The Lighter Side Of The UFC

I’ve always been fascinated by the UFC’s dichotomy between violence and comedy. For a sport that was born from two men beating the snot out of each other, there certainly are some funny things that go down in and out of the Octagon. As we catch our breath from UFC 67 and gear up for UFC 68, I thought it would be a welcome departure to look at some of the UFC’s funniest moments. With so many to choose from, I’ve tried to narrow down my choices to the five that can still make me laugh. A timeless article (from last year) by MMA Mania's Jesse Holland.

5. Go with the KenFlo

Kenny Florian, despite his talent, gets quite a bit of heat from UFC fans. I’m sure it has a lot to do with his stint on The Ultimate Fighter, an experience that can vault you into the main event of a pay-per-view while simultaneously branding you with a Scarlet Letter. Most of the gags are cheap and childish, like the comparisons to Ben Stiller and Kevin Richardson from The Backstreet Boys. There does exist however, one juicy nugget for which Florian can blame no one but himself. Back at UFC 64 KenFlo was pitted against the heavily favored Sean Sherk for the vacant lightweight title. Outmatched and obviously out-muscled, Florian spent most of the fight on the run. Do you remember as a child when you would tear-ass through the house and Mom would yell at you to watch where you’re going? Looks like KenFlo called in sick for that particular lesson.

While attempting to escape the shoot, Florian pulls a Mark Hominick and runs for the hills. Keep in mind an Octagon has eight sides, and boy those support beams just come out of nowhere don’t they? Wham, Bam, thank you Kenny Florian.

4. Dream Warriors
There’s knockout power, and then there’s Chuck Liddell. The Iceman’s put more people to sleep than Rick Perry (Sorry about that Texans). While most opponents go down quietly, there are the few warrior spirits who refuse to lose, even in an altered state.

At UFC 62, Renato “Babalu” Sobral decided one highlight reel knockout wasn’t enough and made the conscious decision to bumrush the sports most dangerous counter-puncher. Unfazed, Liddell kicked it into reverse and let his hands do the talking. A few bombs later, Sobral was counting sheep – or was he? Critics of the stoppage cried foul, claiming Babalu, while hurt, was still attempting a submission hold.

I understand their argument, and it is certainly valid, but if you’re going for a leg-lock, it should be on your opponent, not the referee. In his punch-drunk confusion, Babalu turned on the one man who swooped in to save him: Big John McCarthy.

I’ve seen ref’s knocked out by an errant punch in the heat of battle, but I’ve never seen one submitted. On August 26 of 2006, Big John almost became the first.
3. The Country Breakfast

Matt Hughes is known for a lot of things. Arrogance, dominance, Hollandaise sauce? The boys down at Xyience had the right idea in the beginning. The first few commercials had The Iceman (and sometimes Forrest Griffin) running uphill in the desert and talking tough into the camera. Not exactly Fellini, but we got the point. Then they decided a Clio Award was within reach and churned out that dreadful Rich Franklin piece that has him teaching class to a group of dim-witted rejects from the set of TRL. “Duh, do you use Xyience Mr. Franklin?” Blech.

And here I thought they had reached the bottom of the barrel until lo and behold there he is, the most dominant welterweight of our time, bailing hay and slurping down Farina to remind us what a good ol’ boy he is (and causing Denver Pyle to roll over in his grave). Actually, it wasn’t the Xyience bar/country breakfast parallels that had me in stitches. It was the priceless few seconds of Hughes getting out of a limousine into the onslaught of flash photography. Look closely and you’ll notice he’s standing on a red carpet as he waves to the press and his legions of fans. Yeah. Uh-huh. I know the UFC has exploded, but I don’t see Matt Hughes getting an Oscar invite just yet.

If you doubt the unintended humor of this ad you should check out this very sincere form of flattery: http://www.myspace.com/countrybreakfast.
2. The Real Huntington Beach Bad Boy

Long before Tito Ortiz ever stepped foot into the Octagon, there was another fighter from Huntington Beach that captivated fans around the world. I am referring of course to Joe Son, founder of Joesondo; his unholy and paltry mix of Tae Kwon Do and Judo. For our newer fans that never saw him in action, just picture Oddjob in a Speedo.

The first time I saw Joe Son was at UFC 4, when in true Kimo fashion he broadcast his religious beliefs by dragging a giant cross to the ring – on his back. The only problem was that Joe Son was a mere 5’4″ tall, and weighed a portly 236 pounds. By the time he reached the cage, he was already gassed. Then he had the unenviable task of facing competent Kenpo master Keith Hackney (best known as “The Giant Killer” for toppling the 6’8″ 600lb. monster Emmanuel Yarborough at UFC 3). The fight ensues and Joe Son ends up on his back, holding on to Hackney with a guillotine-turned-headlock. Hackney inexplicably decides it’s okay to violate every man-law in existence and starts firing closed-fist strikes straight into Joe Son’s genitals. These were not glancing blows -- they were direct hits. Ouch. While every male viewer at home and in person doubled over in sympathy pain, Joe Son kept right on truckin’, unfazed by the attempted murder of his Mini-Son. He eventually submitted via choke, but in defeat carved out his name in the annals of UFC lore. Joe Son: Balls of Steel.

1. Shit Happens. No Really, It Does.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you the Holy Grail of UFC comedy. Would you be surprised if I told you it involved former Heavyweight Champ Tim Sylvia? Of course not.

It happened a few years ago at Ultimate Fight Night 3. The Maine-iac faced off against Brazilian roadblock Assuerio Silva. His performance left a lot to be desired, especially considering his previous fight ended with a highlight-worthy head kick to Tra Telligman. In fact, it was the shittiest performance since Kevin Randleman defeated Renato Sobral at UFC 35. Yes, I mean that literally.

Never one to shy away from self-deprecating humor (just see his stint on Blind Date for proof of that), Sylvia goes on the MMAweekly radio show and admits to the world that he was a little under the weather that night and in fact, had soiled himself during the contest. Whatever they pay the guy who cleans the floor of the cage after the fights, it couldn’t possibly be enough.

So to anyone who thinks it was a dumb idea for Travis Lutter to admit he was unmotivated to fight for the title (instead of acting devastated and pretending he really tried to make weight), I give you the undisputed champion of dumb admissions. Informing the world you were ill and as a result turned in a sub-par performance is both understandable and acceptable. Conceding that your performance was hampered by chocolate trunks, is not.

And for the safety of digested lunches everywhere, this is one comedic moment that will not be accompanied by video.

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UFC 79 Analysis

The UFC 79 card was definitely exciting, but what exactly does it mean for the UFC and its fighters? Ben Zeidler examines the subject.

Liddell is back!

Chuck Liddell is back in full force, utterly dominating Wanderlei Silva for three straight rounds. Sure, he didn't knock The Axe Murderer out cold, but the performance was solid enough to declare The Iceman officially on the rebound from his Rampage loss earlier this year.

St. Pierre takes the crown

Georges St. Pierre beat Hughes with the very move he was beaten by more than two years ago. In doing this, he established himself as the clear top Welterweight and looks to be steamrolling towards avenging the Serra loss.

Sokoudjou NOT the real deal, Machida is though...

The aura surrounding Sokoudjou's two quick knockouts earlier this year was dispelled as Machida showed the extent of his ability in a dominant submission victory. Sokoudjou goes back to the drawing board, Machida goes to the top 4 of the division.

Sylvia-Nogueira for interim belt

It's been long rumored, but it's now confirmed that Tim Sylvia will get a shot as his old belt, but he'll have to go through top 3 HW Nogueira first. This will be the second of three interim titles which will be awarded between December and March.

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UFC 79, M-1 Videos

Thanks to our Senior Writer, Jordan Arnold, we've got some excellent videos here. Look for UFC 79 videos as well as Fedor's win, after the jump.

Fedor Emelianenko vs. Hong Man Choi

Nate Mohr vs. Manny Gamburyan

Georges St. Pierre vs. Matt Hughes

Lyoto Machida vs. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou

Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Masakatu Funaki

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UFC 79 Results

Check back here tonight for live results of UFC 79. Look after the jump for results.

Matt Hughes vs. Georges St. Pierre III (Welterweight title)
-Georges St. Pierre wins by Submission (Arm Bar) in Round 2 (4:54)

Chuck Liddell vs. Wanderlei Silva
-Chuck Liddell wins by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)

Soi Palalei vs. Eddie Sanchez
-Eddie Sanchez wins by TKO (Strikes) in Round 3 (3:24)

Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou vs. Lyoto Machida
-Lyoto Machida wins by Submission (Arm Triangle) in Round 2 (4:20)

Rich Clementi vs. Melvin Guillard
-Clementi wins via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) in Round 2 (4:40)

Dean Lister vs. Jordan Radev
-Dean Lister wins via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

James Irvin vs. Luis Cane
-James Irvin wins via DQ (Illegal Knee)

Roan Carneiro vs. Tony DeSouza
-Roan Carneiro wins by TKO (Strikes) in Round 2 (3:30)

Manny Gamburyan vs. Nate Mohr
-Manny Gamburyan wins by Submission (Heel Hook) in Round 1 (1:31)

Doug Evans vs. Mark Bocek
-Mark Bocek wins via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

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Classic Fights Close Door On 2007

UFC 79 offers up a buffet of mega fights. Georges St. Pierre and Matt Hughes look to set the bar for MMA trilogies with an interim title clash. Wanderlei Silva and Chuck Liddell seek the knockout that can cement their legacy as the greatest 205-pounder in MMA history. Young talents Rameau Thierry Sokodjou and Lyoto Machida battle to validate their mystique en route to title contention. Saturday night aims to bring New Year’s fireworks two days early.

By Danny Acosta

The third installment of the trilogy between Georges St. Pierre and Matt Hughes includes storylines that transcend the sport. Hughes is the established champion, secure in his hall of fame status, mulling retirement but still sharpening his competitive edge. He takes on the paragon for the future—an unstoppable entity that has both succumb and overcome the pressures of elite competition.

Despite Matt Hughes’ hopes, St. Pierre stepping in on short notice is not an issue. The Greg Jackson-trained fighter stays active between matches and was training Rashad Evans for a November clash. Shortly after, he jumped at the opportunity to regain his top spot in the 170lb division when Matt Serra stepped down due to injury.

“Rush” dethroned the Illinois native with ease last November. It was a different fighter than Hughes had seen in their 2004 bout. The French Canadian nullified takedowns and punished him every step of the way. Rangy and fluid strikes ended the Miletich champion’s night early after St. Pierre followed up with ground and pound to a technical knockout.

Hughes cannot enter this fight with his, “I’ll find a way to win” attitude that hindered his second performance. There is no doubt he is one of the most resourceful fighters in history. However, his opponent’s ability to dictate where the fight takes place will not allow for openings. Hughes must make them.

With his ties cut from the MIletich camp for the first time, Hughes needs to remember what MFS imparted to him—confidence and strict game plans. Recalling that he submitted St. Pierre, Hughes has to inch forward, cutting off angles and bullying St. Pierre against the cage. Putting the twenty-six-year-old on his back and grinding out a decision is the former champion’s best bet. Pushing St. Pierre into the latter rounds and neutralizing his offense can dent confidence—the deciding factor of this fight.

If Hughes pulls out a victory, he reasserts his legend against the man who questioned it the loudest. If he loses, St. Pierre rises into his spot as the most dominant welterweight in the world, but still has the long road of reign ahead of him—including a clash with Matt Serra.

In the co-main event, former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell loads up his counter-punching power against former Pride middleweight champion Wanderlei Silva. The fight is five years in the making, stemming from their extensive time as unflappable champions.

For Liddell, the lights of stardom shined too bright for him to see in the Octagon, leading to two devastating losses. For Silva, back-to-back knockout defeats have sent him to rest his battle-worn body while building his murderous rage. Although the fight has lost its king versus king significance, the implications are heavy—the winner may be recognized as the greatest 205-pounder in MMA history.

The “Iceman” cannot rely solely on his fists as he did against Keith Jardine because Silva will throw everything in his arsenal with malice. Kicks are the most integral part of the San Luis Obispo fighter’s game plan. They can punish Silva and keep him at a distance, causing confusion for the former Chute Boxer as suffered against Mirko Crocop. More importantly, they set up Liddell’s looping power punches. The blitzkrieg that is Silva plays right into Liddell’s counterpunching style. Mixing strikes increases the Brazilian’s chances of making a grave mistake—Liddell’s trademark, punctuated with the heavy right hand.

However, like Liddell, the “Axe Murderer” has excellent recovery time. America’s newest import must close the distance and push the pace. Emphasizing traditional boxing in preparation for this fight counters Liddell’s Kempo style well. It will allow the nearly forty-fight veteran to close the distance where he can launch his hatchet-like knees. Silva cannot come forward wildly, but he must be relentless because Liddell will not stick around in the clinch.

Despite the strategies involved in the two different yet dangerous styles, make no mistake—this is a fight that rests on the answer to one question: “Who gets to whose chin first?” (Dave Camarillo). There is no title on the line when Liddell battles Silva. But for the “Axe Murderer” and the “Iceman,” there is still a trophy—the other’s head.

In another light heavyweight bout with serious career implications, Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou challenges Lyoto Machida. “Judo Thierry” debuts in the UFC still clouded in questions—just as Machida did in his stateside journey—about his cardio, heart, and chin…to name a few.

Sokoudjou has drawn criticism, ironically, because his showings have been so strong, knocking out Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Ricardo Arona. His aggressive and heavy style is what Machida has made a living toppling. The karate stylist is defensive but destructive in his own right. He has been looking to finish fights since joining the UFC. This can cause problems for Sokoudjou, who lacks experience and typically fights his fight. Coming forward and staying cautious is the undefeated fighter’s route to victory.

“The African Assassin” has a distinct size advantage. After testing the stand-up waters, taking the fight to the cage and employing his judo to set up ground and pound is his best bet to finish the Japanese-Brazilian. Stifled against the fence, Machida cannot be elusive.

The winner propels himself into title contention, a loss is only a minor setback in a young, promising career.

Heavyweight Eddie Sanchez stands across from Soa Palalei in the swing bout of the night. Palelei, training out of Team Quest, enters the bout with a more diverse arsenal than the game, but narrow-minded Sanchez. The Samoan exploits stubborness to a technical knockout victory.

In a lightweight bout to open the night, New Orleans pride is on the line when Melvin Guillard comes after Rich Clementi in a bad blood battle. Guillard’s athleticism can dictate where the fight occurs, which does not bode well for “No Love.” However, the “Young Assassin” lacks the mental component to his game. This can land him in some trouble—especially on the ground—against a well-rounded veteran like Clementi. Guillard’s high-profile loss and embarrassing cocaine scandal likely brings him out the gate furious. If Clementi can drag the fight on, his chances of snagging a victory increase dramatically.

As UFC 79 comes to a close, four of the sports biggest stars in Georges St. Pierre, Matt Hughes, Wanderlei Silva, and Chuck Liddell will have their careers drastically altered. Concluding the year brings different resolutions for the four: win the title or just survive?

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UFC 79 Tomorrow!

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Georges St. Pierre Interview

Irish Whip Fighting writer Ben Zeidler caught up with former UFC welterweight champ Georges St. Pierre last week, discussing everything from the Matt Serra loss to the upcoming UFC 79 fight with Matt Hughes. Originally conducted for MMA Madness.

Irish Whip Fighting: Can you tell us a little bit about the Serra fight and what happened?

St. Pierre: You know, it was a great learning experience. I didn’t realize it when he hit me and next thing I knew, he was on top of me and it was over.

IWF: Was he what you prepared for?

St. Pierre: I don’t want to make any excuses. I made many mistakes coming into the fight but the real reason I lost is because Matt fought the better fight.

IWF: How would you fight him differently next time?

St. Pierre: I would change a lot of things. I’m working on my game like it’s a puzzle and it is all coming together. My personal life is going well, I’m in great shape. It will be a different story.

IWF: Your first fight against Matt Hughes saw you tapping out to an arm bar with one second left on the clock. Were you not aware of the time left on the clock?

St. Pierre: I knew how much time was left but I preferred to tap and not break my arm than try to fight the next round with a damaged arm. It was better to tap and not have it broken.

IWF: What changed between your first and second Hughes fights? From our end, your confidence looked as if it was through the roof.

St. Pierre: Exactly. I knew I could beat him in the second fight. I was not seeing him as an idol anymore and it made the whole difference. I had more skill and more experience.

IWF: Why did you decide to take the UFC 79 fight with Hughes?

St. Pierre: I feel privileged to have this fight and I wish nobody bad luck, but Serra got hurt and I’m able to step in. I’m already in unbelievable shape and I decided that it would be worth it to step up and take this shot.

IWF: What do you gain from taking this fight given that you were already in line for the next title shot?

St. Pierre: What I gain is that I can beat Hughes and show I’m the best in the world, and then I’ll get Serra. I was going to fight both of them eventually but now it’s just in a different order. After Hughes, I will get my revenge on Serra. It is the perfect scenario for me.

IWF: How long are your typical training camps? Will five weeks be enough to prepare?

St. Pierre: I’m never off season, really; I’m always in shape. Normally, I train for eight weeks but I was already in great shape so it won’t change anything that I would normally do. I think I’ll be a much better fighter than the last time I fought Hughes.

IWF: What are you doing to prepare for Hughes?

St. Pierre: With Hughes, he’s going to be a different fighter from last time and so am I. I know his strengths, his weaknesses, and I will come into that fight with something extra. You know how when you play cards, you don’t want to show your hand? I have a very good game plan.

IWF: You once said that you'll only fight at 100%. Do you really mean this? And, what if you get injured in the next few weeks? Will you pull out like you have in the past or honor your commitment?

St. Pierre: If I get an injury, I will put out. Even if it is a mental issue like there is a death in my family. I will never fight again not at 100%. I want to be the best every time I come out.

IWF: Are you in top shape for this fight? Do you think that there would be anything that would physically hinder your chances of winning?

St. Pierre: Yes, I am. I was always in great, great shape. I’ve been working with [Rashad] Evans to help him get ready for [Michael] Bisping. I’ve been doing work with boxers for their fights and helping wrestlers who are going to the Olympics. We all peak at the same time and it’s great. I decided to jump in and fight like they are.

IWF: What is your opinion on Matt Serra canceling the fight?

St. Pierre: I think if he got hurt, he made the right call. I think it would be a mistake to take the fight. He needs to figure out how bad the injury is. He’s a great fighter in great shape -- he’ll come back fast.

IWF: What do you think about Dana White's decision to have an interim belt?

St. Pierre: That’s awesome. According to me, I am a champion and Hughes is a champion. We just have to know who is the better champion. I’m glad it is five rounds and it is for a title. It is the best scenario for me.

IWF: Do you think you deserved a rematch with Serra before Hughes got a shot against him?

St. Pierre: No, Hughes deserved the rematch. He was still on top -- he just lost to me. He’s still on top I think and you know the scenario is perfect now. He’s a great fighter and maybe the best pound-for-pound in the world. It’s a great honor to face him.

IWF: Did you call Dana White personally to request the fight?

St. Pierre: I called my manager [and] I said I wanted it and she called UFC. They called her back and said it was a done deal.

IWF: What did you do to get so mentally prepared before the Josh Koscheck fight? What did you change compared to your preparation for the Matt Serra title defense?

St. Pierre: I fixed my personal life. I put back the puzzle all together and I don’t have any injuries -- right now everything is cool. I’m the happiest man on earth. It’s behind me and I look up to the future.

IWF: Would you call this UFC 79 card the biggest in MMA history?

St. Pierre: It’s the biggest fight of my career. I don’t know about them but for me it’s the biggest fight.

IWF: If you defeat Hughes and Serra down the road, who would you want next?

St. Pierre: I don’t know what they’ll do. I don’t always get the best fighter. I don’t know because things change and we’ll have to see what MMA is like then.

IWF: Any words for Matt Hughes?

St. Pierre: I haven’t heard anything, so I’m not going to comment. I’m focused on myself and what I have control over and that’s me. [Laughs]

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Window Of Opportunity For St. Pierre, Hughes

Matt Hughes and Georges St. Pierre gained a unique window of opportunity for the Welterweight Championship when Matt Serra suffered a training injury to his lower back. I.W.F made the correct prediction for UFC President Dana White to schedule Hughes-St. Pierre III rubber match, giving both men the opportunity to end the trilogy and win the championship. Hughes-St. Pierre III will be an explosive battle with contrasting styles -- it's a battle which has resulted in a different outcome each time. At UFC 50, Hughes defeated St. Pierre in the first round with a slick armbar submission to win the vacant Welterweight Championship. At UFC 65, St. Pierre defeated Hughes in the second round with a brutal and decisive TKO. In this, the finale, which fighter will execute their game plan better? An IWF original by Don Davenport

Hughes stated on "The Ultimate Fighter Finale" that "I would not have taken this fight unless I thought I was going to win. I have enough time to prepare for Georges fighting style, and Georges is taking this fight four weeks in, when he likes to take three months off to prepare for a fight." Hughes a two-time Division I All-American wrestler who will come in phenomenal shape, and despite his wrestling and submission background, Hughes will be working heavily on his striking. Hughes appears to be very confident and ready to reclaim the Welterweight Championship.

Meanwhile, St. Pierre, taking this fight on short notice, is the fighter with the most to gain in this contest. St. Pierre owns the last victory over Hughes, and proved that he is a determined fighter with his recent victory over Josh Koscheck at UFC 74. St. Pierre is a good striker and submission expert, but is often over looked for his equally excellent wrestling capabilities. St. Pierre showed those skills by out wrestling Koscheck, with great takedown defense and maintaining the top position almost through the entire fight. St. Pierre must see defining flaws in Hughes' fighting style to take this fight on short notice.

My analysis is that St. Pierre will prevent Hughes takedown attempts and dominate the fight on the feet leading to another TKO victory. St. Pierre has vastly improved since UFC 50 and has the necessary skills to stop Hughes' takedowns. Not many fighters can stop Hughes wrestling superiority, but St. Pierre is one who has shown he is capable. In order for Hughes to pull out the victory, he has to be the aggressor in the stand up position, and take the fight to the ground where he is most effective. The title scene is about to change and give one of these contenders the window of opportunity to win the coveted UFC Welterweight Championship.

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UFC 79 To Feature Hughes-GSP III For Interim

Exactly one day BEFORE the announcement of the Hughes-St. Pierre Interim Title fight, IWF reported the following: "If I were White, I would consider holding Hughes-St. Pierre III now, with the winner receiving a title shot. Hughes and St. Pierre will fight each other again soon enough, so it could make sense to get it out of the way now." Dana White must read IWF, because hours later, the blockbuster was booked.

In the UFC, when one door closes, another opens, and on December 29th, that adage will ring true once against when Matt Hughes battles Georges St. Pierre for the interim UFC Welterweight Championship in the main event of UFC 79: Nemesis, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

St-Pierre replaces UFC Welterweight Champion Matt Serra, who was forced to withdraw from his bout with Hughes last week due to a herniated disc in his back.

“Obviously, the loss of Matt Serra was brutal, but the great thing about the UFC is that we can put together great fights like Hughes-St-Pierre at a moment’s notice and bounce right back,” said UFC President Dana White. “I have the utmost respect for both Hughes and St-Pierre for stepping up for this fight, and not only are the fans going to see two of the greatest welterweights of all-time settle their score in a rubber match, but they're going to do it in a five round interim title fight, and the winner is going to face off next year against Matt Serra for the undisputed title.”

Hughes and St-Pierre are no strangers to one another, having fought twice with vastly different results. In their first bout at UFC 50 in October of 2004, Hughes won the vacant welterweight crown with a first round submission victory. In their November 2006 rematch, St-Pierre evened the score with a second round TKO of Hughes to win the 170-pound title. On December 29th, the two will settle matters once and for all.

“I’m so excited to get this fight,” said St-Pierre. “I’m fighting Matt Hughes for the interim title right now, and then after that I’m going to go after Serra. I’ve wanted that rematch against Serra, and this is the best scenario that can happen.”

Waiting in the wings will be the champion, Serra, who will have an odd rooting interest that night.

“I can’t believe the position this puts me in,” said the New Yorker, who won the title from St-Pierre and was looking forward to settling the score with the man he has been coaching against and trading barbs with on the sixth season of The Ultimate Fighter, Hughes. “I’m actually rooting for Matt Hughes so I can beat his ass.”

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Serra Pulls Out Of UFC 79

Due to herniated discs from a training injury, Matt Serra has been forced to pull out of his upcoming bout with former champ Matt Hughes.

Serra was involved in a routine training regiment when he fell to the floor in pain. Later MRIs revealed the herniated discs in his lower back.

“This is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do,” said Serra. “I’ve never had a back injury before; I could hardly get off of the MRI table. There is no way I can train through this, and I’m devastated, especially because this was such an important fight. I was looking forward to fighting Matt Hughes. All my training was going phenomenally until Monday – All I can do now is to get better and to fight again as soon as possible.”

Hopefully, White will book a Welterweight contender against Hughes as to keep Hughes busy and not diminish the excellent star quality of this December card. If I were White, I would consider holding Hughes-St. Pierre III now, with the winner receiving a title shot. Hughes and St. Pierre will fight each other again soon enough, so it could make sense to get it out of the way now.

St. Pierre would be more likely to support this plan than Hughes due to the fact that if Hughes is victorious, Georges is still owed a shot at Serra, and therefore, wouldn't be permanently cut out of the title picture. If St. Pierre is victorious in the third bout with Hughes, it would likely spell the end of Matt Hughes' title contendership.

More than likely, however, White and Joe Silva will opt to either have Hughes fight in a tune up bout, or simply not fight at all.

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Matt Hughes Interview

Former Welterweight champ Matt Hughes is currently preparing for his fight against current champion Matt Serra after finishing the filming of TUF 6, on which Hughes was a coach. In this interview, Hughes discusses Frank Trigg, his upcoming fight against Serra, PRIDE fighters, steroids, and more.

Ben Zeidler: How’s it going Matt?
Matt Hughes: Going great, how about you?

BZ: Can’t complain, it’s almost the weekend.
MH: (Laughs) When I’m not training, it’s always the weekend.

BZ: My first taste of UFC was your second fight with Trigg, and it was the reason I became involved in MMA, so thank you for that. Can you just talk a little bit about that fight?
MH: Frank is one of those guys who likes to run his mouth before the fight, but I didn’t let it get to me. I don’t know why he doesn’t like me, but he doesn’t and I don’t like him because he always runs his mouth. Prior to the fight, he got really close to me and his lips almost touched mine, I don’t know if he was trying to kiss me or what, but I didn’t like it and I pushed him back. I didn’t know how I would beat him but I knew I would. Whether it was going to be on a punch or a kick or submissions, I was going to win that fight. It went to the clinch early and his knee hit squarely in my groin. I turned to Yamasaki because sometimes the refs miss it and if you don’t act hurt, they won’t know you got hit. He didn’t do anything, and then Frank went after me and landed a few good shots. I’ll be honest, I was dazed, and the next thing I knew, he was mounted and I had his waist. I’m sitting there thinking what do I have to do to get out of here? I had my feet up against the fence and was able to generate a little bit of momentum and try to “oomp” him over. It didn’t work and he got my back. I was never concerned, not once, when Trigg was on my back.

BZ: He’s got a lot of trouble with that rear naked choke. He never knows how to finish it when he’s got it, and then he always gets beat by it.
MH: I know, it’s like he knows nothing about the rear naked choke. Anyway, I reversed him and I was pissed. If I hit someone low, I will back away and let him recover or let the referee get involved. He wasn’t like that. He used it to his advantage and I didn’t like that. I got on top of him and I didn’t want the ref to stop it, I didn’t want time to run out, I just wanted to finish it on my own. I wanted blood -- I was that pissed. This prick pissed me off enough to where when I got his back, I was hoping he’d roll back just so I could punch him more. He did roll back and I hit him with a big elbow and cut him. Then, he gave me his back and it was all over. With Trigg, all you have to do is give him a tough time and he makes mistakes. He doesn’t want to be in there, and I gave him an opportunity to leave the fight and he took it.

BZ: Can you tell us about your high school wrestler career and how you got started wrestling? Was your Dad into it?
MH: My dad was crazy into it, and so I did it with my brother growing up. My cousin was into it too. I wrestled varsity as a Freshman, the next year, I went to states and the rest is history.

BZ: I’ve actually heard that your brother, Mark, is the superior wrestler. Would he ever consider getting in the Octagon?
MH: I wouldn’t say he’s the superior wrestler. I won states twice and he was second once. He actually fought in the UFC, though. And he won, but it just wasn’t a big thing when it happened. He always said he wanted to try it and he did, and it no one made a big deal about it so he got out

BZ: Most fighters choose more intimidating music for their entrances. You decided to go with a little Hank Williams. How did you choose your entrance music for the fight?
MH: It really reflects me and who I am, and that’s why I went for it. The first time I asked, the UFC said no. They felt that it was too slow, so they gave me two options: “American Bad Ass” or “Let The Bodies Hit The Floor”.

BZ: Neither of those really sound like you.
MH: Exactly. So I said whatever and had some other music once, but then they let me do what I wanted because I kept winning.

BZ: Who do you see as the up and comers in the Welterweight division? 5 years, 10 years?
MH: 10 years? That’s a long time.

BZ: Okay, okay, 5 years.
MH: 5 years…Georges will still be around, barring injury. Diego and Kos, those guys. And I actually think Diego will be around longer than Koscheck, even though Kos technically won the fight. I was actually more impressed with Sanchez and I thought he won that fight.

BZ: Me too. I always get hell for my rankings because I put Diego first, but I think he’s the stronger of the two.
MH: Yeah, I think he’ll be around for a while. Fitch is tough too, but he’s not at the top of the food chain yet. He’s still got a little work to do.

BZ: How prepared do you feel you are for your upcoming fight with Matt Serra?
MH: We’re still early, so I haven’t started my full intensive training. But I promise you I’ll be ready because I don’t like him. He runs his mouth and I don’t like that. Also, when my kids watch the tape of me beating him, I want to look my best, so you can bet that I’ll be in shape for that one.

BZ: Can you give us a prediction for the fight?
I don’t know how I’m going to beat him, but you can bet that I’ll find a way. You can’t predict how you’re going to end a fight, you just go in with the best game plan you have and find a way to win.

BZ: The winner of the fight will most likely get St. Pierre. Do you think you can beat him? How will you change your strategy from the last fight?
MH: I don’t want to look past Serra, but if I get to fight Georges again, things will change. Definitely. I will definitely change my stand up and maybe my take downs. I only tried one take down in our last fight and I didn’t even give it 100%. I promise that lots will change.

BZ You’ve beat just about everyone in the business. Which win of yours would you call your biggest? The second against BJ?
MH: Yeah, that’s what I was going to say. The second against BJ. He beat me before so it was a really big win to get that back. He walks around thinking he can beat Heavyweights, so it was good to just beat him up.

BZ: You’ve said you have 2 or 3 fights left in you. That leaves the win against Serra and the win against St. Pierre. Who would you want for a retirement fight?
MH: I don’t think I’d want a retirement fight. I’ve toyed with going up to 185, but I don’t know if I’d do that. I wanted to fight Diego because he used to run his mouth, but he stopped that recently. He seems like an all right guy. Also, Diego hasn’t won in a while, so it wouldn’t be that big of a deal to fight him.

BZ: Dennis Hallman has seemed to have your number in the past, but that was seven years ago. How confident are you now that you could beat him, and how much have you grown as a fighter since those losses?
MH: Anyone has a chance in any fight, so I can’t say I’d walk through him, but I know I would beat him. I fought him when I was young and I made drastic mistakes both times. Would I make those mistakes again? No. The funny thing is that he beat me twice quick but he can’t beat anyone else. I’d take him on again, but he can’t even get in the mix or crack the top 20.

BZ: How did you feel when you received the honor of being a coach on The Ultimate Fighter?
MH: To be honest, I didn’t want to do it. I didn’t want to leave my family and the Midwest, but Dana wanted me to, so I did it. But I wouldn’t call it an honor.

BZ: Can you tell us about your experiences so far on the show?
MH: You know, I have a great group of guys -- no doubt about it. I wouldn’t change them for anything, they’re just really good people.

BZ: Who are the most promising guys on the show thus far?
MH: Mac Danzig, definitely. He’s already won a fight for our team and he’s a promising fighter.

BZ: Can you give us your prediction for Franklin-Silva II? I know you’re good friends with Franklin…you guys both did MFS together.
MH: Yep, Rich is one of my good buddies and he’s a smart fighter. I promise that the fight will not be the same. He is going to come in with a great game plan. I don’t know what he’s got planned, but it won’t the same and it will be a great plan. We have talked strategy yet, but if you think it’s going to be the same fight, you’re wrong.

BZ: As long as he doesn’t try to trade knees with Silva, he should be fine.
MH: Yeah, you won’t see that again.

BZ: What do you think is going on with the recent string of upsets in the UFC? Are the classic fighters just getting older?
MH: This is one of those sports where anything can happen. Maybe Chuck wasn’t prepared and Keith just capitalized on that. As far as Serra beating Georges, again, anything can happen. Serra threw a punch and the punch has to land somewhere. Cro Cop amazingly lost two in a row; it’s just the way the sport goes. It’s too hard to predict this stuff. I had Liddell, Diego, and Shogun all winning at the last event.

BZ: I know, it’s impossible to pick these days. I had GSP at UFC 69, Cro Cop at 70, and Liddell at 71. I’ve stopped making predictions. Now I just tell people to bet on whoever I don’t pick to win.
MH: (Laughs) Yeah, it’s too tough to call.

BZ: The PRIDE guys really seem to be having a hard time with the UFC guys. Is that due to PRIDE being weaker than people thought, UFC guys being better, or something else entirely?
MH: Before Shogun, I would say that it’s the new environment, but he was throwing elbows and using the cage effectively. He was definitely prepared to fight in the UFC. So now, I think it has to be that the PRIDE guys are a little overrated.

BZ: More and more fighters are getting caught with steroids lately. Why do fighters take them if they know they'll probably get caught?
MH: I really can’t answer that at all…I don’t know, I’ve never been a supporter. I don’t want to name names but I know for a fact that some of my opponent’s have been using steroids when they fought me. And to me, it’s like, I know I’m a better athlete, so if you need to take steroids to compete with me, you’re already in trouble. They’re bad for your body no doubt about it, and the rules are in place to protect us so guys need to start realizing that.

BZ: Can you tell us more about the Rancho3M orphanage in Mexico which you support?
MH: I do lots of charity work in my home town too, which it means a lot to me. And the orphanage is just something I started helping out because it’s a great cause. Proceeds from website go to the orphanage to help them out as much as I can.

BZ: Are there any sponsors that you'd like to thank?
MH: Yeah, I’ve got a great group of guys over at One More Round, and they’re coming out with some really good MMA clothing. It’s high end stuff but it’s really nice. Go to matt-hughes.com and check it out.

BZ: Would you like to say something to your fans?
MH: I’ve got the greatest fans in the world. We have a really strong site with a great forum where people can ask me questions and I’ll answer them. And I do a big blog entry every Wednesday, so go check it out. Thanks.

(Interview originally conducted for MMAMadness.com)

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LIDDELL-SILVA IS ON

Las Vegas, NV (USA) – For years, UFC® fight fans have speculated about the outcome of a historic dream matchup between two legendary figures in the sport of mixed martial arts, Chuck Liddell and Wanderlei Silva. Tonight, on Spike TV’s 2007 Scream Awards, UFC President Dana White announced that this dream will finally become a reality when UFC and PRIDE former champions Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell and “The Axe Murderer” Wanderlei Silva face each other at UFC 79: NEMESIS live from the Mandalay Bay Events Center Saturday, December 29, 2007.

“Chuck and Wanderlei – two legends in the sport – will face off in the most important match of their careers at UFC 79,” said Dana White, UFC President. “Chuck and Wanderlei have both wanted this fight for as long as they can remember, and this is definitely the fight that fans have waited for years to see. Finally, PRIDE’s most dangerous striker will face the UFC’s most dangerous striker, and the world will know after years of speculation who will win and who will lose this fight.”

Tickets for UFC 79: NEMESIS are on sale now and are priced at $1,000, $750, $500, $300, $200 and $100. Tickets are available through any Mandalay Bay box office and all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith’s Food and Drug Centers, Macy’s West at the Fashion Show Mall and Ritmo Latino). To charge by phone with a major credit card, call the Mandalay Bay box office at (702) 632-7580 or Ticketmaster at (702) 474-4000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.ufc.com, www.mandalaybay.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

A special Internet ticket pre-sale is available now to UFC newsletter subscribers. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through www.ufc.com.

There also will be a special auction for Octagon-side floor seats available only through www.ticketmaster.com starting Wednesday, October 24 and ending Monday, November 5.

UFC 79: NEMESIS is available live on pay-per-view at 10 p.m. EST/7 p.m. PST on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, DISH Network, TVN, Bell ExpressVu, Shaw Communications and Viewer’s Choice Canada for a suggested retail price of $39.95 ($39.99 CAD) and $49.95 for HD where available.

Liddell (20-5), considered by many to be the greatest light heavyweight fighter of all time, reigned as the 205-pound UFC champion for over three years. He knocked out seven opponents in seven consecutive fights, including Randy Couture (twice), Vernon White, Jeremy Horn, Renato “Babalu” Sobral and Tito Ortiz (twice), before he was defeated by Quinton “Rampage” Jackson at UFC 71 in May. Chuck now returns to the Octagon to face the fighter he has wanted to fight for years – Wanderlei Silva.

“I’m excited this fight with Wanderlei is finally happening,” said Liddell. “I’ve been saying for a long time that, given the chance, I would knock Wanderlei Silva out. I think this will be a great fight for the fans, and one that lives up to their expectations, because I’m going to hit him until he falls down and stays down.”

The 31-year old Silva (31-7-1), known by fight fans as “The Axe Murderer” for his ultra-aggressive style and finishing ability, began his career almost 11 years ago in his native Brazil, fighting in Vale Tudo bouts that pushed him to the limit as he honed the skills that would soon make him one of the most feared fighters on the planet. He met great success by winning the PRIDE organization’s middleweight championship and defeating the likes of current UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Quinton Jackson (twice), Dan Henderson, Kazushi Sakuraba (three times), Ricardo Arona, Hidehiko Yoshida, and Kazuyuki Fujita, while engaging in some of the most memorable fights in MMA history. Well-rested after his February PRIDE fight against Dan Henderson, Silva is ready to take on Liddell and secure the most important victory of his mixed martial arts career.

“I’ve wanted to fight Chuck for a long time,” said Silva. “I think about this fight a lot, our styles are very similar – we are both great strikers. I’m training very hard, because I want to give my next victory to my fans. After I beat Chuck, then I want to fight the champion.”

In addition to Liddell vs. Silva, UFC 79 features the main event welterweight championship matchup between UFC champion Matt Serra (16-4) and former UFC champion Matt Hughes (43-5).

Current UFC welterweight champion Matt Serra, fresh off his knockout victory over Georges St-Pierre in April, looks to defend his title for the first time against the legendary Hughes and secure his own legacy in the UFC 170-pound division. Hughes, a two-time UFC champion with seven combined title defenses to his name, has a deadly ground game that has earned him wins over St-Pierre, BJ Penn, Chris Lytle, Royce Gracie, and Frank Trigg (twice).

For more information about UFC 78, The Ultimate Fighter 6 Finale, UFC 79 or any upcoming UFC event, visit www.ufc.com or uk.ufc.com. All bouts are live and subject to change.

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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.

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Around The Horn

There's a ton of fallout after the HUGE UFC 76 event...so let's get at it!

Sherdog is reporting that Mauricio Rua entered the fight with a knee injury and was not 100%. Interestingly enough, Shogun's knee had nothing to do with the third round rear naked choke applied by Forrest Griffin. Either way, it hampered his training to a certain degree and didn't allow him to execute the stomps he loves but isn't allowed to use anyway. He's not expected to disappoint fans again until at least early 2008.

MMA News is reporting that Chuck Liddell is in fact NOT retiring and may be looking at a fight with Shogun. Reports place him in the gym on Monday, four days from now. I hate to admit it, but he doesn't look hungry like the old Liddell used to. Maybe him and Cro Cop can start a club with Wanderlei Silva and they can call it "I was really good two years ago."

MMA Junkie is reporting that Matt Hughes "has one or two more fights left in him." Well, let's see, that would account for the win over Serra and the subsequent loss to St. Pierre. Yeah, two fights sounds about right.

UFC Mania is reporting that Kazuhiro Nakamura failed a drug test despite losing to Lyoto Machida. Logic would have it that a fighter would take such a chance in order to gain an advantage. But then again, the same logic would suggest are smart enough to realize that at least one person is getting caught after each event.

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Which Schools Dominate The UFC?

As with any sport, the way to win has developed over time. In baseball, good pitching used to rule the day whereas now, teams rely on sluggers to pound the ball to victory. In basketball, quick passes and good defense used to win championships. Now, deadly shooting and high-flying moves do the trick. The same goes for a sport like Mixed Martial Arts. I've defined the sport into three main categories during its short history, with a different school of fighting dominating the game, eventually ending at the hybridized style we see from almost every fighter today.

It doesn't take an expert to figure out that Gracie Jiu Jitsu (a slight variation on classic Jiu Jitsu), as utilized by Royce Gracie, was the single most imposing force in early UFC. This style, based on joint locks and body control, was perfect for smaller fighters facing much larger and stronger opponents. Royce highlighted the style's strengths during a fight with Dan Severn, in which he submitted the man 70 pounds his heavier. And oh yeah, between 1993 and 1994, Gracie won 11 fights by submission and won the UFC 1, UFC 2, and UFC 4 tournaments. Most of these were against strictly boxers or strictly wrestlers, and Gracie's grappling technique proved to be superior.

Gracie's grappling, with a slight twist, ruled the Middle Ages of the UFC, manifested in Miletich Fighting Systems. Founded by former Light/Welterweight Pat Miletich, MFS incorporates BJJ (thanks, Gracie family), Sambo, Judo, and Boxing for a more improved Mixed Maertial Artist who is dangerous on his feet and the ground. We saw a changing of the guard at UFC 60 as MFSer Matt Hughes was able to take down Royce Gracie and then debilitate him with a BJJ move. It was beautiful in its irony, and signified that Royce's prowess on the ground was no longer enough to win a fight. MFS fighters, including Hughes (former Welterweight champ), Rich Franklin (former Middleweight champ), and Tim Sylvia (former Heavyweight champ) helped to make this fighting system (the first true hybrid) and extremely successful one until very recently.

Look closely at the previous paragraph and you'll notice that all the MFS guys are FORMER champs. What happened? Fighters like Rampage Jackson, Georges St. Pierre, and Chuck Liddell have become so adept at forcing other fighters to fight their fight that they don't need to hybridize. Of course, GSP is dangerous anywhere, but he can also control a fight to the point where if he wants it to go to the ground, that's where it goes. If he wants to stand up, take a guess where the fight is going to end... Liddell has perfected his sprawl to the point where he never goes down. His fights always stay on the feet which serve him well until...he comes upon a another guy who doesn't want to go to the ground, and is an even more dangerous striker. I used to say that the new UFC fighter is a perfectly balanced and hybridized figher who can adapt to any situation or opponent. I'd like to correct that statement. The NEW UFC fighter is the one who is a master at his craft and can make everyone else try to match his style. See: Sean Sherk, Matt Serra, Anderson Silva, Rampage Jackson, Randy Couture. They all have something in common and it's not the fact that they're champions.

Originally written for martialbase.com

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UFC Balance Of Power Regains Normalcy

With the wins of Randy Couture and Georges St. Pierre on Saturday night, the pair finalized UFC's return to general predictability (a good thing) following a span of upsets which stretched from 68 to 71, effectively throwing three of the five title pictures in disarray. With Sherk's win (let's forget about the steroids for a moment), Couture's first successful defense of the HW title, and St. Pierre displaying his ability to shake the Serra blues, it appears that we can start narrowing the talent into some Superfights.

No need to give Gonzaga another title shot now. And after St. Pierre's dismantling of Koscheck, it's obvious that St. Pierre and Hughes are the only guys who deserve to be on the top of that division. Not Sanchez, not Kos, not Parisyan, and certainly none of the other guys who were said to be in line for a title shot. Just the best of the best. Had Koscheck won the fight on Saturday, it would've taken even more legitimacy from the division and possibly...just possibly set up for Koscheck-Serra. Instead of being forced to witness that eyesore, it looks as if we're on track for GSP-Hughes III, which is the best fight for the fighters, the fans, and of course, the sport.

Couture's huge win marks the reality of his second coming in the UFC as he has now dispatched of two contenders (Sylvia and Gonzaga) who have at times been heralded as greats, but have now been reduced to pawns. This is significant because now Couture can start wading through the real contenders, the PRIDE guys. Similar to the Koscheck-Serra scenario, I think I speak for everyone when I say we really dodged a bullet with the potential Gonzaga-Nogueira matchup. Instead, we should be treated to Couture-CC, Couture-Nog, or even Couture-Fedor. With CC's recent loss and Nog's less than stellar opening show, there really is no contender in the UFC who should be considered a favorite against "The Natural." It may be up to White to sign someone who can fill these shoes.

The narrowing of competition continues at UFC 75 with the Henderson-Rampage match, a virtual win-win for the UFC. With a Liddell and Shogun wins at 76, the UFC should be set up perfectly for a winter to remember. Silva and Franklin will kick things off with what should be a war. We will most likely see Shogun against the winner of Rampage-Henderson. Couture will almost definitely fight Cro Cop or Nogueira. And barring something amazing happening, Hughes will get another crack at GSP. It may have not been the most exciting event in the world, but UFC 74 has now set the stage for the success that is to come.

(Originally published on martialbase.com)

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GSP To Get Title Shot In Canada

In Canada's first-ever UFC event (the expansion continues...), former Welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre will get the opportunity to regain his title. He'll face the winner of the Hughes-Serra bout in a fight that is expected to take place at the Bell Centre sometime during the spring.

During the announcement-filled post-UFC 74 conference, White announced that St. Pierre would get the title shot (as was expected) and that it would come in St. Pierre's home country (not as expected). The UFC is doing an excellent job of utilizing fighter's hometowns in order to boost buys and attendance. Attendance is less of an issue considering recent events have been sold out, but total exposure is still something that White and the Fertitta seek. One look at the use of Bisping in England-based events is enough evidence of this trend.

The UFC can't lose with this set up, as no matter who St. Pierre gets, it's the second or third fight in a series. Statistics show that rematches and trilogies are by far the most profitable ventures for the UFC. In St. Pierre's rematch, they could have either. With the wins by Couture and St. Pierre at UFC 74, coupled with Sherk's title justification at 73, the UFC is back on track to make a splash in the next year.

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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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UFC Main Card Updates

Look no further for all the latest in UFC Main Card updates. Shogun's debut, Ortiz-Evans II, Franklin-Silva II, and Sherk-Penn have all been announced. But where will they fall?

UFC 74: Respect
Randy Couture vs. Gabriel Gonzaga (Heavyweight title)
Georges St. Pierre vs. Josh Koscheck
Joe Stevenson vs. Kurt Pellegrino
Diego Sanchez vs. Hayato Sakurai
Patrick Cote vs. Kendall Grove
David Heath vs. Renato Sobral




UFC 75: Champion vs. Champion
Quinton Jackson vs. Dan Henderson (Lightheavyweight title)
Mirko Cro Cop vs. Cheick Kongo
Michael Bisping vs. Matt Hamill
Houston Alexander vs. Alessio Sakara

UFC 76 (Anaheim, CA: Honda Center)
Chuck Liddell vs. Wanderlei Silva
Mauricio "Shogun" Rua vs. Lyoto Machida
Jon Fitch vs. Diego Sanchez
Evan Tanner vs. TBA


UFC 77 (Cincinnati, Ohio: U.S. Bank Arena)
Rich Franklin vs. Anderson Silva (Middleweight title)
Tito Ortiz vs. Rashad Evans



UFC 78 (Newark, New Jersey: Prudential Arena)
Sean Sherk vs. B.J. Penn (Lightweight title)




UFC 79 (East Rutherford, NJ: Continental Airlines Arena)
Matt Hughes vs. Matt Serra (Welterweight title)





Early 2008
Mirko Filipovic vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira II
Matt Hughes vs. Georges St. Pierre III
The Debut Of Fedor

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