According to different reports by MMAJunkie.com, both Mauricio "Shogun" Rua and Sean Sherk have been added to a Montreal event in April. This same event is expected to host the title unification match between Georges St. Pierre and Matt Serra.
Shogun will be returning from his disappointing submission loss to Forrest Griffin and attempting to gain his first win inside the Octagon. Had Shogun won his fight at UFC 76, he would have been afforded an immediate title shot against Champion Quinton Jackson. Now, Shogun finds himself near the middle of a strong light heavyweight division and badly needing a win.
Even more urgent is the plight of Sean Sherk, who was stripped of his belt after testing positive for Nandrolone following his UFC 73 win against Hermes Franca. He has been told that his first fight back will be for the title, so this UFC 84 match up should be against either BJ Penn or Joe Stevenson. Sherk needs to win to gain back both his title and his credibility.
Georges St. Pierre and Matt Serra round out the card with their UFC 69 rematch.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Shogun, Sherk Make UFC 84 Card Great
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Rampage and Forrest Announced as Coaches for TUF 7
Yes it does. At the end of The Ultimate Finale, UFC president Dana White announced that Forrest Griffin would coach in the next "Ultimate Fighter", and also stated that Forrest would fight the other coach. This "other coach" happens to be UFC Light Heavyweight champion, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson. Irish Whip fighting has confirmed with the UFC that Rampage will be a coach, and that his title will be on the line against Forrest Griffin.
This upcoming season will be dynamic, and very entertaining with Rampage being featured. I would expect for some great talent to come out of this upcoming season, and I know that many of us are looking forward to it.
There'll be more on The Ultimate Finale tomorrow.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
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.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
White's Reaction Could Determine MMA's Future
In this new column by Yahoo! Sports' Kevin Iole, White's role in rebounding from losing its name-brand fighters is discussed in a clearer manner than ever before.
Dana White may be the man most responsible for the meteoric growth of the UFC. It has a national television contract, it does ever-larger pay-per-view sales, it routinely sells out major venues and it has one of the most passionate fan bases in sports.
Much of that is due to White's grit, guile and cunning.
But White, the UFC president, has a challenge before him, the likes of which he has never faced in his seven years at the helm of the world's most successful mixed martial arts promotional company.
Though White hardly seemed upset by UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture's announcement Thursday that he is retiring as a professional fighter and severing all ties with the company, how he handles the situation will determine whether the company will continue its rocket-like ascent toward mainstream acceptance or whether it will return to the netherworld of niche sports status.
Couture quit for the same reason that No. 1 NFL draft pick JaMarcus Russell didn't sign with the Raiders until after the regular season began, for the reason why Alex Rodriguez is probably going to opt out of his contract with the Yankees: Money.
The UFC has played hardball with its fighters for so long because it has been the only game in town. And, despite the emergence of a slew of promotions like the International Fight League, Elite XC, Strikeforce and, new this week, M-1 Mix Fight, it remains the only viable alternative for most fighters.
It has the most money, the most fans and the best fighters under contract. If you're a fighter and you're looking to increase your exposure and your bankroll, you sign with the UFC.
Couture's sudden retirement changes the dynamic remarkably.
Former light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell, who according to White is the company's highest-paid fighter, has lost two straight and has conceded that thoughts of retirement have wafted through his head.
Couture, whom White said was his second-highest paid fighter, retired on Thursday.
Matt Hughes, who fights Matt Serra for the welterweight title on Dec. 29, has said on The Ultimate Fighter reality show on Spike TV that he's only going to fight two or three more times before quitting.
Rich Franklin will lose a lot of his luster as a drawing card if he gets manhandled again by Anderson Silva when they meet for the middleweight title at UFC 77 on Oct. 20.
Tito Ortiz, who is down to one fight left on his UFC contract, is nowhere near the invincible force he seemed about five years ago.
And for as many great athletes who dot the UFC's roster of talent, none, with the possible exception of light heavyweight Forrest Griffin, have the capability of filling an arena like Couture and Liddell did.
White blamed what's becoming his personal whipping boy – MMA web sites and forums – for spreading phony rumors about fighter pay. Couture, who is in South Africa filming a movie and couldn't be reached for comment Thursday, released a statement in which he said he was retiring because the UFC didn't sign Fedor Emelianenko and no other fight mattered to him.
He also said he was upset with UFC management for what he believed was low pay. He made that point in a breakfast meeting last month with White and UFC owner Lorenzo Fertitta.
"He felt he was not getting paid as much as Mirko Cro Cop, as much as this guy and as much as that guy," White said. "We told him he was our second-highest paid fighter, but he didn't believe us. Chuck's the only guy who makes more, but he kept hearing all these rumors and he wouldn't believe us."
White then launched into a tirade against what he called "the rumor mongerers on the Internet," whom he said are, "the lowest of the low."
He said fighters read those sites and believe them to be true, causing friction at the negotiating table.
"This business is like a beauty salon," he said. "These guys are all the toughest guys in the world, but they're like (expletives) in a beauty salon. They pass along rumors and gossip, which has no basis in reality and they believe all the (rumors) they hear. The Internet is very powerful and one of the best promotional tools we have, but it's a crazy place.
"They hear these rumors and they believe them and then they get insulted like (expletives) after we try to talk reality with them. They'll say, 'Well, this guy is getting this much,' but when I ask where they heard it, it's never a contract, it's always, 'I read it on the Internet.' It's crazy."
The Yankees won the World Series after Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle and Reggie Jackson retired. The Lakers won NBA titles after Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson quit.
There is plenty of precedent in sports for teams and organizations succeeding after losing their biggest stars.
But those were established teams in established leagues with long records of success. MMA as we know it has only existed since 1993. And as recently as less than three years ago, few mainstream media paid it any mind.
Griffin and Stephan Bonnar helped change that with a slugfest in the finale of the first season of The Ultimate Fighter on Spike TV that was the equal of any held in boxing.
With a reach of 90 million homes, a fight which was like MMA's equivalent of the legendary Marvin Hagler-Thomas Hearns middleweight title brawl, forced a lot of people to begin tuning in.
There have been few bumps in the 30 months since that epic battle.
But if you believe – yep, Internet reports – then White has two major bumps he must hurdle. Several web sites have reported that Emelianenko has signed with a Russian promoter called M-1 Mix Fight.
White, who has been negotiating feverishly for the last six months in a bid to sign Emelianenko and match him with Couture, wasn't sure if the reports are true.
He demeaned Emelianenko, who is ranked No. 1 in the Y! Sports MMA poll, as a fighter, saying Couture would destroy him, and said Emelianenko's representatives were nearly impossible to work with.
"The negotiations with those guys were so nutty, that at this point, I don't give (an expletive) if he ever comes with us," White said. "If there were real rankings out there, he wouldn't be the No. 1 fighter in the world, believe me.
"Randy Couture is the top heavyweight. He's proven it. He's fought real guys. Who has this guy fought? Mark Coleman and Matt Lindland, who weighs 185 pounds. He's (an expletive) middleweight. My philosophy has always been to sign the best guys and make them fight, but you see that this guy didn't want to fight the best because he was impossible to deal with."
If Emelianenko had signed with the UFC and then subsequently defeated Couture, he would have been Couture's obvious successor as a drawing card.
On the other hand, had Couture, as White predicts, destroyed Emelianenko, it would have exponentially improved Couture's drawing power for as long as he wanted to stay around. Now, White is forced to find replacements for two high-level talents.
White isn't the coolest guy in the world, but he plays one on TV and he tried to pass off Couture's decision as one of those things that happen in the fight game.
"No matter how great they are, fighters come and go, but it's the sport that survives," White said. "Randy Couture retired once before and we didn't collapse, did we? I love Randy Couture and what he represented.
"He's a great guy and was a bad dude in that octagon. He's the kind of guy I want to associate my company with, but I also know that as a fighter, he wouldn't be around forever no matter what. We'll survive. This is just another day in my life. Believe me, as much as I would like to be promoting another Couture fight, it's not the news that is going to kill the UFC."
White is going to need all his cunning and guile to survive this one, though.
He said Thursday he's not certain he's going to go ahead with the long-rumored Liddell-Wanderlei Silva fight as the main event of UFC 79 on Dec. 29 and said he may just headline that card with Hughes challenging Matt Serra for the welterweight title.
In part, that could be a way for White to make up for the loss of a Couture-Emelianenko fight at UFC 80 on Feb. 2. He can slide Liddell-Silva into that slot as the main event on one of the biggest MMA weekends of the year and hope that the fight captures the public's imagination.
But until those drawing cards emerge to replace Couture, Liddell and Hughes, it's going to be difficult for the UFC to escape niche status and convince the Fortune 100 companies it craves as sponsors that it has reached the mainstream.
It's going to be White's greatest challenge yet.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
UFC 76 Shakes Up LHWs Even More
UFC 76 was a wild night of big upsets, big names, and big breakouts.
Big Upset: Keith Jardine over Chuck Liddell. This was supposed to be the Chuck's two wins en route to a LHW title shot. Instead, he was beaten by split (albeit uncontroversial) decision. No Bisping-Hamill screams here, The Iceman just got beat. Where does he go from here? After spending years beating up on UFC alums, he's had a real problem with PRIDE guys and younger fighters. Maybe a match up with Shogun? Who knows...it's tough to sell a Liddell fight these days. (Never thought I'd say that one).
Big Upset: Forrest Griffin over Shogun Rua. And THIS was supposed to be Rua's tune up so White could justify sending him over to Rampage for a title shot. Now what does White do? Hendo just lost; he can't justify Liddell, Wanderlei, or Rua. Major credit needs to go to Forrest here, he didn't just catch Shogun or get lucky. He soundly beat the 23 year old prodigy.
Big Name: Wanderlei Silva was in attendance, on hand to challenge Liddell once he beat Jardine. Talk about a change of plans. Instead, Wandy went home and challenged Forrest to a fight in order to avenge the loss of his good friend, Shogun. Now, that would be a fight.
Big Breakout: Jon Fitch. Fitch withstood all Diego Sanchez had to offer and won a split decision. He's starting to take down bigger and bigger names and he'll be rewarded soon. Look for him to be third in line for a WW title shot (GSP, Parisyan, Fitch).
Big Breakout: Lyoto Machida. The man who holds wins over BJ Penn and Rich Franklin, Machida spent last night dominating Nakamura (no slouch of an opponent). Considering the recent drop off of, well, everyone in the LHW, he might in line for a title shot soon. He also trains with Anderson Silva over at the Black House camp, so you know the man can fight.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
UFC 76: Shogun vs. Griffin
Get it while it's hot!
A few things can be learned from this fight:
1. Shogun will probably go down as one of the top ten MMA fighters of all time. His striking is pin point perfect and his ground work is excellent. He just needs to stop thinking he can roll out of every predicament he finds himself in. That being said, he's 23 years old...he's got time on his side.
2. Forrest is better than people give him credit for. I don't think he's better than Rampage, Henderson, Shogun, or Liddell, but he might warrant that #5 spot. And if he finds a way to beat Wanderlei? Then, we'll have a whole new Sheriff in town.
Mauricio "shogun" Rua Vs Forrest Griffin
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Monday, September 24, 2007
The Fallout of Knockout: Inside UFC 76’s Upsets
The real spelling of disarray: light heavyweight. After crowning an uncontested king in Quinton Jackson, two weeks later Keith Jardine and Forrest Griffin sent unofficial number one contenders Chuck Liddell and “Shogun” Rua into a downward spiral, taking the division down with them. What does the UFC do now? By Danny Acosta
The old adage probably written by one of the greatest thinkers of his time, but made famous by Ric Flair, “To be the man, you have to beat the man!” aptly describes UFC 76. Upset performances—and that is almost a vacuous term in 2007 and in a sport as versatile as mixed martial arts—by The Ultimate Fighter products Forrest Griffin and Keith Jardine in the co-main events proved perception is nothing; reality is everything.
Reality is a foul mistress for Chuck Liddell and Mauricio Rua, who were perceived as the two best fighters not wearing unified gold before decisive losses on Saturday night. “Shogun” even had the luxury as being nominated the 205-pound king because he defeated Quinton Jackson in brutal fashion. But both elite light heavyweights delivered
lackluster performances. At least, that is how their overwhelming opponents made them look.
A Greg Jackson Submission Fighter, Jardine beat the former champion at his own game. Leg kicks stung the power hitter. He had all the rhythm of a haggard VCR, but this disabled the mohawk-avenger’s range. More importantly, it kept Liddell guessing—something Liddell’s all-punch game plan failed to accomplish.
The former bounty hunter’s chin withstood the knockout artists punching attack. Jardine’s power even surpassed Liddell during the three round bout. He sent the Kempo fighter to the floor en route to a decisive split decision win.
The outcome of the fight should not be so shocking (aside from the fact it ended in decision). It is easy to say that in retrospect, but once Liddell stared at Big John McCarthy instead of Jardine during the pre-fight instructions, it was apparent hard times were ahead.
While Liddell has been battling top competition for nearly a decade, he has also become comfortable in his training, game plan, and newfound rock star status.
“The Iceman” is one of the very few fighters in the upper-echelon of the fight game that does not train with other top-tier talents. When a fighter is the best in his camp, where does his talent evolve? Liddell’s game plan is unquestionable effective, but it is not a secret—that makes it penetrable. Add that into his dependence on the big punch, lack of combinations, and absent legs during the fight and the striker is disarmed. Lastly, the Southern Californian went on record as saying he did not party leading up to this fight. That is the right attitude, however, alcohol consumption and extended nights have long-term effects on the body. Liddell is thirty-seven.
Jardine, on the other hand, has been on a steady diet of better competition all the way to his biggest win-to-date. Top-tier training partners and Greg Jackson’s diverse mind prepared the Montana-native properly, coming off a knockout loss of his own.
The reason he lost to Houston Alexander? He wanted to fight Chuck Liddell instead. Well, there are also Alexander’s fists to take the blame.
Both Jardine and Liddell were coming off knockout losses. The difference is Jardine wanted to be there in the Octagon with Liddell; Liddell wanted to be in the cage with the champion. Wanderlei Silva dangling over his head did not help either.
Fickle fans want to send Liddell packing. He is not done. The stacked weight-class just presents new challenges for a veteran, who has built a career on a willingness to fight. He just needs to remember what him successful: fear, and the combination of strikes that made it possible.
“The Dean of Mean” picks up the most important win of his career. With his imposing frame, his chopping stand-up style, and his supernatural demeanor, he should pick-up a new nickname: “The Devil’s Bodyguard.”
In the co-main event of the night, Forrest Griffin out-hustled, out-struck, and out-grappled Mauricio Rua. A younger, sharper version of “The Axe Murderer,” Rua was expected to ravage the former police officer in a street-style beat down.
Outside of the infallible Randy Couture, no one gave Griffin a chance against.
“The Natural” cornered Griffin. This translates to a solid game plan and the first bad omen for “Shogun.” Ron Frazier, Griffin’s boxing coach, was the next sign of trouble for the Brazilian. The 2005 205-pound Pride tournament champion has struggled with boxers before in Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. Griffin stayed out of the clinch, employing angles and damaging the Chute Boxe standout with his boxing.
Griffin’s size caused trouble for the aggressive Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter, who tired himself brining the fight to the mat. The Ultimate Fighter winner’s size also allowed him to stand back up with ease. The Georgian’s heart—always considered to be his best asset—aligned with solid cardio was the deciding factor against the seemingly absent Rua.
But why was one of the most violent fighters in mixed martial arts docile?
“Shogun” was under the pressure of debuting in the UFC, while Griffin has long enjoyed the feel and fans of the cage. Furthermore, his brother and training partner (who he did not prepare for with for this fight) just suffered a devastating knockout loss, dropping his title in the process. Another long-time training partner, Wanderlei Silva, was not there to prepare him either.
Simply put, Griffin came to fight. “Shogun” did not. Rua constantly turtled and Griffin punished him for it, attempting to end the fight. With twenty seconds left and looking at the clock in dominant position, Griffin could have awaited a sure decision. Instead, he secured a rear-naked choke and definitively proved his worth.
At twenty-five-years-old, Rua is not going anywhere. It is only the third loss of his career. His UFC homecoming will have to wait, but do not be surprised if he garners the position of king.
Forrest Griffin has been one of MMA’s most popular fighters since helping to launch the sport in North America in 2005. With newfound credibility and a better view of Quinton Jackson’s title, the twenty-eight-year old has carved himself into a UFC cornerstone.
There were no knockouts at the event titled “Knockout.” However, Griffin and Jardine have left a concussive impression on the world of mixed martial arts. Liddell and Rua still have that power too.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
UFC 76 Full Of Upsets
More coverage to come tomorrow!
UFC 76 results are in, and it was a WILD night in California.
Keith Jardine defeats Chuck Liddell via split decision
Forrest Griffin defeats Mauricio “Shogun” Rua via submission (rear naked choke) in round three
Jon Fitch defeats Diego Sanchez via split decision
Ryoto Machida defeats Kazuhiro Nakamura via unanimous decision
Tyson Griffin defeats Thiago Tavares via unanimous decision
Rich Clementi defeats Anthony Johnson via submission (rear naked choke) in round two
Jeremy Stephens defeats Diego Saraiva via unanimous decision
Christian Wellisch defeats Scott Junk via submission (heel hook) in round one
Matt Wiman defeats Michihiro Omigawa via unanimous decision
Friday, September 21, 2007
Elite light heavyweights fill UFC 76, Liddell and Shogun in forefront
UFC 76 brings five can't miss fights to the main card. Can Jardine knockout "The Iceman?" Has "Shogun" taken on too much before his UFC debut? Is Fitch going to take the respect he deserves? Saturday night might answer some of these questions...
By Danny Acosta
In the main event of the evening, knockout-inducing strikers Chuck Liddell and Keith Jardine set their targets on Quinton Jackson. Prior the Houston Alexander’s take off on Jardine’s chin, “The Dean of Mean” felt he had earned a shot at Liddell’s gold. The contender was setback and so was the champion, suffering his second devastating loss to “Rampage.”
Now, the two meet in a clash that determines a future title challenger at 205-pounds.
“The Iceman” reigned over the light heavyweight division with a simple game plan: stay standing until the opponent falls. Mixed martial arts’ style diversity suggests this formula is flawed, but Liddell demonstrated on Jeremy Horn, Randy Couture, Renato Sobral, and Tito Ortiz that his sprawl and brawl comes in a complete package with knockout power.
Working out of Greg Jackson’s Submission Fighting, Jardine has a well-rounded game. Despite proficiency in every aspect of the game, he brings nothing to the table the seven-year UFC veteran has not encountered.
The Montana-native, however, wants to mix up strikes with the former champion. Nothing in his MMA career suggests he can take the fight to the mat against Liddell; he really has no choice. Jardine’s leg kicks and punching power are his only strengths in the fight, but Liddell has stood with Guy Mezger, Alistair Overeem, and Vitor Belfort. He does not outmatch the Southern Californian in any category.
Both fighters have excellent recovery rate; they can also be knocked out. Jardine must stay patient—never rush in against Chuck Liddell—and work his stiff leg kicks to set up a big punch. Liddell’s game plan remains the same despite his recent loss. It is also simplified since a takedown attempt is unlikely and an advantage in the clinch.
History points to the former 205-king, but it is 2007. Bigger upsets have happened. Considering this is a punch-for-punch fight between two power hitters, the only reason Liddell is favored is experience.
The featured fight of the night is another light heavyweight clash between two fighters on the opposite end of the MMA spectrum. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua is considered among experts to be the number one 205lbs. fighter in the world and sits unquestionably on pound-for-pound lists. However, the Brazilian made a name for himself in Japan—not North America. That is where Forrest Griffin helped launch the sport of mixed martial arts, while becoming one of the biggest stars in the game despite—by his own admission—not being among the elite in the world.
“Shogun” has military precision in his attack driven by animal instincts. Griffin replies wherever the fight happens and does it with a smile. The Ultimate Fighter winner has improved exponentially in each fight. Training out of Xtreme Couture has elevated his game. The Brazilian, however, has maintained his high level competitive edge by dominating in the doors of the Chute Boxe Academy.
Recently married and making his Octagon debut, Rua may not be the fighter fans have seen in the past. His brother’s recent knockout loss may also factor in. The Georgian’s lion heart and cardio are his six-shooters against Rua’s machine guns. A former police officer, Griffin will have to avoid the clinch and employ his Octagon experience to his advantage. The question is: where does anyone have an advantage against Mauricio “Shogun” Rua?
In 170-pound clash, Jon Fitch and Diego Sanchez step into the Octagon and possibly in line for a title shot. Fitch is undefeated in the UFC, while Sanchez was undefeated in MMA until his last fight—against Fitch’s training partner Josh Koscheck.
The American Kickbox Academy fighter has battled through a series of dark bouts. Conversely, Sanchez has been in the spotlight since entering the Octagon for the first time. If the former Purdue wrestler can beat a bonafide star, his spot in the Octagon will be the best seat in the welterweight division. A loss would push Sanchez toward the bottom end of the deepest divisions in the fight game.
Both fighters are well rounded and have the cardio to keep the fight furious for three rounds. And they will. “The Nightmare” earned his nickname for stifling fighters with his non-stop pace. Fitch does not wait for a fight; he creates it.
It is hard to find a disparity in the two. Both are versed in the ground game: Sanchez competes in high level grappling competition and Fitch is a Dave Camarillo brown belt. Their striking is up in the air: Fitch has a more diverse striking game, but lacks confidence as opposed to Sanchez who throws his hands—only—with pleasure. The only distinct advantage is Fitch’s wrestling.
While the San Jose-based fighter edges out The Ultimate Fighter winner on paper, Sanchez has been in some wars in the Octagon (see Nick Diaz and Karo Parisyan). Fitch has only sampled peril against Roan Carneiro. If this is a battle of wills, Sanchez has been there before and should be overzealous since he is returning from his first defeat.
However, the former Greg Jackson Submission fighter has left the top-tier camp and is on his own training regiment. That may lead his strong mental game astray, leaving a green light for Jon Fitch’s grinding top control.
The night’s swing bout is a lightweight battle between two beasts named Tyson Griffin and Thiago Tavares. Griffin was touted as the next great lightweight before suffering a classic upset against Frankie Edgar and winning an indecisive decision against Clay Guida. Tavares dominated Jason Black in his last outing, submitting the Miletich fighter.
The Northern Californian trains under David Terrell and Cesar Gracie; his jiu-jitsu can keep him afloat in deep waters. Striking and wrestling are where Griffin pulls away in this fight. That is, of course, if can finish the tough Brazilian before his cardio becomes a problem.
Light heavyweights Kazuhiro Nakamura and Lyoto Machida are relative unknowns to stateside fans, but they are arguably top ten fighters. Nakamura makes his UFC debut in his first fight of the year, while Machida has some Octagon experience with stern wins over Sam Hoger and David Heath.
The undefeated fighter proves to be an elusive target with intelligent striking and a solid ground game. A prime Judo player, Nakumura hopes to close the distance, but will have trouble closing in on the Team Black House fighter. Nakamura’s toughness and Machida’s evasive style push this fight into decision territory in anyone’s favor.
UFC 76’s main card is stacked with top ten talent and future members of that class. Expect a night of back and forth action leading to highlight finishes—even if it is a decision.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Shogun to Face Griffin at UFC 76
So, it looks like Mauricio "Shogun" Rua (16-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) is going to make his UFC debut by facing off against the very likeable Forrest Griffin (14-4, 5-2 UFC). Mauricio "Shogun" Rua was originally thought to go up against Lyoto Machida, who is undefeated in the Octagon, at UFC 76 set for September.
Reports from both Tatame.com and TaggRadio.com are the sources making this latest claim. Originally, UFC President Dana White on ESPN said that Shogun and Machida were supposed to go head to head in Anaheim, California. But, according to Tatame.com “Master Rudimar Fedrigo confirmed us that Mauricio Shogun will face Forrest Griffin at UFC 76, that is schedule for September 22 ….” Fedrigo is the founder of the marvelous Chute Boxe Academy in Brazil, from which Wanderlei Silva, Murilo Ninja, and Mauricio "Shogun" Rua all hail from.
Before you get your panties up in a bunch this is likely to be another silly rumor of the UFC. You know how they roll.
UFC 76 will take place of September 22 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. The world's most pointless, garbage main event with Chuck Liddell versus Keith Jardine is also scheduled to take place on the card.
For those new to the MMA community, Mauricio "Shogun" Rua is a Brazilian fighter who comes out of the Chute Boxe Academy. Rua won the PRIDE Fighting Championships' 2005 Middleweight Grand Prix and holds impressive wins over Ricardo Arona, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (not to be confused with Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira), Alistair OVereem and a complete annihilation of current UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton Jackson. Rua is known for his nonstop aggressive style of fighting and his ability to keep constant pressure and offense on his opponents. Rua is currently ranked as the number one light heavyweight in the world in numerous big MMA sites around the net.
Rua currently holds 16 wins, 13 by way of KO, and 2 losses. Rua's only losses are to Mark Coleman by a stoppage due to a freak accident leading to a broken arm and a loss to Renato Sobral back in 2003 by a guilotine choke.
Rua's rumored opponent Forrest Griffin is the first-season winner of Spike TV's The Ultimate Fighter. Griffin nearly beat former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz at UFC 59. Griffin also suffered a devastating TKO loss to Keith Jardine at UFC 66 but only to bounce back with a win over Hector Ramirez very recently on June 16, 2007 at UFC 72: Victory.
Griffin's most notable fights were against Tito Ortiz, Stephan Bonnar 1, Jeremy Horn, and Jeff Monson.
I'm a bit indifferent about the opponent pick for Shogun, however I'm just head over heels about Shogun's debut in the UFC. I hope he doesn't come in over confident like many of the PRIDE fighters have and puts on a mind-blowing performance. I think this fight will bring a lot of attention to Shogun from the American fans considering that Griffin is a huge "star" to many fans and seen as a tough opponent.
The Lianger
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Whippin' Up Predictions for UFC72
UFC is invading Belfast, Northern Ireland this weekend (June 16, 2007) as they hold UFC 72: Victory at The Odyssey. UFC 72 is the third event to be held in Europe and the UK, joining UFC 38 in 2002 (Royal Albert Hall in London, England) and UFC 70 in 2007 (MEN Arena in Manchester, England).
Honestly, though, UFC 72 doesn’t look as appealing on paper compared to the more recent UFC showings, but who knows, UFN 10 didn’t look appealing either and it ended up being a solid event. Nonetheless, it’s MMA so, I don’t mind.
The card for Saturday night is as follows:
Main Card Bouts
* Middleweight bout: Rich Franklin vs. Yushin Okami
* Light Heavyweight bout: Forrest Griffin vs. Hector Ramirez
* Lightweight bout: Tyson Griffin vs. Clay Guida
* Middleweight bout: Jason MacDonald vs. Rory Singer
Preliminary Bouts
* Heavyweight bout: Eddie Sanchez vs. Colin Robinson
* Welterweight bout: Dustin Hazelett vs. Stevie Lynch
* Welterweight bout: Marcus Davis vs. Jason Tan
* Middleweight bout: Scott Smith vs. Ed Herman
In an attempt to look into the future, here are some predictions from The Irish Whip!
Masson sees Franklin 2nd round TKO over Okami (w/ brutal strength domination); F.Griffin 3rd round TKO over Ramirez; T. Griffin 1st round submission over Guida; and McDonald 2nd round submission over Singer
Additional Thoughts: I don't really buy into the hype about Okami's "super strength" that everyone is saying about him. Swick and Starnes both mentioned Okami's "incredible strength" in their bouts against Okami at UFC 69 and UFC 64, respectively. But, I mean, Swick and Starnes are not exactly the biggest fighters in the MW division, they look relatively weak (from a physical standpoint). I mean, Swick is moving to WW and Starnes looked overwhelmed by Chris Leben, as far as physical strength goes. I just think people are over crediting Okami's strength. Rich Franklin is a huge middleweight, it's almost hard to believe a man his size would weigh 185, I don't see Okami being stronger than Franklin, physically speaking. Okami has no chance of overpowering Franklin in my eyes. I just don't see it. I've seen numerous videos of Franklin training in the gym, and the guy looks like an animal.
As for the Forrest Griffin vs. Hector Ramirez matchup, I think Griffin should be able to take this no problem, as long as he doesn't just "let loose" at the last seconds of the round, which cost him his last fight against Jardine. Hector Ramirez just doesn't look polished at all, he just looks like an everyday street brawler with some credible wrestling skills.
Ben sees Franklin 2nd round TKO over Okami; F. Griffin 1st round TKO over Ramirez; T. Griffin Unanimous decision over Guida; and MacDonald unanimous decision over Singer
Even if the event is all it's cracked up to be, predictions are always fun.
