UFC 135 Breakdowns and Predictions

Jones vs. Rampage:

Jon Jones is a tricky striker, and a difficult one to prepare for. He throws from obscure angles and has serious reach that he employs to it's full potential. In addition, Jones is a wrestler who has takedown power, and has great elbows mixed in nicely with his ground and pound. Rampage is a standup fighter, who also has a wrestling background. He isn't easily taken down with his strong base and low center of gravity. Jones has some wild jumping strikes, and spinning elbows that all have a possibility of throwing the champion off balance. This will only be a factor if Rampage can successfully evade Jones' strikes enough to capitalize on taking down a one footed or off-balance Jones. If Rampage can get the fight to the ground, work on and control Jones from the top, he will be able to wear the champion down. His ground and pound isn't as fierce as the champion's, but Rampage is very strong and not easily manipulated, and if he can slowly break Jones' will, Rampage will be able to extend the fight enough to hurt Jones in the later rounds.

Many people are counting a four or five round fight out, and think that Jones will end it quick, and while Jones is very capable of doing so, Rampage is just as adept to extending the fight. Rampage is difficult to finish, and as he has matured the Pride champion has been stopped less and less. I think the fact that it took three rounds (three rounds of domination nonetheless) for Bones to stop Shogun shows that Rampage should be able to extend the fight to its full five round length. Rampage can avoid more punishment than the brawling striker Shogun, and also has the toughness to take more damage. The Wolfslair veteran has fought very long fights in his career (both in Pride and the UFC) that have helped him develop mental conditioning and toughness. Rampage is not going to be as easy to stop as Jones thinks, and unless the veteran is careless in taking punishment; he should be able to outlast the champion. The later the fight goes, the better chance the challenger has.

Another possible factor will be how well Jones uses the Muay Thai clinch. If Bones can land knees from the clinch, without taking inside hits from Page he will be have his best prospect of a knockout victory (refer to the two Wanderlei Silva knee-induced knockouts from Pride). What Jones needs to be careful with in the clinch is the close range, and inside power punches from Rampage.

Rampage will succeed in taking the 24 year-old into the deep waters of the later rounds using his takedowns, and counter striking. The weathered challenger will not only bring the fight to unfamiliar grounds for the young title holder, but will test him like he has never been before both physically and mentally. Rampage will lose the first few rounds to the striking points of Jones, but will weather a storm to make his moves in the third, fourth and fifth round to win the decision.

My pick: Rampage via split decision 48-47 Rampage, 48-47 Rampage, 49-46 Jones

Hughes vs. Koscheck:

In Matt Hughes’ last fight, it seemed as though the veteran’s stand up game had gone with his age, and that his career was coming to an end. Given that Hughes is such a competitor, and still one of the best wrestlers in the sport he will be able to handle the offense of Koscheck, and in fact will dominate the ground game. Hughes will push Koscheck against the cage, and find the takedown after wearing on the young wrestler. He has better ground attacks, and takedowns than the AKA welterweight. The former champion is great at putting a hurting on fighters once he gets them down, and he will work to soften up Koscheck in this fashion. Matt Hughes will be the better wrestler and once he has worked on Koscheck after putting him on his back, the hall of famer will have a Tito-like surprise stoppage resurgence victory.

My pick: Hughes via submission round 2

Browne vs. Broughton:

Travis Brown has been on a tear in his last few fights, and with his Knockout of the Night over Stephan Struve, his striking speed was put on display for all to see. Browne is smaller than “The Bear”, but with the smaller figure comes better agility, and quicker movements. Browne will be able to fend off the size, and takedowns of Rob Broughton. He will be able to overwhelm Broughton with strikes and win the decision.

My pick: Browne via unanimous decision

Diaz vs. Gomi:

In Takanori Gomi’s last fight, the wrestler, Clay Guida, was able to take him down, and neutralize Gomi's attack. Nate Diaz will have no intentions of getting the fight to the mat, but if it should get there, his submissions will keep him at an advantage. Diaz’s striking is superior to Gomi’s and he has the reach advantage over the Japanese superstar. Diaz will win the stand up battle, for the first half of the first round when he will catch Gomi, sending him down to be finished by Diaz.

My pick: Diaz via TKO round 1

Rothwell vs. Hunt:

Mark Hunt still has dangerous hands that can do real damage. The Samoan veteran is coming off a TKO victory over Chris Tuscherer. He has an overhand right that will knock fighters out instantly. With that said, Rothwell along with anyone who has seen Hunt fight before knows he has no chance at winning on the ground. He hopes to win by knockout every time, and Rothwell will smartly take down the Super Samoan. Rothwell will put Hunt into positions where he can maintain full control for the whole fight.

My pick: Rothwell via unanimous decision.

Ferguson vs. Riley:

Tony Ferguson has some advanced striking for such a young fighter. He will be able to hold his own on his feet, and won’t be taken down easily. He will do significant damage to Riley with strikes, but won’t be able to finish the UFC veteran. The Ultimate Fighter winner will also use his takedowns to set up more strikes from the top. Ferguson will bang it out against Riley and come out winning the fight.

My pick: Ferguson via unanimous decision.

Boetsch vs Ring:

Both Ring, and Boetsch have great wrestling, and are strong fighters. Tim Boetsch will have a size advantage in this fight that will make the Ultimate Fighter winner want to keep the fight standing. The wrestling of both these fighters will cancel each other out and keep it a striking battle. Nick Ring has some good striking, and although he isn’t a power puncher, he will be able to pick apart the new 185er. He will come close or possibly win knockout of the night with a stoppage in the last round.

My pick: Ring via KO round 3.

UFC 135 Breakdown: Jones vs. Rampage

Ever since claiming his title as the youngest UFC champion ever, Jon Jones has been thrust into stardom.  He has put a hurting on everyone on his way to the top, and he is now preparing to make his first title defense. Popular and thriving young gun can be both doubted to deserve respect, and can also be awarded undeserved esteem. Jones has gotten a lot of both.

Jon Jones has been unwavering in victory, and possibly more so than any other champion in the UFC right now. In his last six fights, "Bones" has six clear-cut finishes. Even in his “loss” Matt Hamill whom he gave a concussion to, but was somehow disqualified for the angle of his elbows. The kid is producing knockouts like it was his job (it is). What is even more unbelievable about Jones is that he has never been hurt. There is a lot that can be learned about a fighter and a man in seeing how they are able to recover from being hit. Frankie Edgar is a perfect example of proving such heart. In his UFC 125 war with Gray Maynard, he was battered and rocked but he dug deep and found something that he had no idea was there. He was on the precipice of losing his belt, as he rolled over bloodied up and hanging on for dear life, desperately battling against a chilling knockout defeat. Recovering so dramatically the way the lightweight champion did, showed Frankie Edgar’s mighty heart and determination.

A fighter's ability to recover after being rocked is a touchstone of greatness. Jones may have this X-factor or he could lack it altogether, but no one knows, and this fight may very well present the critical test.

Rampage is going into this fight with a mission to reclaim his belt. Although a lot of the back and forth to promote this fight seems artificial, Rampage's utter lack of respect for Jones is very real. Rampage wants to show the young prodigy that his accomplished boxing style isn't gone. The former Pride/UFC Champion presents an interesting fight for “Bones”. What does Rampage have that could win him the title back? A granite chin.

Jones has been able to rock, and thrash his opponents with quick combinations of obscurely angled blows and all of them have been out of the fight fairly quickly. If Rampage can use his toughness to weather a little bombardment, and then accurately counter, he will be able to expose the 24 year-old champion. Seeing if Rampage has what it takes to execute, and hurt Jones, while surviving the most dangerous offense in today’s MMA is going to make for an amusing title bout.

Measuring the importance of ground & pound in the current UFC fighting landscape

MMA has changed and promoters of the sport persist that they can make the industry into one of the world’s most popular sports. Ground and pound is something that gave fighter’s considerable attention when it was especially common in the early days of MMA and, as the sport advances, usage of GNP must also evolve for the good of the sport in order to maintain its relevancy. It isn’t that ground and pound usage doesn’t exist anymore in the sport but rather the strategy behind using it has been tweaked. There is interesting psychology behind this transformation that can shed light on the reason for change.

In no way has ground and pound left mixed martial arts, as there are still a number of fighters who apply it to their game fluently. Many great fighters in the UFC are continuing to utilize this tool to beat down opponents. Chad Mendes has the great ability to slip punches into quick takedowns, then follow it with a strong ground attack. UFC bantamweight Scott Jorgensen showed a great example of effective ground and pound when he overpowered the active guard of Ken Stone by landing a quick storm of punches. UFC veteran Alan Belcher, coming off a long layoff was able to win his bout over Jason McDonald with the help of ground and pound. Most famously, Jon Jones is known for crushing fighters who end up on their back. From the famous broken nose of Brandon Vera, to the 10 consecutive elbows in a matter of four seconds against Matyushenko, to the ground elbow onslaught poured onto Shogun Rua all have proved the light heavyweight champion to be a dangerous fighter. When watching these fighters exercise this tactic so effectively, it still appears that ground and pound is as strong as it ever was, yet there are still some fighters who are able to win without it.

The beatings handed to downed opponents in the early days of mixed martial arts had a similar feel to today’s GNP’ers. UFC Hall of Famers Mark Coleman and Randy Couture were great practitioners of delivering such beatings. Once having put their opponent on the mat, they had one goal that was made clear to anyone watching them work. The goal: finish the fight. The barrage of wild alternating hooks and the constant striking onslaught even gassed the old ground and pound kings. The traditional offensive ground game that put ground and pound on the map isn’t put to use by some of today’s fighters, and although ground and pound still works for many, those that don’t prioritize it are losing popularity.

Stronger and more athletic than ever, today’s fighters continue to shape themselves into well rounded, and complete mixed martial artists. Exciting strikers continue to create knockout legacies and the level of jiu-jitsu continues to progress, creating a stronger ground game. The ground and pound was at one point the most feared quality in a fighter and brought wrestlers such as Tito Ortiz, Matt Hughes, and Mark Coleman to the top of the sport. These knockout artists worked at taking their opponents down so they were able to neutralize them in the most primitive way possible, beating them into submission. These fighters gained their immense popularity with the success of this tool that they utilized so well. 

One of the most accomplished fighters of all time, who is battling to retain his status as a premier athlete, is the UFC welterweight champion. Georges St. Pierre has an uncanny ability to develop and execute a game plan to beat any fighter he faces, but just like any other champion, St. Pierre takes a lot of criticism.

GSP has beaten eight of his last nine opponents yet only finished two of those fights. His killer instinct isn’t the problem but rather his obsession with winning. St. Pierre wants to win more than anything, but sometimes this means he isn’t all that interested in engaging in canvas warfare. This hunger to win has brought GSP to amazing heights but is now starting to hinder his killer instinct. St. Pierre is a strong wrestler and a takedown specialist. He has the ability to put fighters on their back, find submissions, and win decision victories from that position. However, wouldn’t he be more dominating if he mastered striking on the ground and was willing to display any sort of risk-taking to finish opponents like Dan Hardy? Georges will, from time to time, hit his grounded opponents but often it is when he is being told to “keep working” by the ref or if he can’t find submissions or to steal a round and win the decision. The larger point is that St. Pierre doesn’t use his devastating offensive tools to his full potential and it has resulted in not demonstrating the ability he has to smash his opponents in a much more violent fashion than he should be doing.

This is where ground and pound is now used differently than it ever has been in the sport.

It is now used as an emergency tactic for some guys and therefore isn’t being prioritized as an offensive weapon. I believe that ground and pound is something that fighters will either include in their strategy or eventually become irrelevant. Veterans such as Matt Hughes, and Tito Ortiz are struggling to stay alive in the sport today and much of it due to their transparent style. These guys are great at wrestling, and have been for years, but they are losing the third dimension in their game. Both guys have won a number of fights in their career by ground and pounding their way to victory, but they are losing their hunger and now are trying to simply get by, and survive fights, which is a detrimental approach. In addition to this, age induces a taming of that hunger that a fighter possesses when they are young. When Tito was emerging, he had explosive rage when he fought, and this naturally evoked his ground and pound, yet in the light heavyweight’s recent loss to Rashad Evans, it was “Suga” who proved that he is still thriving as a fighter. Evans was animalistic in ground and pounding Ortiz into the cage, and was strong with his stand up and takedowns too. Doesn’t an athletic fighter like Evans with such devastating ground and pound exhibit the need for such a method in today’s mixed martial arts?

The obsession with winning in sports is a positive thing. It forces athletes to work hard, and compete at their best to become victorious. It can also push fighters past their limits to become the best, but in MMA it can have the opposite effect. Some guys want to get a win on their record so badly that they will use the tactic of smothering opponents without actually doing damage, or attempting to finish them.  Using wrestling as a controlling factor in a fight rather than a set up for ground punishment has become prevalent with today’s wrestlers.

Jon Fitch and Anthony Johnson are two of today’s wrestlers who have been criticized for not finishing fights. Johnson, who is an enormous welterweight and cuts from above 200 pounds down to 170 is able to use his size advantage to weigh on top of fighters, and tire them out. When he faced Dan Hardy, there wasn’t a moment where Johnson looked eager to finish the fight. He was fully in position to finish with ground and pound, as he was on top of “The Outlaw” for the majority of the fight… but didn’t pull the trigger. Jon Fitch is similar to St. Pierre in that he doesn’t bother with ground and pound unless he has exhausted all other options. He is comfortable striking on the feet, but when on the ground he doesn’t show a need for ground and pound, and is happy with an abundance of decision wins rather than a few impressive knockout wins.

Jon Jones, Carlos Condit, Cain Velasquez and Rashad Evans are some of today’s fighters who recognize the importance of ground and pound and it is no coincidence that they are all fighting for world titles. With the way Carlos Condit has skyrocketed through the welterweight division, his finishing style should serve as an example. The way he finished the young and extremely talented Rory MacDonald with a third round of ground and pound is a perfect example of why he is so popular and now receiving his title shot. Even if Condit loses his UFC 137 bout, who can honestly predict this to be another boring title defense by GSP?

Ground and pound has always been an exiting way to end a fight, but it has been redefined in such a way that fighters who don’t use it simply don’t have a chance at being as great as those who do.

Bailey on the Bayou: TUF wrestler looks to earn a spot

Photo via Sherdog.com

On Season 13 of the hit series, The Ultimate Fighter, the 16 talented fighters that gave viewers premium drama had also put on some good fights. Amongst all of the athletes in the house, some were clearly superior to others. There were scrappy fighters like Chuck O'Neill and Chris Cope who displayed some impressive ground skills and were surprising in victory, Len Bentley who proved to be tougher than given credit for, and Ramsey Ninjem who was secretly a mixed martial artist. Although it was striking that prevailed for heavy-handed Tony Ferguson who won six-figure contract, I spotted a cliffhanger when the season came to an end. The explosive wrestling talent of Shamar Bailey, who had lost a decision, and was out of contention for the rest of the show, had seriously impressed me.

From the first episode of tryouts when Bailey's quickness and athleticism stood out above the rest, there was promising potential in the Delaware native that he wasn't able to attain on the show. His back problems limited him during competition, and I can say from experience that with back pain, limited is an understatement. After winning on the finale against Ryan McGillivray via Unanimous Decision, Bailey has begun working to cement his spot in the UFC. 

The former 170-pounder is dropping the fifteen pounds, as he will face UFC veteran Evan Dunham in a lightweight showdown in the Battle on the Bayou. Despite the all too familiar wrestler smothering opponents to squeak out a win, as ground talent tends to avoid the stand up game, Bailey is way more three-dimensional than that. The first picked for Team Dos Santos had no problem exchanging blows on the show; he just never saw knockout success as his hands lacked the necessary power.

When looking through The Ultimate Fighter alumni, there are a number of fighters who dropped divisions following the show. Some had competed on the reality television show at a foreign weight wanting to seize the opportunity, and others used the show as an indicator they should move out of a weight class. Either way many TUF veterans moved up or down in weight. Kenny Florian, Josh Koscheck, Michael Bisping, Rashad Evans are only a few of the familiar names that, with the help of the show, and a new weight class, paved their way to becoming top level fighters. All of the mentioned fighters are extremely familiar with title shots in their past, present, or near future, which profoundly credits the decision to move down a weight class in this situation. Whether Bailey knew his TUF history or not, by going to lightweight, he is following the path of championship UFC fighters.

Upon leaving the reality show, and returning home, Bailey has since been training hard for his chance at a spot on the UFC roster.  

This powerful, athletic, and now lighter wrestler is out to prove everyone wrong. Bailey has been doubted and believed to be undeserving of such a highly respected opponent in Evan Dunham who has faced the likes of Diego Sanchez, Sean Sherk, and Efrain Escudero. Dunham has learned the hard way from his bout with Melvin Guillard, that speed is incredibly important. Now with a hungrier and improved mindset, Evan Dunham wants nothing more than to avenge that loss. 

Bailey is no less prepared.

With a chip on his shoulder, Bailey has more than enough fuel in his tank of motivation. He now comes into this fight with one mission: to finish the fight. Come Ultimate Fight Night 25; be looking for a young and revitalized Bailey to stop Evan Dunham anyway he can. Shamar Bailey has little to lose, and everything to gain.

What is next for the winners and losers of Strikeforce: Cincinnati

Maximo Blanco vs. K.J. Noons:

Pat Healy submitted Blanco by a modified rear naked choke in the second round of their September 10^th fight. For the majority of this match, it was the smaller Blanco who was controlling the fight and winning with his quicker and more proficient stand up game. Blanco was impressive in defeat, as was K.J. Noons in his recent loss to Jorge Masvidal. Seeing these two scrappy lightweights face off will make for an interesting matchup, and makes sense for both of the athletes.

Joe Duarte vs. Pat Healy:

After recently defeating Jorge Gurgel, Duarte put himself on the map and now is in position to face another winning lightweight. Although “Bam Bam” struggled early in his last fight, he found the submission as he overpowered the smaller Blanco on the ground.

King Mo vs. Rafael Cavalcante:

King Mo has been clamoring for a rematch with “Feijao” even before earning an impressive knockout in Cincinnati. Since their earlier title fight, these light heavyweights have both won by impressive knockouts. King Mo was dethroned by Cavalcante and would like nothing more now than to get his revenge, and eventually his belt back.

Roger Gracie vs. Forrest Griffin:

Roger Gracie will be able to use his Gracie name and get into the UFC. Facing Forrest will give Gracie the chance to show off his superior jiu-jitsu should he be able to submit the grappling veteran. Gracie who will most surely look to put the fight on the mat will also test Griffin’s takedown defense. The two light heavyweights are both coming off losses, and Gracie’s chin has proven to be a problem. A fight with Forrest will test the Brazilian’s ability to stand with other fighters, and because Griffin is not as quick as King Mo, who knocked out Gracie rather easily, Roger will have a great opportunity to win in the UFC.

Luke Rockhold vs. Tim Kennedy:

If Strikeforce awarded fight of the night bonuses, Rockhold and Souza would have received this honor for their five round battle on September 10th. Rockhold’s superior kickboxing earned him the title over Jacare who ate punch after kick the entire bout. Seeing if Kennedy can neutralize Rockhold’s ongoing precision attack with his top level wrestling will be an interesting first title defense for the AKA champion.

Jacare Souza vs. Damien Maia:

After losing his title to Rockhold, Souza will have some time before he gets a rematch for the Strikeforce Middleweight title, and for now Strikeforce has very little interesting to offer him (a familiar problem). A former UFC number one contender fighting the former Strikeforce Champion would make for an interesting skirmish. This is a fight that may very well remain standing given that both fighters possess elite jiu-jitsu skills that could cancel each other out. The improved striking of Maia that he showcased in his last fight against Mark Munoz will test the granite chin that Jacare utilized in his fight with Luke Rockhold.

Antonio Silva vs. Shane Carwin:

Bringing “Big Foot” over to the UFC will be a great draw for Zuffa. A heavyweight co-main even matchup between the pair of fighters with the biggest hands in all of sports could be a very popular showdown. These two colossal men each possess powerful hands and are physically the biggest adversaries that Zuffa has to offer. Seeing these giants face off will not only make UFC’s octagon look diminutive, but also will almost guarantee a knockout finish.

Strikeforce: Barnett vs Kharitonov Main Card Predictions

Barnett vs Khartitonov:
Barnett will put Sergei down with strikes and finish with a submission on the mat.
Barnett via Submission round 1

Cormier vs Big Foot
Cormier will stand with Big Foot, and successfully strike until being taken down by Silva.
Silva will be able to to control Cormier on the ground and earn the TKO.
Silva via TKO round 2. --SWITCHED MY PIC ON TWITTER..SEE PIC

Jacare vs Rockhold
Jacare Souza will come out strong, but overexcited and will get caught when Rockhold will counter nicely and send Jacare down.
Rockhold by second round knockout

Roger Gracie vs King Mo
Mo will come out and attempt a takedown. If he is lazy he can be submitted by Gracie, but I believe Roger will finish the fight on the feet.
Gracie by TKO round 2

Pat Healy vs. Maximo Blanco
Blanco will get Healy to the ground, and control him for the majority of the fight with wrestling and ground and pound. Healy will come out and stay on his feet strong in the third, but lose the split decision.
Blanco by Split Decision

Will we see a Second Act from Fedor?

By Julien Solomita (StreetMade.com | @streetmadeteam)

“That which does not kill me makes me stronger” – Nietzsche

People that have been the best, at whatever it may be that they do in life, have gained knowledge that others would die for. These champions know what it takes to earn a title, and to rein supreme in competition. They have seen the necessary sacrifices it takes to make them so successful, and the powers of hard work and determination at its finest.

What a lot of people forget when a champion loses or a king is dethroned is that this person is capable of once again becoming a champion.

Fedor Emelianenko has had one of the most decorated, and accomplished careers in the history of mixed martial arts. Throughout his professional fighting career, he has blasted his way through many opponents, even when he was outmatched. Fedor became the Pride Heavyweight champion at PRIDE 25 where he defeated the thought-to-be-invincible Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. Nogueira had been dominating the division with his dangerous ground skills, and his powerful hands. Fedor came in and won the stand up game, while surviving Big Nog’s guard as well, earning him the unanimous decision that would crown him champion. He never gave up that title.

Fedor’s 2004 submission victory over UFC veteran Mark Coleman displayed the true versatility to his game that many people didn’t know existed. Brutally knocking out Andrei Arlovski was one of the most influential victories for Fedor’s career, as Arlovski was the former reigning UFC heavyweight champ, and Fedor planted him to the ground with an overhand right while he was backed up against the ropes.

Recently, Fedor Emelianenko’s career has sustained a rough patch. He is still fighting and is the same person, just with three more losses on his record, but in reality this means very little. As Dan Hardy recently stated, “records are for DJs.” 

His submission loss to Fabricio Werdum was the result of a careless and expedited approach when after knocking the Brazilian down; Fedor curiously pounced and was captured in a deep triangle choke. 

In his next fight, Emelianenko was (again) significantly outmatched in the size department when he fought Antonio “Big Foot” Silva. Any good fighter can get caught in disadvantageous positions, and will know how to escape them. But for Fedor, escaping the mount of the freakishly colossal Silva was just too much to overcome, and the doctor stoppage occurred when the heavy ground and pound swelled up the Russian’s eye, earning him his second straight loss.

Any sports fan knows the detrimental effects that a losing streak can trigger in an athlete’s demeanor. It can take a competitor out of his element, both mentally and physically. It can also impede an athlete’s competitive mindset as removing this vice that the losing streak holds subconsciously becomes the athlete’s new endeavor. The fight world witnessed Fedor Emelianenko become afflicted by this in his July 30th fight with Dan Henderson, in what was his last contracted Strikeforce bout. Fedor never shows even a hint of emotion, (refer to: the horrifyingly blank Russian stare down) and it wasn’t until the fight was under way that Fedor’s irritability manifested. Fedor thought he had dropped Henderson, but quickly realized it was a loss of balance and coordination that actually sent Henderson down into a semi-pulled guard. When Fedor pounced on top of the American, he was not as careful as he needed to be as he was promptly reversed, then put asleep by Henderson’s right hand.

This third straight loss was very frustrating for Fedor and all of his supporters. 

Many people, including Strikeforce’s blatantly inappropriate “Fan Poll” that night, for whatever reason assumed that the 35-year-old warrior would retire following his fight against Dan Henderson. A fighter who has won as much and lost as rarely as Fedor Emelianenko definitely has what it takes to move forward and reach even higher than ever before in his career.

Upon hearing the news of a Monson vs. Fedor M-1 fight set for November, I wasn’t quite sure how to react. I was unimpressed with Monson’s last performance and assumed Fedor deserved better. However, on second thought, I realized that Monson is one of very few fighters that has had a decorated and accomplished career and is still a relatively big name in the sport. 

While Monson may not be currently considered a top 10 Heavyweight, he was previously on an 8-fight win streak, submitting five out of eight opponents. The streak was snapped when he lost a decision to Daniel Cormier at Strikeforce’s heavyweight grand prix. Monson’s versatility and strength on the ground is second to none, and his pair of gold medals from Abu Dhabi’s ADCC grappling championship can vouch for it. He has some of the most experience with submission grappling of any active mixed martial arts fighter, and is an extremely taxing opponent to finish. Daniel Cormier’s heavy hands battered and punished Monson for three full rounds, at the end of which Monson was still standing. An efficient training camp that focuses on Monson’s stand up will be crucial for him to successfully stand and trade with Fedor. With a win over “The Last Emperor”, Jeff Monson would see a possible spot in the top ten rankings. Sure, Monson absorbed the onslaught by Cormier, but he must prepare for an even more overwhelming, and viciously relentless offense from the Russian. If Jeff Monson will be able to trade successfully enough to get Fedor to the ground or in his guard, he will have found his best prospect for victory. Fedor’s relentless striking attack, and his stealth jiu-jitsu match up enticingly with Monson’s ground skills and toughness. There are few heavyweights in the world that are permitted by contract and willing to take a fight with Fedor at this point. I believe Fedor is still dangerous as he is learning how to pinpoint and fix the mistakes responsible for his recent defeats. Fully grasping what led to his minor collapse could tremendously improve Fedor’s game.

One last point that will be critical in the outcome of this bout is the homecoming for Fedor. This fight takes place in Russia. He will have the clear home field advantage. He has been roughed up in his last three fights, all of which took place in the United States. Could Fedor be hungrier than ever to snap this losing streak and do so in front of his Russian faithful? This could be either an amplified edition of Fedor fighting for his country, or a hindering added pressure.

Should Fedor defeat Monson; there are a number of things to consider. First of all, where does he go next? If he puts Monson away with ease in an impressive finishing victory, maybe he will have rediscovered the innate passion that he seemed to have lacked in his last few fights. There is much speculation as to what Fedor is fighting for now. Has his motivation become for the paycheck rather than the passion that originally got him so far in the sport? If Fedor truly still loves fighting, and can still lay it all on the line, he will be more successful than if he has lost sight of his true love for the sport.

A win in this fight for Mr. Emelianenko will open up only a small amount of prospective worthwhile heavyweight fights. These potential fights will skyrocket should Fedor make the drop to light heavyweight. “The Last Emperor” has fought his whole career at Heavyweight and he has used his superior speed and technique to beat bigger opponents. He would be facing a new side of competition should he drop to 205. This may be new territory for the Russian veteran, but a drop in weight class during a struggling point in a fighter’s career can often unearth new opportunities. Kenny Florian dropped from lightweight, and after just one featherweight victory, a title shot presented itself. Whether or not Florian actually deserves the shot, the point is that people want to see the athletes challenging themselves with a new set of opponents at a different weight. A new exciting “Kenflo” ready to make a run at 145, grabbed the UFC’s attention after what they believed was an impressive win over Diego Nunes at UFC 131. Florian was rewarded.

Beating Jeff Monson could very well put Fedor in a similar situation as the UFC could become excited at the prospect of new weight class for the Russian legend.

There are endless 205-pound possibilities for Fedor in both Strikeforce and the UFC. A fight with Roger Gracie or King Mo after their fight in Cincinnati on September 10th could be an intriguing opportunity for Fedor, should he re-sign with Strikeforce. Winning his next fight decisively could get Fedor back under the Zuffa umbrella and could lead to multiple big name fights.

What will be interesting to see in such a situation where Fedor makes the cut is how will he have changed as a fighter? He may find a new ability to use his grappling as a bigger factor in fights, as he wouldn’t have to worry about a 265-pound behemoth smothering him. The size differential has always been a burden to Fedor who has handled it incredibly for the vast majority of his career. This would no longer be an obstacle for Fedor.

Joe Rogan, during his Tapout Radio interview discusses Fedor not having a chance to be the best at heavyweight because of his size, and hits it on the head,

“If there was a 225 pound weight class you know he might have been one of the greatest of all time. But as a heavyweight? I think there’s always going to be guys that are like just going to be able to beat him.”

By fighting guys his own size, Fedor could evade some of the positions that he has been unable to escape from at heavyweight, and reveal an improved flow to his ground attack. Handling the strikes of the largest competitors in MMA is what Fedor has been used to for many years fighting at heavyweight. Although the light heavyweights will be quicker than his previous opponents, the overwhelming strength and power are lesser in the hands of a 205-pound fighter compared to the monsters at heavyweight. With a drop in division, Fedor has the capacity to be lighter, quicker, and for the first time, bigger than his opponents.

The comeback of a losing fighter is something everyone, both fans and skeptics, get excited over. The upcoming bout between Jeff Monson and Fedor Emelianenko strikes me as something that will end up being what a lot of people don’t expect: a great fight. Should Fedor stand and trade with Monson, there will most likely be someone going down and after losing three straight.

I believe that Fedor is, still, in fact Fedor. He has always been relatively undersized for his weight class but his exceptional hands have proven to possess devastating power, and will once again be tested. The outcome of his next bout could possibly spark the manageable weight cut that has been put aside for years. Will Fedor Emelianenko resurge as the great fighter he has proven to be and catch a second wind in his career?  

After all, it is the second act that people really love.

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Breaking UFC 140 News: Lesnar is back

Breaking news:
 Brock Lesnar's official return to the octagon will be against UFC newcomer, Alistair Overeem. This fight takes place December 30th in Las Vegas. Lesnar will be fighting for the first time since his October 2010 loss to Cain Velasquez for the Heavyweight Championship. He has taken time off for surgery due to his returning case of diverticulitis. This five round bout will reportedly be a Friday night fight because new years eve is the next day.

Brock Lesnar's future

Brock Lesnar.

 Whether you hate him, love him, think he's overpaid or over rated, you know about him. He brings the presence of a professional wrestler (his former profession) to the UFC and has done wonders for the organization. Once Dana White caught wind of the exciting heavyweight's interest in becoming a martial artist, there was little to go before Joe Silva and Lorenzo Fertitta figured out who he could face. Brock had won his professional MMA debut against Min Soo Kim, and had proved himself to the likes of the UFC. His next fight came at UFC 81 where Lesnar tapped to Frank Mir's knee bar blatantly 5 times before Steve Mazzagatti stopped the fight. This fast paced, and wild battle brought utter excitement to the octagon in what was one of the most anticipated premiers in UFC history. This fight immediately displayed the level of mere power that Lesnar had brought to the UFC. Lesnar was next given Heath Herring. This knockout featured that famous straight right which ended up awarding Brock a title shot against Randy Couture. After capturing the belt in an exciting knockout victory over Captain America, Lesnar had instantly become a star.

His commanding presence combined with the rare quickness and coordination of such a giant athlete was an instant success for the UFC.

 After undergoing surgery for the relapse of a seriously dangerous case of diverticulitis, Brock Lesnar is now healthy and ready to compete. After coaching the 13th season of The Ultimate Fighter, Lesnar was forced to pull out of his match up with Junior Dos Santos to have the surgery on his intestine. The task at hand was demanding, and energy consuming, but the Minnesota native was able to beat the disease for a second time. Now, as he makes his long awaited return to the Octagon, there are a number of match ups for the big fighter. Some are good for Lesnar and some are good for the UFC.

 Allistair Overeem:  The combined popularity of Overeem and Lesnar would shoot the ratings for this fight off the chart. After Overeem's falling out with Strikeforce has now left him with the option to sign with the UFC. The  would most likely retain his top contender status in a new organization, given that he was supposed to be competing the championship of Strikeforce's Heavyweight Grand Prix. The overwhelming strength that Lesnar possesses should be an intriguing opponent for Overeem's poised striking.

 Frank Mir: Before all of the people who think of the Mir Lesnar trilogy as a fight past its prime, there are a few things to be said. First off, Frank Mir is coming off two impressive performances beating both Mirko Cro Cop, and Roy Nelson. It was a devastating knee that dropped the Croatian kick-boxer at UFC 119, and a full three rounds of battering "Big Country" that has brought Frank Mir to his current two-fight win streak. Additionally, before Lesnar was diagnosed with a second wave of diverticulitis, he was set to face Dos Santos, who now is scheduled to compete for the title in November on UFC's first show on Fox. Lesnar and Mir are relatively in the same position in terms of title relevance, and Mir has not yet been matched up with a new opponent. Lastly, after both of the previous fights between the two, there wasn't a friendly handshake, show of class or anything of the sort. In fact, after Lesnar was victorious in the rematch, he went off on Mir and his team and had to be separated by security-after already knocking him out. These men have unfinished business, and what better way to settle it than a rubber match?

 Minotauro Nogueira:  This Brazilian legend has just shot himself back into the the MMA scene with a astonishing and impressive knockout over the young phenom, Brendan Schaub. With the recently announced Saitan Super Arena in japan being home to UFC's February 26th card, there is a paramount stage that suits both fighters, as both of them have previously fought in Japan (Lesnar only wrestled). Big Nog was the Pride Heavyweight champion who defeated the likes of Dan Henderson, Josh Barnett, and Mark Coleman. This match up between Nogueira and Lesnar is amusing and has the possibility of playing out a number of different ways. Lesnar can plunge forward and trade hands with the knockout specialist in Big Nog, or decide to take him down. Once on the ground, the elite jiu-jitsu skills that the decorated brazilian possesses will be a threat to the massive ground and pounding Lesnar. It is also important to remember the beating that Lesnar took in the first round of his battle at UFC 116 in order to come back and win a second round submission over the gassed out Shane Carwin. This fight has serious potential, and needs to happen relatively soon because for the aging Nogueira, time is of the essence. 

The resilient Brock Lesnar has a will that not only helped him weather a barrage of punches from the biggest hands in the UFC, but more importantly gave him strength to fight the disease that was thought to end his career. The page has been turned in the career of Brock Lesnar, and exciting match ups are just around the corner.