Event for event, WEC is the best promotion in the world. No matter who is fighting and no matter how many people are watching, you know you’re going to get an action packed WEC event. On top of great fights you also get to see Brittney Palmer. And best of all, it’s free.
Many consider Jose Aldo one of the five best fighters in the world and he’s certainly the world’s best featherweight. He holds a 7-0 WEC record and has amassed a highlight reel that is second to none. Manny Gamburyan doesn’t have the same reputation. He’s a UFC lightweight wash-out, many consider his KO victory over Mike Brown a fluke, and worst of all bro, he’s related to Karo Parisyan.
This is a fight Aldo should win. Not only is he the superior technical fighter but he also as the physical advantages and he can beat you in a variety of ways. He KO’d Cub Swanson with an explosive double flying knee, he over-powered and dominated Brown to capture the title, and he out-quicked Urijah Faber in a five round route. The only technical advantage Gamburyan has in this fight is his Judo but to use any of those Judo throws, he’ll have to clinch with Aldo, which means dealing with Aldo’s strength and muay-thai expertise. So how can Gamburyan win? If they’re both 100% and on top of their game, he can’t. But maybe Aldo isn’t on top of his game. Now that he’s the face of the featherweight division and he just headlined the first ever WEC PPV, maybe the notoriety and publicity has gone to his head or hindered his training. I liken this fight to Georges St. Pierre vs. Matt Serra at UFC 69. Not only are the psychical and technical aspects about the same but so are the mental. Aldo just destroyed the face of the division, he’s been running through opponents, he’s considered one of the best fighters in the world, and nothing can go wrong. Gamburyan washed out of the UFC, got a shot at redemption in the WEC, and wants to make the most of his one possible title shot. Fans and media aren’t giving Gamburyan a chance and the oddsmakers have him a +450 underdog. He has nothing to lose in this fight and that’s the way he should fight.
Many people think Aldo could compete with the top lightweights in the UFC. If this is true, he should roll through Gamburyan, a UFC lightweight wash out. Even if it’s not true, he should roll through Gamburyan, a mediocre fighter. Expect Aldo to have his way with Gamburyan on the feet, avoid the big punch, stuff the takedowns, and finish him early.
Prediction – Jose Aldo by TKO in Round Two
Lightweight Fight: Donald Cerrone vs. Jamie Varner
In January 2009, Jamie Varner defeated Donald Cerrone and retained the WEC lightweight title by technical decision after the fight was stopped early in the fifth round due to an illegal knee by Cerrone. Now, 20 months later, they meet again. No title is on the line and given that they’re 0-3 against current champion Ben Henderson, a title shot may not be on the line. But after plenty of trash talk and even death threats by Cerrone, reputations are on the line, and sometimes, that’s more important than gold attached to leather.
Cerrone is a well-rounded fighter with one glaring weakness – wrestling. Varner is not only a very good wrestler but he also has excellent hands with plenty of power. Cerrone is the more diverse striker and he has power as well but Varner has a proven chin. In the first fight, whenever Varner was in trouble on the feet, he would score a timely takedown that ended up winning him the round. Cerrone is very slick off his back and the only two times Varner has been finished in his career, it’s been by submission. The biggest knock on Cerrone, besides his wrestling, is his slow starts. He’s notorious for giving away rounds early and then coming back strong in the later rounds. That’s never a good habit, especially when you’re facing top competition like Varner. Cerrone will be on his back in this fight. The thing he needs to do is not let Varner get comfortable on the ground. Make him fend off submissions and even stand back up. In other words, Cerrone needs to come to grapple and hope Varner comes to fight.
Full disclosure, I’m not a fan of Varner and I’m a big fan of Cerrone. With that out of the way, I don’t like this match up for Cerrone. He’s a slow starter and doesn’t have the 10 extra minutes he had in the first fight, his wrestling isn’t good enough to stop Varner’s takedown, and Varner’s submission defense is good enough to stifle the slick ground game of Cerrone. It will likely be an exciting back and fourth fight but Varner will do just enough in each round to get the nod.
Prediction – Jamie Varner by Decision
Bantamweight Fight: Charlie Valencia vs. Miguel Torres
Once the face of the bantamweight vision, Miguel Torres has fallen on hard time as of late. After never being finish in 38 career fights, Torres has been finished in his last two fights. One by brutal KO at the hands of Brian Bowles and the other by tight guillotine at the arms of Joseph Benavidez. Now he faces Charlie Valencia, a career mid-level fight who has won three straight, in an effort to prove he’s still one of the best bantamweights in the world.
This is essentially a “gimme” fight for Torres if he’s still a top fighter who has just faltered against other top fighters. Valencia is a well-rounded fighter but he’s always lost to top competition. Torres will have a huge reach advantage, although that didn’t do him much good against Benavidez. Valencia is a better wrestler but Torres is known for his extremely active ground game that sees him constantly striking and threatening from the bottom. Torres looked a little gun shy against Benavidez following his KO loss to Bowles but Valencia has never shown the striking prowess that Benavidez has. Valencia’s best bet to win is to takedown Torres and grind him out. That’s much easier said than done.
Look for an extremely motivated Torres in this fight. His back is against the wall, he’s been given a favorable fight, and he needs to prove that he’s still one of the best bantamweight’s in the world. Expect Torres to dominate on the feet and finish things on the ground.
Prediction – Miguel Torres by Submission in Round One
Featherweight Fight: George Roop vs. Chan Sung Jung
Everyone knows the story of “The Korean Zombie.” He made his WEC debut against Leonard Garcia at WEC 48, he turned in one of the most memorable brawls in MMA history, and now he’s back to do what he didn’t do against Garcia, and that’s win. George Roop isn’t exactly the most known fighter and at 10-6 he’s not exactly top competition but he might be willing to stand with Jung and that’s what WEC wants.
We know what Jung wants to do in this fight. He’s an excellent kick boxer who never stops moving forward, has power, and might have the best chin in MMA today. Roop specializes in jiu-jitsu but he has been training his striking the past few years with Shawn Tompkins. Roop will likely want to get things to the ground because finishing Jung on the feet is harder than trying figure out the plot of The Event. Even if things do go to the ground, Jung has an underrated ground game and he could submit Roop if he takes him lightly. Roop’s submission defense is also very questionable as four of his six loses have come by submission.
Like Torres vs. Valencia, this seems like a designed win for Jung. Simply put, he’s a better fighter than Roop and should be comfortable wherever the fight goes. Roop will likely be willing to stand, which will make for an exciting fight, but will also be his downfall.
Prediction – Chan Sung Jung by Decision
Featherweight Fight: Leonard Garcia vs. Mark Hominick
Leonard Garcia was the forgotten participant in his brawl against “The Korean Zombie” at WEC 48. So for those who forgot, he won that fight. Mark Hominick has won three straight fights and has a lot of momentum behind him right now.
Expect fireworks in this fight. Garcia not only has power in his hands but he’s also extremely tough to finish. Hominick will likely be willing to go toe to toe with Garcia given his kickboxing background. This fight just comes down to Garcia’s power against Hominick’s technique. Garcia really isn’t that great of a striker but he gets away with his punches because of his power and chin. Hominick on the other hand is an outstanding technical striker who mixes things up very well. It doesn’t seem fair to question Hominick’s ground game any more given his recent performances on the ground. It’s highly unlikely that the fight will go to the ground anyway given both competitors willingness to punch each other in the face.
This could be a fight of the year contender. If Garcia can land the one big punch, obviously he could turn Hominick’s lights out. But Hominick might be the best technical striker in the featherweight and he’ll likely batter Garcia with leg kicks and counter punches. It would be a huge feather in his toque if Hominick is able to finish Garcia but I’m not expecting it.
Prediction – Mark Hominick by DecisionSimilar Posts:
How likely is it that Fabricio Werdum will beat Fedor Emelianenko? What event from the past ten days did you enjoy most from top to bottom? Will Cris “Cyborg” Santos beat Jan Finney faster than her husband beat Marius Zaromskis a week-and-a-half ago? What’s next for newly crowned Ultimate Fighter Season 11 champion Court McGee?
Keyboard warrrrriors….come out to plaaaay-yay!
If you’re reading these lines you’ve made it through another work-week and are back in the friendly digital confines of “Grappling with Issues”, our site’s resident Friday feature highlighting insight and opinion from Adam Tool and myself on six subjects plucked from the Mixed Martial Arts landscape. However, just because we staffers get the fancy set-up, please don’t feel precluded from dishing out your own thoughts on each matter in the comments section at the bottom of the column…
Best overall event – “Strikeforce – Los Angeles”, “Sengoku 13″, “TUF 11 Finale”, or “WEC 49″?
Adam Tool: I should probably start by saying that since I have neither a)HDNet or b) insomnia, I have yet to see Sengoku 13. I’ve been trying to track down a copy online but thus far I have been unsuccessful, so I’ll have to make my pick from the other three events which I did see.
Of those three my pick would be WEC 49. In terms of fight quality there was plenty of good stuff to be had on all three cards. While thinking back on those events I can’t point out a single fight which I considered boring, but it was the action in the WEC cage that kept me closest to the edge of my seat. The only knock I can make against WEC 49 would be the unsatisfying result rendered in the evening’s main event, but that only came about as the result of the incompetent judging of Cameron Quwek, the lone judge who scored every single round for Kamal Shalorus. Some blame could also be leveled against referee Josh Rosenthal, as I still can’t understand why he didn’t take another point away from Shalorus for the third low blow delivered in the final frame. Other than that though, WEC 49 was a barrage of non-stop action and tremendous performances from everyone involved.
I would also have to give the edge to WEC 49 in terms of the show’s pacing. During the two and a half hour event we saw seven fights, with what seemed like a minimal amount of commercial interruption. The Ultimate Fighter Finale featured five fights over the course of two hours, with some interminable commercial breaks, endless shilling of upcoming Spike programming, and an extremely dull interview with Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin. Strikeforce: Los Angeles was well-done from a production stand-point, but I still don’t understand why the show’s producers chose to air backstage interviews in between rounds of some of the fights. On top of that we saw once again that Strikeforce has no interest in promoting new stars of the sport, as the event ended a half-hour early without a single preliminary fight shown.
Brendhan Conlan: Though each broadcast featured moments of brilliance I tend to side with Tool as far as WEC 49 being the strongest overall show in the bunch. Sengoku’s action was top notch but primarily involved talent 1% of the English-speaking audience could have picked out of a line-up prior to it airing, Strikeforce had some highlight-worthy moments but also had issues related to the card’s E3-specific production and promotion’s continuing trend of going off the air early without promoting undercard competitors, and save for Court McGee’s story and a fun scrap between Keith Jardine and Matt Hamill the Ultimate Fighter Finale was one of the least memorable in recent history. The scoring in Varner vs. Shalorus certainly detracted from the fight’s result but not from the entertaining battle that occurred during the fifteen minutes prior. Other than that, viewers were treated to the continued ascension of Josh Grispi as a top featherweight, late-replacement Danny Downes showing a ton of heart en route to a third-round submission loss at the limbs of Chris Horodecki, an edge-of-your-couch affair between Will Campuzano and Eddie Wineland, and a whole lot more.
True/False – Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos will beat Jan Finney tomorrow night faster than her husband beat Marius Zaromskis ten days prior?
Tool: I’ll go with “false,” although I have little reason to justify it. A quick peak at Finney’s record online reveals two things two things: 1) her nickname is “Cuddles” (seriously?) and 2) she’s only had one TKO loss on her record which came in the second round. Despite her unimpressive record and the overwhelming odds against her, I think it’s safe to assume that Finney is not the easiest opponent to put away. Cyborg is clearly the toughest opponent “Cuddles” has faced in her career and it would certainly be no surprise if the Strikeforce Women’s Middleweight Champion finishes this fight in under two minute, but unless Finney makes a crucial error (flying knee anyone?) I believe she’ll last a bit longer than Zaromskis did.
Conlan: Zaromskis lives and dies on his feet, as evident by four of his five career losses coming by way of TKO, so it was inevitable he or “Cyborg” (XY Chromosome version) was going to sleep sooner than later in their bout. That’s not the case with Finney – ahem, “Cuddles” – so I think I’ll also have to go with “false” on this. Granted, Santos is unlike any other striker let alone overall fighter in women’s MMA. However, Finney has been in the ring against a few females with above-average hands (Erin Toughill for example) and remained conscious throughout save for a single loss to Julie Kedzie. Her grappling is good enough to lock onto “Cyborg” if need be and her stand-up is decent, so as long as she avoids going toe-to-toe with the champ she should be able to make it past the 2:38 mark.
Should Cung Le retire from MMA and focus on acting if he loses to Scott Smith a second time?
Tool: To be honest, I’m not really sure. Thus far Le’s acting career has yet to really take off. He’s played smaller roles in some big-screen releases, although his work in the film Tekken has yet to be seen here in America. He would probably have better luck in Asian cinema as a straight-forward martial arts action star, as there’s little call for someone with his particular talents in the current Hollywood system.
While Le took a large chunk of time off from MMA to focus on acting, the loss to Smith seems to have re-lit the competitive fire within him. He certainly believes that he’s a better fighter than Smith (and up until the final seconds of their first fight, he was) and with the (presumably) impending departure of Jake Shields the door could be wide open for Le to try and regain the Strikeforce Middleweight Championship. After all, he never lost the belt. Of course he never had a chance to lose it since he didn’t defend it, but that’s beside the point.
Le could very well lose to Smith a second time. It’s unlikely, but certainly possible. He’s pushing 40 years old so he doesn’t have all the time in the world to get better in the sport, and as such retirement from competition probably isn’t too far off anyways. His exciting fighting style and built in fanbase in the San Jose area will allow him the opportunity to continue on as long as he wants, but if he’s trying to be the best in the world then his chances to do so will live or die on Saturday night.
Conlan: I’m a firm believer fighters should hang up their gloves when they are ready to do so unless there are health-related reasons at play. Yes, Le is 38 and power/speed are typically the first thing to deteriorate with increased age. Yes, he’s only been in the ring three times since June 2007. Yes, he’s a one-trick pony as far as being 100% stand-up based. However, losing his rematch with Smith would only drop him to 6-2, and it’s not as if “Hands of Steel” is some out-of-shape, over-the-hill can they plucked from the street. He’s got 3X as many fights as Le and beaten some notable opponents in his career. He has the striking to put any adversary to sleep and a solid jaw of his own to boot as indiciated by Smith’s only career TKO losses coming to Robbie Lawler in 2008 and James Irvin in 2004. If he walks away victor again this Saturday night it should in no way be considered a slight on Le’s talent but rather a credit to his fellow soft-spoken Californian’s. As Tool said, Le is a huge regional draw and possesses an incredibly entertaining style, so as long as he is still interested in stepping into the ring and competing he should be allowed to do so.
Using a percentage, how much of a chance do you give Fabricio Werdum of beating Fedor Emelianenko?
Conlan: 1%. Don’t get me wrong – Werdum is a world-class competitor on the mat and has some solid Chute Boxe-based striking to compliment the skill. He’s beaten a number of ranked opponents and only been finished once in eighteen fights. However, we’re talking about frakking Fedor here. He’s weathered punches that would have dropped most for the count and worked his way out of any tough position he’s ever been put in. He’s gone to decision less than 1/4 of the time he’s fought, is on a ridiculously long win-streak, and…well…I probably could have stopped at “frakking Fedor”, because the reality is if you’re reading this paragraph you already know the Russian phenom’s resume. There will always be a chance Werdum could perfectly time a punch and pull a “Matt Serra”, so he at least deserves “1%”, but beyond that I don’t see there being any way he comes away from the event as the first fighter to legitimately beat Emelianenko.
Tool: I’ll be a bit kinder to Mr. Werdum and go with 10%. Obviously I’m still backing Fedor to win, but Werdum does have at least one avenue to victory. His striking isn’t quite good enough to give Fedor trouble, but there can be little argument that he’s one of the best pure grapplers in the heavyweight division. Fedor has never really been close to being submitted, but then again it’s been a long time since he’s faced anyone that’s on Werdum’s level in BJJ. I still can’t see Fedor tapping out, but if there’s any opponent in the world that can do it I think it’s Werdum.
Do you think that Jamie Varner and Kamal Shalorus should have an immediate rematch?
Conlan: Though I’m typically in favor of immediate rematches when a particularly poor decision is rendered, this situation is different because Varner is going to miss a good deal of time with his broken hand/foot. Shalorus, however, was relatively uninjured after their original bout and isn’t scheduled to sit on the sidelines beyond his regular recuperation/training period. Based on that, it’s likely he’ll be ready for action before Varner is so it doesn’t make sense for him to twiddle his thumbs while waiting for the former lightweight champion to recover. As such, I could see a date with Donald Cerrone at a future event.
However, if WEC is determined to pair him with Varner again, I have a suggestion on how “The Prince of Persia” can kill his new-found time. There’s a new James Bond movie on the horizon that’s certain to need evil henchman and if ever an individual was born with the physical attributes to play a role…
Tool: Let’s also not forget that the recent Prince of Persia film was a resounding success, so perhaps Shalorus could have a role to play in a potential sequel? Shalorus vs. Gyllenhaal: book it!
As for the topic at hand, I believe that a rematch should be made as soon as both fighters are healed up and ready to go. I can point to no less than three reasons why this should happen. First, this bout was intended to determine the next #1 contender for Ben Henderson’s WEC Lightweight Championship. That honor will likely now go to the winner of the upcoming Shane Roller/Anthony Pettis bout, but right now there’s a serious lack of competition for the company’s “Smooth” young champion.
The second reason I would like to see a rematch is due to the decision rendered in the first fight. Clearly a draw does nothing to further either man’s career, but on top of that it’s a decision that has not sat well with a majority of the fanbase. Just about anyone that watched that fight could tell that Varner won, but obviously that’s not the case. Look at it this way; if it hadn’t been for the point deduction in the second round Shalorus would have won a split decision, and the controversy would have been even greater.
Finally I say match these two up again because their first meeting was simply a great fight. Groin shots aside, these two kept things competitive for the majority of the fifteen minutes. Shalorus’ strategy of staying in the pocket and slugging it out with Varner may not have been the best gameplan but it certainly kept things entertaining. I say let’s have rounds four, five, and six.
Who would you like to see Court McGee matched up with for his first post-”TUF” fight?
Conlan: I have a feeling McGee may actually drop to welterweight for his next in-Octagon appearance since he’s only 5′11 and size is crucial in a promotion as deep in talent as the UFC. It also makes sense considering a number of past seasonal champions have done the same thing. The Ultimate Fighter is a great opportunity and often fighters are willing to risk competing against bigger guys to earn a contract, plus it makes maintaining/making weight easier.
As far as when Court will be in session again (you’re welcome Mauro Renallo), there are ton of opponents at 170 pounds for “The Crusher” to, well, crush. He clearly can’t be matched against one of the division’s top fighters but he also deserves better than a “gimme” dubya. Amir Sadollah seems possible based on his status as a former TUF winner himself and the fact that, at 3-2, the master of “Baboo Baby” technique could use a semi-winnable fight. Season 9 champ James Wilks is also in a similar position but ended up on the right side of a decision at UFC 115 instead of the wrong one, as Amir did at UFC 114.
Tool: I’m not so sure that McGee will drop down in weight, since he’s not yet announced any plans to do so. I’m going to try and pick someone at middleweight, and furthermore I’ll try to follow the UFC’s traditional model of giving their “TUF” champs a somewhat “lesser” opponent in their first post-show fight.
With that in mind my pick goes to Joe Doerksen. Doerksen is the very definition of a journeyman fighter, with enough name value to provide McGee a nice little boost with a win. At the same time if McGee comes up short in this fight it’s a bit more understandable given the fact that he’s facing an opponent with such a depth of experience. Stylistically the two match up well, as neither man is technically proficient in striking even though they are willing to stand and trade. McGee would have the wrestling advantage, but Doerksen could present a problem with his jiu-jitsu skills.
Former WEC lightweight champion Jamie Varner is doing his best to keep his eye on Kamal Shalorus. But he's glancing over the former Olympic wrestler's shoulder at current 155-pound title-holder Ben Henderson.
Shalorus isn't hiding his intentions; he wants a shot at Henderson's gold, too.
In our official event preview of Sunday's WEC 49 event, MMAjunkie.com's Steven Marrocco looks at the lightweight title-eliminator, as well a co-headliner between Mark Hominick and Yves Jabouin that unfairly has been labeled a bad-blood matchup.
Whose performance stood out the most at UFC 115? Is it time for Tyson Griffin to dip down to 145 pounds? What WEC 49 bout has you more pumped than the others? Should Keith Jardine receive his pink-slip this weekend if he loses a fourth straight fight in the UFC?
Keyboard warrrrriors….come out to plaaaay-yay!
If you’re reading these lines you’ve made it through another work-week and are back in the friendly digital confines of “Grappling with Issues”, our site’s resident Friday feature highlighting insight and opinion from Adam Tool and myself on six subjects plucked from the Mixed Martial Arts landscape. However, just because we staffers get the fancy set-up, please don’t feel precluded from dishing out your own thoughts on each matter in the comments section at the bottom of the column…
True/False – Tyson Griffin needs to seriously consider dropping to featherweight.
Adam Tool: False. I find it kind of funny that people are talking about how small Tyson Griffin looks and how he needs to drop down, when he actually looks a bit bigger than current lightweight champion Frank Edgar (although both fighters are 5‘6“). Griffin and Edgar are on the shorter end of the lightweight spectrum, but they’ve each proven that they are more than capable of handling a number of other fighters at 155 lbs. Manny Gamburyan had two tough losses in the UFC before he decided to drop down, so let’s at least give Griffin the benefit of the doubt and see how he does in his next fight before declaring him too small for the lightweight division.
Besides, at this point what does Griffin stand to gain by moving down? He’d likely be accepting a paycut by going to WEC, and he would undoubtedly be fighting with far less exposure in the featherweight division. It’s much easier for a light heavyweight fighter to make the move to middleweight, since they know they’ll still be fighting in the UFC. For a lightweight fighter the move down in weight also means a move down in organizations, and I fail to see how that could be truly beneficial in this case. Griffin holds wins over a number of respected lightweight fighters, he’s well-known amongst the fan base, and he’s been one half of five different “Fight of the Night” match-ups. The loss to Evan Dunham certainly sets him back, but it’s much too soon to think that he can’t hang in the UFC anymore.
Brendhan Conlan: If Griffin’s motivation as a Mixed Martial Artist is to solidify his legacy in the sport as a great champion and pinnacle of his division he absolutely needs to give the move some thought; if his motivation is purely based on fame and fortune then he should sit tight in the UFC. I happen to believe he leans towards the former, as most fighters do, and as such I’ll be answering this topic as “True”.
Tool is right when he says Griffin has proven he can hang at lightweight. After all, the Xtreme Couture OG is 7-3 in the UFC. He’s also gone to the judges in eight of those ten bouts with his only finishes coming against David Lee nearly four years ago and a portlier-than-normal version of Hermes Franca at UFC 103 last September. Fighting smart is one thing; not being able to submit/TKO mid-tier competition is another.
What does Griffin stand to gain from a drop to 145 pounds? For one, a chance at being the best in the world at featherweight when such a goal is almost certainly unobtainable at 155. If Tyson can out-work larger opponents then imagine how he might perform against competition similar, even smaller, in size. For another, an opportunity to headline cards and be featured in marquee match-ups. WEC has already dipped their toes in the PPV market once with plans to do so again in the near future and it seems inevitable the promotion will end up on Spike TV at some point too. Griffin vs. Faber II, Griffin vs. Aldo, Griffin vs. Brown, etc. – the list goes on and on in terms of who he could be paired against, as WEC features the world’s deepest featherweight division. Yes, he would sacrifice some money and exposure in the short term, but there are still plenty of both to be had in UFC’s sister promotion. Also, let’s not forget there has been talk about the UFC absorbing the WEC featherweights, so if that ever happens then the finance/fame stuff becomes a moot point.
Long story short, if Griffin stays at lightweight he’ll win more than he loses but I don’t think it’s likely he’ll ever be champion. You can make comparisons to Edgar if you want but there are lots of people out there who think BJ Penn deserved to retain his belt (enough to where Frank’s first defense will come against the former champ). The title-shot was also a very fortunate opportunity for Edgar and lightning won’t necessarily strike twice with Griffin as the recipient. If he wants to really take a crack at making a significant impact in MMA he HAS to consider featherweight. After all, he’s shown he’s familiar with coming out on the favorable end of “decisions”. This is just one more he needs to deal with.
UFC 115 featured two more incidents where fans got “hands on” with fighters during an entrance. Is that aspect of “fighter safety” something the UFC needs to address or a situation not worth paying attention to?
Tool: While the stealing of hats may not be worthy of Zuffa’s attention, it’s just a short step to fans getting too close to the fighters and potentially doing something far more damaging. Arena security is supposed to be taking care of this sort of thing, but as we saw on Saturday the guys walking with the fighters to the cage aren’t necessarily doing their job. Stronger security measures are needed before something truly bad happens, and this may be a case where Zuffa needs to step in and do something about it themselves.
Conlan: In the words of Diego Sanchez, “Yes, yes, yes!!!” Last November I wrote a piece called “The Exit of the Entrance” based on a few similar incidents at UFC 105. Essentially, my concern is this:
We live in a culture where Average Joes and Janes will do nearly anything for fifteen minutes of fame. People have rushed the ring at WWE events, attacked on-field coaches in MLB, and streaked on countless fields across the world. If the audience at a UFC show is in close enough proximity to take an item of clothing from the fighters’ heads then they are also able to do a multitude of things with the pathetic hope of getting a reaction or making a highlight reel on cable/sports news. Do we need to see a drink poured on an athlete’s head or punch thrown before the issue is truly examined? Do we want to see a main event ruined because one of the participants is distracted by an unnecessary occurrence? The answer is clearly “no”, so why wait for something to happen when the odds dictate its almost guaranteed?
Should Keith Jardine receive his walking papers if he drops a fourth straight bout by losing to Matt Hamill at the Ultimate Fighter 11 Finale?
Tool: I believe so. Keith Jardine is the biggest enigma in the UFC. He’s got wins over respected opponents like Chuck Liddell, Forrest Griffin, and Brandon Vera. He’s also had his share of crushing defeats to Thiago Silva, Wanderlei Silva, and Houston Alexander. He’s more than capable of putting on exciting fights, but at this point his chin has been more exposed than Britney Spears’ private parts. The UFC’s light heavyweight division is one of the most competitive weight classes in the world, and if Jardine can’t hang with most of his opponents than he really has no place in the organization. He’s got a winnable fight on Saturday so we’ll have to wait and see what happens then, but if he ends up unconscious in the octagon again it will probably be for the last time.
Conlan: No, but a fifth straight should merit the proverbial axe swing. With the exception of Alexander his losses have come to highly-touted opponents. Even Hamill is a respected competitor as far as wrestling and power goes. “The Dean of Mean” has lost five of his last seven fights, so he’s definitely on thin ice as is and being released on the heels of a possible loss to “The Hammer” wouldn’t surprise me, but I think he deserves a step down as far as adversaries go before the company makes the decision to cut him. Win or lose, putting him against a lesser-skilled fighter would give Jardine a chance to get a little confidence back or prove he’s a liability the UFC can’t keep around.
Of all the winners at UFC 115, whose performance impressed you the most?
Conlan: Evan Dunham with Rory MacDonland a very close second. I felt confident in Dunham’s ability to beat Griffin based on size and technique but he looked more convincing doing so than I’d expected. He’s definitely shown he deserves to make a lateral, if not vertical, move where competition is concerned. That could possibly mean a date with the loser of Ken Florian vs. Gray Maynard, or more likely the winner of a fight closer to occurring like Kurt Pellegrino vs. George Sotiropolous (UFC 116) or Takanori Gomi vs. Joe Stevenson (UFC on Versus 2). At 11-0, and with three consecutive wins against tough opponents, Dunham is definitely a 155-pounder that has to be watched and is in position for a nice push within the organization.
Tool: This is a tough one, because there were so many awesome performances on the show. Rory MacDonald and Chuck Liddell certainly get the nods for “Best Showing In A Losing Effort,” but as far as the winners go I’m going to have to cheat and pick two.
First up is Martin Kampmann. Like most everyone else I picked Paulo Thiago to emerge victorious on Saturday night, but apparently I had some sort of mental blockage that made me forget just how great Kampmann can be. We all knew he would likely have the edge in a striking battle, but what really impressed me was the way Kampmann continually threatened Thiago on the ground. Most fighters, when matched up with a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, would simply do everything in their power to keep the fight standing while avoiding any ground action at all. Kampmann was not only willing to go with the mat with Thiago, he was the one attempting numerous submissions to try and end the fight. At no point did it look like Thiago was going to tap (seeing as how he’s fought out of these situations far too many times), but kudos to “The Hitman” for showing what a complete mixed-martial artist he is.
Secondly, I’d like to give some much-deserved props to Rich Franklin. In the days following UFC 115 there’s been so much focus on the end of Liddell’s career, with hardly anyone talking about what a dramatic victory this was for “Ace.” While some people will discount the win seeing as it’s coming at the end of Liddell’s career, it’s fair to say that Franklin was facing the best version of the “Iceman” that we’ve seen in years. Franklin took Liddell’s best shots and kept on coming. He broke his arm early in the fight yet powered through the injury and pulled off the win. On top of that he proved the doubters wrong that said he didn’t have KO power, and his $85,000 bonus check was the perfect icing on the cake.
Now that the season is coming to a close, rank the latest edition of The Ultimate Fighter on a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being the highest).
Conlan: “6″, which is actually a full point below where I ranked TUF 11 in a previous GWI written a few weeks after the season started. A handful of episodes featured exciting in-ring action but for the most part there was little to get worked up about. Any momentum the season had after the opening round of qualifying fights was sucked dry by the remaining episodes’ one-sided decisions, disqualifications, injury-based substitutes, and Jamie Yager’s refusal to answer the bell and come out of his corner in a quarter-final match-up with Josh Bryant. Hell, both finalists lost earlier in the season. The personal rivalry between team-heads Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell flared up once or twice but remained tame for the most part and Ortiz’s eventual replacement as coach on the show came so late in the season it was somewhat anti-climactic. Overall, it was a vanilla season which was supposed to culminate in a fight nobody wanted to see and instead resulted in Liddell getting knocked out, and likely retired, by Rich Franklin. It’s not to say there weren’t a few positives as well, but definitely not enough to deserve a rating any higher than being slightly above average.
Tool: I’ll go with a “7,” as this was a relatively entertaining season overall. Jamie “Fro Cop” Yager was a constant annoyance, but otherwise the stuff at the house was just fine. Obviously the drama makes for more entertaining television, but I for one am glad that we didn’t get inundated with the kind of in-house shenanigans that have characterized past seasons. In terms of the fights we saw plenty of quality match-ups. The number of fighter injuries is proof that the various cast members left everything in the cage each time (unlike a certain rotund “TUF” champ that did the minimal amount of effort to win). The competitiveness of the tournament goes a long way towards making a quality season, and I’m genuinely interested in seeing who wins the various cast member match-ups on Saturday.
The only real knock I can give this season is the coaches. Chuck Liddell is a legend in the sport and one of the greatest light heavyweight fighters of all time. What he is not though, is a good on-camera performer. Chuck looked mildly uncomfortable in nearly every second he was talking on screen, and most of that time was spent pacing back and forth in small steps. Tito Ortiz was clearly much more comfortable on-camera, but that’s because he spent a good portion of the time talking about his favorite subject: Tito Ortiz. Their rivalry was hardly interesting due to two separate factors; we knew Chuck would almost certainly be winning their third fight, and we knew that fight wasn’t going to be happening anyways.
Which fight are you looking forward to the most at WEC 49 this weekend?
Conlan: There are a few solid match-ups on the card but without a doubt I’m looking forward to Josh Grispi vs. L.C. Davis more than the others. Their combined record is 29-3 with Grispi emerging victorious the last nine times he’s stepped in a ring and Davis winning seven of his last eight fights. Both have above-average striking and grappling skills as indicated by the almost 50/50 split between submissions/TKOs in terms of their finishing performances. Grispi, as a matter of fact, has rendered his opponents unable to compete in twelve of his thirteen wins including seven straight. Both are also 3-0 in WEC. Though I think the card’s main event (Jamie Varner vs. Kamal Shalorus) will be highly entertaining, as should Chris Horodecki vs. Ed Ratcliff, I think Grispi vs. Davis should be more competitive than both and involve more than one highlight-worthy moment.
Tool: I’m going with the slightly easy answer and taking the headliner as my pick. Varner vs. Shalorus may not be a fight worthy of the main event status its been given, but it will most likely be a solid contender for “Fight of the Night.” Varner got out-classed by Ben Henderson, but that doesn’t take away the fact that the former lightweight champion is still a serious threat in the WEC. He’s beaten everyone else he’s faced since coming over from the UFC and with his name value he’s likely just a win or two away from another shot at the belt. Meanwhile you’ve got Shalorus taking on the toughest opponent of his brief career, and a definitive victory on Sunday could shoot him right to the top of the list of 155 lbs. contenders. Looking past what’s at stake in this fight, stylistically these two match up real well. Shalorus has a wrestling background but has clearly favored the stand-up in both of his WEC fights, and we all know that Varner will go toe-to-toe with anybody.
In closing I’d just like to remind everyone that while the WEC 49 card may not be all that impressive on paper, it’s oftentimes the weakest looking cards that end up entertaining us the most. We were reminded of that fact again this past Saturday, so do yourself a favor and don’t miss another (potentially) great event this weekend.
A guest on last week’s “Inside MMA,” WEC Bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz was asked by host Kenny Rice how he felt being a young champion. A soft-spoken Cruz responded, “I think champions are going to get younger and younger as time goes on.” His opinion is an interesting one.
It took almost three and a half years for the UFC to find its first young champion. Vitor Belfort, at 19 years old, became not only the youngest fighter to win in the octagon, but the youngest champion in UFC history. If winning the heavyweight tournament at UFC 12 doesn’t qualify Belfort as a champion however, Josh Barnett remains the youngest, having won his belt at age 24. It may be a good idea to look beyond a list of the UFC’s champions, though, to see just how deep the younger generation is beginning to dominate. The UFC is focused on the heavier spectrum of the scale—looking to organizations more welcoming to the smaller fighters makes it obvious that the most innovation and potential rests in the lighter divisions.
In the WEC, lightweight champions Ben Henderson (26) and Jamie Varner (25) have excited audiences for years. Astoundingly, WEC featherweight champion Jose Aldo is only 23 years old; Dominick Cruz is only 24. Aldo’s deadly mix of precise Muay Thai, stubborn takedown defense, and the enigma of his unseen Jiu-Jitsu game is enhanced by his relentless focus on being the best, without distraction. It is almost scary to consider what he will be like when he reaches his prime. Cruz flustered the more conventional Brian Bowles in winning the title, using precise striking and an elusiveness rarely seen in mixed martial arts. Indeed, Cruz looks more like a boxer in the cage than a mixed martial artist, but he has grown up learning every facet of the sport. His style is his own, and it was tailor-made to be effective, and to confound his opponents. That is the nature of innovation.
Bellator Fighting Championship’s featherweight champion Joe Soto is only 23, and their welterweight champion Lyman Good is 24. Keep in mind these are current champions. Some dangerous contenders, in every organization around the world, are the same age as these guys, sometimes younger. How terrifying will Jon “Bones” Jones be when he is 24? 26? 30?
Just how does Dominick Cruz think he got this far? “I’ve just been fortunate enough to get my mind together and get on top early,” the champion said, smiling. “Let’s just see what kind of work I can do up top, for as long as I can.”
It will be interesting to see what these young champions will accomplish. Just how much they can change mixed martial arts as a sport remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure: the younger generation of fighters, whether they are champions now or sitting in a high-school classroom, will keep everyone interested for a long, long time.
World Extreme Cagefighting lightweight champion Ben Henderson (12-1) wants to take some time off before his next fight. The fighter plans on getting married this summer and hopes to return to defend his title in November or December.
“What I really can’t wait to do is get back in the gym and not worry about fighting anybody in particular, like not go from training camp to training camp to training camp, but now is my time to get in the gym and get better in general,” he said. “Just improve my boxing, improve my Muay Thai, improve my jiu-jitsu, improve my wrestling. I’ve been fighting under three-and-a-half years, I have a long way to go.”
“We told them after the Cerrone fight that I’d like a little time off,” said Henderson. “I’m getting married in August, so now until August I’m not going to have any fights. I probably won’t fight again till late this year, November/December.”
With the recent talks of moving the WEC lightweights into the UFC, Henderson would be open to a move like that also.
“If the call does come from Zuffa to head on up to the UFC, I’m definitely not going to turn them down,” Henderson stated. “I’d be wide open to that process.”
Does Randy Couture’s rumored bout with James Toney rub you the right or wrong way? Is it time for Ben Henderson to leave WEC and give the Octagon a shot? How long will fans have to wait before seeing Leonard Garcia and Chan Sung Jung attempt to repeat their WEC 48 classic? Would Jose Aldo beat Frank Edgar if the two faced off at lightweight?
Keyboard warrrrriors….come out to plaaaay-yay!
Thank you for stopping by to check out either your first or yet another edition of “Grappling with Issues”, a weekly smorgasbord of insight-and-opinion featuring myself and fellow 5 Ouncer Adam Tool offering our thoughts on six subjects related to MMA. However, just because we staffers get the fancy set-up, please don’t feel precluded from dishing out your own thoughts on each matter in the comments section at the bottom of the column…
True/False – WEC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo would beat UFC Lightweight Champion Frank Edgar even at 155-pounds.
Adam Tool: Who can really say at this point? What I mean by that is; how can any of us really say for sure who Frank Edgar can or cannot beat at this point? Nobody figured that he could have beaten BJ Penn, but sure enough that’s just what he did. Will anyone give Edgar the same consideration when he rematches with Penn later this year? Probably not.
My point in this is that at the moment Frank Edgar is still being underrated by a lot of fans and journalists. At the same time it’s hard to say whether or not Jose Aldo is being overrated. He’s looked spectacular thus far in his WEC run, but so did Mike Brown, Miguel Torres, and Brian Bowles. All of those aforementioned fighters had their aura of invincibility shattered, and as a result people are starting to see now just how much there is left to prove within those lower weight classes. They don’t have the benefit of an Anderson Silva or a Georges St. Pierre, where one guy has thoroughly outclassed any and all potential challengers. There is still a need to find those dominant champions at feather and bantamweight and perhaps Jose Aldo is such a fighter, but we won’t know for sure until he’s had a chance to defend his belt several more times.
With all that being said, I suppose I should try to answer the question. If Aldo vs. Edgar were to happen at the next Zuffa PPV, my money would be on Aldo. These two would likely have one hell of a striking contest, but if they went to the ground I’d have to favor the BJJ black belt.
Brendhan Conlan: There’s no magical formula for accurately predicting exactly how a particular bout will unfold meaning questions like this are always going to involve guess-work. My assessments are generally based on how I feel the individuals compare to each other physically and in terms of skill, as well as the opponents each has faced in his career, and occasionally involve outside factors like training camps, probability of nerves, personal problems endured, and what sort of previous performance the fighters are coming off of. Whether I’m overrating or underrating a Mixed Martial Artist is something I’d rather let time decide while instead focusing on what I do actually know.
Like Tool, I’d favor Aldo to beat Edgar if the two were to face off regardless of division. The New Jersey native doesn’t drop down much to make 155-pounds and is actually an inch shorter than WEC’s featherweight phenom so size wouldn’t be an issue. Edgar is obviously a talented wrestler and has a great set of hands, but Aldo’s striking is more dynamic and is on the heels of a pair of one-sided, eye-opening showings against a duo known for their mat-based acumen (Faber/Brown). I don’t think the 23-year old Brazilian would be phased by Edgar’s speed – an important factor in his title win over Penn – anymore than was the case in his recent defense against “The California Kid”. Mix those things in with his ability to finish opponents (13 of 17 wins) in comparison to Edgar (5 of 12 wins) and I think it’s relatively clear Aldo would be considered a slight favorite to emerge victorious in the potential pairing. He hasn’t faced the caliber of competition the UFC Lightweight Champion has in his career, but as far as how they measure up side-by-side I think Aldo has more tools to work with and fewer flaws to exploit.
How would you compare WEC 48 to both “Strikeforce – Nashville” and “UFC 112” in terms of entertainment value – better, worse, or equal?
Tool: This is definitely the easiest question to answer this week. WEC 48 blew away both of those other shows, as well as every other fight card we’ve seen this year. From top-to-bottom there was plenty to love and very little to complain about. We saw a couple of outstanding back-and-forth wars, some slick submissions, a shocking KO upset, and two truly impressive champions. The only gripes that people can make is the awful decision rendered in the best fight of the night (more on that later), and the fact that the show was on PPV. It sucks that fans had to pay for this event after getting so many great WEC fights for free, but I don’t think anybody who ordered the event can say that they didn’t get their money’s worth.
Conlan: Have no fear, Tool, as next week I’ll make sure to include a topic involving a mixture of jiujitsu and quantum physics. I think WEC 48 slightly edges out Strikeforce as the best show of the past month in terms of pure entertainment value. While fans were able to see more, and arguably better, fights on WEC’s offering the attached price tag can’t be dismissed nor can the overall caliber of competitors involved. Beyond that, I’m not sure that the “best fight of the night” being as sloppy and devoid of technique as Garcia vs. Jung is necessarily a good thing, but I won’t argue against how much fun it was to watch because there were plenty of “oohs” and “ahhs” coming from the vicinity of my couch. Like Adam pointed out, in general WEC 48 boasted a slew of enjoyable fights, career defining moments from promotional champs Henderson and Aldo, and a few upsets including the first-round knockout of former featherweight title-holder Mike Brown. What else can a MMA fan really ask for when forking out cash for an event?
Would you prefer Ben Henderson defended his WEC Lightweight Championship or abandoned it and went to the UFC?
Tool: After much deliberation I’ve decided that I am in favor of Henderson moving on to the big stage that is the octagon. He’s already stated that he has no interest in a rematch with any of the WEC lightweights that he’s already beaten (and that include most of the top contenders within the company), so he’s already essentially cleaned out the division. I could see Kamal Shalorus getting a shot if he beats Jamie Varner in June, but at the same time I have no interest in seeing Henderson vs. Varner II if Jamie gets the win at WEC 49.
Some people will undoubtedly bring up other former WEC champions who have had mixed success upon transitioning to the UFC. Former light heavyweight champs Steve Cantwell and Brian Stann have each had their share of defeats in the deep waters of the UFC LHW division, but it’s important to remember that the WEC’s 205 lbs. roster was weaker than a handshake from Clay Aiken. Former WEC Welterweight Champion Carlos Condit is 1-1 in the octagon, but that loss was a very close split decision to the always dangerous Martin Kampmann. Lastly we have the uncrowned WEC Middleweight Champion Chael Sonnen, who lost in his UFC debut but has since rattled off three straight wins to earn a title shot.
Henderson is still essentially a prospect and that’s a double-edged sword. He may not do as well amongst the deep waters of the UFC lightweight division but he’s still getting better every time he fights. I wouldn’t pick him to win against a Kenny Florian or a BJ Penn, but I absolutely believe that he could be a problem for guys like Gray Maynard and Tyson Griffin. If nothing else it’s essentially guaranteed that any time “Bendo” steps into the cage, it’s going to be an exciting fight.
Conlan: After watching “Bendo” grow on a per fight basis, and the ease in which he beat a game opponent like Donald Cerrone, I’d prefer Henderson abandoned his title and tested his skills inside the Octagon (unless the UFC absorbs WEC’s lightweight division in which case the notion of having a choice to do so becomes a moot point). His physical attributes translate into a tough draw for any 155-pound opponent he faces and his style/skill, not to mention the likelihood of his continued progression based on age, make him a threat to beat a good deal of them. It may turn out that he’s not ready for the UFC’s elite, but there’s only one way to find out and having him repeatedly fight the same second-tier lightweights is not it.
How long do you think it will be before the WEC rematches Leonard Garcia and Chan Sung Jung?
Conlan: I firmly believe in striking while the iron is hot and as such I think an immediate rematch makes sense. Their slugfest was far from a master class on stand-up technique but highly entertaining nonetheless, and I have no doubt the two would deliver something similar to their original Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em display if linked up a second time. Both fighters exited the bout with more buzz surrounding them than was the case prior to the event due to the bravado each showed in the cage, and while that momentum can be carried into other match-ups it can also dissipate with a losing performance or two. After all, when was the last time you heard mention of a super-fight between Urijah Faber and Miguel Torres in comparison to a few years ago? I think it would be wise for WEC to capitalize on the public’s present perception of Garcia and Jung instead of letting it potentially go to waste. If the promotion decides to wait and one of the men wins a couple fights while the other drops a pair there won’t be the same interest in a rematch as is currently the case. Throw in the questionable nature of the judges’ decision and you definitely have a bout that can serve as a co-headliner of a Versus card rather than involving either in a televised opener due to the lower marketability they possess as individuals.
Tool: I would have to agree that these two should meet again as soon as their injuries heal from the first bout. I’m mostly interested in a rematch because I firmly believe that Jung should have gotten the decision, so here’s hoping a second chance will correct the matter. Of course there’s a good chance that lightning won’t strike twice, and the rematch could just as easily end in the first 30 seconds with a flash knockout. It’s also likely that even if these two went at it for another 15 minutes, they won’t be able to match the performance of that first bout now that everyone has specific expectations of what to expect.
In any case these two fighters are now easily amongst the most well-known fighters in the promotion, as their fight was witnessed by a peak audience of 1.5 million homes. Given the high visibility of their first bout and the expectations for a second, I see no reason why these two couldn’t be given a headlining spot on an upcoming Versus card. It might make even more sense to hold off until the next WEC PPV, as this rematch would undoubtedly be a nice draw for anybody that saw the first fight.
Given the fact that the WEC brand name was not used at all during Saturday’s broadcast, is there any reason at this point for Zuffa to keep the two promotions separate?
Conlan: I do think it’s time for the UFC to assimilate the company’s 155-pounders and finally eliminate any lingering confusion between Zuffa’s top lightweights, but instead of completely merging promotions I’d rather see WEC be a home for showcasing smaller fighters fans may not be as interested as seeing on larger events and possibly even a feeder system for the UFC. Yes, “Ultimate Fight Night” and “Ultimate Fighter Finale” events already serve that purpose to an extent, but if Zuffa is serious about making WEC successful on PPV they’ll need to do more than stack the card with match-ups featuring fighters whose combined weight is approximately the same as Brock Lesnar’s when he steps into the Octagon.
Mixing in something along the lines like UFC 113’s fight between Alan Belcher and Patrick Cote, or either of Jon Jones’“UFC on Versus” headliners, with Jose Aldo’s next title defense or Dominick Cruz’s initial one could be a winning situation for all involved parties. The fighters would likely be entitled to additional exposure they wouldn’t normally receive due to the format, the event would almost certainly sell more buys because of the increased star-power, and the fans would get a nice mix of weights and styles due to the involved synergy. The same would be true by letting a fight possibly destined for the cutting room floor, like UFC 114’s Amir Sadollah vs. Dong Hyun Kim or Efrain Escudero vs. Dan Lauzon bouts, serve as a co-headliner on Versus alongside WEC establishing a #1 contender in any given division (though substitute increased “buys” with “ratings”). The bottom line is the WEC has a great deal of worth and I think it would be a mistake for Zuffa to whitewash it from the MMA landscape.
Tool: I’d love to know exactly what kind of worth the WEC brand has, as the only people who are aware of it are the same kinds of fans that read this website (sidenote: hello!). Facts are facts, and the reality of this sport is that there are still plenty of MMA fans who think that the sport is called “ultimate fighting.” Zuffa is in ownership of the strongest brand in the business, so why not put all of their best fighters under that banner?
I’m welcome to the idea of keeping the WEC around as a “minor league” or sorts. The guys in that promotion could be limited to fighters with less than 5 professional fights (or something of that nature) and they would have the chance to move up to the UFC based on their performance in the WEC. That way Zuffa can get a hold of more raw prospects, and help their growth along until they’re ready for the big stage.
Right now Zuffa is trying to market the WEC as “the best fighters in these two divisions, and some pretty good fighters in this other division.” Bring all of your weightclasses under the same roof and let the little guys take the spotlight more often. It can only create bigger stars out of the smaller fighters, and it gives the company a much deeper bench to work with. Each year the UFC is putting on more events than in the previous year, so I fail to see where having more fighters and titles to put on those shows can be a bad thing.
Now that the match-up is becoming a reality, how do you feel about Randy Couture being the one to welcome James Toney to the UFC?
Conlan: I suppose more or less the best word is indifferent. I don’t think the pairing is too far off something you’d find on a card in Japan on New Year’s Eve which is interesting in a way because Dana White has historically scoffed at the appeal of match-ups comparable to the one he’ll supposedly be hyping in August. Toney hasn’t been considered a relevant boxer for years and has tested positive for performance enhancing drugs on more than one occasion. His foray into Mixed Martial Arts reeks of desperation, and I’ll actually be a little surprised if/when an athletic commission sanctions the fight since the 41-year old will be debuting against a man with multiple UFC championships to his credit. I think it’s a waste of Couture’s limited future appearances inside the Octagon but then again it would also be a waste of Toney’s dimming luster if he was scheduled against someone with less name-value so I understand why the bout may be made. Regardless, it does little for me in the interest department from a competitive standpoint, but I’m always down for a good “freak show” fight so I’ll still be watching with a dumb-founded grin on my face even if I don’t necessarily care about the result.
Tool: I love it from the standpoint that Couture is the kind of fighter with enough intelligence to not get drawn into Toney’s game, and enough skill to put the (former?) pro boxer away. We all know Toney hits hard, nobody doubted that before he started stalking Dana White. Couture isn’t going to try and stand with Toney, he’s going to clinch up, take it to the mat, and finish Toney by whatever means he likes.
In case you couldn’t tell, I don’t like the idea of James Toney in the UFC. He has little-to-no drawing power left over from his days in boxing, and he’s way too old to be just starting out in a sport as complex as this. His only appeal in the UFC is for that first fight, when everybody wonders what the boxer will do in MMA. I really have no desire to see Toney try and make a career out of this, so here’s hoping Dana comes to his senses and cuts Toney right around the time the referee is raising Couture’s hand.
This week, highlights and analysis from the WEC’s first PPV. Ben Henderson and Leonard Garcia check in to discuss their wins. Also, will Tito Ortiz’s legal issues impact his fighting future in the UFC? And details on MMA Live’s upcoming debut on ESPN2.
Wednesday was a busy day as much of the post event news became available from this past weekends “WEC 48: Aldo vs. Faber” event. The show took place this past Saturday night at the ARCO Arena in Sacramento, Calif. with two preliminary bouts being aired on Spike TV and the showcasing of the first ever WEC pay-per-view.
The California State Athletic Commission released the notes on the attendance totals for the event. There was a total of 12,555 paid attendees to watch the featherweight title bout between still champ Jose Aldo and challenger Urijah Faber. That many fans brought in a total of $954,635 in gate revenue.
The CSAC also released the fighter salaries which totaled $336,500 for the event, setting a WEC Record. The top earner for the evening was defending featherweight champ Jose Aldo who earned $40,000 for his victory ($20,000 to show and $20,000 for the win). Read the rest of the fighter payouts after the jump.
The CSAC also suspended 11 fighters from the event. Eight fighters were handed down six month suspensions which included main event fighter Urijah Faber, who can be cleared by a physician for his left thigh and knee. Regardless of whether or not he is cleared, Faber is suspended for a minimum of 45 days for precautionary reasons. You can view the rest of the WEC 48 fighter suspensions after the jump.
Early estimates for the ppv buys has WEC 48 looking at a between 150,000-200,000 buys for the event. Something of a success considering fans had who normally watched it for free had to be convinced to pay to see this one.
Don’t expect another PPV for the next WEC event in Edmonton, UFC/WEC president Dana White told the press it will be business as usual.
“Every time we do a pay-per-view, you’ll see my monkey ass out here. But it’s business as usual when these guys are on Versus: same announcers, same everything.”
“We’ve got to take time and really look at it and hand-pick,” White said. “We’re doing so many pay-per-views, an boxing is going to do a few a year. You’ve got Vince (McMahon of the WWE) doing a bunch of pay-per-views a year. You have to pick and choose.
“We’ve got great partners with Versus and Comcast for the WEC. We know what we’re doing. We’ll do the right thing.”
Check out the full list of payouts and fighter suspensions after the jump.
As always these numbers don’t include fight bonuses (such as fight of the night, ko of the night or submission of the night), sponsorships, or any other unofficial payments nor do they deduce such expenses as insurance and taxes.
Fighter Suspensions:
Urijah Faber suspended for 6 months (minimum 45 days for precautionary reasons) unless cleared by a physician for his left thigh and knee.
Mike Brown is suspended for 45 days for precautionary reasons.
Leonard Garcia is suspended for 6 months, or until medically cleared for a possible right hand fracture.
Chan Sung Jung is suspended for 6 months, or until medically cleared for a right distal ulna shaft fracture, as well as a two month suspension for facial lacerations.
Antonio Banuelos is suspended for 6 months, or until medically cleared for a possible nasal fracture.
Scott Jorgensen is suspended for 6 months, or until medically cleared for a possible left metacarpal fracture.
Anthony Pettis is suspended for 6 months, or until medically cleared for a fracture in his right foot.
Bradd Picket is suspended for 6 months, or until medically cleared fora left clavicle fracture.
Rani Yahya is suspended for 60 days unless cleared by a physician for a left eye laceration.
Demetrious Johnson is suspended for 6 months, or until medically cleared for a dislocation and fracture of his right thumb.
Brandon Visher is suspended for 45 days for precautionary reasons.
World Extreme Cagefighting’s first Pay Per View event completed itself on Saturday night with two champions retaining their titles and a “Fight of the Year” candidate taking place for free on Spike TV. The event was dubbed “WEC 48: Aldo vs. Faber” and took place at the ARCO Arena in Sacramento, Calif.
The main event saw featherweight champion Jose Aldo handily defeat former champ Urijah Faber. Aldo dominated throughout the five rounds landing leg kicks at will which had Faber limping after the second. Faber’s leg took so much punishment that his trainers had to carry him back to their corner. In the fourth Aldo gained a crucifix position and reigned down blows for two minutes. Aldo showed why he was champ and probably earned a spot with the pound-for-pound best fighters in the world with his performance.
Lightweight champion Ben Henderson made short work of his opponent Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone. Their last match earned both fighters a shot at “Fight of the Year” honors but would not be repeated on Saturday night. Henderson brought the fight to the ground in the opening minutes to sink a guillotine choke in at 1:57 to retain his title.
A definite candidate for “Fight of the Year” in 2010, and one that fans got to see for free on Spike TV, Leonard Garcia won a split decision 29-28, 28-29,29-28 over the “Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung in a 15 minute slug fest that had fans on their feet. From the opening minutes both men let it all hang out as both men swung for the fences, each fighter scored some heavy hits which looked to almost end the fight and that was just the first round. Neither man shied away from the others strikes, carrying on this way through exhaustion into the final seconds of their bout. At one point color commentator Joe Rogan declared it “Fight of the Century!” The WEC would be stupid not to book a rematch between the two.
Here is a collection of ‘News & Notes’ from Saturday’s event, enjoy.
- ‘Aldo vs. Faber’ set new event records for the WEC with an attendance total of 14, 144 and a gate total of $1 million according to Dana White.
$65,000 Fighter Bonuses
- The “Fight Night” awards were handed down to Manny Gamburyan, Benson Henderson, Leonard Garcia and Chan Sung Jung.
- “Fight of the Night” was a no brainer and it went to Leonard Garcia and Chan Sung Jung.
- “Knockout of the Night” was given to Manny Gamburyan after he KO’d former featherweight champ Mike Brown in the first round of their match.
- “Submission of the Night” was given to WEC lightweight champ Ben Henderson for submitting opponent Donald Cerrone in the first round.
- “I had heard that he wants to move down a weight class, win that belt and then go to 155 to fight BJ in the UFC. If he can do that, I don’t know if he can cut that weight and make that light a weight division, but he’d be the first guy to win three titles in three different weight divisions,” noted White at the post-fight press conference.
Dana White on Jake Shields
- “I’m very confident he’s going to be with the UFC.”
- During the event telecast, White was sitting beside Shields and when the camera panned over White could be seen mouthing “He’s mine.”
- After the event White noted that Shields still has over a month left on his Strikeforce contract and nothing is final yet.
- As for coaching on “TUF 12″, White said it was impossible to cast him as a coach for the show.
“The problem with ‘TUF’ is that you have to pull the trigger, and you have to make decisions on that immediately. We actually just cast ['TUF 12'] last week. We start filming in five weeks.”
Randy Couture vs. James Toney
- “It’s not a done deal yet,” White said. “But yeah, I’m working on that.”
White confirms Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen main event for UFC 117
- When asked if Silva would be headlining the August event White responded “You have to, he’s the main event.“
- “[The WEC and UFC] are two different brands on two different networks,” White said. “Even though they’re owned by the same company, they’re two different brands owned by the same company. The networks aren’t going to let us do it.”
“Those of you that have been around the TV business know what a battle it is when you have two different brands and all this other stuff. I really have to thank Spike and Versus for working with me on this thing.
“For me to get Spike over the hump to put this thing on and promote the ‘Countdown’ show and all the other stuff, thank God these guys went ahead and delivered and put on a good night for the sport. It was awesome.”
Event for event, WEC is the best promotion in the world. No matter who is fighting and no matter how many people are watching, you know you’re going to get an action packed WEC event. On top of great fights you also get to see Brittney Palmer. And best of all, it’s free.
Former WEC lightweight champion Jamie Varner is doing his best to keep his eye on Kamal Shalorus. But he's glancing over the former Olympic wrestler's shoulder at current 155-pound title-holder Ben Henderson.
