride has always had the most dominant Heavyweight Division in the world, with Fedor Emelienenko leading the pack. Now, the UFC owns 6 of the 10 top rated Heavyweight fighters in the world. With Randy Couture, Mirko " Cro-Cop", Tim Sylvia, Andrei Arlovski, and two new recent acquisitions from Pride, Fabricio Werdum ( who will fight Arlovski at UFC 70) and arguably the best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu artist in the Heavyweight Division Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.

There are many questions to be answered in this division. Can Arlovski battle his way back to the top? Can Couture hang onto the title with the dominant Cro-Cop ready to fight him? Will Fedor sign with the UFC? Where does Antonio "Minotauro" Nogueira fit into this mix? All of these questions will make for an interesting next few months in the UFC Heavyweight Division.

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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.

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UFC 69 analysis & UFC 70 preview

After hours and hours of searching online, I finally found free footage of the St. Pierre vs. Serra fight from the other night. Note Serra's strong stand-up, despite being a predominantly ground fighter. Also worth looking at is the stiffness of St. Pierre. In his last fight against Hughes, St. Pierre seemed much more fluid and loose, landing a variety of spinning kicks and highly technical moves. Against Serra (the 8 to 1 underdog), the champ looked like someone knocked his game from three dimensions to two.

Another noteworthy moment in this fight comes at around 4:11 where former champ Matt Hughes is shown looking on and saying the words "I love this." Will he get the title shot before GSP does?

Finally, on April 21st, 2007, UFC 70: Nations Collide will be held live on SpikeTV (free!). This shouldn't be a bad card, especially with Michael Bisping fighting in his native Manchester, Andrei Arlovski hot on the title trail, and Cro Cop lining himself up for a shot at Randy Couture. Just months ago, everyone was talking Cro Cop vs. Sylvia. My, how the tides can change. The only real disappointment on the card is the lack of a title fight, but there should be enough star power on hand to make it well worth the non-existent price tag.

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UFC acquires Pride FC

After years of Dana White calling the Japanese "too difficult to work with," UFC has officially bought Pride FC.

Drew tells me that UFC made somewhere in the neighborhood of 200 million last year from PPVs, so purchasing some of the world's biggest fighters along with the rights to the only major rival for a little under 70 million puts this deal among the pantheon of bargains along with Seward's folly and the Louisiana Purchase.

It is unknown whether UFC and Pride will remain separate and hold cross-promotional events a few times a year or if UFC will drain the Pride roster, moving all of its stars to UFC. This would essentially relegate Pride to some sort of minor league MMA.

What we do know is that this move immediately makes the Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight divisions more interesting than they have ever been. The Heavyweight division now consists of the new Champ Randy Couture, a still-dangerous Tim Sylvia, Mirko "Cro Cop", Andrei Arlovski, and of course, Fedor Emelianenko. Fedor is widely regarded as the most dangerous fighter in the world and he would probably destroy any of these other contenders, but it will be interesting to see how it all gets booked following the expected Couture-Cro Cop fight. I'd like to see the winner of that get Fedor, while the newly-bearded Arlovski might have enough momentum to win an epic fourth fight with Sylvia.

In the Light Heavyweight division, interest will rise soon with the booking of Chuck Liddell and Rampage Jackson for UFC 71. Rampage is Liddell's only unavenged fight and promises to be a greater challenge than Ortiz has ever been. Hopefully, Liddell will retain, setting the UFC up to make a killing on the rubber match. Let's not forget about Tito Ortiz, who is expected to fight at UFC 72. He could take on Pride superstar Wanderlei Silva who was lined up for a Liddell bout before it fell through early last year. Depending on who wins those matchups, we could be seeing the Liddell-Silva fight in a couple of months. I wouldn't complain over a Rampage-Ortiz fight either.

With this new acquisition, the next few PPVs could look something like this:
UFC 71-Liddell-Rampage
UFC 73-Hughes-St. Pierre III, Couture-Cro Cop
UFC 74-Fedor-Sylvia/Arlovski
UFC 75-Silva-Ortiz
UFC 76-Couture/Cro Cop winner-Fedor/Sylvia/Arlovski winner
UFC 78-Liddell/Rampage winner-Silva/Ortiz winner (providing this wouldn't force a UFC 66 rematch)

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