Montreal will not just hold their first UFC event in April -- they'll host their first title fight too, according to Mike Chiappetta at NBCSports.com.
Matt Serra and Georges St. Pierre will meet for the UFC welterweight title during an April event in Montreal, Serra confirmed to NBCSports.com on Friday.
The 33-year-old UFC welterweight champion upset St. Pierre for the title with a first-round TKO in April 2007, and had been scheduled to defend his crown against Matt Hughes in Decmeber. But following the escalation of their rivalry during the filming of the most recent Ultimate Fighter season, Serra suffered a herniated disc, forcing him to pull out of their scheduled UFC 79 match.
St. Pierre stepped in to replace Serra, and outclassed the former champion, finishing him with a second-round armbar to become the interim champion. After the match, St. Pierre noted that he wouldn't consider himself the true champion until he beat Serra.
The Long Island native told NBCSports.com's John Moody that his back has been rapidly improving and is excited about defending the championship, albeit in St. Pierre's hometown.
The event will be the first that the UFC holds in Canada, and is tentatively scheduled for April 19 at the Bell Centre.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
St. Pierre-Serra To Headline UFC 83
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Ten Greatest UFC Upsets
With that in mind I present my list of the ten greatest UFC upsets:
10. Randy Couture vs. Vitor Belfort: UFC 15
At UFC 15, relative newcomer Randy Couture was set to face Vitor Belfort in a match that many experts compared to the ancient practice of feeding Christians to the lions. Couture had only two fights under his belt while Belfort was 4-0 in the Octagon. Not only was he undefeated, Belfort had four straight (T)KO’s and never had a match go longer than two minutes.
Randy was supposed to be a cakewalk for the invincible Brazilian but it was Couture who earned the TKO stopping Belfort with strikes shortly after eight minutes. They would face off two more times in 2004 but the match that will be remembered in my book is probably their first as it ranks as one of the UFC’s first big upsets.
9. Jason Lambert vs. Renato Sobral: UFC 68
Renato Sobral was widely considered one of the top light-heavyweights in the world and for good reason. Since July of 2002 he compiled an impressive 12-2 record including a ten-fight winning streak.
Like Minotauro Nogueira, who could have been on top for years if not for a certain Russian cyborg, Babalu was second only to Chuck Liddell. His bout against Lambert at UFC 68 was supposed to be a chance to get back to his winning ways.
Lambert wasn’t having it. Talented but unproven, Lambert was coming off a KO loss to Rashad Evans and had a history of falling short against popular fighters like Tim Sylvia and Cabbage Correira. He was expected to follow suit against Sobral but instead stunned the world with a lights-out KO at 3:26 of the second round.
8. Frank Mir vs. Marcio Cruz: UFC 57
Believe it or not there was a time when Frank Mir was the poster boy for UFC heavyweights. He was an 8-1 submission master and a fan favorite long before breaking Tim Sylvia’s arm. After a devastating motorcycle accident kept him out of action for nearly two years, the UFC welcomed him back by matching him against Brazilian cream puff Marcio Cruz.
What was planned as a homecoming quickly turned into a nightmare as the 1-0 rookie put Mir on his back and started raining down elbows until a blood soaked Mir could no longer defend. The fight was mercifully stopped at the end of the first round and Frank’s career would never be the same.
7. Mark Coleman vs. Maurice Smith: UFC 14
Mark Coleman was one of the first true heavyweight goliaths of the UFC using his superior wrestling and ground ‘n pound to lay waste to the entire division. At 6-0 he had already destroyed legends Gary Goodridge and Dan Severn by submission and Don Frye by TKO.
His next victim was UFC newcomer Maurice Smith who was 3-4 with submission losses to Ken Shamrock and Bas Rutten. It looked like an early night for the heavily favored Coleman but instead it became a very long one as Maurice put an end to the era of dominant wresting and scored a unanimous decision after twenty-one minutes of fighting.
The Pete Williams head kick may be the loss that fans remember, but to me the Smith fight was a more shocking upset (and what I consider the beginning of the end). Coleman would never see another victory in the UFC and eventually defected to PRIDE in 1999.
6. Jens Pulver vs. Joe Lauzon: UFC 63
Jens Pulver — like most lightweights — was unwelcome in the Octagon after the UFC decided they were better off without a 155-pound division. Fortunately good sense prevailed and Jens, like the division, was reinstated.
Little Evil was undefeated in the Octagon and his win over BJ Penn was a memorable battle. Now he looked to return to greatness and his ring entrance at UFC 63 looked more fitting for a war hero or a matador than a UFC combatant.
In his first UFC match, unknown Joe Lauzon admitted to taking Jens antics personally. He took out his anger on an unsuspecting Pulver with a brutal KO in the first round. Any thoughts of Jens walking to the title went out with the lights.
5. Chuck Liddell vs. Randy Couture: UFC 43
Appearing for the second time in my illustrious list is “The Natural” and this time it’s for upending the mighty Liddell at UFC 43. Chuck was 12-1 and on a torrid ten-fight winning streak looking as close to immortal as a fighter can get.
In contrast Randy was coming down from heavyweight after getting crushed by Josh Barnett and Ricco Rodriguez. Nearly 40, Randy was seen as not just a huge underdog, but also an aging combatant in a sport that long since passed him by (if they only knew).
For the second time Randy made the critics eat their words as he put an absolute clinic on the bewildered Liddell stopping him with strikes in the third round.
4. BJ Penn vs. Matt Hughes: UFC 46
Matt Hughes was a victory machine. Coming into the Penn fight Matt was 13-0 since 2001 and a staggering 34-3 overall. He was making it look easy and scoffed at the idea of BJ moving up in weight. After all, Penn was a mere pup compared to the welterweight workhorse and Hughes probably took things lightly.
He shouldn’t have. BJ tooled him from start to finish and choked Hughes into tapping in the first round. The look on Matt’s face perfectly summarized what we were all feeling: complete and utter disbelief. He didn’t even notice when the Hawaiian celebrated with a kiss. He was too busy trying to figure out what just happened.
3. Randy Couture vs. Tim Sylvia: UFC 68
After reading this list I wonder how I could have ever picked against Randy. But pick against him I did, as did most, when he came out of retirement to face the hulking menace from Camp Miletich.
Randy’s last dance in the Octagon was grotesquely one-sided, and his return to a weight class that chewed him up and spit him out in 2002 seemed ill-advised and money-driven. Few believed Randy when he claimed to have found a hole in Sylvia’s game and we quietly hoped he would get through the fight void of serious injury.
Once again we looked on in astonishment as Randy dropped The Maine-iac in the opening seconds of round one and continued to punish him throughout the fight. Tim summed it up best after dropping the decision: “He would strike when I thought he would shoot and shoot when I thought he would strike.”
Tim shouldn’t feel bad for having Randy make him look stupid. He’s been doing it to us for years.
2. Mirko Cro Cop vs. Gabriel Gonzaga: UFC 70
I’ll admit it. Part of what makes this upset come in at #2 is the way it ended. Aside from Randy Couture (who looks more and more like a genius with every move he makes) I don’t think anyone gave Gonzaga a real chance at winning.
People may have been open to a decision loss or a freak submission but if you wanted to lay odds on a head kick they would have laughed in your face. Well no one is laughing now as the artist formerly known as #2 in the world is back in Croatia licking his wounds.
Gonzaga was a talented fighter before the bout but his TKO loss to Croat associate Fabricio Werdum made it hard to believe he could withstand the strikes of Cro Cop. Mirko later admitted to having blurry vision courtesy of Gonzaga elbows and never saw it coming. Don’t worry Mr. Filipovic, neither did we.
1. Matt Serra vs. Georges St. Pierre: UFC 69
As if there was any doubt, I present the greatest upset in the UFC and perhaps all of mixed martial arts. Nobody in the world whose last name isn’t Serra gave Matt a chance against an opponent largely considered one of the best fighters in the world today.
With only a submission loss to Matt Hughes on his near-perfect record, GSP represented the new breed of MMA: Young, strong, and versed in all styles of combat fighting with very few weaknesses.
Of course a perfect skill set doesn’t do you any good if you get punched in the head. Serra did everything right, maintained composure, and finished off a rigid GSP in devastating fashion.
This is one win I don’t think even Randy could have predicted.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
2007 Year In Review
Here we go! With MMA gaining so much momentum over the past few years, UFC has debuted a three hour show of the UFC’s BEST of 2007,taking a look back at the most exciting fights of the past year. The UFC continues to be consistent by offering great PPVs, free events, and their blockbuster show, "The Ultimate Fighter." I will review the UFC’s BEST of 2007, giving you insight and my thoughts on the fights. Now let’s get to the knock down, drag out year that was 2007. An article by Don Davenport
Tyson Griffin vs. Frankie Edgar
UFC 67: ALL OR NOTHING February 3, 2007
Both fighters exchanged punches early, feeling each other out and eventually leading to a clinch. Edgar faked a takedown and landed some punches which lead to a takedown of Griffin. Griffin attempted a guillotine choke which Edgar managed to escape and gain side control. Griffin got out of side control and slammed Edgar down hard. Both fighters wrestled back to the feet where Edgar dominated with strikes, and then Edgar got a single leg takedown off of a Griffin knee into the guard. Edgar passed Griffin’s guard getting his back and both fighters ended up in the stand up position as the bell rang.
In the second round, Griffin landed a huge uppercut and trapped Edgar against the cage. Edgar defended this well and both fighters were back in the stand up position. Griffin was relentless throwing combinations at Edgar. Edgar caught a leg kick and took Griffin down. Griffin got back to his feet to land some punches, and dropped Edgar with a low kick. Edgar took Griffin back down for some ground and pound. Griffin scrambled on top and dragged him down, Edgar transitioned on top and pounded Griffin to the end of the round.
In the third round, Griffin landed some leg kicks and defended against an Edgar take down. Edgar counter punched then connected with three knees, one was low, but Griffin continued to fight. Edgar landed a flurry of punches then got Griffin’s back against the cage and hammered him. Griffin got to his feet and tried to defend against the vicious assault by Edgar and then got taken down. Griffin got back to his feet and looked exhausted. Edgar hit another take down. Edgar landed a series of blows as Griffin wrestled his way back to his feet. Edgar hit yet another takedown and got the back of Griffin, but Griffin reversed into a knee bar that was locked deep. Edgar hanged on to the end of the round. The winner by unanimous decision was Frankie Edgar.
This was a very technical fight that showed the versatility of both fighters. Edgar is a determined undefeated fighter that is destine for greatness.
UFC Welterweight Championship
Champion Georges St. Pierre vs. Matt Serra
UFC 69: SHOOTOUT April 7, 2007
The two fighters circled each other in the stand up position. Serra had difficulty getting through St. Pierre’s defense, being kept at bay with kicks and a long reach. Serra started to successfully attack the body of St. Pierre, jabbing his way inside. Half way into the round, the two fighters exchanged punches, with Serra getting the best of those exchanges. Serra blocked several high kicks by St. Pierre then landed a superman punch. Serra staggered St. Pierre with an over hand right, and then connected with a left that buckled St. Pierre. St. Pierre tried to hold on as Serra continued to punish him on the ground, but it was to no avail as the referee stopped the fight. The winner by TKO via strikes at 3:25 of the first round to win the UFC Welterweight Championship is none other than TUF 4 winner Matt Serra. Serra was an 11-1 underdog coming into this title fight and managed to pull off the upset. Serra displayed great head movement despite good offense by St. Pierre, eventually landing the right hand that spelled the beginning of the end for St. Pierre.
Roger Huerta vs. Leonard Garcia
UFC 69: SHOOTOUT April 7, 2007
Both fighters slugged it out to start things off. Huerta landed two high kicks and went for a takedown, and then Garcia applied a guillotine choke. Huerta escaped with Garcia against the cage, landing elbows and punches. Huerta transitioned to Garcia’s back then attempted the rear naked choke to no avail. Huerta got the mount position on Garcia. Garcia scrambled to his feet and connected with some punches. As Huerta went for a takedown he got caught with a guillotine but avoids submission. Huerta landsed elbows and punches from the top then kept Garcia against the cage for some ground and pound. Garcia worked back to the feet where both fighters wrestled to the ground. Garcia attempted a kimora on the right arm, but despite the attempt, both fighters were back on their feet exchanging blows. Huerta hit a take down which were followed up with a series of elbows and punches from the top. Garcia rolled into the top position as the bell rang.
Before the second, Huerta appeared to have a small cut over the right eye. Both fighters slugged it out, eventually clinching one another. Huerta took Garcia down for some ground and pound. Garcia got to his feet and landed a big knee to the face, both fighters went toe-to-toe for the next minute until Huerta got a takedown. Huerta dominated on the ground but Garcia made it to his feet again which he followed up with a huge right hand. Both fighters slugged it out some more until Huerta got another take down, and continued to land punches until the end of the round.
Early in the third round, Huerta overwhelmed Garcia with strikes and got him down to the ground. Huerta controlled Garcia on the ground but does minimum damage, and seemingly out of no where Garcia got Huerta’s back and is attempting a rear naked choke. Huerta escaped and rolled back on top, pounding Garcia relentlessly. Garcia took serious punishment but managed to hang on until the end of the fight. Both fighters embraced, showing mutual respect for each other. The winner by unanimous decision was Roger Huerta. It was a spectacular fight where the fans got their money’s worth. Garcia persevered through a ton of punishment despite Huerta's efforts to end the fight. I thought several times that Huerta was going to end the fight, but Garcia was able to hold on. Don’t be surprised to see Huerta receiving a title fight in the near future.
Mirko Cro Cop vs. Gabriel Gonzaga
UFC 70: NATIONS COLLIDE April 21, 2007
Gonzaga started off by pressuring Cro Cop, landing a straight right hand. Gonzaga threw a kick to the mid section of Cro Cop, which dropped him to the ground. Gonzaga controlled Cro Cop in the top position, landing elbows for the next two minutes. The ref stood the two fighters up, and out of nowhere Gonzaga threw a high kick and knocked out Cro Cop in such a way that his leg twists underneath him. The winner by KO, in 4:51 of the first round, Gabriel Gonzaga. The crowd was in disbelief that Cro Cop was defeated in such devastating fashion. Gonzaga shocked the MMA world by knocking out one of the most feared strikers on the planet with his very own signature move. Gonzaga would go on to face the UFC Heavyweight Champion Randy Couture. Cro Cop stated that he didn’t train for elbows or in the cage for this fight. Also, Cro Cop suffered a minor injury to his ankle. Cro Cop was a big international investment for the UFC, and so far, has turned out to be a total disappointment.
UFC Lightweight Championship
Champion Chuck Liddell vs. Quinton Jackson
UFC 71: Liddell vs. Jackson May 26, 2007
Liddell circled away from Jackson, picking his shots carefully. Finally, Liddell threw a big left hook to the body which is rolled under by Jackson. Jackson then answered with a right hand to the jaw that dropped Liddell immediately. Jackson hopped on top and finished Liddell with a series of right hands. The winner by TKO 1:53 of the first round and new UFC Lightweight Champion, Quinton Jackson. I thought that Jackson might win the bout from their previous encounter in PRIDE, but I did not fathom Jackson finishing Liddell in the first round.
Sam Stout vs.Spencer Fisher
UFC FIGHT NIGHT June 12, 2007
Stout came out swinging and is caught with a flurry of punches by Fisher. Fisher attempted a takedown that is defended by Stout. Fisher starts landing combinations at will on Stout, but Stout continued to press forward toward the second half of the round, landing punches and knees that bloody the right eye of Fisher. Both fighters started to slug it out, and then Fisher closed the round with a huge left hand.
In the second round, Spencer mixed up his combinations on Stout. Stout continued to come forward but is dominated with strikes by Fisher. Fisher attempted a take down and is defended by excellent grappling by Stout. The round closed with both fighters in the stand up position.
In the third round, Stout landed a combination and then got caught with a huge left hand. Fisher continued to dominate on the feet with left hands, and defended the combinations thrown by Stout. Fisher landed his strikes at will, rocking Stout with a right hand. Stout tried some offense while taking a severe beating from Fisher. Fisher landed a right hook to close the end of the fight. The winner by unanimous decision, Spencer Fisher. The fight was action-packed as expected, delivering a three round slug fest. I can only expect improvement from both fighters in the future of their careers.
Jens Pulver vs. B.J. Penn
THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER 5 FINALE June 23, 2007
Penn landed a right hand right that staggered Pulver to start the round. Penn pushed forward and took Pulver down against the cage. Penn picked Pulver off the ground and slammed him again into half guard, securing his body. Penn passed his guard and got into the mount and attempted an armbar. Pulver spinned out into a triangle by Penn who hammered him with elbows. Pulver postured out of the submission attempt into Penn’s guard. Pulver pushed Penn against the cage and followed up with a few elbows as Penn worked back to his feet. The fighters clinched and traded shots until the end of the round.
In the second round, Penn took Pulver down after eating a left hook, and eventually got into the mount position to land some punches to the face. Penn got the back of Pulver and secured the rear naked choke for the submission. The winner by submission, 3:12 of the second round, B.J.Penn. This two round fight is exciting to watch as both fighters were not too fond of each other. Penn came into this fight in shape and more determined then ever to close this chapter in his life. Unfortunately, Pulver was no match for Penn in this fight, succumbing quickly to the rear naked choke.
UFC Middleweight Championship
Champion Anderson Silva vs. Nate Marquardt
UFC 73: STACKED July 7, 2007
Both fighters started by feeling each other out, Marquardt threw a combination and gets countered with a right hand. Silva then attempted a flying knee that is caught by Marquardt who then got a single leg takedown. Marquardt did nothing to improve his position and the referee stood both fighters up. Silva connected with a left hand then Marquardt attempts a single leg, but despite his effort, he took several elbows and punches. Marquardt attempted a single leg again, but Silva switched on top and unleashed a series of devastating right hands, stopping the fight. The winner by TKO 4:50 of the first round and still UFC Middleweight Champion, Anderson Silva. Silva demonstrated once again why he is the UFC Middleweight Champion, displaying excellent striking and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Silva is a true MMA practitioner who showcases his elite skills every time he steps in the octagon.
Houston Alexander vs. Alessio Sakara
UFC 75: CHAMPION vs. CHAMPION September 8, 2007
Alexander closed the distance and Alessio took him down. Alexander pushed Alessio off with brute strength and connected with two knees to the head. Alexander then followed up with another knee to the head that dropped Alessio, and then Alexander finished the fight with a barrage of punches. The winner by KO 1:01 of the first round, Houston Alexander. Alexander is just ferocious in this fight showcasing his strength with every strike. Alexander gives fight fans what they come for and that is brutality. He needs improvement in different areas of his fight game, but I expect him to make the necessary adjustments and continue to lead a very successful MMA career.
Forrest Griffin vs. Mauricio Rua
UFC 76: KNOCKOUT September 22, 2007
Griffin connected with an inside leg kick, then Rua attempted a takedown that is defended successfully. Griffin got his back, but Rua rolled and Griffin was in the top position. Rua got back to his feet and both fighters exchanged blows. Rua got a takedown, but Griffin used an effective guard to avoid punishment and got back to his feet. Both fighters traded shots until Griffin took Rua down, eventually getting his back. Rua rolled with Griffin in the top position, following up with punches, eventually letting Rua back up to the feet. Griffin connected with a left hook, and then Rua shot for a takedown taking some punches before succeeding. Griffin sweeped and closed the round in the top position.
In the second round, Griffin used good head movement to connect with some body shots. Rua got a single leg take down then Griffin attempted a guillotine with no success. Rua cut Griffin with an elbow to the head. Griffin managed to get back to his feet, and Rua clinched Griffin to the cage. Griffin inside leg tripped Rua and got his back while connecting with punches. Rua got to his feet and attempted a takedown that is stopped by Griffin. Griffin delivered hammer fists to the side of Rua's head. Rua worked back to the feet and appeared to be fatigued, dropping his hands to his waist. Griffin defended several take down attempts by Rua, and ended up in half guard. Griffin maintained his position and turned it up, landing punches to close the round.
In the third round, Griffin stuck the jab and got taken down by Rua. Griffin attempted a triangle, but Rua avoided the submission attempt. Rua controlled Griffin on the ground then gets caught in an omoplata attempt. Griffin transitioned to the back of Rua. Griffin smothered Rua with knees to the body and hammer fists to the head. Rua tried to escape, but gives up his back to Griffin who continues the onslaught of punishment. Rua rolled and Griffin gets the top position, transitioning to the back of Rua again, and then applied a deep rear naked choke for the tap out! The winner by submission, 4:45 of the third round, Forrest Griffin. Griffin comes into his own in this fight, out hustling Rua to an eventual submission. Griffin stated that he asked Dana White for the fight against Rua. Rua was considered by many fight fans as one of the best Light Heavyweight fighters in MMA. This win has propelled Griffin’s career to securing a coaching opportunity on the “Ultimate Fighter” with Quinton Jackson.
After watching the UFC BEST OF 2007, I’m pleased to say it was worth my time, and it was a good enough event to be on PPV. The unpredictability of the fights is absolutely shocking. Gonzaga defeating Cro Cop, Jackson disposing of Liddell so quickly, and Griffin submitting Rua are classics that will go down in annals of UFC history. UFC is continuing to deliver the best mainstream MMA action in the world, and it is as entertaining then it is intriguing.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
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.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
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.”
Friday, November 23, 2007
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.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
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.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Is The Ultimate Fighter Good For The Sport?
Stroll into just about any Sherdog forum, wait for a white belt to say something stupid, and then watch as the rest of the posters blast him with chants of "TUF NOOB." The logic behind this pedantic insult is that the white belt (a relatively new writer) has only been watching since the UFC went mainstream (The Ultimate Finale 1). Is it such a bad thing to have recently jumped on the bandwagon? After all, no sport can maintain its popularity without some semblance of turnover among its fans. In the eyes of veteran Sherdoggers, The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) reality series has done nothing for the sport except cheapen it and make it accessible to legions of idiots.
I disagree, and I actually think that TUF has done more for the sport than almost anything else. I'd rank it right up there with the PRIDE buyout, showing live events on SpikeTV, and the UFC 40 fight between Tito Ortiz and Ken Shamrock. The cable television finale of the first season did a 1.9 share (HUGE) and brought us what is considered to be one of the most exciting UFC events of all time (Griffin-Bonnar). They picked a great time to put on that kind of show, as the UFC probably picked up more new fans that night than in any previous night in its existence.
The second and third seasons brought us some young guns such as Bisping and Rashad Evans, both of which have managed to make controversial waves during their thus-far short careers. Recently-embarrassed contenders Kendall Grove and Keith Jardine came from these two seasons as well. Okay, so we have big fights, big ratings, and big names...but no champions.
That's until season 4, which was designed to give a number of UFC vets who had never won a title shot the opportunity to fight a champion. Travis Lutter won among the middleweights and was expertly submitted (big surprise) by Anderson Silva. The Welterweight winner, Matt Serra, got a shot at Georges St. Pierre, and he's still champion.
We're yet to see Diaz or Lauzon (TUF 5 guys) make a huge splash, but I wouldn't bet against them. My point is that while The Ultimate Fighter has brought us some less than knowledgeable fans, it's okay because we were all that ignorant at one point or another. Some of the most renowned experts had Sylvia over Couture, so it's tough to ever say that someone doesn't know what they're talking about. Whether or not you agree with that, you can't deny that The Ultimate Fighter has brought us some talented fighters, many exciting fights, and even one of our current champions.
Friday, September 14, 2007
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
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
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.
Sunday, July 8, 2007
UFC 73: Silva, Sherk Retain Titles
UFC 73 Stacked certainly had its ups and downs. Labeled "best card in the history of combat sports," it failed to deliver what most fans anticipated so greatly and failed to fulfill the hype that was built around it.
The event took place Saturday, July 7, 2007 at the ARCO Arena in Sacramento, California and had been regarded as UFC's most "stacked" card to date, no pun intended. The cards featured two title fights, one with UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva and the other with lightweight champion Sean Sherk, both crowned at UFC 64. Last night, they defended their titles against former King of Pancrase Nathan Marquardt and former WEC champion Hermes Franca, respectively. Former PRIDE Heavyweight Champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, also seen by many to be the #2 HW in the world, made his UFC debut against Heath Herring, whom he had already defeated twice before in PRIDE. UFC 73 also featured a light heavyweight showdown between former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Tito Ortiz and The Ultimate Fighter 2 heavyweight winner Rashad Evans.
The card was free of upsets, for the most part and had a good balance of TKO/KO's submission victories, decisions and was even complimented with a draw. Here are my quick thoughts on the bigger fights:
Kenny Florian def. Alvin Robinson via Submission (strikes) at 4:30 of Round 1
Alvin Robinson was the more physically gifted fighter in this one, but it did him no good against the ever so tough Kenny Florian. A lean Florian showed crisp striking in the beginning of the round, after landing some sharp punches and knees. About a minute in the fight, it almost began to look like a judo tournament with the two fighters flipping each other like pancakes. Florian's experience in the Octagon and top notch jiu-jitsu skills was apparent as he effectively controlled Robinson on the ground. After some good exchanges, Florian obtained full mount with relative ease. Upon mount position, it was the beginning of the end for the UFC newcomer Robinson, as Florian pounded away with vicious elbow strikes and punches giving Robinson no option but to tap.
Florian has really impressed me lately and his improvement every time he time he steps into the Octagon is awe inspiring. With his impressive win over Mishima at UFC Fight Night 9 and his incredible five round war with the current UFC lightweight champion Sean Sherk, I only expect to see more great things in the future with Kenny Florian.
All in all, I give this fight 8 out of 10.
Anderson Silva (c) def. Nate Marquardt via TKO (strikes) at 4:50 of Round 1 to retain the MW title
This fight was one of the highlights of the night, next to the Sherk-Franca fight. Anderson Silva made his first official title defense against challenger and Pancrase veteran Nate Marquardt. Early in the match Silva threw what looked to be a kick straight out of a martial arts movie causing him to be taken down by the challenger. The decision wasn’t horrible as Silva was still delivered piercing elbows and punches, punishing the midsection of Marquardt. Marquardt did nothing on the ground and the fighters were brought back to their feet. Silva took advantage of every opening and landed a big straight left hand forcing Marquardt back to the ground. Silva showed a picture perfect sweep gaining him the dominant position where he reigned down crushing blow after blow. Big John McCarthy had seen enough and quickly stopped the fight, saving Marquardt's very life and skull.
This fight just continued to show the Brazilian's dominance in the UFC. Silva's striking of course was, like always, dead on and was able to display his ever-growing jiu-jitsu abilities through his sprawls and sweeps. With the win, Silva is expected to head over to Cincinnati, Ohio and where he will face Rich Franklin, who he took the belt from last October. I don't see Franklin posing a threat to Anderson Silva at all. Silva's ground game is more polished than Franklin and certainly has the edge standing. Silva is a force to be reckoned with and is going to be the middleweight champion for a long, long time.
I give this fight a 9/10!
-Tito Ortiz and Rashad Evans fought to a Draw after 5 Rounds (28-28, 28-28, 28-28)
There's not much to say about this fight, it was the biggest crock of cow dung to date. This match was maxed out by the hype that was poured into it, with the so called "bad blood" between the two and the little pushing incident they had a few events back. To what was hyped up to be a great fight turned out to be quite the contrary. Ortiz quickly began the bout scoring a double-leg takedown on The Ultimate Fighter 2 winner Rashad Evans. Tito did little to Evans as both lay on the canvas. Somewhere in the second round Ortiz held on to the cage preventing a takedown by Evans, costing him a point and in the end costing him the fight. After a tiresome three rounds, the fighter’s fates were left in the hands of the judges, whom unanimously deemed this fight a draw, all scoring it 28-28.
I'm not a big Tito fan, but I really wanted Tito to win this one. For one, Evans' little seizures standing up didn't help his cause. I am of course referring to the annoying hand waving, I guess distraction, Evans kept doing while they were standing. God that pissed me off. As a whole, the fight was frustrating to watch, neither did much to finish the fight and if Tito hadn't gotten that point deducted he would have had this one in his pocket. Oh well, can't win 'em all I suppose, literally. Tito in the post fight talk with Rogan said, "You know, they always say if you ain't cheating, you're not trying." That’s classic.
This fight makes it painfully obvious that Ortiz would have zero chance against current UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton Jackson, who Ortiz is rumored to later face off with. Either way, Tito never fails to make me laugh with his pre and post fight antics and the corny little shirts he wears to the fights.
I give this fight a 4/10!
-Sean Sherk (c) def. Hermes Franca via Unanimous Decision (50-45, 50-45, 49-46)
Sherk and Franca certainly took the UFC 73 spotlight hands down. It was like watching a bully rob a helpless poor child for his lunch money.
Sean Sherk took no part in Franca's "unorthodox" striking in which he promptly overshadowed and neutralized with his lightning quick hands and unstoppable takedowns. Like many fights, cardio was the golden ticket in this fight.
The round began with an eager Sherk going for the takedown and nearly getting caught in a guillotine choke. Sherk muscled his way out of the choke and the punishment began as the now visibly angered Sherk had his way with the Brazilian challenger. Sherk dictated round after round as he took down and mounted Franca at will. The only silver lining Franca had were the four flush knees Sherk kept eating over and over, one of which nearly knocked out the champ. However, after the first two knees Sherk seemed almost immune to the knee strikes and continued his domination over Franca. The fight became like a broken record, as every round mimicked the previous one. The general breakdown of all five rounds were: Sherk eats a knee from Franca, Franca attempts a guillotine choke, Sherk muscles out, takes him down and proceeds to ground and pound a powerless Franca. It was unfortunate that Sherk wasn't able to finish Franca but, it was undoubtedly a lopsided fight in favor of Sherk and it came as no surprise as Bruce Buffer announced the judges' unanimous decision for UFC lightweight champion Sean Sherk.
Sean Sherk's UFC All Access gave fans a glimpse of Sherk's dedication and hard work. Throughout the fight I was just in complete awe at the power and explosiveness of Sherk. I’m convinced that there is no possible way of putting another pound of muscle on a 155-pounder. Sherk’s overwhelming power was evident as he threw Franca around like a rag doll, at one point leg pressing Franca about three feet into the air, and able to impose any position he pleased. The golden ticket in this fight was not only the power difference but as I mentioned earlier, the cardio factor. Franca, though looked in top condition, couldn’t handle Sherk’s constant pressure and gassed quickly through the first two rounds while Sherk looked like he just stepped in the ring at the start of every round.
Sean Sherk seems to be one of the most dominant lightweights to ever hit the scene and aside from B.J. Penn I don't see a single lightweight in the UFC that poses any threat to him. It would definitely be interesting to see “The Prodigy” duke it out with the “Muscle Shark,” but that's for another time and another article! I give the Sherk-Franca fight an 8.5/10!
-Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira def. Heath Herring via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
One word summary, WOW. Nogueira, made his UFC debut facing Heath Herring, whom he already holds 2 wins over in PRIDE. A polished striker and top submission artist, Nogueira was dominant through the opening of the fight as he jabbed through Herring's defense and scored multiple takedowns. All was well until Herring decided to pull a Gonzaga and threw a head kick that sent Nogueira to the mat. At this point, I went into cardiac arrest, I thought it was over. As a matter of fact, if it was any other fight it would have been over but, referee Yves Lavine did us all a favor and allowed the fight to continue. Herring however did not take advantage of the situation and backed off allowing Nogueira to fully recover. After Nogueira finally realized he was at a UFC fight and not a Brazilian rave (as Bravo so elegantly put it), he persisted with his jabs at a visibly exhausted Herring. Outside of the heart rattling kick, the fight was one sided for Nogueira as he fought his way to a unanimous decision victory.
My God, I'm pretty sure my heart skipped two beats when Nogueira was knocked down. In Herring's defense, it was a bit unfair that the referee did not call the fight after the kick. If it were any other fight, I'm almost certain it would have been ruled a knockout. Yet, Herring is the only one to blame for not taking advantage of the situation and making the best of it. Herring lacks the killer instinct, the smell of blood that Wanderlei Silva and Fedor Emelianenko display in their fights. Nogueira must have had his bowl of Lucky Charms that morning and truly once again showed his undying heart. I'm eager to see more of Nogueira in the Octagon soon.
I give this fight a 7/10, deducting points because of the heart attack and emotional distress it brought me.
So, UFC 73 can't be called the best UFC card ever, but it was surely above average. As far as my predictions go, they weren't too off with the exception of the Sherk-Franca fight, God was I wrong about that one. Sorry?
That's all folks...L-Train OUT.
The Lianger
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Is Parisyan Patient Enough?
UFC 71’s main event caused a bit of an uproar in the eyes of Liddell fans. Honestly, I don’t think it’s anything to gripe about, it was simply history repeating itself, and it’s time for a new champion to reign supreme in the light-heavyweight division.
Though the main event may have stirred the emotions of fans, Parisyan (17-4-0) and Burkman (8-4-0) seemed to steal the show with fifteen minutes of action packed, judo throwing, hard fought rounds. It was an explosive three rounds from beginning to end, to say the least. Parisyan displayed much polished striking ability and a drastic improvement in his cardio. The same cannot be said about Burkman. Burkman’s lack of conditioning was evident to fans watching as he began to take deep breaths during the last minutes of the first round. Though Karo’s jabs and counters further solidified his unanimous win over Burkman, his conditioning sealed the deal.
In an interview, Karo states: "He's a strong guy, but his cardio was shit. Thank god it wasn't that good. I out-conditioned him."
On top of adding a notch on his belt, Parisyan announced his desire for a title shot. Refusing to beg on his knees like Franca and St. Pierre, Parisyan still asked Dana White to give him another chance, as his first was to take place at UFC 56, but was forced to pull out due to an injury.
However, even with Parisyan’s cry for a title shot, it appears that it’s going to be put off till 2008. With TUF6 debuting in September, all eyes are on Hughes and Serra’s match up, which is looking to happen at the TUF6 Finale in December. Parisyan in the meantime, may have to duke it out with Jon Fitch (13-2-0) before he gets a chance to attain the belt. The possibility of the winner of Serra-Hughes taking on the winner of the St. Pierre- Koscheck, scheduled on August at UFC 74, can also pose as a setback for Parisyan’s title shot.
Fitch is set to fight on June 12 in UFC Fight Night 10 against Roan Carneiro.
Whatever ends up happening down the road, Parisyan never fails to put on a good show for fans.
Stay classy fans,
The Lianger
Monday, April 23, 2007
Serra's been a "terra" long before recent TKO
Monday, April 16, 2007
Upcoming UFC cards
Unlike my announcement to hold the Wanderlei Silva-Chuck Liddell fight at UFC 78, the following fights on the following cards are either confirmed or heavily rumored from company sources.
UFC 70
Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic vs. Gabriel Gonzaga
Ryoto Machida vs. David Heath
Michael Bisping vs. Elvis Sinosic
Andrei Arlovski vs. Fabricio Werdum
Assuerio Silva vs. Cheick Kongo
UFC 71
Chuck Liddell vs. Quinton Jackson (Light Heavyweight title)
Karo Parisyan vs. Josh Burkman
Sean Salmon vs. Eric Schafer
Chris Leben vs. Kalib Starnes
Ivan Salaverry vs. Terry Martin
UFC 72
Rich Franklin vs. Martin Kampmann
Forrest Griffin vs. TBA
Jorge Gurgel vs. TBA
Tyson Griffin vs. Clay Guida
UFC 73
Anderson Silva vs. Nate Marquardt (Middleweight title)
Tito Ortiz vs. Rashad Evans
Jorge Gurgel vs. Jamie Varner
UFC 74
Randy Couture vs. Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic/Gabriel Gonzaga (Heavyweight title)
Sean Sherk vs. Hermes Franca (Lightweight title)
UFC 75
Matt Serra vs. Matt Hughes (Welterweight title)
UFC 76
Anderson Silva vs. Rich Franklin (Middleweight title)
Some notes on these UFC cards: First, it's obvious that UFC 72 is going to be a piece of crap. They should just move it to SpikeTV at this point. It was supposed to feature the Ortiz-Evans fight, but that got bumped to UFC 73. Second, I found it interesting how far the Serra title fight has been pushed. I suppose that this is a testament to the level of talent in the UFC, but it also means that Georges St. Pierre may have to wait until 2008 for his rematch. Finally, I hope that some classic talent is added to these later cards in the form of Arlovski, Sylvia, etc. The new guys are fun, but being able to examine a fighters long history is just as enjoyable.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Ask and you shall receive...
Moments after I finished my last post, which included a question of which fighter (Hughes or Serra) would get a shot at the Welterweight title, I stumbled upon this little tidbit, which tells us that it will be Hughes to get the first shot. I suppose that the decision follows the logic of Hughes being in line for his title rematch even before St. Pierre lost the belt. Therefore, they both deserve shots at the title, but Hughes would come first. Another possibility is that since Dana White (a good friend of Hughes) was booking the match, he disregarded rematch order and put Hughes first simply because it will make for a better match up. The games of Hughes and Serra, respectively, match closer than either with St. Pierre, who is a more fluid and multi-disciplined fighter. The Hughes-Serra fight, most likely scheduled to take place at UFC 74, would probably sport a better chance of Serra retaining his title, as Hughes is seen as aging and most internet columnists expect St. Pierre to utterly destroy Serra in the rematch.
If Hughes is able to win back his title, the UFC would then be able to kill two birds with one stone, giving St. Pierre his rematch (albeit against a stronger competitor than Serra) and providing the fans with the much-anticipated Hughes-St Pierre III. Recent UFC rubber matches have included blockbusters such as Sylvia-Arlovski and Liddell-Couture. Hughes-St. Pierre would be no less spectacular. If Serra wins, then St. Pierre will be afforded the opportunity to avenge his only career knockout loss. (He avenged his only career submission loss with a knockout of Matt Hughes at UFC 65). No matter how this love triangle plays out, it should provide the UFC with enough fodder for two or three PPVs (UFC 74 & UFC 77/78), essentially giving White and Co. until 2008 to bring some new talent into the division. While the Serra victory may have not been the easiest thing for matchmakers and website writers to decipher, it will end up piquing the most interest and providing the best fights for the fans.
Monday, April 9, 2007
UFC 69 analysis & UFC 70 preview
After hours and hours of searching online, I finally found free footage of the St. Pierre vs. Serra fight from the other night. Note Serra's strong stand-up, despite being a predominantly ground fighter. Also worth looking at is the stiffness of St. Pierre. In his last fight against Hughes, St. Pierre seemed much more fluid and loose, landing a variety of spinning kicks and highly technical moves. Against Serra (the 8 to 1 underdog), the champ looked like someone knocked his game from three dimensions to two.
Another noteworthy moment in this fight comes at around 4:11 where former champ Matt Hughes is shown looking on and saying the words "I love this." Will he get the title shot before GSP does?
Finally, on April 21st, 2007, UFC 70: Nations Collide will be held live on SpikeTV (free!). This shouldn't be a bad card, especially with Michael Bisping fighting in his native Manchester, Andrei Arlovski hot on the title trail, and Cro Cop lining himself up for a shot at Randy Couture. Just months ago, everyone was talking Cro Cop vs. Sylvia. My, how the tides can change. The only real disappointment on the card is the lack of a title fight, but there should be enough star power on hand to make it well worth the non-existent price tag.
