Sharing the UFC with others....

When I first got into watching the UFC, I was a sophomore in college. The year was 1995 and as soon as I watched my first tape, I was hooked. I jumped into being a fan with both feet. The internet was just getting going back then and information was sparse. I got by with renting UFC's from the video store and finding what results I could on the internet. My first live PPV was UFC 8 in February of 1996. And I've seen every one either live, on PPV, or video and dvd's since then.

To say that there weren't many other UFC fans when I started being one would be an understatement. The UFC had caused an initial buzz but was still more spectacle than sport at that time. It was like an exclusive underground club that not very many people knew about. Style versus style was still very much alive at that time, with wrestlers coming into the UFC to challenge the supremacy of Jiu-Jitsu.

I attended my first live UFC at UFC 18 in January of 1999. It was in New Orleans and since I had no other friends that kept up with the sport, I went by myself. That was a common theme, as I attended several live events by myself during that time period.

The UFC has come a long way since those times. You have instant access to mixed martial arts news and events all over the world. MMA programming is all over cable television, including live UFC events on Spike TV. Major sponsors are starting to back the UFC. Hundreds of thousands of new fans are popping up all of the time. Most people now have at least heard of the UFC if they aren't fans. And you know what? I can't decide if I like it.

Don't get me wrong, being able to go to a sports bar and watch and discuss the UFC with other fans is a dream come true. Having weekly programming and fights on television is amazing. But I think part of me longs for the underground feel of the early events. When you had to work hard and research to know who the fighters were, where they were from, and what styles they used. When groundfighting seemed mystical and magical instead of technical. All of that is gone. And now I have to share the sport I love with the general public. An uninformed, uneducated public. A public that now brings ignorant rants and opinions, like they have always brought into mainstream sports, into my sport. And that includes most MMA journalists, who's opinions are often so far from reality that I wonder what sport they are watching.

The only positive side of any of this is that now I am the old vet. I'm the guy who knows every fighter, who they have fought in the past, who won, and can provide insight on how future fights will turn out. I've turned into the guide that has helped many of my friends along the way to being fans. But I can still get aggravated by the people who call themselves huge fans now. The people who say, like one person did to me recently, that "they became a fan after they watched that one guy die in the UFC a long time ago". I know I should probably call them on craziness like that(since that never happened for you new fans), but I just nod and smile and wonder what it must be like for old football coaches to listen to fans yell at the television that a team needs to blitz more or pass more. Very similar to my experience I would imagine.

I won't, however, be like the fans of a musical act that quit being fans once the band gets popular. MMA and the UFC are like old friends to me, and I couldn't imagine not keeping up with them. So I guess I'll continue to bite my tongue when I see random meatheads at a bar tell a group of girls he fights in the UFC or used to fight in the UFC. And then when I'm watching the UFC in a big group and the guy next to me asks me what just happened when someone taps to a triangle, I'll smile and happily explain it. I suppose you take the good with the bad. But I may watch an event by myself every once in a while, just for old times sake.

Until next time,
Jason

UFC Influx of Talent

Much has been made of the lack of talent in some of the divisions of the UFC. Fighters from TUF are in many of the shows and pay is still pretty low among most of the undercard. However, recently the UFC has made an attempt at bringing in some big name talent. So far this year, we saw the return of several stars including Tito Ortiz, BJ Penn, and Royce Gracie. That influx has continued in recent events as we saw the UFC debut of Anderson Silva, an impressive KO against Chris Leben. At UFC 61, Dana White introduced yet another fighter set to come into the UFC. Wanderlei Silva, who's last fight in the Octagon was in April of 2000, is set to return to possibly face Light Heavyweight Champion Chuck Liddell(provided Liddell defeats Babalu in his next title defense).

Is this recent run of bringing in bigger name fighters just a result of the UFC making a little more money now than it was before or is the competition from other fighting companies causing the UFC to step up their game? Perhaps a healthy mix of both but I for one am glad a little bit of competition is starting to emerge. It can only push the UFC to put out a better product and be more enjoyable for us, the fans. I just hope that the UFC does not start to blackball fighters, managers, and trainers who participate in shows like IFL and WFA. The way to succeed over these competitors is too put on a superior product, not to try and snuff out the competition by threatening anyone who is involved with them.

I hope the signing of international stars continues and especially in the heavyweight division, which could use a major upgrade in talent.

Until next time,
Jason

Jim Lampley:Boxing puppet or really that clueless?

Jim Lampley was the guest host for the Jim Rome show on Monday, June 5th. The topic of "Ultimate Fighting" came up. When Lampley gave his opinion, I was genuinely shocked. He expressed the opinion that it wasn't a real sport, didn't have real athletes, and was nothing more than a "barfight".

I am normally a big fan of Jim Lampley. I enjoy his commentary on HBO Boxing. He does seem to be a little biased here and there but I have my favorite fighters also and it would be hard not to be biased at times. So I don't fault him for that. In general, his thoughts are pretty insightful and he calls the action well. So for him to have such an ignorant opinion of the sport I love so much really knocked me for a loop.

As Lampley continued to comment, it became more and more obvious that he didn't have the slightest clue what he was talking about. He said competitors in ultimate fighting "gouged each other" and other equally as incorrect statements. He said it was like watching a barfight, and if he wanted to do that he would go to a bar. He finally said he understood the appeal of it. It had the same appeal as watching a Gatti-Ward fight, where they slug it out, risk their lives, and beat each other into a bloody mess. He then said that while those type fights were somewhat entertaining, he preferred a technical fight.

Well, Mr. Lampley, I will agree with you on one point. I too enjoy a technical fight. Gatti-Ward type boxing does nothing for me. It seems kind of mindless and to be honest, I'm not a big fan of blood. That being said, I love the sport of mixed martial arts. Not because it's a violent spectacle as you seem to think, but because I see it as the ultimate technical combat sport. You used the term "barfight" to insinuate that the participants are unskilled. Which quite honestly couldn't be further from the truth. You just have to take the time to educate yourself as to what the fighters are try to do. You can't do that by watching maybe one UFC event 12 years ago and then sticking your head in the sand and pretending that's still what's going on today.

Boxing is known as the "sweet science". And that's a good assessment. Technical boxing can be a thing of beauty. A stronger man can be defeated by a skilled boxer. That's part of the appeal. But if boxing is the "sweet science", then mixed martial arts is the "sweeter science". A skilled mixed martial artist has to understand boxing, but they also have to understand other very technical skill sets such as wrestling, kickboxing, and other martial arts like judo, sambo, or jiu-jitsu. The sheer depth of knowledge for different aspects of fighting is overwhelming. And a good mixed martial arts fighter is proficient at them all. A top level boxer would very likely beat a top level mixed martial artist in a boxing match. But a boxer with no other training would have just a puncher's chance against an opponent who could take them out of their comfort zone by executing a takedown and shifting the fight into a different realm where a different skill set would come into play. To not enjoy the nuances of ground fighting is one thing. To completely dismiss it as not having skill is quite another.

The conception that fighters in the UFC are unskilled is ridiculous. They are among the most highly trained and highly skilled athletes in the world. There can be only two reasons that someone would suggest otherwise. Reason one would be if they have some sort of agenda. Reason two would be that they are truely ignorant to the tactics and skills that make up a mixed martial arts fight.

To be honest, I'm not sure which one of those two applies to Jim Lampley. For someone who comes across as intelligent in most realms I've heard him in, it's hard to believe he could honestly have the opinions he expressed if he had taken time to study the sport. So either he hasn't taken the time to understand the sport, or he is such a puppet for boxing that he plans on using whatever platform he can to bash mixed martial arts because he sees it as competition for boxing.

In the end, it doesn't really matter which one of those is true. The reality of the situation is that mixed martial arts is exploding in this country. And while their may be fans who like it for the "spectacle" of it, I am convinced there are many more out there like myself. Fans who appreciate the technical aspects of the sport and want to see it get fair treatment as a sport. A sport that is just as legitimate as boxing, and for my money, more technical and more enjoyable to watch.

Marc Ratner, the commissioner of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, recently resigned his position to take a position with the Ultimate Fighting Championships. More people are starting appreciate the sport and understand that's it not some mindless violence. It's talented athletes competing in a very technical sport. A sport which I personally believe is safer healthwise in the long run than boxing, a fact that will make itself clear as time goes by. Insiders in the fight game are starting to accept what all boxing supporters will eventually have to accept. You may not care for mixed martial arts personally, but bad mouthing it by restating the same old misconceptions or sticking your head in the sand and pretending it's not a viable sport won't make it go away.

Until next time,
Jason

My Blog Returns

After a few months hiatus, my MMA blog has returned. Exciting things have been happening in the world of mixed martial arts, and I'm ready to start giving my opinions on them once again.

Off the heels of UFC 60, and leading up to UFC 61, I think the UFC and Dana White have proved their point that the new stars of the UFC are more well rounded and advanced fighters than the old stars of the UFC. Ken Shamrock and Royce Gracie have now both been used to put over newer faces. And now Shamrock stands prepared to do it again at UFC 61 as he takes on Tito Ortiz for a second time. I hope that this is the last fight we see of this type for a while. But I doubt it. The old names still draw numbers for the same reason Mike Tyson can still draw numbers. And as long as they do, the UFC will use them. Royce himself said he was not done, and had at least two fights left in him. I imagine that both will be in Japan.

What I am much more excited about are some good fights looming on the horizon. Arlovski-Sylvia III is just around the corner. Matt Hughes, fresh off his win over Royce Gracie, will defend his belt against Georges St. Pierre in September. The UFC that fight is on is rumored to be held in Canada, giving St. Pierre home field advantage of sorts.

Also coming up soon is the Pride Welterweight and Open Weight Grand Prix. I'm not a big fan of the mixing of the weight classes, but as a fan of the sport, you can't help but be intrigued at some of the matchup possibilities in the Open Weight Grand Prix. In the Welterweight Grand Prix(183lbs.), I am looking forward to seeing if Murillo Bustamante or Paulo Filho can unseat Dan Henderson for the tournament title. I'm also curious how Dennis Kang and Joey Villasenor will do in the tournament.

The production values for the IFL on Fox Sports are very high. Devin Cole putting his opponents mouth piece back in to avoid a stand up was quite entertaining. And the IFL will be giving us some big fights soon with old favorties like Pat Miletich and Renzo Gracie locking horns.

WFA is an organization that is making waves right now. Matt Lindland versus Quinton Jackson is signed, as well as fighters like Ryoto Machida, Ricco Rodriguez, Ivan Salaverry, and the recently announced return of Bas Rutten.

Mixed martial arts is poised to really break through as a main stream sport in the United States. Awareness of the sport is rising, and with the efforts that have been made to move towards fighter safety and regulation of events, there aren't the abundance of critics that there have been in the past. Competition popping up for the UFC can only be a positive thing for the sport in the long run. I hope it pushes UFC to improve both their product and fighter pay.

Until next time,
Jason

UFC Ultimate Fight Night 3 Results

This past Monday, January 16th, the UFC held their third Ultimate Fight Night. Here are the results:

Heavyweight
Tim Sylvia
defeated
Assuerio Silva
Decision 30-27, 30-27, 29-28

Sylvia controlled this fight with his long jab. It was uneventful in spots, and Silva's only real offense was a looping right hand in the second round that opened a small cut by Sylvia's left eye. In the end, Sylvia was effective in keeping the distance and scoring with punches from the outside. The winner of this fight was guaranteed a shot at the heavyweight title, and Andre Arlovski was in attendance to scout out his future opponent. So now it will be a Sylvia/Arlovski rematch for the Heavyweight title.

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Light Heavyweight
Stephan Bonnar
defeated
James Irvin
Submission-Kimura Rnd. 1

Bonnar had said he planned to come in and bang with Irvin. Irvin, who Quinton Jackson said hit harder than any Light Heavyweight he's faced after they sparred, quickly landed a punch that knocked Bonnar back. Bonnar closed the distance, clinched and secured a takedown. He worked a kimura, but ended up switching to a straight armbar which Irvin escaped and got back to his feet. Bonnar quickly took him down again and this time worked the kimura until he had it on tight, forcing Irvin to tap. Impressive victory for Bonnar, who said after the fight he'd like to face a veteran like Vitor Belfort, Ken Shamrock, or Mario Sperry. Then he also hinted that he would like to face Forrest Griffin in a rematch of their classic fight last April.

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Middleweight
Chris Leben
defeated
Jorge Rivera
TKO Rnd. 1

This fight was over almost as soon as it started. After trading some punches and a small amount of time on the ground, Leben landed a short left hook as they separated from a clinch. The punch stunned Rivera and sent him to the canvas. Leben took Rivera's back and started raining down left hands to the side of the head and the referee stepped in and stopped the fight. It was a good win for Leben over a very tough fighter. After the fight, Leben bragged that he beat both Edwin Dewees and Rivera faster than Middleweight champ Rich Franklin beat them. When asked if he was ready for a title shot, Leben said he wanted to fight in the most exciting fights and be known as the greatest fighter to ever live.

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Welterweight
Josh Burkman
defeated
Drew Fickett
Submission-Guillotine Choke Rnd. 1

TUF II participant Josh Burkman was impressive in this one. The very tough Drew Fickett traded punches with Burkman for a while until Burkman pushed Fickett into the cage and threw him down. Fickett tried to counter with a single leg takedown but Burkman caught him on the way in with a Guillotine and Fickett was forced with tap with just over a minute gone by in the first round. After the fight, Burkman said he felt good at welterweight and thought he could take on anyone. Then he called out TUF I winner Diego Sanchez.

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PRELIM CARD
Welterweight
Jason Von Flue
defeated
Alex Karalexis
Submission-Side Choke Rnd. 3

Von Flue scored a victory by Side Choke in this non-televised fight.

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Welterweight
Spencer Fisher
defeated
Aaron Riley
TKO Rnd. 1

Fisher scored an impressive victory in this one. The doctor stopped the fight after the first round from a bad cut. Fisher continues to move up in the welterweight division.

---

Welterweight
Duane "Bang" Ludwig
defeated
Jonathan Goulet
TKO Rnd. 1

World class kickboxer "Bang" Ludwig made this one of the quickest fights in UFC history. This fight was a prelim but was shown prior to the main event when the show had some extra time. Goulet charged in for a takedown and Ludwig circled right and caught Goulet with a big right hand that knocked him down and briefly out. The referee paused for a second then stepped in to call the fight before Ludwig had a chance to attack further. The official time was 11 seconds but the punch really came at more like the 4 or 5 second mark. Afterwards, "Bang" expressed his desire to keep fighting in the UFC.

---

Welterweight
Josh Neer
defeated
Melvin Guillard
Submission-Triangle Choke Rnd. 1

In the last prelim, Josh Neer rebounded from a loss to defeat TUF II contestant Melvin Guillard by triangle choke.

PRIDE Results, UFC preview

PRIDE Shockwave 2005 results:
Fighter
vs.
Fighter
Method of victory Round Time

Charles Bennett
defeated
Ken Kaneko
Submission(Armbar) 1 4:14

Kazuhiro Nakamura
defeated
Yuki Kondo
Decision (Unanimous) 3 5:00

James Thompson
defeated
Giant Silva
TKO (Strikes) 1 1:28

Sanae Kikuta
defeated
Makoto Takimoto
Decision (Unanimous) 3 5:00

Aleksander Emelianenko
defeated
Pawel Nastula
Submission (Rear Naked Choke) 1 8:45

Fedor Emelianenko
defeated
Zuluzinho
Submission (Punches) 1 0:26

Dan Henderson
defeated
Murilo Bustamante
Decision (Split) 2 5:00

Takanori Gomi
defeated
Hayato Sakurai
KO (Punches) 1 3:56

Kazushi Sakuraba
defeated
Ikuhisa Minowa
Technical Submission (Kimura) 1 9:59

Mark Hunt
defeated
Mirko Filipovic
Decision (Split) 3 5:00

Wanderlei Silva
defeated
Ricardo Arona
Decision (Split) 3 5:00

Hidehiko Yoshida
defeated
Naoya Ogawa
Submission (Armbar) 1 6:04

---

There were a few surprises but not many on this card. Mark Hunt shook up the heavyweight rankings by earning the decision over Cro Cop. Cro Cop looked very wary of Hunt's power and never attempted a takedown on his way to a loss. The Henderson/Bustamante and Silva/Arona decisions were both very controversial as they were very close fights that different people saw different ways.

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The next big event on the horizon is the Spike TV Ulitimate Fight Night on Monday, January 16th. This should be a very entertaining card with several very evenly matched fighters. Here are the scheduled fights:

MAIN CARD ON SPIKE TV
Heavyweight
Assuerio Silva(10-2)
vs
Tim Sylvia(19-2)#6 ranked Heavyweight, InsideFighting.com MMA Rankings

This fight will be the main event and will have a profound effect in the Heavyweight division. If Sylvia can win, he will prove he is ready to rematch Mir or Arlovski for the UFC title. A win by Silva propels him into championship status also, even though this is his first UFC fight.

Silva is a fighter with a lot of potential, but I think the reach and striking of Sylvia is too much for him. Sylvia will keep this fight standing and avoid the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills of Silva. I think Sylvia will eventually catch Silva with a big shot and end this fight in the 2nd or 3rd round.

---

Light Heavyweight
Stephan Bonnar(7-2)
vs
James Irvin(9-1)

TUF I finalist Stephan Bonnar continues his run in the UFC against a very tough opponent in James Irvin. Irvin is a former heavyweight making his second appearance as a light heavyweight. In his first, he was on his back most of the first round against Terry Martin before catching Martin with a highlight reel type flying knee in the opening seconds of round two. Bonnar earned most of his reputation as a fighter with tremendous heart for a battle with Forrest Griffin in the finals of TUF I.

I think this fight will be a stand up war at first because each fighter likes to bang on their feet. If Irvin is getting the better of Bonnar standing, Bonnar has the grappling background to put Irvin on his back and work from there. Irvin is a physical specimen at light heavyweight and could possibly overwhelm Bonnar with his athleticism. But I believe Bonnar will weather the storm, and do enough in this fight to earn a decision victory.

---

Middleweight
Chris Leben(8-1)#13 ranked Middleweight, MMARanks.com
vs
Jorge Rivera(12-4)

This is a great fight between two guys who love to trade leather. Rivera burst onto the UFC scene with a win over David Loiseau, the middleweight #1 contender who will face Rich Franklin for the title at UFC 58 in March. He followed that up with consecutive losses to Lee Murray and Rich Franklin. Rivera is back on the winning track now after a win over Dennis Hallman at UFC 55. Leben was a TUF I contestant who has been impressive in the octagon, scoring three straight victories after losing twice on the show. The winner of this fight puts themselves in contention for a title shot later this year.

This should be an exciting fight. Rivera has what I consider to be technically superior stiking skills but Leben has the chin and the power to end a fight with one punch. Leben was also able to get a victory by arm bar in his last fight, proving he is not a one dimentional fighter. I think this will be a barn burner but I see Leben doing enough in the end to earn the victory.

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Welterweight
Josh Burkman(5-2)
vs
Drew Fickett(28-3) #10 ranked Welterweight, MMARanks.com

Burkman was a TUF II participant who won his only fight against Melvin Guillard but was injured in the process and forced off the show. Burkman showed good wrestling skills in that fight and will most likely try to use those skills to control this fight will Fickett. Drew Fickett has an impressive MMA record and has very well rounded skills. He appeared to be on the way to a decision loss to Josh Koscheck when a late standup allowed him the opportunity to land a big knee to the head of Koscheck, take his back, and secure a choke for the win.

Burkman is not the wrestler Koscheck is and a big key in this fight will be if Burkman can take Fickett down and control him on the ground. I don't think he will be able too consistently and Fickett will figure out a way to win this one and move up the welterweight rankings once again.

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PRELIM CARD
Welterweight
Jason Von Flue(10-4-1)
vs
Alex Karalexis(1-1)

Two TUF contestants here as Karalexis from season one takes on Von Flue from season two. Karalexis is a hard puncher with good cardio. He was lost against Diego Sanchez on the ground but has rebounded from that with a win over Josh Rafferty in the finals of TUF I. He has most recently lost to Kenny Florian and this may be his last chance in the octagon if he loses this fight. Von Flue won a tough battle against Jorge Gurgel on TUF II before falling to eventual winner Joe Stevenson. This is his first fight since the show.

Von Flue is a tough guy but doesn't look to be very strong at welterweight. Karalexis I believe will have a slight advantage standing, although Von Flue's awkward style can be effective. Von Flue has several submission victories under his belt and if he can secure a takedown and use his ground skills, I think he has a good shot at winning. If the fight stays standing, I see a long fight will blows landed by both fighters.

---

Welterweight
Aaron Riley(23-7-1)
vs
Spencer Fisher(15-1)

Many people are dissapointed that this fight is a prelim. Spencer Fisher is a rising star in the welterweight division. He was impressive against Thiago Alves in his UFC debut and his only loss is a decision to the always tough Carlo Prater. Aaron Riley is an experienced fighter who debuted in the UFC back in 2002 but is making his first return since then. Riley is as tough as they come and is very tough to finish.

Fisher I believe will be too much for Riley, but this will likely be a very close fight that will go the distance. It's been a while since I have seen Riley fight, so maybe he will have improved his game more than I realize.

---

Welterweight
Duane "Bang" Ludwig(10-4)
vs
Jonathan Goulet(15-5) #12 ranked Welterweight, MMARanks.com

"Bang" Ludwig returns to the octagon to showcase his striking skills. 155lbs. is probably a better weight for Ludwig, but until the UFC returns the lightweight division, this is the weight he must compete in. Jonathan Goulet is a Canadian fighter with well rounded skills.

I think Goulet will be able to take Ludwig to the ground and finish him there. But it will definately be interesting and exciting while it is still standing. "Bang" has the ability to finish a fight quickly if he connects on a big shot.

---

Welterweight
Melvin Guillard(18-4-1)
vs
Josh Neer(15-3-1)

Another fighter who would be more effective at lightweight, Melvin Guillard is a smallish welterweight but still has explosive power and quickness. His raw athleticism is very impressive. Josh Neer sports a very impressive record with losses only to Drew Fickett, Spencer Fisher, and recent UFC debut winner Nick Thompson.

Neer is a tough fighter who isn't afraid to trade standing. Guillard has quick hands and would like to stand and trade as well. This is a hard fight to predict as both fighters have good skills and this fight could take place standing or on the mat. I believe this fight will go to a decision, with Guillard doing enough to earn the win.

PRIDE New Year's Eve Card

PRIDE Shockwave 2005

Each year, the PRIDE Fighting Championships have a card on New Year's Eve that is designed to be their highest drawing card of the year. Sporting events on New Year's Eve are a tradition in Japan and each year PRIDE competes with K1 for viewers. This year PRIDE is pulling out all the stops, with the finals of two Grand Prix tournaments plus some other amazing fights. Let's take a look at the matchups.

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160lbs. Grand Prix Title:
Hayato Sakurai(24-6-2) #2 ranked Lightweight
vs
Takanori Gomi(23-2) #1 ranked Lightweight

The top two Lightweight fighters in the world square off in the finals of the 160lbs. Grand Prix. Gomi is riding a nine fight winning streak and is ready to prove to the world he is the best at this weight. Sakurai comes in off two impressive victories in the Grand Prix over Jens Pulver and Joachim Hansen(who owns a victory over Gomi). Sakurai has looked very tough since dropping weight to compete in the Lightweight division.

Even with his recent resurgence at a new weight, I don't think Sakurai will win this fight. Gomi is explosive and I think he will be able to take Sakurai down and control this fight.

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183lbs. Grand Prix Title:
Murilo Bustamante(12-4-1) #5 ranked Middleweight
vs
Dan Henderson(18-4) #1 ranked Middleweight

The other Grand Prix title match pits a rematch of a fight two years ago between Bustamante and Henderson. Bustamante endured a three match losing streak after leaving the UFC as it's Middleweight champion and competing in the 205 division in PRIDE. Murilo has returned to his winning ways since going back to the Middleweight division with wins over Masanori Suda and Ikuhisa Minowa and will look to avenge his prior loss to Henderson and claim the Middleweight title. Dan Henderson has always competed on a high level as an undersized 205lbs. fighter. After losing in the 205lbs. Grand Prix earlier this year, Dan entered the 183lbs. Grand Prix and has been dominant in both fights thus far, winning both by KO over well regarded Japanese fighters Ryo Chonan and Akihiro Gono.

Dan Henderson is very tough to beat at this weight and I see him steamrolling his way to the Middleweight Grand Prix title. Bustamante is always tough and won't make it easy for him, but I see Henderson coming out on top, sprawling and brawling his way to victory.

---

Ricardo Arona(12-3) #5 ranked Light Heavyweight
vs
Wanderlei Silva(29-5-1) #3 ranked Light Heavyweight

Another feature match on the card is the rematch of the 205lbs. Grand Prix semi-finals. Wanderlei Silva was the king of the 205lbs. division for a long time before Arona knocked him off. Arona then fell in the finals to Silva's teammate, "Shogun" Rua. Silva will be looking to re-establish himself and prove the first fight was a fluke. Arona will be his steady self, sticking to his game plan of grounding Silva and working for position. Silva fought very cautiously in their first fight. We'll see if he comes out guns blazing in this fight.

Although Silva is one of my favorite fighters to watch, I just don't know if this fight will be different from the first. He could catch Arona with a good shot and finish him. And that's what I'm hoping to see. But I see this going to a decision, with Arona once again controlling the action enough to win a decision.

---

Mark Hunt(2-1)
vs
Mirko Cro Cop(17-3-2) #3 ranked Heavyweight

This will be a battle of two of the most feared strikers in Mixed Martial Arts. Both of these K-1 veterans will be looking to stand and trade. Mirko has more experience in this style of fighting but the chin and heavy hands of Mark Hunt always pose a threat to anyone willing to go toe to toe with him.

Cro Cop is the more technical striker and I believe he will be able to pick Hunt apart and win a decision based on his effective striking. But there is always the chance Hunt could land a big punch.

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Fedor Emelianenko(22-1) #1 ranked Heavyweight
vs.
'Zuluzinho'(2-0)

Zuluzinho is the son of Rei Zulu who lost two legendary fights with Gracie family champion Rickson Gracie back in 1980 in Brazil. Zuluzinho is a massive 6'7" and 340lbs. However, I really don't think that will matter much against the best fighter in the world. Fedor will win this fight by whatever method he wants. Guys with 2 total fights, despite their family lineage or size, should not be thrown into a fight with a man like Fedor. This one could get ugly quickly.

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Hidehiko Yoshida(5-3-1)
vs.
Naoya Ogawa(7-1)

This fight is a Japanese fight fan's dream. Yoshida is a former Olympic Judo Gold Medalist. Ogawa won a silver medal in the Olympics in Judo and is now a famous pro wrestler in Japan. I've never been a fan of Ogawa in the ring but he brings an amazing level of excitement among the Japanese fans to any real fighting event he is involved in. You always have to wonder, however, if the fights he is involved in are on the up and up. There have been questions in the past. If this is indeed a real fight, Ogawa will have a significant size advantage but I think Yoshida's toughness and experience against top competition will propel him to a victory.

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Kazushi Sakuraba(17-9-1)
vs
Ikuhisa Minowa(30-22-8)

Sakuraba built his reputation as the "Gracie Hunter" with victories over four members of the famous Brazilian fighting family. Sakuraba's record doesn't look particularly impressive because he is constantly matched with opponent's much larger than himself. But he is a fighting icon in Japan and has many impressive victories against tough competition. He is coming off a win over Ken Shamrock to face another Japanese icon, "The Punk" Ikuhisa Minowa. Minowa has been in the fight game for nearly 10 years now. His flamboyant style has made him a fan favorite despite his up and down record in the ring. Minowa is still dangerous and his wrestling ability could possibly give Sakuraba some problems. But for once Sakuraba will be the one with the size advantage and I think he will take this fight without too much trouble.

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Makoto Takimoto(2-1)
vs
Sanae Kikuta(24-6-3)

Takimoto is another Olympic Gold Medalist in Judo that PRIDE has recruited to mixed martial arts. Kikuta is a longtime veteran with solid wins and only a few losses, usually to top competition. Takimoto is a great athlete but I think his inexperience will be his downfall in this one.

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Yuki Kondo(44-16-5)
vs
Kazuhiro Nakamura(7-4)

This is yet another one of the fights designed to attract a big Japanese television audience. Kondo is a savvy veteran of the sport who has held the prestigious "King Of Pancrase" title. Nakamura is a judo expert and protege of Hidehiko Yoshida. To me this fight is a toss up. I tend to favor the more experienced fighter in these sort of fights, but Nakamura may have a little size and strength on Kondo. I'll go with Kondo by decision, but nothing will surprise me in this one.

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Pawel Nastula(0-1)
vs
Aleksander Emelianenko(7-1) #10 ranked Heavyweight

Fedor's younger brother Aleksander takes on mixed martial arts newcomer Pawel Nastula. Nastula has legit ground skills and would have an advantage over Emelianenko in that realm. But I don't think Nastula will be able to get this fight to the ground. Aleksander will use his striking advantage and end this one on their feet.

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Giant Silva(1-4)
vs
James Thompson(10-2)

7'2", 400lbs. former WWF wrestler Giant Silva continues his unsuccessful journey into mixed martial arts. This is strictly a sideshow, with the Japanese fans intrigued by the size of the two fighters. Thompson, at 6'5", 264lbs., is not used to being the far smaller man but it shouldn't matter too much in this one. Thompson will be too much for Silva and will overwhelm him with hand speed.

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Overall, even though it includes a few fights that I'm not looking forward to, this is a tremendous card. The Grand Prix finals in both weight classes should be spectacular and Silva-Arona, Hunt/Cro Cop, and Kondo/Nakamura are fights I am looking forward to. Here's hoping the event is as good live as it is on paper.

Until next time,
Jason