Post UFC 115 Rant

Okay. So it's been a while, but hey, I was getting married. Enough said.

UFC 115, like most other pay-per-views, left a lot to be desired after all was said and done. Not only were some of the fights snoozers, but there were a lot of questions about referee decisions that were not up to snuff.

Referees

Why oh why are we in the fourth or fifth year of MMA being somewhat mainstream and still having referee problems. In my honest opinion, I believe a lot of it has to do with the fact that the fight organizations do not have any control over them. Here's the thing, there are still 3 states in the U.S. holding out on sanctioning MMA. The athletic commsions assigned when sanctioned are in charge of the referees that the organizaitons use, and seeing how corruptable man can be, I can see why. The problem is, is that we are asking states that are new to the sport to find or train referees in the sport in which they know nothing about. I, for one, would like to see organizations like the UFC and Strikeforce have schools or classes in which one can become a referee. There are tons of amatuer fighting orgs. that would benefit from such help from the larger organizations, and in the long run, the larger orgs. will have better refs. The "kicking the head of a downed opponent whilst going for an arm triangle choke" call was pathetic, but not nearly as pathetic as the ref's stopping the fight to warn, then standing the fighters up only to have them get back down once the warning was issued.

Shock and Awe

One awesome thing that came from UFC 115 was the privilage of seeing three outstanding up and comers fight to the absolute best of their abilities. Evan Dunham outbested top five lightweight Tyson Griffin for three rounds, proving not only a force to be reckoned with but also a possible near future contender. Claude Patrick debuted in spectacular form taking out Ricardo Funch with yet another outstanding choke hold (his 9th choke hold win in 11 wins). And Canadian Rory McDonald, who came into this fight his second in the UFC, and was given former WEC champ Carlos Condit. McDonald dominated Condit, pressuring him non-stop until eating a right early in the third and falling to Condits gruesome GNP. He made it clear, not only can he bring it to some of the best, but also has class afterwards not blaming the last second stoppage (when he could have possibly won or brought the match to a draw) and thanking his opponent for being game.

The Main Event

So we get to the main even and saw the former light heavyweight champ Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell go up against the former middleweight champ Rich "Ace" Franklin in what the UFC wanted everyone to think was going to be a good matchup. In a ways, I guess they were right, I mean, Chuck did come into the fight with a good gameplan against Ace. He put the pressure on Franklin, made him scramble, and even hit him good a few times (at least one good hit since Rich ended up showing off what a badass he is fighting with a broken arm). The only problem with the Iceman's strategy was that newly discovered glass jaw. It should have been by all accounts a very predictable end to the fight (despite how much credit Liddell was given beforehand). The Iceman now has 3 consecutive losses via knockout, each one taking longer than the last to recover from. Franklin looked outstanding and in much better form at 205, and used his head movement and kept calm when crowded to pull off a clean win.

What's Next

There are a few things that we should all like to see happen after this pay-per-view.

Franklin vs. Machida

This fight makes since. Franklin now is somewhat established, and being a former champion should get to face top tier opponents. Machida was Franklin's first loss, and now Machida needs a good opponent to keep him in the running. Stylistically, this fight is very interesting to me, but may not be as exciting, so we'll call it a Co-Main Event for now.

Dunham vs. Pellegrino/Sotiropolous

Dunham has proven himself able to face stiff competition. I have him ranked 10th in the division just below these two fighters. Both fighters give Dunham a big challenge, and the winner would move one step closer to a title shot.

Condit vs. Swick

This may not sound as good as the others but hear me out. Swick has been for a while top ten in the division although his fight history is somewhat thin. Condit being a former champion would either beef up Swick and quiet the doubters (if there are any other than myself) or Condit would defeat a top-tier opponent and move within one or two from a title shot.

UFC 115 had left us with a lot to be desired, but at the same time, I would have nothing to write about if it didn't. It was good to see the UFC use some of its new recruits, and I for one, couldn't have been more impressed.

UFC 113 Aftermath

Preliminary Card

Jason MacDonald vs. John Salter

This was MacDonald's first fight back after being released by the UFC back in April of last year. After the release, MacDonald fought four times in just 6 months. He last fought an impressive 15 days before this bought in a hard fought unanimous decision win over fellow UFC outcast Matt Horwich. John Salter got a chance to redeem himself after a loss to newcomer and UFC prospect Gerald Harris. Unfortunately it didn't work out for either fighter. Nearly 3 minutes into the fight, MacDonald threw a high kick and was caught by Salter, and when Salter attempted to take MacDonald down, MacDonald's ankle twisted awkwardly forcing the ref to call a stop to the match. It marks Salter's first win in the octagon, but was a sour victory. Salter wished MacDonald a speedy recovery so they can battle again further down the road.

Mike Guymon vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida

In what looked like a must-win situation for both fighters, Guymon took he's game plan and delivered a stiffling top game against submission artist Yoshida. Despite numerous attempts, Guymon used his takedowns and controlled the fight all three rounds to earn a unanimous decision victory. Yoshida is now 2-3 in the past 5 fights in the UFC, dropping wins to Josh Koscheck and an overweight Anthony Johnson. Guymon earns his first victory in the Octagon, and coming just months after a mental breakdown. Yoshida most likely will get the cut, and Guymon seems to be teetering on the edge.

Joey Beltran vs. Tim Hague

Canadian Tim Hague was a late replacement for Chad Corvin, and had previously dropped 2 fights in a row against up and comers Todd Duffee and Pat Barry. Beltran was looking to impress after beating the very gassed Rollles Gracie at UFC 109. Both heavyweights looked extremely winded during the three rounds, in fact, both gas tanks were teetering close to the end of the 1st. Despite the lack of cardio, all three rounds were back and forth with Beltran getting the better each round, with the possible exception of the third where Hague was able to take Beltran down. Hague drops his 3rd consecutive fight in the UFC, and Beltran goes 2-0. Beltran needs to work on his cardio before he gets anywhere in the division, and Hague most likely will move on, possibly fighting for the UFC when they need a heavyweight replacement in Canada.

T.J. Grant vs. Johny Hendricks

Undefeated welterweight Hendricks looked to move to 8-0, standing in his way was Grant, who was 2-1 with an upset win over Ryo Chonan. In what was one of the closest fights of the night, both Grant and Hendricks were battling back and forth all three rounds. Hendricks was able to take Grant down at will, but it seemed the local favorite Grant was getting the better of the exchanges. After a low blow in the first, in which Hendricks took nearly all five minutes (and was moved due to listening to corner advice), there was yet another low blow in the 3rd round and a very important point was deducted. Hendricks keeps his record spotless, though the deducted point may have proven to be needed. Grant drops his second fight in the UFC, but should be safe from the cutting list with a great performance.

Marcus Davis vs. Jonathan Goulet

Five fights into the card and only one had been stopped before the decision and that was for an injury. Davis vs. Goulet was a solid fight that few if any expected to go all three rounds. Goulet had dropped a fight with Mike Swick, and entered this fight with determination. Davis had other plans as he too had dropped his past two fights against Ben Saunders and Dan Hardy. The Irish Handgrenade lived up to his name when he staggered Goulet early in the first. Not able to pounce on the wounded Canadian, the last few minutes in the first went back and forth. Early in the second, Davis landed another hard shot that hurt Goulet, and this time was able to jump in and take him to the ground. Goulet scrambled and got to his feet, only to be knocked out cold in the following seconds.

Joe Doerksen vs. Tom Lawlor

Lawlor, as he always does, put on a show for the weigh-ins when he dyed his hair and mustache in a tribute to MMA legend Don Frye. Unfortunately the iconic handlebar mustache was just not enough when he faced the always tough Doerksen. Joe Doerksen came in with over 50 fights on his record. Lawlor looked to land some crisp combos which had Doerksen staggered early, but was unable to finish the veteran. After what seemed like Lawlor gassing out his arms landing almost every punch through, Doerksen still stood in front of him at the end of the round. Coming out a bit fresher than his opponent, Doerksen showed Lawlor that he can not only last a round of getting beat, but also come out in the second and put his opponent away. Doerksen gets his 6th consecutive win, and Lawlor leaves thinking only of his next tribute.

UFC Middleweight Top 10

After a lackluster performance against top ten middleweight Demain Maia, Anderson Silva still seems to reign the division. In the wings, Chael Sonnen awaits eagerly to prove that he has what it takes to beat the spider. Coming up this weekend is a great matchup between Patrick Cote and Alan Belcher. Returning from a knee injury during a title fight agianst Silva, Cote looks to show everyone that he is still relevant in the top ten (I for one, am a strong believer). Alan Belcher is still trying to break the cusp of top ten as he has bested Wilson Gouveia and Denis Kang, but fell short against Yoshihiro Akiyama.

Middleweight Division

1. Anderson Silva (26-4)

2. Chael Sonnen (25-10-1)

3. Vitor Belfort (19-8)

4. Nate Marquardt (29-9-2)

5. Demian Maia (12-2)

6. Yushin Okami (24-5)

7. Yoshihiro Akiyama (13-1)

8. Patrick Cote (13-5)

9. Alan Belcher (15-6)

10. Michael Bisping (18-3)

Other Contenders

Dan Miller (11-3)
Mark Munoz (8-1)
Rousimar Palhares (10-2)
Aaron Simpson (7-0)
Alessio Sakara (19-7)

The Gatekeepers

In almost any division in every promotion, there is always that one person who stands between the elite and the fighters that are still learning. Generally, we call them gatekeepers, they hold the key that will get you to the next level. Fail, and you will surely be on the undercard, succeed and you get your next shot on air. In most cases there are more than one gatekeeper, but lets look at the UFC's main favorite middlemen in each division.


Lightweight - Clay Guida (26-8)

By far the best example of a gatekeeper in the UFC. Guida does not know the definition of quit, his cardio is rarely met and never exceeded and his record speaks of his experience inside the cage. While still ranked in the top 10 in the division, Guida has met little success when trying to get past other contenders. He has, however, proven to be the line in the sand when it comes to who is promoted as being an elite fighter within the division. He is 5-5 in his past ten fights, but has only lost to those such as Florian, Sanchez, Huerta, and Griffin. No one outside the top ten has beaten Guida in the past three years, but he has not bested any either. Guida is the textbook gatekeeper.

Welterweight - Chris Lytle (28-17-5)

Although he has not been a constant in the UFC, Lytle proves a worthy opponent when vying for position in the top 10. A true fighter at heart, he throws everything he has in every fight. To prove this you only have to look at the bonus' he has accrued in the past 10 fights. Of those 10, he has 4 Fight of the Night, 2 Submission of the Night, and 1 Knockout of the Night Honors. He has only lost to the top tier opponents in the past 3 years, and has set back every mid-tier fighter in the same. Lytle will continue to prove his love for the game in years to come, though a dream of a title run looks to be just outside his reach.

Middleweight - Ed Herman (18-7)

Since his stint on The Ultimate Fighter 3, Herman has been the go-to man in the middleweight division when the bosses want a good fight to see where Herman's opponent ranks. Though you can say that he has taken more than one fight on short occasion, you have to also acknowledge his lack of ability to top better fighters in the division. Recently, he has only lost to Maia, Belcher, and the undefeated ACS prospect Aaron Simpson. Though he never has a bad showing, he is currently 2-3 in his past five fights, which should paint a target on his back when White and Co. are looking to shed some weight off the budget.

Light Heavyweight - Keith Jardine (14-8-1)

With one of the worst records, but still employed, in the UFC at 6-6, Jardine must be doing something right. My guess would be to never turn down a fight. He has to be feeling heat to get a win (currently 1-4 in the past 5), and he has his work cut out for him when he faces Matt Hamill at the TUF 11 Finale next month. The only loss to a sub top 10 in the UFC however was to Stephan Bonnar 4 years ago. While he seems to be in favor when giving the UFC brass a good fight when they beckon, Jardine seems to be the go-to gatekeeper for the time, and age is not on his side.

Heavyweight - Cheick Kongo (25-6-1)

If you had to chose a gatekeeper in such a thin division, Kongo seems to fit the bill the best. It may be due to his strong kickboxing background, and very underskilled ground game, but Kongo cannot push beyond the top tier fighters in the UFC. His most recent win was impressive as he bested Paul Buentello, but Buentello is at the end of his career. The possibility of a stunning knockout will keep him on the main cards, as well as the size of the division, but it seems his best role in the UFC is as gatekeeper.

The Fighters That Can't Let Go, Or Won't ...

As MMA grows, there seem to be a plethora of fighters out there that want to fight the best. UFC, for all it's glory, hates to have good competition, and not that I blame them, it's just not good business. Taking that into consideration, the UFC must churn out great fights with great fighters in order to keep their audience hooked. As the sport has evolved, so have the fighters, and it seems that the goodies of old just end up looking like the oldies from another time. So with so much new talent just waiting in the wings, and the UFC not wanted other promotions to have better fights, why are we still seeing the same guys that just won't leave? Here is a look at my top 10 fighters that should retire (in my humble opinion) or get a desk job for the UFC at the least.

10. Randy "The Natural" Couture

Also known as Captain America in the community, Couture barely made the list, although he tops many on the list by about 5-10 years of age. Every time he fights, there are many people who just don't think that Couture has what it takes anymore to stay at the top of his game. Time and time again he proves us wrong. Recently, The Natural dropped back down to light heavyweight and proved that he was still worthy by outclassing Branden Vera, then handily beating fellow antique Mark Coleman. With a new division to work on, only time will tell if his age will finally catch up to him.

9. Wanderlei "The Axe Murderer" Silva

Probably the person I least want on this post, but definitely worthy. With only 10 losses to his career, six have come in his past 10 fights. Since the fall of Pride, he has only been able to top mediocre fighters (Bisping and Jardine). With his recent surgery, and a drop to middleweight, some spark seemed to still be there in his recent battle with Bisping, but do not look for Silva to make a run for the belt, at best he will serve as gatekeeper for a few more years.

8. Caol Uno

In the North American circuit, thinking of fighters past their prime or overwhelmed by competition, rarely do you think of the lightweight division. Unfortunately that's where Uno falls. A decade ago, Uno fought people twice his size and finished them in quick manner with the flexibility and superb submissions. He is 0-3-1 in his past 4 fights only squeaking out a draw over UFC newcomer Fabricio Camoes (who recently was cut by the UFC). While some fights in Japan may bring some money for the name draw, it seems as if Uno's time has come and gone.

7. Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic

Once one of the most brutal fighters of all time, Cro Cop has now become a shadow of his former self. His UFC debut was hyped up so much that everyone though he would dominate the division in a matter of a year or two. It seemed that time had other plans. Gonzaga was his first test and it ended exactly how everyone expected it to, just with Gonzaga's hand raised instead. The signature head kick brutally knocked out the Croatian early in the first round. He followed with a sluggish performance against Kongo, losing a decision. His last fight was a victory, though his opponent seemed hand picked, and offered little in terms of offense. From the man Fedor once said was his toughest opponent he ever fought to a fighter barely able to finish opponents that stand in front of him, it seems like a different fighter all together now.

6. Phil "New York Badass" Baroni

With an impressive 13-12 record, it still amazes me that Baroni is still employed by the UFC. Although he put on a show, and has the mouth to hype any fight, he's never really been that good. The last fight he won against top competition was Dave Menne back in 2002, which just so happens to be the only big name he has a win over. It's past the time for Baroni to either move on to smaller shows, or put down the gloves.

5. Chuck "The Iceman" Lidell

Yet another legend on the list. Like Couture, Lidell has brought the UFC into the 21st century giving us battles that will long last in our memories. Current coach on the Ultimate Fighter, Lidell seems to be at the point of retirement (even Dana White is pushing him there). Since his loss to Quinton Jackson, everyone has figured out his game. Liddell backs up and waits until you chase him, then throws an overhand right ... every time. He is currently 1-4 in his past four fights, though they are over top tier competition. Unfortunately he was knocked out three of those times, each time taking longer to recover in the cage. It not only is needed for his own health, but now it seems to be shedding bad light in the sport, and with New York still holding out, it may be the best move for everyone involved.

4. Stephan Bonnar

One half of one of the greatest fights ever aired on TV. Bonnar fought opposite of Forrest Griffin to be the first Ultimate Fighter. Griffin went on to win, but the fight showed that both had enormous potential. Unfortunately for Bonnar, Griffin continued to win while Bonnar settled for mediocrity. He excels at beating lower tier competition, but whenever faced with a top opponent, he ends up on the wrong end of a one sided fight. Dana White has previously stated that he would not fire Bonnar, and with his extracurricular activities within MMA, Bonnar would be a good addition to the broadcasting team in some way, shape, or form ... just not a fighter.

3. Tito Ortiz

Ortiz may be putting himself out of the sport with his recent debacle with the police. Just yesterday he was arrested on charges of domestic violence. Even if the incident doesn't end his UFC career, there were rumors that his coaching opposite of Chuck Liddell was cut short due to injury. With Ortiz being sidelined for over a year in the recent past, it wouldn't be unlikely that he re-injured his back or neck. But all of the above aside, his fighting ability has seen better days. He is 0-3-1 in his last four fights, although all loses have been to top opponents. His simplistic ground and pound style presents a problem as the younger new fighters come in with the knowledge to get around his style. His coaching on the show is a pleasant possibility, with his gym, he could hold onto the sport, but should definitely leave the fighting to someone else.

2. Mark Coleman

I know that he has already been released by the UFC, but I'm sure that if they were looking for someone to fill in and Coleman was within reach, they would snatch him up in a heartbeat. Let's all hope that never happens. Coleman is the classic definition of age catching up with a fighter. At one time, Coleman held the heavyweight belt, and was a force to be reckoned with; now he his a withered old soul looking to keep his dream alive. It saddens me to see an icon of the sport look so out of place, but time will only show that there are more and more MMA legends that will reach this point.

1. The Gracies

By far, the hardest thing to admit. The Gracies 'built this house', but unfortunately do not rule the roost anymore. We've seen Royce come back only to be embarrassed by Hughes, then we saw Rolles (the youngest and the heaviest) literally gas into nothingness in a matter of minutes. Lastly there was hope in Renzo. Renzo was literally obliterated by Hughes with leg kicks. Though they brought the sport to where it is today, and still are one of the best BJJ teachers in the business, when it comes to fighting in the cage, it seems they are at an impasse. There are enough Gracies left to make a comeback, and I, for one, hope that this will come true, for now I will find some old DVD's and reminisce about the glory days of past.

UFC Welterweight Top 10

After utterly dominating top contender Dan Hardy, Georges St. Pierre still reigns the welterweight division. Top contender Jon Fitch seems to be the best suited for the next shot, but after a disagreement with top brass in the UFC, Dana White thinks that the group at AKA should face each other before earning the next shot. The next big matchup for this division is hard hitter Paul Daley against AKA top welterweight Josh Koscheck at UFC 113.

Welterweight Division

1. Georges St. Pierre (20-2)

2. Jon Fitch (22-3)

3. Paulo Thiago (13-1)

4. Thiago Alves (22-5)

5. Josh Koscheck (16-4)

6. Paul Daley (23-8-2)

7. Martin Kampmann (16-3)

8. Dan Hardy (23-7)

9. Mike Swick (14-4)

10. Carlos Condit (24-5)

Other Contenders

Ricardo Almeida (12-3) * made welterweight debut recently
John Hathaway (13-0)
Deigo Sanchez (23-3) * returned to welterweight division
Johny Hendricks (7-0)
Matt Hughes (45-7)

The Undefeated, Part II

Today we look at the light heavyweight and heavyweight division's in the UFC. Though it is hard enough to go undefeated in professional mixed martial arts, it seems some of these untouchables also have a championship belt. Only time will tell how long either will retain this massive stride.


Phil Davis (6-0)

A newbie for the UFC and MMA in general, this NCAA Division I wrestler has made a smooth transition to martial arts, and made it seem easy. After winning the Division I title in 2008, this Penn State wrestler jumped into the MMA scene and tore through four opponents in a little over a year before hearing from the UFC. Not one to give an easy fight, White pitted him against former WEC champion Brain Stann and after 3 dominating rounds, Davis had his first win in the UFC. An impressive Anaconda Choke gave Davis his second win agianst Gustafsson earlier this month moving him to 2-0 in the UFC.

Ryan Bader (10-0)

"Darth" Bader made his UFC appearance on the 8th season of the Ultimate Fighter series. After an impressive first round knockout to earn the six figure contract in the finale, he went the distance twice and earned unanimous decision victories. He then was chosen to fight Keith Jardine, many believed to be the toughest fight to date in February of this year. Although it looked to go the distance yet again, Bader landed a single punch that put the lights out on the Dean of Mean. Now widely considered in the top ten of the light heavys, look for Bader to take on fellow up and comer Jon Jones, or possibly former champ Forrest Griffin.

Lyoto Machida (16-0)

The current Light Heavyweight Champion in the UFC. Many believe as he made his way early in the UFC that his defensive, some say boring, style wouldn't last. His Karate style is all but forgotten in MMA today, and maybe that's why he still is undefeated through 16 professional fights, 8 within the UFC against the likes of Ortiz, Rua, Silva, and Evans. Though his last fight against Shogun Rua was controversial, we will not have to wait long, as a rematch is scheduled in just two weeks.

Jon Madsen (5-0)

Recent TUF alum Madsen is the newest of the bunch, and although he has not been properly tested, he still is undefeated. In the TUF 10 Finale he faced fellow alum Justin Wren, and was the underdog. He earned the split decision, and got a chance to fight again when he faced Mostapha Al Turk earlier this month at UFC 112. After a three round battle, Madsen again walked away with the victory, this time a unanimous decision, which sent Al Turk packing.

Todd Duffee (6-0)

This giant of a heavyweight has six victories and six TKO/KO's. He has only seen the second round once, though his cardio shouldn't even be a question. Most recently knocking out Tim Hague for the UFC fastest KO record in just 7 seconds. Though his career is young, he has faced two top names in Hague and Assuerio Silva. His next test is another hard hitter in Mike Russow. Russow has only a single loss and draw, but also 8 of his 12 wins via submissions from all angles. Scheduled for UFC 114, this should test his ability to face a very tough submission fighter.

Cain Velasquez (8-0)

Unlike many of the undefeated fighters in the UFC, Velasquez unfortunately had the problem of fighting in a very thin division. That means there were very few, if any, easy wins to prop up his record (if you believe the UFC does that). No stranger to the big screen audience, Velasquez made his debut on Strikeforce, then moved to bodog, and at only 2-0, moved to the UFC. After easily dispatching two fellow new comers, Velasquez fought the highly touted Bosnian Stojnic. Although it was the first time past round 1, it ended the same ... TKO. In 8 fights, he has 7 TKO's, only once going to a unanimous decision victory against fellow hard hitter Cheick Kongo. Most recently he defeated a legend, Antonio Nogueira. The biggest thing about that victory was that Velasquez made it look easy. It took just over two minutes before knocking out one of the greatest fighters in MMA history, he Velasquez didn't even have a scratch.

Shane Carwin (12-0)

The interim Heavyweight Champ Carwin faces his biggest challenge to date (litereally) in July. Merging the belts, he is up against WWE star Brock Lesnar. A NCAA Division II wrestling champion, Carwin utilizes his power in his hands first, but unlike many heavy hitters, has the wrestling to back it up. Though Lesnar was a Division I champion, this should prove to be a quick fight. Carwin is currently 4-0 in the UFC, most recently removing conciousness from Frank Mir at UFC 111.


This rounds up all the undefeated fighters in contract with the UFC. There are a few out there that have no losses that were not mentioned. I do not count them as undefeated if they have a draw or a no contest. Unfortunately most on these lists will not stay undefeated long, but there is always the chance, and thats what makes them untouchable.