Mark Munoz vs Kendall Grove – This is a tough fight to call. Munoz is a solid wrestler with okay stand up. Grove BJJ is very strong, and he can definitely hold his own in the striking game. One thing Grove lacks is a chin, Munoz may get Grove down, but how is he going to deal with Grove’s spider legs and his dangerous BJJ? Even though this is a close fight to call, I’m taking Kendall Grove by submission.

Terry Etim vs Rafael Dos Anjos – I’m predicting this will be fight of the night. Both men are going to go at it as soon as the bell rings. Etim brings a great arsenal of strikes and submissions, while Anjos brings some vicious leg kicks and very solid wrestling and BJJ. I’ve been going back and forth on this fight. I know Anjos is going to go for the take down, as I don’t think Etim has shown he is very good on his back. However, how is Anjos going to get inside? Etim’s jab is way too good. I think if I was a betting man, (and I am) I’m going to take Etim in this fight by decision. I think Etim’s reach and striking is going to keep Anjos at a distance. However this is not going to be an easy fight for either guy.

Matt Hughes vs Renzo Gracie - This to me is an easy pick. As much as the Gracie family legacy is firmly set in the sport, it is in the past. Hughes has shown he can beat one dimensional fighters, and to be honest Renzo Gracie is just that. Gracie is a submission fighter with very weak stand up.  Hughes is a strong wrestler and even though he is in his late thirties, can still take guys like Gracie down at will. Look for Hughes to control this fight on the ground and TKO Renzo Gracie in the second round.

BJ Penn vs Frankie Edgar – Penn is the unstoppable force in the 155lbs division. Is this is last fight in this weight class? We will see. Edgar has shown some solid stand up and he better make sure that he can pull it off for 25 mins. If I’m Edgar, I’m throwing punches in bunches and mix it up with leg kicks. Good luck. BJ Penn is an elusive striker, and I see him spending the first round or two, standing up with Edgar while setting up the take down. Look for Penn to take Frankie down and choke him out in the third round. It will be another dominant performance that will make us all wonder, when Penn will move up to 170lbs for more interesting match ups.

Anderson Silva vs Demian Maia – I was looking forward to Siva vs Belfort, however due to an injury to Vitor Belfort, Demian Maia stepped up. Maia’s striking is no where near Silvas and this fight is going to be over in the 2nd round. As much as Demian Maia is considered one of the best BJJ fighters in the game, Anderson Silva is a beast. Look for Silva to play with Maia a bit, and end this fight with KO in the second round. It will be another Man amongst boys showing for Anderson Silva, P4P the best fighter on the planet.

My Picks

1. Kendall Grove
2. Terry Etim
3. Matt Hughes
4. BJ Penn
5. Anderson Silva

If you were to parlay this bet, $10 would get you around $52.34.  Here are a couple of other other parlay bets I made.

1. Osipczak – Prelims
2. Blackburn – Prelims
3. Al Turk
4. Davis
5. Silva
6. Penn

$5 will get me $74.85

My final parlay is:

1. Blackburn – Prelim
2. Kelly – Prelim
3. Grove
4. Hughes
5. Silva
6. Penn

$5 will get me $102.88 – I’m pretty optimistic about this one.

That is it for now. Remember the fights start at 10 am due it being in Abu Dhabi. If your friends don’t know this don’t tell them. Get the results at lunch time, go to the bar or watch the replay at home at 7pm and put money down on the fights. Always a great way to take money from casual UFC fans. Make sure to lose one so nobody asks questions, just don’t make it obvious. Good luck.

When I was told that I could attend Rumble at The Rock 7 at the River Rock Casino in Richmond British Columbia, I was stoked. First and foremost I am a MMA guy and the appreciation for the sweet science is hidden in my inner being, somewhere under a rock. Once in a while it comes out at night.

I remember watching professional boxers like Tyson, Holyfield, Lewis, Sugar Ray, etc… There was a time where big boxing matches were accessible on free television. The best in the world would fight each other. I never got to see Ali or Frazier, but the 80’s did have their boxing heroes. I remember going to church one Sunday and my dad rushing home to watch the Sugar Ray vs. Hagler fight in 1986. Sorry God, but Sugar Ray is making a comeback…. again.

After Sugar Ray Leonard came Mike Tyson, a man I beat after months of training. Yes you heard me; I beat Mike Tyson, along with Don Flamenco and King Hippo. Not everyone can say they beat Mike Tyson in the late 80’s. Here is how I did it: In the first round of your fight against Mike Tyson; for the first minute and thirty seconds every time Tyson hits you it is a knockdown. So, don’t try to hit him for the first 1:30, just get out of the way. For the rest of the fight he won’t be so deadly. Anyone else get Nintendo blisters? But that is just an example of how huge the sport of boxing was. We would run home after school to try and beat Mike. It is sort of ironic that it was Mike Tyson in the end that beat Mike Tyson.

It is well documented on why boxing started its decline. I’m not going to bother explaining how greed destroyed the sport in this blog. Instead it was curiosity and a press pass that had me attending Manny Sobral’s West Coast Promotions boxing event. In fact it is Mr. Sobral who should be commended for trying to keep the sport alive in Vancouver and the Lower mainland. Has there been resurgence, or since it’s Easter today, a resurrection of the sport my father rushed communion to run home to?

I walked into the River Rock Casino, sat ringside with my notebook and pen. Paul “The Mauler” Lazenby announced each fight, and I waited for the casino auditorium to fill up. It never reached capacity, but it was full of boxing enthusiasts and curious on lookers. You had the young people wearing their MMA Tap Out T-shirts, and the boxing enthusiasts wearing their Sunday best, paying tribute to a sport of kings.

I have to say that the second fight of the evening was an all out war. Back and forth the two combatants threw combinations at each other that would knock out any regular man. The best part was that it was two women that were throwing it down. All of a sudden I sat up in my seat, forgetting to take notes. Sweat and blood was thrown into the air, and there was a part of me that wished I could sit a bit closer to feel what the sweat n’ blood combo splatter feels like. Sick?

The evening went on, and I found myself thoroughly entertained. It didn’t matter that every time I saw two guys go into the clinch I kept looking for the double leg takedown or the Muay Thai Knee. Instead the referee split them up and the dance continued.

Watching the Main Event I noticed that coming down to the ring to Phil Collins “In the Air Tonight,” was not as intimidating as Canadian Light Heavy Weight Champ, Junior Moar’s entourage of native Indians in ceremonial dress and drums. If I were the American Billy Bailey I would re-think Phil and maybe go with the cliché bagpipes or something scarier. Or go with, I’m clinically insane route, and come down to the music of “Under the Sea” from Little Mermaid. Everyone would think you’re nuts!

The Main Event delivered as both combatants hung on for eight rounds. Moar pounded on Bailey for most of the fight, but the young American didn’t give up. Took his shots like a man. The fight ended in a majority decision for the Canadian Champ Junior Moar. Thus ended my evening of boxing. Paul Lazenby announced the winner and told the audience that special guest Canadian Boxing Legend; George Chuvalo would be available in the foyer for pictures and autographs. Chuvalo was a hero in the boxing world to many, and to the majority demographic that were in the audience. He is a symbol of the glory days of boxing. Some say boxing’s decline was MMA’s gain; I personally feel boxing laid the groundwork for MMA enthusiasts like me.

Here are the results of Rumble At the Rock 7

• Paul Beaulieu – Dropped out due to fear? Not sure why he quite at the last minute.
• Marcus Hicks – dropped out due to injury – MMA fighter who was going to make his professional boxing debut.

• Ty McDougall def. Victor Wang due to Corner Stoppage
• Wendy Roy def. Sarah Marshall by Majority Decision – Fight of the night candidate
• Dave Petryk def. Dwayne Welsh by Majority Decision
• Jamie Watton vs Sandy Pembroke: Draw – Don’t agree, I think Sandy squeaked it out
• Will Williams def. Steve Lowry by KO – brutal KO
  
• Junior Moar def. Billy Bailey by Majority decision – The CDN champ gave the tough Bailey a beating.

My next event blog will be on the The Extreme MMA Canadian Amateur Championships taking place at the Red Robinson Theatre on April 23rd in Coquitlam BC. Apparently this organization has some strange rules like you can’t grapple on the ground for more than thirty seconds. Really? And they call this MMA? Or could be an attempt to bring it back to the Neanderthals. Stay Tuned.

Prediction time. Like I always say, don’t take these picks to the bookie. I don’t want to be responsible when you lose your shirt or house. However I do want to be responsible when you win a few grand, cough it up.

Jim Miller vs Mark Bocek: This is an interesting fight in that both fighters are on a three fight winning streak. Jim Miller has looked very impressive in his last few outings. He put Duane Ludwig into an arm lock about 2mins into the first round at UFC 108. He has beaten some solid competition in the 155 pound division. Bocek in my opinion has looked equally impressive, and has shown some incredible ground skills. He likes to choke guys out. In fact his last three fights have been by submission (choke.) This is a tough fight to call, but I believe the ground game could cancel out. That leaves me with Miller being the superior striker. Look for this fight to go to a decision. I’m going to take Jim Miller by unanimous decision. I see him landing more kicks and punches, and not allowing Bocek to take him to the ground at will.

Ben Saunders vs John Fitch: Due to a CT Scan that showed Alves had a brain irregularity, the original fight that was supposed to be between Alves and Fitch was canceled. However Ben Saunders stepped up in competition and will now be taking on John Fitch. Saunders is a lanky welterweight with some serious Muay Thai Skills. He likes to use his gumby arms and pull his opponents into the clinch and throw vicious knees and elbows. Lucky for Ben, Fitch likes the clinch too. Look for Fitch to take this fight to the ground. However, Saunders is a guy that is great on his back, and he can take those long legs of his and work submissions and move into better positions. Fitch is a gamer, and with little preparation for both of these fighters, I expect Fitch to pull off the victory. He spent months preparing for Alves who has some vicious Muay Thai as well. The game plan will probably not change that much. Look for Fitch to be patient and try to get on the inside of  Saunders. This is going to be a close fight, but I’m taking Fitch via Unanimous Decision. I think experience wins out here. Fitch won’t get any style points for the win (he never does) and it will be another Fitch Decision.

Kurt Pellegrino vs Fabricio Camoes: Due to the Fitch vs Alves fight being changed and Saunders moving up to be the new opponent, this under card fight has been moved up to the main card. Cameos had his octagon debut against Caol Uno at UFC 106 end in a draw due to a point deduction to Cameos. He now finds himself fighting an experienced Kurt Pellegrino  who has won his last three UFC fights. Pellegrino likes to take guys down and ground n’ pound. He also has excellent BJJ. Although Cameos showed some good take down defense against Uno, Pellegrino comes with more of a wrestling pedigree and has shown that he can take guys down at will. For Camoes to win this fight he will have to rely on his striking and stuffing all take downs. To me this is Pellegrino’s fight via TKO.

INTERIM HEAVY WEIGHT TITLE

Frank Mir vs Shane Carwin: Don’t expect this fight to go to the judges. It is going to end badly for someone. The question is who? We have seen Carwin make short work of all his UFC opponents by KO or TKO. None of Carwin’s fights have gone past the first round. Carwin is a Monster. He posses massive punching power, even a short jab can make an opponent fall to sleep. What we haven’t seen yet in the UFC is his tremendous wrestling. Carwin is a big man, who like Brock Lesnar, has a very decorated amateur wrestling past. As for Frank Mir, what hasn’t been said? He is probably one of the best technical Heavy Weights out there. His submissions are legendary, and his stand up has improved immensely. He made Cheik Kongo look silly in his last fight, by dropping him with a punch and choking him out a minute into the first round. Frank’s obsession with Brock Lesnar has changed him. He has used that motivation to get bigger and stronger. He now loses weight to make 265. Look for Mir to come into this fight like he did against Kongo, bulked up and motivated to make a statement. He wants a third match with Lesnar badly, and I’m sure the UFC would love to see it. Carwin has been on the shelf for a while. He hasn’t fought since March 9th of 2009. Through that, there was an injury, illness and of course Brock Lesnar’s well publicized battle with diverticulitis. It has been an emotional roller coaster for Shane Carwin.

To say Carwin has a puncher’s chance in this fight is a understatement. I still believe that all though Mir is very well rounded, I think his chin is suspect. I’m also interested to see how Mir deals with Carwin’s power on the ground. Will the added bulk on Mir slow him down in the later rounds? We have never seen Carwin past the first round, so what is his conditioning like in Championship rounds? A lot of questions, but only one prediction. I’m taking Shane Carwin by TKO. I think Carwin posses a lot of the same skills Lesnar does. This fight will be very close, but I see Mir getting dropped with a punch and Carwin finishing him off with a referee stoppage. Carwin’s wrestling base will be the equalizer, as I think it will be tough for Mir to take Carwin down or work any sort of submission. It looks like most experts are taking Mir, but I just have a hunch on this one.

MAIN EVENT

UFC WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP BELT – George St-Pierre vs Dan Hardy: I love how the UFC is trying to build this fight. There has been some trash talk on Hardy’s side, but that isn’t surprising. But what I find funny is that Hardy hasn’t been that creative with it yet. The whole I’m going to KO GSP and shock the world has been said before. You gotta love Hardy’s confidence and personality. I respect Hardy as a fighter, but there is no way this fight even makes it to the fifth round. GSP is going to make a huge statement. The first statement is GSP’s stand up game is lethal. Sure a lot of GSP’s previous fights have gone to the ground, and why not, he is the best wrestler in MMA…period.

People forget how good GSP’s stand up is. Look for GSP to switch it up like he did against Alves. He will throw some precise shots and move. George will be very elusive, and that will frustrate Hardy off the bat. You can’t counter punch an opponent when you can’t catch him. GSP will push the pace, and when the time is right, the take down will be there with ease. I know I’m breaking down a fight that most people know how it’s going to end. I just want to tell all those people that think Hardy has a chance, to realize that GSP is a different fighter since Matt Serra. He has a better training regiment, and a better state of mind. This whole theory that GSP has a weak chin is garbage. First off, if you watch the first Matt Serra fight, he doesn’t hit GSP in the chin. He hits him in the back of the head, which throws GSP off balance (hit yourself really hard in that spot and see what your equilibrium is like…come on do it!)  and Serra’s hard punches finished him off. Anyway, my prediction is this: Dan Hardy via KO.

Kidding. Take GSP by TKO. There will be no upset. This is a guy who stood with Alves and BJ Penn. This is a champion who unfortunately does not have a formidable challenger in the UFC at that weight class. Should he move up to middleweight? No I think GSP should fight Jake Shields first.

My Picks Overview

1. Jim Miller
2. Jon Fitch
   
3. Kurt Pellegrino
   
4. Shane Carwin
5. George St.Pierre

LICKS

Jake Shields?? Did I just say that? but, but..he’s in Strikeforce! Jake Shields has one more fight with Strikeforce and that is against Dan Henderson on April 17th. After that his contract is up. The rumor is that the UFC is going to throw some money at Jake that Strikeforce would have a tough time matching. This is good news for fighters. Why? because you are seeing the result of what competition does amongst organizations. The UFC is the big boy on the block in the MMA world. However Strikeforce has evolved over the last couple of years. They are still very top heavy in each division, with not a lot of depth. But right now Strikeforce can afford to do that, when they are doing shows every couple of months. However, one thing to look out for is the over paying of athletes that could hurt the bottom line. This is what Dana White is banking on when it comes to the possible demise of Strikeforce and Dream. Every time a young, up and coming fighter becomes a free agent, you know the UFC has the dollars to make it difficult for other organizations to match. They will not throw dollars needlessly, IE: Dan Henderson who wanted the moon, but I feel the UFC felt he is at the tail end of this career. That kind of money should be spent on talented younger fighters that can be built. Secondly, fighters like Nick Diaz, and Jake Shields will want to explore more competition. The UFC has plenty.

The mighty dollar will lure guys like Diaz, Shields and even Gegard Mousasi, to the UFC eventually. Fedor? that’s another story. It seems to me that Fedor is not really looking for challenges, just business deals. Due to Fedor’s stake in M-1 Global the UFC will not deal with the “Crazy Russians.” There is no way the UFC will co-promote in order to land Fedor. So instead for now, we will see Fedor fight second rate Heavyweights in Strikeforce and Dream. For now.

I do believe Fedor will end up in the UFC at some point, but he will be past his best before date.

Check out this article on the courting of Jake Shields, courtesy of Sherdog.

In closing, for those of you that live in Vancouver. There is a MMA Event coming on May 7th courtesy of Honour Combat Championships. Look at it as an appetizer before the UFC in June. If you have never been to a live MMA event, I highly recommend that you go to this show. It will be more than just a sporting event, it will be an experience. Check out their website at honourcombat.com. They will be at the Vancouver MMA Expo and tickets will be available to be purchased online by April 10th. The “Vancouver” MMA Expo is on April 10th and 11th at the Tradex in Abbotsford. Should be a fun couple of days. Come and check it out.

I am also going to be co-hosting on MMASucka Radio. I will be a part of the UFC 111 round table on Saturday at 2pm. Go to mmasucka.com and click on the radio show and you can listen to all our picks and analysis. Should be fun. Take care, and look for more Blogs coming. I’d love to hear your feedback.

Cheers!

The first fight on the Main card at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas is:

Matt Serra vs Frank Trigg: I smell a KO in this fight. Trigg got a beating against Josh Koscheck at UFC 103, where Frank Trigg looked completely over matched. Let’s be honest, this a fight of two men who may have seen better days in their career. However, isn’t that the overall theme of this card, IE: The Main Event. Whatever the case, not every fight needs to have title implications. Usually these fights are the ones that entertain, and isn’t that all that matters? You have the wrestling ability and heart of Trigg, versus the KO power and jiu-jitsu of Matt Serra. There has been a ton of trash talk leading up to this fight, as both men know how to sell it. Now who wins? Take Matt “The Terror” Serra via KO. I just don’t think Trigg has the chin to last.

Demian Maia vs. Dan Miller: After a brutal KO loss to Nate Marquardt at UFC 102, Demian Maia looks to rebound against a very talented Dan Miller. Dan has four fights in the UFC and two of his three wins have been by submission, the other by decision.  My guess Mr. Miller will not be going for any kind of takedown. Maia is probably the best ground technician in MMA. Demian, tried to throw a bit against Marquardt and got caught, a mistake you know he will not make again. Look for Demian Maia to be a lot more patient and work Dan Miller into his web of submissions. This fight will end up on the ground. Dan Miller will show some heart and put up a good fight, but expect the inevitable, a submission win for Demian Maia.

Mike Swick vs Paulo Thiago: Originally this was to be a rematch between Josh Koscheck and Thiago, but KOS had to drop out of the fight due to an injury, so his teammate Swick took the fight on short notice. If you remember Dan Hardy beat Swick at UFC 105 via unanimous decision. With that fight fresh in Swick’s mind, you have to believe that even on short notice Mike is ready to put that behind him with a win over a top welterweight in Paulo Thiago.  At UFC 106 Thiago had a lack luster unanimous decision against Jacob Volkmann. One thing Paulo does have is a KO win over Swick’s teammate Josh Koscheck. They don’t call Mike “Quick” Swick for nothing. Let us not forget the KO power Mike has in his feet and hands. He throws a mean right cross. Paulo has a great chin, and can throw some really nice combinations of his own. A lot of people are taking Swick in this fight. I’m going with my gut (never a good idea) and taking Mike “Quick” Swick via KO. See..how I did that? You thought I was going to take Paulo Thiago…but I didn’t. I think it will be an impressive performance for Mike, and possibly set up a match between Swick and Anthony Johnson. I do want to see Paulo Thiago take this, but I just don’t think it’s in the cards. Mike Swick via KO.

Nate Marquardt vs. Chael Sonnen: I’m looking forward to this fight the most. In my opinion should be the Main Event.  Chael Sonnen has had an up and down career, where Nate has kept things pretty consistent in the winning category. It has been amazing to watch how Nate Marquardt has evolved into a complete, all round fighter. It is apparent that the Jackson training camp has helped in making him one of the best middleweights in the world. Chael Sonnen, when he’s not talking, he does have some great wrestling ability and he can grind. Chael is known to take fights all three rounds and grind out decision victories, he is one tough customer.  It is very tough to knock Chael out. When he loses, it is usually to a submission. One thing Chael can do is take guys down. This is going to be a very tough fight for Nate, in that he will have to remain patient and wait for Sonnen to make a mistake. Nate “The Great” has a very strong stand up game and can counter strike. Chael’s stand up is weak, and really only uses it to set up take downs. However, with the evolution of Nate Marquardt, we may see some very good take down defense. This is a guy who trains with the best wrestler in MMA in GSP. Look for Nate to take this fight in the third round with a KO victory. I think Marquardt is a stronger fighter and has a more complete game than Chael Sonnen. It will be a tough fight, but Nate “The Great” Marquardt takes the win, and becomes the number one contender in the Middlweight division.

MAIN EVENT

Randy Couture vs Mark Coleman: What can I say about this one? Both men are freaks of nature, but I think that has been said every time they enter the Octagon. This is a interesting fight just in the fact that these two old hall of famers are at the end of their careers..again. Randy has dropped down to the light heavy weight class…again…and took a controversial decision win against Brandon Vera at UFC 105. In my opinion Couture didn’t win that fight. He was able to control Vera along the cage, but really didn’t do much. If you call self defense a win, you’re crazy. Vera did more damage. But alas, we see the UFC trying to push the legend of Randy Couture. Apparently if he wins, he is in line for a title shot….really? I can think of two or three more guys that are a head of Couture. However, the UFC marketing machine moves on.  This fight will start off entertaining, but I think Couture will start break Coleman down with strikes and take down defense. Couture is an old man, but I think his skills are still relevant, and especially against Coleman. Even though Mark Coleman is stuck in the 90′s MMA, expect a lot of heart and will. How full is the Coleman gas tank? Especially when Randy will make things very difficult. Yes we  saw Coleman beat Bonnar at UFC 100, however, Bonnar beat himself when he came to the Octagon with no serious game plan and took Coleman lightly. Couture will not make that mistake. Take Randy Couture in this fight. How? I don’t know, a TKO sounds good to me.

LICKS

Nick Diaz keeps shooting off his mouth, calling out GSP. Someone needs to tell Nick Diaz that he fights for Strikeforce. He is starting to complain that there isn’t enough competition for him in Strikeforce, and that he wants the big fights. Message to Nick, play by the rules and act like a professional, and you may get your wish. Dana White went on record the other day to compliment Nick Diaz, and that he probably does belong in the UFC. The problem is, that Nick likes to fight in hospitals, skip drug tests, and we could go on. There is nothing wrong on being a super UBER talented force like Diaz and be the Bad Guy. In fact it is known to sell fights, merchandise, and build a niche fan base. Just ask Brock Lesnar.  However, professionalism does come into play, even if the UFC does have a double standard on that subject matter. Expect Nick Diaz to fight in the UFC once his Strikeforce contract is done. Sure he makes good money ($100,000) in his last fight, but what it will come down to is competition. Nick is moving up the ladders of the pound for pound rankings and soon he will not be able to ignore where the big fights are.

As for Strikeforce, I really enjoy watching their product. Cyborg Santos is a woman who will not get beat anytime soon. As I was watching that fight, I kept thinking, she should fight men. Is this a crazy thought?

Hershal Walker beat a punching bag for his first professional MMA win. I’m happy for the guy. He had a goal and he made it happen. He trained hard, gave his winnings to charity, and was very professional about the whole ordeal. What is in the future? I can see Strikeforce squeezing a few drops out of this spunge, and maybe throwing him in the cage one or two more times. Jose Canseco? Please God no. But remember this, MMA was built on freak shows, so it wouldn’t be crazy to see Canseco vs Walker. You know you would watch. Guilty pleasures strike at us all. Honestly if both men want to get it on, and treat the sport with total respect, can we really say no? It’s a quick cash cow for Strikeforce; I can see this happening. Up next, the three eyed, hairy woman.

Apparently the UFC is going to have Chuck Liddell vs Tito Ortiz 3, June 12 in Vancouver. Wow!!! how about that for Vancouver’s first UFC Event. Lesnar is expect to fight the following month in Las Vegas. After all the shit that Lesnar spewed about Canada’s health system, it would of been nice to see him fight in Canada. Come on! the man knows how to be a heel.  I’m still wondering what the UFC has planned for Vancouver, so far I’m expecting a lack luster card.

There….I got my licks in. Now time to go to the Bay and buy some Olympic gear, go to Costco, drop the wife and kid off at home, head to the bar, and watch some fights. Sounds like a good day. Check out Honour Combat Championships and our Facebook Page. Aurevoir!

George St. Pierre Moving Up to the UFC Middle Weight Division Prediction

Who here can’t wait for March 27th to see George St. Pierre fight Dan Hardy? (Crickets) Yes, like I thought. Sure, watching GSP fight is a thing of beauty. They could throw a blow up doll in the Octagon to fight GSP, and we would all still pay our PPV dollars to watch. Okay that’s stretching it, but I think you get the point. He’s a Canadian Icon and in the end, will go down as one of the greatest athletes to have ever come out of this fine nation. When it’s all said and done, GSP will be a legend with the likes of Wayne Gretzky and Steve Nash.

Watching GSP fight is always a thrill. But does Dan Hardy really deserve that title shot? Is there really anyone in the welterweight division that is anywhere near the level of GSP?  I know, anything can happen in MMA. Just look back to the very first GSP vs Matt Serra fight years ago. People always like to bring that up. But what people forget is, that loss was the greatest thing to happen to George. It made him into the fighter that he is today. A wrestling freak of nature, that can beat an opponent senseless on the ground or unleash an arsenal of stand up, that would make any opponent wish they never closed the cage door. He found a new training camp and took his game to a completely different level, somewhere near Pluto.

No disrespect to Hardy. He is definitely an up and coming fighter who is extremely entertaining. He also has some power in his counter punching. However, this is a fighter that barely beat Marcus Davis, in fact I personally didn’t believe he deserved that win. Anyway, the fight is going to happen and so we will all enjoy it. The UFC will do it’s best to market this fight in a way where it will leave some people (very few) thinking Hardy has a chance. Who knows, maybe it will be more competitive than I lead on. However, are we not at least a bit curious on what George could do against other opponents? Maybe Anderson Silva? I know that’s a super fight that everyone wants to see. You would have the best MMA striker vs the best MMA wrestler going head to head, to find out who is King. Who is the number one, pound for pound fighter in the world? Who will go down in history as one of the, if not the greatest Mixed Martial Artist of all time? Be encouraged.

Lately there has been some smoke about a potential super fight between Anderson Silva and GSP.  Anderson Silva’s manager recently stated that they would welcome a fight against St. Pierre. At one time, GSP poo poo’ed the idea, saying it would take him a long time to gain the right amount of weight to consider a fight of that nature. Well, guess what? GSP is getting bigger. Is this just natural? Maybe. But it could also be preparation for a permanent move to middle weight. Why permanent? Because GSP is a firm believer in not bouncing up and down in weight like a yo yo. He feels that his career will last much longer if he takes care of his body, instead of abusing it with constant weight loss and weight gain. It’s a fair assessment. So, why not clear the welter weight division while he has a chance? Or maybe one more fight against BJ Penn? There is definitely money to be made with that fight. I know, I know, we’ve seen it twice before, and the last one (which I attended) was not even close. BUT, BJ Penn keeps running his mouth, and making crazy allegations of GSP steroid use, and vaseline etc..etc…I think Penn feels that he deserves another shot, and that he is a better fighter ever since he got a new strength and conditioning coach in Marv Marinovich. To me, it all sounds like sour grapes on Penn’s end. However, the UFC has been known to squeeze as much money out of a rivalry as possible. IE: Tito Ortiz vs Chuck Liddell. Need I say more?

Right now GSP walks around at about 195lbs. He feels that once he hits over 200lbs, that he would be ready for a move to the middleweight division. Now, this is not eat as many Big Macs as possible and stuff your face full of pasta kind of weight. He wants to have over 200 lbs of muscle weight. It’s a slow process, especially for a guy that has to cut down to 170 lbs two or three times a year to fight at welterweight. It does take a change in diet and training, but GSP does have time. Read a recent interview GSP did on the idea of moving up. This is not a fight that is going to take place in 2010. My prediction is next year. Where? How about Madison Square Garden?

It looks like the state of New York is in the beginning stages of putting through a “legalize MMA” bill. How long the process will take is beyond me; I fail at politics. It looked like last Summer that New York was in the process of making it happen, but it was delayed at the last minute, and up for review in 2010. Sounds like what Vancouver went through. See my earlier blog on how long it took for our local government to accept MMA as a legitimate sport.

It isn’t a matter of if the UFC will come to New York, but when. However, when it does happen, it will be in Madison Square Gardens and you know the UFC will make sure that it will be a super card. So why not make it Siva vs St. Pierre? Some of the biggest fights in history have taken place as MSG, fights like Holyfield vs Lewis, Joe Louis vs Rocky Marciano, Ali vs Frazier 1 and 2, Hulk Hogan vs Andre the Giant (personal favorite when I was a kid,) and more. GSP vs Anderson Silva would make sense. It would be a way for the UFC to make their mark in combat sports lore. It would be by far the biggest selling MMA PPV of all time. Maybe a potential fight between Brock Lesnar and Fedor Emelianenko would be close in numbers, but don’t get me started on that fight subject.

Whatever happens, March 27th should be interesting. If GSP beats Hardy easily, expect the talk of moving up in weight to intensify. Also if GSP does beat Hardy easily with no damage, let the “GSP Fight in Vancouver” talk to intensify in Vancouver too. Could GSP fighting in Vancity happen? I don’t think so.I hate to say it, but the Vancouver show on June 12 baffles me in who the Main Event will be? I’m sorry, if it is Chuck Liddell vs Tito Ortiz (as rumored,) it would be a kick in the face to Vancouver.  A very interesting read is Craig Nielsen’s blog on the Team 1040. He starts to break down who the main event on June 12 could be, and it doesn’t look promising. Let’s hope something gets worked out soon.

More Timbits to come, unless I come back to the box and find that someone ate most of them. Usually the way. Next Blog will be my UFC 109 picks and my reaction to the Strikeforce Card on Jan.30th, maybe with sparkles.

Check out the HCC website or join the facebook page.

Sure the announcement isn’t on the same level as the Olympics, but legalizing MMA in Vancouver should be regarded as a huge victory for the local MMA community and MMA fans alike. City Council is meeting today to recommend a two-year trial period for legalization of MMA in Vancouver. There will be people in attendance who oppose it, and there will be a heavy contingent of people there who want it approved.  What does it comes down to? A vote from council members… a yes or a no. The battle for sanctioning will come down to the judge’s decision. It has been a fight that has seen mostly frustration.

In September of 2007 Mixed Martial Arts was banned in Vancouver by City Council. It was a large blow as MMA was just rising at a rapid rate in popularity. Sure UFC was putting up large PPV numbers, and bars that were playing the fights were packed, but MMA gyms all over Vancouver and the Lower Mainland were seeing a huge surge in registration as well. Athletes were training their arses off. It wasn’t just fighters who were dedicating their lives to the sport for a small chance to reach professional glory. It was regular joes and janes who wanted to learn a discipline, get in shape, and get an up close and personal education. There was no real explanation on why the sport was banned, just the same uneducated rhetoric, that “Ultimate Fighting” was a blood sport and that more information was needed. Nobody in council at the time wanted to touch it.

Round two came in March of 2009, where Vancouver City Council once again opened the topic of MMA for discussion.  This time the local MMA community came armed and ready to defend the sport. Councillor Suzanne Anton along with the Vancouver Athletic Commission lead the charge saying there was no reason to not recognize MMA as a real and legitimate sport. The Athletic Commission was even so bold to say that the decision to legalize the sport should have been made years ago.  However more indecision by council members killed the discussion. Instead of taking the bull by the horns, council and the Mayor decided that the decision to govern the sport should be a provincial or even a national matter. Again more information was needed like what would be the financial impact on Vancouver? For some reason the success of the UFC in Montreal and that the event pumped twenty million into their local economy fell on deaf ears. I mean who wants to make money during one of the toughest recessions in BC history?  It looked like the local government’s decision was a knock out punch to the UFC, and the local MMA community. Joe Rogan would of said, “He’s in Trouble!”

The year continued on, until August of 2009, where Dana White told reporters after a UFC event that they were coming to Vancouver. We were surprised to hear this, as the idea of sanctioning MMA had been put on the dusty shelf beside the rest of the past fun events that Vancouver banned over the years. In fact there was no maybe the UFC is coming, it was a definite; so definite that Zuffa booked GM place for a June date. Mayor Gregor Robertson said that maybe the UFC event could be a “test event” and fall under the auspices of the Vancouver Athletic Commission, which oversaw the sport before it was banned. White was adamant, but it was a curious time locally. How could the City of Vancouver approve the UFC, but not sanction the sport for others? Zuffa representatives continued to meet with Vancouver officials. But a local promoter saw fit to educate local government.

TJ Wozencoft created a team and took Honour Combat Championships to the masses. He decided to get a special license to run a MMA event in the downtown core of Vancouver at the Edgewater Casino. The catch, it would run under the amateur rules and regulations, but treated like a professional show.  Was it a loophole? Maybe, but it was looked at as more of an opportunity. November 27^th, 2009, HCC sold out their event, those in attendance included Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Denis Kang and Bill Mahood. The more important attendees that night were three key City Councillors in Suzanne Anton, Heather Deal, and Kerry Jang. The night was entertaining and professional. Everyone was on their best behavior and the event got rave reviews from media, and the councilors that were in attendance. “I’m actually having a lot more fun then I thought I would,” said Jang on the night.  At one point they mentioned that they didn’t know MMA fighters wore gloves and that they can tap out when in trouble. It was a huge “round” for MMA in Vancouver. The Councillors told media that not only did they want the UFC to come in June, but also legalizing MMA in Vancouver was a definite possibility in December of 2009.  Class was dismissed.

So, as the rain falls in the drenched city of Vancouver, we wait for the decision. This is not about the UFC; it is about local fighters having a governing body not only for professional fights but one that encompasses amateur fights as well.  The rumor is, that the City will vote in favor of legalizing MMA by an overwhelming majority. Sure there will be a couple of people who still think that MMA is a sport spawned by Satan, only fit for gangsters and blood thirsty vampires.  However we hope today that the honourable spirit of MMA is recognized. It is the fastest growing sport in the world. It teaches discipline, respect, and instills confidence in men and women who train in the art. It also provides entertainment and a distraction from the day-to-day routine of life. It is the purest sport on the planet. Let’s hope the veil of ignorance is lifted and we hear, “And the winner by unanimous decision…Vancouver!” – cue crowd applause.

www.hcc-mma.com

Paul Buentello vs Stefan Struve -  Not really interested in this fight to tell you the truth. It was supposed to be UFC blue chip heavy weight prospect, Todd Duffee, however he bowed out due to injury. Struve is a BJJ expert and Buentello is a striker. I’m not going to say a deadly striker, as he really has no technique. However, those are some really big mits and if they do connect, Struve will be sleeping. Would I be crazy if I said Struve’s strategy will be to take Big Paul down? Let’s hope Buentello has started to work on his take down defense. I’m going to take Stefan Struve via submission. I think Buentello is going to get frustrated and get over aggressive which will lead to a mistake. Seems to be the way now a days for one dimensional fighters.

Kenny Florian vs Clay Guida – Now here is a fight that I’m really interested in. I can’t say enough about how under rated Clay Guida is. I think he is more than just a gatekeeper to the 155lbs division. Ken Flo left Sityodtong in Boston to train with GSP’s personal trainer Firas Zahabi at Tri Star Gym in Montreal.  Apparently Kenny feels like a brand new fighter. I’m sure that one thing Florian has been working on is how to keep the pace up tempo with out gassing. Expect Florian to try and slow things down. If the fight goes to the ground, it will be tough for Guida to get past Florian’s guard.  Clay Guida is going to do what he does best – Energizer Bunny Wrestling. The dude does not quite. This is going to be a very, very close fight and will probably go to a decision. I know a lot of people like Florian in this fight, but for some reason I feel like Guida could take it. BUT, I think Kenny will be extremely well prepared for what Guida is going to do, and I think he will have a way better game plan in this fight than he did against Penn. I’m going to take Florian by the slimmest of margins. It will go to the judge’s score cards and Florian takes the win.

Jon Fitch vs Mike Pierce – This is an interesting match up where you have two very good wrestlers going at it. The X-factor for Mike is his striking.  Fitch has improved over the last couple of years, and has really taken a page out of Randy Couture’s book with some solid dirty boxing.  Will the wrestling create a stalemate? I don’t think so. I’m going to have to think that Fitch is a better wrestler and will find a way to take Pierce down, and avoid the over hand right. Look for Fitch to win this fight via TKO, Ground and Pound. Is Fitch on his way to a fight with Koschek? hmmm…I’d like to see these two team mates fight for the number one contender after Hardy and GSP are done.

Frank Mir vs Cheick Kongo – Classic UFC matchup of powerful striker vs crazy good jujitsu. Kongo at times has shown why he has the most dangerous kick boxing in the HW division. BUT, he has also shown that he has no ground game whatsoever. In fact his major weakness is allowing the opposition to get inside for double leg take downs or trips. Kongo was greatly exposed by Cain Velasquez. Cain chose to ground and pound the Frenchman, however, on numerous occasions Kongo exposed his back. Look for Frank Mir to be patient and wait for a take down opportunity.  I see a lot of clinching in this fight as they battle for position. I don’t expect Mir will want to trade punches too many times with Kongo. Mir will get the take down and Kongo will find himself in a world of hurt. Look for Mir to win this fight by submission. Maybe setting up a possible fight with Shane Carwin for the interim Heavy Weight Title? I know the UFC would like to see that, as there are a ton of possibilities for great story lines; especially if Brock Lesnar makes it back to the UFC once his health concerns are behind him.

MAIN EVENT

BJ Penn vs Diego Sanchez – This is a fight that I think could go down as fight of the year. I know there are a lot of people that think BJ is going to destroy Diego, but I think we don’t give enough credit to Sanchez and his skill set. The biggest advantage that Diego has is his cardio and size.  Diego can also hold his own on the ground. No,  he is not anywhere near the same as BJ on the ground, but he has enough defensive skills to make it difficult for BJ to execute or maneuver. The biggest question is how is BJ going to handle Diego’s size? However, that isn’t the X-factor in this fight. My opinion, Penn’s stand up is what is going to win this fight for him. We’ve seen Diego stand with guys in the past (Koschek) and not fair too well.  Don’t get me wrong Diego has some nice striking, but no where near the level of BJ Penn.  I see BJ executing the jab right off the bat, as well as leg kicks. He is going to keep Diego at a distance. Diego will get frustrated, maybe go for a clinch or take down attempt, and that is where BJ will set his trap.  BJ will win, probably in the fourth round via submission.

LICKS

It will be interesting to see what the UFC does in the coming months. The  Brock Lesnar story is interesting in that it looks like he is a long ways away from coming back. It seems like there will be a interim heavy weight title in the not too distant future. There should be. It isn’t fair to Shane Carwin, as he sits on the sidelines. I honestly believe that if Frank Mir beats Kongo that Mir and Carwin should be on the card in March for the Interim Heavy Weight Title.  Velasquez, Sanchez and Nog in the mix after that for the number one contender. The reason why Mir would be a great choice to face Carwin is the story line that could take place when Lesnar comes back. Mir has made no bones about it, he is wanting a rematch with Lesnar.  Interesting story lines make interesting fights….and money. Read the yahoo article attached.

My opinion on Koschek calling out GSP after his win over Anthony Johnson, is if KOS wants GSP, the road goes through Fitch. I’m sorry but this whole idea that you can’t fight team mates is ridiculous. What is going to happen? You’re not going to be friends after? If that’s the case there never was a friendship. It’s a sport, and if you want to be the best, you better be prepared to fight who you have to fight to get to that level.  There are no friends in the Octagon. I think a lot of this I won’t fight my friend chatter, is leverage. It will lead to a good payday.

Dan Henderson going to Strikeforce is a nice addition for Strikeforce. It’s not going to break the UFC. In fact it might be good for the UFC to allow some of their younger, blue chip, fighters a chance to move up the ladder. Don’t get me wrong, I have the up most respect for Henderson and what he has done for the sport. I think it was a wise move on his part to go to Strikeforce and finish his career.  Paying Henderson a large sum of money at the end of his career wouldn’t make much sense from the UFC’s stand point.  Expect more fighters to move to Strikeforce. Which honestly, is great for the sport. I’m a huge UFC fan and I love what they have done for the sport as they are the creme de la creme. Competition only makes the sport more competitive and interesting. Fighters that I see moving to Strikeforce are Roger Huerta, Houston Alexander, Brock Larson, Okami, and Rampage Jackson. Yes you heard me, Rampage. He will come back and finish his contract with the UFC, but as soon as that is done, he will be gone.

I have a lot more opinions, but I will leave that for another blog post. I’m interested to know what you think. Merry Christmas to everyone. Be safe and happy.

Trevor Dueck

UFC 106 here are my quick picks,

Amir Sadolla vs Phil Baroni: This is a give me for Amir. If the Ulimate Fighter winner doesn’t win this fight, he could find himself in the Abyss of the UFC. I don’t expect this to go past the 2nd round. I will take Sadolla by submission.

Luiz Cane vs Antonio Rogerio Nogueira: I am going to find it funny to see how many new MMA fans get confused when they see Rodrigo “Minotauro” Noquiera’s twin brother Antonio come out and fight at light heavy weight. People are going to be confused. If little Nog can stay away from the vicious strikes of Cane, and take him down, I see Antonio winning this. I’m looking for a win for little Nog’s Octagon debut but this is really a pick’em fight. How good is Cane’s takedown defense? Suspect I would say. So if little Nog can take a punch and throw some of his own to set up the take down, I will take Rogerio Nogueira, most likely by submission. Should be a close fight.

Paulo Thiago vs Jacob Volkmann: As Joe Rogan always says, “This is a very interesting fight.” This was on the under card, but it was put on the main card due to Karyo Parisyan pulling out the day before due to apparently not being able to pay his fine to get his license back in Nevada. I’m not sure what to believe in that story, but this is actually a interesting fight in that you have Jacob Volkmann, a highly decorated college wrestler making his octagon debut. Paulo Thiago has that knock out over Josh Koshchek and a decision loss to John Fitch at UFC 100. Thiago has great submissions, but the problem is, can he get Jacob down? Look for Volkmann to mix up his strikes with some solid take downs. I’m going out on a limb on this one and taking Volkmann by TKO. I’m still not a believer in Paulo Thiago.

Josh Koscheck vs Anthony “Rumble” Johnson: Rumble was able to make weight this time, probably because he had over a month to lose the last two pounds he couldn’t lost at UFC 104, where he made quick work of Yoshida. Koscheck had an easy win at UFC 103 with a TKO of Frank Trigg. Which Kos will we see? For some reason he is either getting extremely bad advice from his trainers or Kos thinks he is the second coming of Sugar Ray Leonard. If Kos even thinks of exchanging with Johnson it will be a short and abrupt night for Kos. Will we see the wrestling machine? I think if Josh has any hope of winning this fight he has to score take down, after take down.  Johnson is an athletic monster who packs missile launchers in his gloves, I don’t even see Kos coming close to his range. Either Johnson wins this fight with a KO or TKO, or Kos will win by decision….hmmm….who to take….Anthony Rumble Johnson. Nobody is going to stop that train.

Main Event

Tito Ortiz vs Forrest Griffin: Which Tito will we see? He has had surgery on his back that was apparently plaguing him for the last few years. Tito says he is 100% (rumors circulating not true. bad knee.) Tito had no problems taking Forrest down in their last encounter three years ago. But Tito hasn’t fought in more than a year. Forrest has something to prove after his humiliating loss to Anderson Silva. This is an important fight for both fighters. My heart really would like to see Tito make a run again, but I just think Forrest is going to win the war of attrition. I’m taking Forrest in a very close decision. Yes another controversy in another UFC Main Event.  It’s a trend..my as well stick with it. Should be a close fight.

So those are my picks. Not sure what to think of this UFC card, it has some possibilities to have some exciting fights, but the Brock Lesnar Shane Carwin fight was supposed to happen and that LARGE hole was not filled. There are a lot of injuries right now in the UFC to some of their best fighters. Apparently Brock Lesnar is at home in Minnesota recovering from minor surgery. Funny how Dana White made it seem like Brock was on his death bed. Reports are out there that is not the case. Look for Lesnar to make his octagon return in early Spring of 2010, that is just a hunch. Also it looks like the rematch between Machida and Shogun will take place on May 1st in Montreal. Could we see Lesnar on that card?

I expect the UFC to have an interim Heavy Weight title on the line. Shane Carwin deserves his shot, and most likely will face Cain Velasquez. There are a lot of different ways the UFC can go in their Heavy Weight Division with Big Nog and Lesnar out of action for a while. Look for answers in the coming weeks.

I’m about to go and promote Honour Combat Championships at the Edgewater Casino tonight before the UFC PPV telecast. Remember, Nov.27th at the Edgewater, tickets are going fast. Don’t miss out. Cheers! Let me know if you agree or disagree with my picks. I could use the help.

Okay back to the UFC, I will make a comment on what I thought of the Strikeforce event at the end. Here are my UFC 105 picks.

No prelims this time around. I’m sticking to the main card. I’m also going to do a lot better than 50%. I’ll start with:

Ross Pearson vs Aaron Riley: Ross Pearson was one of the winners of the Ultimate Fighter 9, when he won by unanimous decision over Andre Winner. Aaron Riley is a MMA veteran who has about 40 or so fights to his credit. This to me is an easy call. Ross Pearson is younger, and more athletic than Riley, and no matter how tough Riley is, I see Pearson winning this fight. Don’t get me wrong, this will be no walk in the park for Ross Pearson against the experienced veteran. However, Riley has shown that he can be out wrestled and tko’ed. Pearson has quick hands, and has been working diligently on his wrestling base. Take Pearson in this fight. I’m calling a TKO victory for the young brit.  Let’s hope the young English blue chipper finishes this fight instead of the good old lay and pray. Winner: Ross Pearson

James Wilks vs Matt Brown: James Wilks is the other British winner of the Ultimate Fighter 9. In fact of all the fighters on that show, James Wilks was the most impressive in my humble opinion.  He choked out DaMarques Johnson in the first round. What I like about Wilks is the speed of his transitions. You make a mistake against this brit, you will pay quickly.  However, this is an interesting fight in that Wilks is taking on a guy in Matt Brown who is a gamer. Matt Brown is one of the toughest dudes in the UFC. He punches hard, and has great conditioning. Some people see that and overlook his ground game. He might not be as technically gifted on the ground like Wilks, but he can hold his own. This is a tough fight to call. For James Wilks to win this fight he will have to throw some punches with Brown to set up some take downs. That is a dangerous proposition. I have no idea what Wilk’s chin is like. However, for Wilks to win this, he has to take Brown down and quickly move to some sort of dominant position and not sit in Brown’s guard. Matt Brown will probably try and keep the fight standing and try and wear down the speedy brit. This has the makings of a good fight. If I have to pick, I’m going to go with Wilks via submission. I think Wilks will be relentless with trying to take Brown down and odds are he will do so. Winner: James Wilks

Michael Bisping vs Dennis Kang: This to me is the most interesting fight on the card. I will admit, I’m a huge Dennis Kang supporter. When he arrived in the Octagon at UFC 93, he was beating on Alan Belcher. Kang made a mistake by being overly aggressive at the wrong time and got caught in a rear naked choke. Belcher had no business winning that fight. Call it Octagon jitters or whatever, the heavily experienced Kang made a bad judgment call, and it cost him. However he rebounded nicely at UFC 97 with a decision over a guy who I’m not going to attempt to spell his name. The stakes are higher for Dennis Kang when he becomes public enemy number one in Manchester, fighting England’s favorite MMA son, “The Count” Michael Bisping.

Dan Henderson sent Bisping from Las Vegas back to his homeland England with a stop over in China by a KO Shot heard around the world. It will probably be seen as the most brutal KO of the year. The Count was Out for the Count (har har har) Who wins this fight? Depends on how you look at it. Bisping will have the advantage of having the home crowd behind him, and probably a bad taste in his mouth over his UFC 100 loss, that bad taste being Dan Henderson’s fore arm (har, har har, more cliches) Bisping will be extremely motivated to win this fight. But, Kang has a ton of experience on his side and has beat better quality fighters in the past. I see Kang bringing in some sound strategy to this fight, and Bisping roaming around the cage hopped up on adrenaline, throwing his strategy to the wind, like he has done before. I’m taking Dennis Kang with a narrow victory, probably by decision or a late TKO.  Winner: Dennis Kang

Mike Swick vs Dan Hardy: I like Dan Hardy, I think he is a funny dude with some sound skills. He does have some solid boxing, especially with his counter punching. But I’ll make this prediction “quick” I’m taking Mike Swick via KO or TKO. Why? Swick has the experience factor and quite frankly has better well rounded skills. Dan Hardy is no where close to being a number one contender for GSP’s belt. Who is really? It is not a deep division in the UFC, but I do believe Mike Swick has all the tools to at least beat Hardy up. Not a lot of analysis on this fight, I just think Swick is a better fighter period. Winner: Mike Swick

Randy Couture vs Brandon Vera: You want the truth? You can’t handle the “Truth” at least that is what Randy Couture could find out. Both men fought at UFC 102. Brandon “The Truth” Vera beat Krzysztof (don’t call me Dom from Entourage)  Soszynski in an uneventful unanimous decision. Brandon played it safe and spent three rounds slapping at Krzysktof and never really tried to finish the fight. I like Vera at light heavy weight and I still believe he has the tools to be a great fighter in this division. I’ve made it a rule not to bet against “The Natural.” He was soundly beaten by Nogueira even though he showed a ton of heart and skills in avoiding getting TKO’ed or submitted.

Randy brings a wealth of experience and a never say die attitude that has made him one of the best fighters of all time. But can we safely say that his last two fights against Lesnar and Nogueira have exposed Randy’s biggest weakness…..age? I’d love to see Randy take another shot at a title run, but I just don’t think he has what it takes to beat the new breed of MMA fighter, especially in one of the deepest divisions in the UFC. Brandon Vera will have a considerable reach advantage with fast hands and deadly kicks. Randy likes to go for take downs or dirty box up against the cage. Not sure if that is a wise idea; considering Vera has solid take down defense and he was born to clinch with his Muay Thai training.  I see Vera being extremely motivated to win this fight as it could propel him to a possible number one contender fight for Shogun Rua’s Championship….ooops…Lyoto Machida’s belt. I’m taking Brandon Vera via decision. I hate betting against Randy, but I’ve been right the last two Couture outings. Randy is showing his age, and as much as his heart and brain are helping him get through fights, his body is not keeping up. Winner: Brandon Vera.

I will quickly comment on the Fedor vs Rogers fight at Strikeforce. Not surprised. It was what I was expecting. Until Fedor shakes the Russian Mob from his entourage and starts making better business decisions, he will always be one of the best fighters of all time, but not the best, why? because he fights tin cans that wouldn’t last a round in the UFC. The biggest and baddest are in the UFC’s heavyweight division. I’m sorry but Rogers put up a good fight, just think what Brock Lesnar would do? The amazing thing about Fedor is, it doesn’t matter how big his opponent is, Fedor will find a way to win, especially with those lethal fast hands. I still enjoy watching the Last Emperor.

Strikeforce as a whole puts together some quality fights, but they are missing something. I still think the production value needs some work. I don’t need to see entrances, but it would of been nice to see the Main Event entrances to build some hype and anticipation. Rogers coming out to some lame rap song, and seeing the look of terror in his eyes would of been nice. Cue the haunting eerie russian music and the emotionless Fedor Emelianenko; and the tension builds. The UFC does a great job of this. I do not want to see every fighters entrance unless it’s Mayhem Miller, wtf was that?! funny as hell. But there is something to be said for building up tension and excitement for a Main Event, instead of 15 commercials about where I can get a loan or the beauty of Viagra. That’s another thing, if you are going to run 100 ads, know your demographic. Well I guess it’s Saw 235′s trailer or bran flakes. Strikeforce has potential, but they are still looking for their identity.

Here is a start, Get rid of the Wamma belt..please…no one cares. Fedor carrying that belt seemed hilarious.  Strip Overeem of the heavy weight title as it is clear this guy would rather do every steroid under the sun and fight where he doesn’t have to go pee. There is no way Fedor will fight Overeem in Japan, that would be a horrible move by Strikeforce.

That’s it. Feel free to respond. I’m always up for discussions on why I’m right and you are wrong. By the way, check out Honour Combat Championships new website www.hcc-mma.com.

Cheers!

However, UFC 104 had me scratching my head, and not just what was happening in the Octagon, but outside of the cage as well.  Leading up to UFC 104 we saw the departure (“retirement”) of Quinton Rampage Jackson stating the UFC did not respect him. “I pity the fool” All the momentum that the Ultimate Fighter Heavy Weights “reality” show had with Rashad Evans and Jackson, died. Hollywood decided that they would drug Quinton Jackson and put him on a plane to……….who knows. What is known is that Quinton has continued to bad mouth the UFC and probably has burnt a bridge with Dana White. Once Quinton wakes up from his illusions of being a thespian, he may have a tough time getting back to the Octagon, and if he does, there will be no “tune up” fight for poor old B.A.

Dan Henderson tried to negotiate a new contract and was sent away with his tail between his legs, as Dana White told the public that Henderson was asking for waaay too much money and that the negotiations were dead. This could be a major win for Strikeforce, however I don’t see how the Strikeforce brass would be able to pay Dan what he is rumored to be asking for. If they do, we could see the same business plan Affliction had. That went well.

Tito Ortiz was supposed to be fighting Mark Coleman at UFC 106, but Coleman suffered an injury so Ortiz was given Forrest Griffin (Deja vu?)  on a card that was cursed from day one. The Chaos outside of the cage was nothing compared to the outrage the paying fans..er…papered fans and B-List actors witnessed in the Main Event at the nearly sold out Staples Center.

First off how did I do with my picks? 3 for 6 – 50% I must have been drinking Vodka or smoking some of what BC has to offer when I look back at some of my choices. The fight that surprised me the most (besides the Main Event) was the Velasquez vs Rothwell fight. I honestly thought Ben Rothwell would give Cain fits standing up. However, HOLY CRAP that kid is for real. Who is going to stop that guy’s takedowns?  I wasn’t a believer in Cain, as I don’t like to believe the hype until the hype is warranted, that fight made me a believer in Cain Velasquez. He is my pick for number one contender for the Heavy Weight Title. Brock vs Cain this Spring? I hope so. However a perverse part of me would like to see Big Nogueira vs “Brown Pride” Velasquez first. But that’s just me.

Now for the fiasco of the Main Event. I had Machida winning this fight, as I felt Shogun’s style would make him a living sacrifice for the Karate Gods.  It looked like both fighters were feeling each other out for the first round….and all the rest of the rounds. Not much action, just calculated strikes from both Brazilians. I’ve watched the fight twice, once with Joe Rogan’s biased colour comments, and once with the sound off.  Just a note, I think the UFC needs to think about changing up their broadcast crew once in a while. Is it just me or is Mike Goldberg a tad annoying? Joe Rogan although good at times, is perma baked and shows way too much favoritism to fighters he likes. I like it when Kenny Florian is on the broadcast, or hell, bring on Randy Couture once in a while again. But I digress.

Shogun won this fight. I’m still baffled on what three rounds the experts felt Machida won? You might be able to give Lyoto round one…MAYBE. Round three was for sure Machida’s and personally I thought he was very close to ending the fight.  However, that is it. Aggression, Octagon control and the harder more calculated strikes went to Shogun Rua for the remaining rounds. However, I blame both fighters for not going for the kill. I think Shogun was too tentative in the last two rounds and should have pushed the pace even more as I believe Machida’s movement was slower due to the abuse he took on his legs. Why was Shogun’s corner telling him to relax and that the fight was his? If I’m in his corner I’m telling him to finish him. Huge mistake by Shogun’s corner. In some ways though, could you blame them?

All in all this sets up a rematch. When? who knows. Dana White wants it done asap. In fact he is pushing for January, at UFC 108. Lyoto Machida did an interview recently and stated that he was going to take his time, let his wounds heal and probably come up with a better game plan. He does currently has a medical suspension and a hand that might need surgery. (www.sherdog.com/news/articles/machida-i-was-superior-20576 )  I would be surprised to see this rematch in January. In fact I would say March or April.  Rematches are big money, and this one will garner a ton of attention.  So really, do think the UFC is upset with the judging?  What I found surprising is that Dana White continues to bash Steve Mazzagatti the referee in the Rothwell fight, and White went public on how he felt the Machida fight was poorly judged. The UFC does not have control over the State Athletic Commissions.  This is the reason White said what he said, to make sure all you conspiracy theorists don’t think this was the evil doing of the UFC.

Brock Lesnar vs Shane Carwin has been pushed to UFC 108 in January. Brock (the most hated yet most entertaining beast in the sport) has come down with a severe flu. The rumor is it is H1N1.  The weirdest part of this story is that Shane Carwin has been dealing with Swine Flu too.  So it is probably best to postpone this match up. I don’t blame Brock’s camp for wanting to change the date. I’ve seen first hand what Swine Flu does, and it just zaps everything out of you. It would be impossible to have a full-time training regiment with that sickness. The fact is, Brock was still pushing himself and wanted to fight anyways, his trainer was the one to talk him out of it and get a new fight date. Wise decision. So UFC 106 will have Tito vs Griffin 2 as the Main Event with Josh Koscheck taking on Anthony Rumble Johnson fighting as the Co-Main Event on short notice. No surprise, as Johnson is getting a second chance to make-weight and really didn’t sustain any punishment in his two-minute beat down of Yoshida.

In the mean time I follow everything I can MMA, not just professionally but local as well.  The Western Canadian Championships were at BCIT and that was a success. Looks like Victoria is getting some events, now that they are sanctioned. Honour Combat Championships has a deal with Edgewater Casino in Vancouver to put on amateur shows until the City of Vancouver allows professional fights. It looks like this sport is becoming more and more mainstream. Let’s hope it doesn’t follow the path of Boxing. Oh by the way, Manny Sobral has his Friday Night Fights (amateur boxing) on Nov. 6th. Check it out. You can find him on Facebook. I’m out. Next blog – closer to UFC 105.

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