It appears Shane Carwin, already viewed by many as one of the classiest individuals in Mixed Martial Arts, has revealed yet another likable characteristic – a self-deprecating sense of humor. The UFC 116 headliner recently took to popular forum The Underground to address his subdued demeanor and monotone delivery while being interviewed, alongside UFC heavyweight champ Brock Lesnar, during last weekend’s Ultimate Fighter 11 Finale in order to promote their upcoming bout.

“I wanted to tell you that I am now sponsored by the Night Time Nyquill. The interview during the TUF Finale was our attempt at gorilla marketing. If you were sleepy or felt “bored” by my interview then we hit our mark. Imagine what the actual product will do for you if I was able to put you to sleep with my words. Nyquill it helps you sleep like my right hand. Available at fine Pharmacies everywhere.

Man what a boring interview. They should have played the part where Goldberg was talking about going hunting with Brock.

No excuse but it was a lazy day and I had just been in a epic water balloon fight with my son and I was trying to keep a straight face. I will do better if they ever have me back.”

Carwin, who holds the UFC’s interim heavyweight title, will clash with Lesnar on July 3rd at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. His knockout of former champ Frank Mir at UFC 111 this past March moved his record to 12-0 with the entire dozen coming by way of first-round finish.

The name “Jose Aldo” warrants both fear and respect among featherweight fighters these days, but how much praise does a champion’s training partner deserve before he’s even made his WEC debut?

At “WEC 49: Varner vs. Shalorus“, fight fans will get an opportunity to draw their own conclusions about Renan Barao — training partner of the current WEC champ and a 20-1 Brazilian fighter whose current 20-fight win streak dates all the way back to his pro debut — but while all the hype seems to surround Barao for his upcoming WEC bantamweight debut, people shouldn’t be too quick to count out the challenger, Anthony Leone.

One of several undefeated fighters from Team Bombsquad, Leone himself is no stranger to trading punches with champions. At 21, he left Long Island, NY and headed to Hilo, HI to study MMA under former UFC Lightweight Champion B.J. Penn. Since then he’s compiled an undefeated record of 8-0 and is just as eager as Barao to get his name out there this Sunday at WEC49.

“My opponent is pretty good. He’s 20-1, with a 20-fight win streak, I know that, but he’s never really faced a wrestler or somebody who will switch it up on him like I can,” Leone said. “All the guys he’s fought are mostly Muay Thai fighters… I don’t know, I think he’s got a lot of hype behind him.”

Leone on the other hand has been winning quietly the last two years, jumping back and forth between the 145 and 155 lb. divisions, but always in the mix with the best around and consistently coming out on top by submission or decision.

Before coming back from Hawaii in 2008, Leone turned to the popular MMA forum The Underground in search of a quality camp to join when he got home to New York. Right away, all signs pointed to Cortland based Bombsquad.

“That was all Zack,” said Leone. “We met on The Underground and he asked me, ‘What type of opponents are you looking for?’ Then he gave me three options; an easy opponent, a hard opponent or whoever we put in front of you. I said, ‘I don’t really care.’ I was 1-0 at the time and feeling pretty good. The rest is history.”

Leone has kept busy since he got back to the mainland and has been in and out of the cage just about every three months for his entire career, but it wasn’t until he took a single fight at 135 that he got noticed by the likes of the WEC.

He and his manager had decided a few months back that the WEC was just too stacked at 145 to make a run at a featherweight contract, so when a new promotion called the XCFL offered Leone a title shot and a chance to drop to 135 for a fight with undefeated Boston Sityodtong prodigy in Teteki Matsui, he jumped at the chance.

The result was a bantamweight debut that contained more memorable moments than most’s career highlight video.

Leone revealed new found speed and the same kind of power against Matsui. He took him down with slams from the front as well as behind, unloaded straight left and right punches at an incredible pace and ate more than one headkick as well as an illegal knee to the head while he was down.

“I had to cut 30 pounds to make 135,” said Leone. “I think i got a lot faster but those guys [in the WEC] are so much faster too. It’s got its ups and downs.”

The real difference in the wrestler’s game came when he moved Upstate so he could train with the Bombsquad full time. He explained there were people to roll with in Long Island but nothing could match the sparring he received day in and day out with his brothers at arms in Cortland.

“Moving up to Cortland has been great for me,” he said. “Back when I used to train in Long Island we’d mostly work on my wrestling or jiu-jitsu, but not spar. Then, I come up to Cortland and we’re forced to spar atleast three or four times a week. I never used to like to get hit, but now I’m used to it. I’m never scared to get in cage and take a shot. I know it’s going to happen — I know I’m going to get punched — it’s just a matter of doing it back to him.”

As World Extreme Cagefighting continues to gather up the most talented fighters under 155 pounds, more and more exciting fights have found their way onto the undercard. This weekend’s event will feature Wagney Fabiano along with Raphael Assuncao and Diego Nunes competing in the featherweight and bantamweight divisions, and fight fans can’t afford to miss Barao and Leone.

When an arena clears at the end of a Mixed Martial Arts event it’s often assumed the men (and/or women) whose blood and sweat still stain the canvas have finished fighting as it relates to that particular show. They typically pack up their gear, take care of on-site media obligations, and head to a hotel room to either lick their wounds or get dressed for an after-party where an entirely different sort of tongue-wagging may eventually come into play. Regardless of extra-curricular choices or the evening’s earlier result, those who entertain in the ring exit the venue with the closure of knowing they can move forward in life and onto the next opponent; that the work they’ve done will be rewarded with adulation from supporters, the personal satisfaction brought on by competition, and of course some level of financial gain.

Or so it’s assumed.

On May 15th, 2010 a show promoted by an organization known as the British Association of Mixed Martial Arts took place in Birmingham, England. The card featured a number of recognizable names, including those with Octagon experience on their resume like Seth Petruzelli, Matt Horwich, and War Machine. Petruzelli and the man once known as John Koppenhaver fared better in result than Horwich but all three spent weeks preparing in the gym with the mutual understanding BAMMA 3 would be like any other event.

On June 8th, 2010 all three men are still awaiting payment for the commitment each fulfilled. Apparently, BP isn’t the only dealer of dismay from across the pond with an element of slime involved. Money depended on for training costs, mortgages, general bills, food, family, and any other imaginable want or need remains a promise unkept, and thoughts originally turned towards a future competitor now look at an opponent possibly looming in a ring far different from any used in combat sports – a court of law.

News of the situation first came to light a week ago when Petruzelli and War Machine took to different realms of cyberspace to plead their cases. Said Petruzelli on popular MMA forum The Underground, “This is B.S! We feed our families with this money.” Meanwhile, the Ultimate Fighter Season 6 alumnus went the route of Twitter and addressed the topic in standard form, writing “Sure would be nice if BAMMA decided to FINALLY f*cking PAY US! Or maybe that’s too much to ask? WTF!? Really getting PISSED now! Contract said 72 hours…lol That’s 3 days right? Just wondering because it’s been 3 WEEKS!” He even went as far as to send a message to BAMMA’s account questioning whether or not they were going to pay or if the promotion felt they didn’t deserve their money.

In Horwich’s case, the woman he married a day after an IFL title defense (Kelly) spoke up to elaborate on the situation. “The promoter…had the balls to tell me he didn’t know we needed to be paid so urgently. People think fighters are rich and famous…they are normal people that need their money to eat too. We’re starving over here peoplel!!!!!” She also, understandably angry about things, made it clear she was thankful she and her husband hadn’t purchased a new house as they’d been considering, or else “WE WOULDN’T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO (HAVE) PAID THE GOD DAMN RENT!!!!!”

Fast-forward to this past Wednesday when Petruzelli stated he’d received half of his expected winnings with the remainder promised for payment later in the day while management for War Machine and Horwich, by proxy of his wife, claimed neither camp had received a dime of their purses. Hours later BAMMA apparently made good on their word to Petruzelli and War Machine, yet Horwich was left in the cold. As of Saturday, June 12th – nearly a month after the actual event – the same remains true. (UPDATE: Horwich was FINALLY paid today, a month to the day after the card’s completion.)

Unfortunately, circumstances like the above are not as uncommon as fans (and fighters) might hope nor are they limited to small shows. Far too often the men and women who sacrifice their bodies for our entertainment are victims in an industry where expectations often exceed ticket-sales and PPV buys. Quinton Jackson, among others, has spoken in the past about PRIDE shorting him and delaying payment during the promotion’s heyday. DREAM has been associated with with similar activities, most notably with current Strikeforce welterweight champ Nick Diaz after he defeated Katsuya Inoue at DREAM 3 in May 2008. The same was essentially true in the case of the mid-card fighters set to square off at Affliction III before Tom Atencio folded up shop ten days out from the event. In reality, considering the rarity of a promoter not being associated on some level with questionable financial practices, it’s really no wonder the UFC is the cream of MMA’s crop.

It’s common knowledge we live in a money-driven society where characters ranging from legitimate to downright shady will attempt to capitalize on a trend in hopes of striking it rich. As such, we have to accept the business of Mixed Martial Arts is no different, and the practice of exploiting others in hopes of turning a profit is anything but a newly invented concept. However, that’s not to say people should stand idle while athletes we respect or are personally invested in as fans pay the price after already sacrificing so much for our mere enjoyment. We need to stop focusing so much on the figures and turn our attention to whether or not a contractual agreement was actually fulfilled. When a promotion, like BAMMA, shafts a fighter you need to let your opinion be known both in written/verbal form as well as when it comes to buying future shows/tickets. Likewise, when fighters are paid on time you need to support those companies for living up to their word. Mixed Martial Artists fight for us. Now it’s our turn to fight for them.

Should fans be thankful Rich Franklin is fighting Chuck Liddell as opposed to Tito Ortiz? If KJ Noons can get by Conor Heun next Wednesday should Strikeforce promote a rematch with rival Nick Diaz or let him focus on the lightweight division? Who will pull off the biggest upset at UFC 115? Will Saturday night mark Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic’s last appearance in the Octagon if he falls to Pat Barry? Are you interested in seeing “The A-Team” because of Quinton Jackson’s involvement or are you planning to skip it altogether regardless of “Rampage”?

Seven months ago, a crack commando journalism unit was sent to prison by a court of editors for a typo they didn’t commit. These men promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Underground. Today, still wanted by the FCC, they survive as soldiers of fortune without the actual fortune involved. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire… The GWI-Team!

Please forgive me if this week’s introduction is brief, but I’m fairly certain I saw a Predator drone marked with Sherdog’s logo circle my current location so time is clearly of the essence. As always, Adam Tool (callsign: B.A. Tool) and myself (callsign: Brend-hannibal) are here to provide insight and opinion on topics plucked from the MMA landscape. However, this week’s edition has SEVEN savory subjects for the two of us to dissect in honor of Quinton Jackson’s potentially star-making role in “The A-Team”. 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…

Fastest finish come June 16th’s “Strikeforce – Los Angeles” card – Robbie Lawler vs. Renato Sobral or Marius Zaromskis vs. Evangelista Santos?

Adam Tool: I’ve got to go with Zaromskis vs. Santos for this one. Both men are highly-touted strikers with plenty of KO wins on their records. Santos is certainly more than capable of using his jiu-jitsu to get the job done, but I believe it’s more likely we’ll see these two come out aggressive right from the opening bell. If this fight makes it past the first round I’ll be somewhat surprised, but of course I have been wrong about this sort of thing before.

As for Lawler and Sobral, there’s certainly a chance this one could end quickly as well. Lawler will certainly be looking to lay into “Babalu” early and often, but at the same time I would hardly expect Sobral to try and get into a slugfest with such a dangerous opponent. Sobral hasn’t been seen since his devastating knockout to Gegard Mousasi and as such I would imagine he’ll be taking a more cautious approach in this fight. Don’t expect “Babalu” to stay in the pocket for too long, as he’ll likely try and keep his distance and pick his shots before looking for the takedown. Sobral has a steep advantage in the grappling department and he knows that Lawler is weak on the ground, so in the end this one will come down to which fighter can best implement their gameplan for victory.

Brendhan Conlan: Tool makes some good points yet I’m still inclined to pick Sobral/Lawler. Zaromskis and Santos are strikers to be sure, though I’m not sure “highly-touted” is the phrasing I’d use unless “touting” them after a few hours with Nick Diaz. “Cyborg” has been out-struck by a handful of relative nobodies in his career and Zaromskis’ biggest win to date is “Mach” Sakurai (who is on the backside of his career and currently riding a three-fight losing streak). They’re aggressive and have knockout power but neither is particularly technical or skilled in terms of overall striking ability. Granted, neither are Lawler or Sobral, but in the case of Zaromskis and Santos I think they’re comparable enough to cancel each other out. I can see their bout going into the second or third round, while in the case of “Babalu” vs. Lawler I think there’s a better chance of Sobral’s lights being turned out in the first round. His last three losses have all been by way of knockout and he’ll have to absorb some damage each time he attempts to drag Lawler to the mat in hopes of attacking with submissions. All “Ruthless” Robbie needs to do is land a single, relatively clean shot to the Brazilian’s chin to win and I don’t think it will take him very long to do so.

If KJ Noons beats Conor Heun next week, should Strikeforce focus on promoting him as a lightweight or instead on putting together a long-anticipated rematch Nick Diaz?

Tool: I see no reason why Strikeforce shouldn’t try to put together the Diaz/Noons rematch, as it’s a fight that people have been wanting to see since both guys were still getting paychecks from EliteXC. Noons has had his profile decrease substantially since moving over to the world of boxing, and if he has any desire to be a star in MMA then he needs to get that pot-smoking monkey off his back. Noons won the first fight, but it was due to a cut and Diaz has been unstoppable ever since. If KJ wants to prove that he’s still a threat in this sport then the best way to do that is to beat Diaz again.

Let’s be fair though, this fight makes more sense for Diaz than it does for Noons. KJ could potentially make an impact in the Strikeforce lightweight division, and there’s some intriguing match-ups to be made (assuming he can get past the unheralded Heun). At the same time Diaz has next-to-no competition left for his Strikeforce Welterweight Championship (except a potentially over-matched Tyron Woodley) and is going to be needing a fight soon. I’m sure Diaz would love to finally get his rematch with Noons, and since he’s one of the biggest stars Strikeforce has it makes sense to give him the most high profile match-ups possible.

If Strikeforce tries to put this fight together, and if Noons turns it down (again), then he can probably look forward to a spot on the next Strikeforce Challengers event. If Noons is willing to take the rematch then it’s a fight that could easily be featured on a regular Strikeforce card, and maybe even CBS (if that ship has not already sailed). Noons went over to boxing because the money was better, and right now he won’t have a better payday than the one he would get for fighting Diaz again. I hope Scott Coker can make it happen.

Conlan: I agree that Diaz is the better option between the two. Strikeforce doesn’t have a wealth of depth in any division so catch-weight attractions are something they should take advantage of when the possibility presents itself. There’s a great deal of personal heat between the two based on the outcome of their first fight and the miniature in-ring riot occurring two years ago after Noons successfully defended his EliteXC title against Yves Edwards. Each also brings an exciting style into every bout so from that standpoint it’s almost guaranteed to entertain as well.

Beyond that, current lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez is out of action until November/December based on the impending birth of his daughter, and likely on a collision course with Bellator title-holder Eddie Alvarez as is, while 155-pound contenders Josh Thomson and Lyle Beerbohm have already been rumored as a future match-up. Other than a few DREAM lightweights and Roger Huerta there aren’t a lot of available fighters who, when paired with Noons, have the potential to draw as much interest from fans as Diaz does. The same rings true in reverse, as Diaz’s best options at 170 pounds are Woodley and a handful of mid-tier free agents. He could definitely give middleweight a go to establish himself as a top contender and maybe even become a two-division champ in the process, but other than Jason “Mayhem” Miller I don’t think there are any 185-pound opponents fans are as interested in seeing Diaz face in comparison to Noons. Strikefoce needs to put them back in the cage together, promote it in the same way “Rampage” Jackson vs. Rashad Evans was hyped, and let fans sit back and enjoy two guys who legitimately dislike each other exchange some leather. Frankly, to not capitalize on their fading rivalry before it’s too late to do so would be an utter blunder on the part of Scott Coker’s team and maybe even a nail in their coffin.

What UFC 115 bout features the most potential for the biggest upset to occur?

Tool: When trying to figure out the answer to this question I started by looking up and down the card. Upon doing so I realized that it’s kind of tough to figure out who are the underdogs in a lot of these fights. I then looked up the betting odds for the show and soon discovered just how close the lines are on almost every fight this weekend. Seriously, the biggest favorite on the card is Ultimate Fighter season 9 winner James Wilks. Wilks is facing Peter Sobotta, who is 0-1 in the UFC and whose win column is filled with names you’ve never heard of. Rich Franklin is a slight favorite in the main event, but I’m sure that line will get closer now that we’ve all seen what tremendous shape Chuck is in. Mirko Cro Cop is a slight underdog against Pat Barry, but everyone (including Barry himself) knows just how dangerous Cro Cop can still be.

With so many fights being so evenly matched there’s not a lot of options as far as one guy being a “sure thing” to win his fight, so I‘m forced to resort to the betting lines. The underdog fighter I’d pick to pull off a victory would probably be Carlos Condit, although if you didn’t check the lines you probably would think that he’s the favorite to win in his bout with Rory MacDonald. MacDonald is undefeated and has finished every one of his fights, but Condit represents a huge step up in competition for the young man from British Columbia. The former WEC Welterweight Champion is extremely dangerous wherever the fight takes place, plus he’s got a will to win and the drive to never give up.

Conlan: Betting lines are certainly the mark of an “underdog” but definitely not the entire indicator of it. After all, am I to believe fans don’t consider Mario Miranda a huge underdog to David Louiseau or Gilbert Yvel to Ben Rothwell simply because the involved odds may not dictate it?

Moving on, the fight I see with the most potential for a significant upset is Evan Dunham’s clash with Tyson Griffin. Griffin has struggled to finish opponents in the Octagon, so he leaves a lot of time for his foes to slip in and steal bouts (Sean Sherk and Frank Edgar clearly being the best examples based on their actual success against the Xtreme Couture OG). Dunham is a solid grappler with nice hands and reminds me a bit of a 5′10″, stronger, paler version of the 5′6″ Griffin. It was hard not to be impressed by his submission of Efrain Escudero at Fight Night 20 last January, and he’s undefeated ten fights into his career, so I won’t be surprised if he walks away with a decision win against Griffin. However, I think a lot of fans will be and I don’t just mean the Zuffa Zombies out there.

Are you more excited about Chuck Liddell vs. Rich Franklin than you would have been for Liddell’s third fight with Tito Ortiz?

Conlan: Absolutely. Neither of their original encounters were particularly competitive bouts and the only people clamoring for a third throwdown seemed to be Liddell, Ortiz, and UFC President Dana White. The former 205-pound champions’ mutual dislike of one another made it logical to pair them from the standpoint of producing an entertaining season of the Ultimate Fighter but not from one based on in-ring competition or fulfilling fans’ phantom wishes for a trilogy as necessary as “The Matrix: Revolutions”. Enter Franklin and you have a fresh match-up featuring two former title-holders and fellow icons of the Octagon. Although “Ace” may have dropped two of his last three fights he remains a credible threat against all opponents not named Anderson Silva and has the style to give Liddell a run for his money. He’s got multi-point striking, good power, and solid grappling. Unlike Ortiz, Franklin won’t have to rely on dragging the action down to the mat to procure a win, and similarly he’s a threat to knock Chuck out whereas Ortiz hasn’t TKO’d anyone other than Ken Shamrock in the last nine years. All the involved factors add up to a scenario far superior than the one created by a third helping of Liddell vs. Ortiz.

Tool: Brendhan hit the nail on the head here. Liddell and Ortiz’s rivalry makes for good reality TV, but there’s really nothing left to prove by pitting these two against one another in the octagon. Only the most die-hard Ortiz fan (does such a thing exist?) would be upset by this change in the lineup. Okay, I suppose Chuck’s fans are upset because they thought he had this one in the bag, and now Franklin presents a much bigger challenge.

Personally I wouldn’t be surprised if this main event goes down as the “Fight of the Night” when bonuses are handed out. Liddell and Franklin both know what they do best, and that’s hitting people in the face. Neither one has a “legendary” chin, but I’m pretty sure they can each still take their fair share of punishment. I expect both fighters to be tentative at the start, given their cage rust and the stakes involved, but I can certainly see a nice little slugfest erupting as the time ticks on.

Besides, if the fight had gone down as scheduled it’s safe to assume that Ortiz would have lost in dramatic fashion and blamed his neck injury for his performance. If the parties involved are serious about doing Liddell vs. Ortiz 3, then we may as well do it when Tito can fight without the slightest possibility of an excuse.

TRUE/FALSE – This will be the last time we see Mirko Cro Cop in the UFC if he loses to Pat Barry.

Conlan: I’m not 100% sure how his contract looks but, assuming the paperwork is in place, I think he’ll be around for a few more fights as long as he doesn’t look like a fish out of water against Barry. After all, like Mirko, Barry is a kickboxer by nature and the thought of him mopping the mat with Filipovic would significantly detract from the Croation’s remaining mystique.

That being said, though “Cro Cop” is on the backside of his career, he’s still a viable commodity in terms of his ability to compete against mid-tier opponents and in his standing as a major draw in Europe. Technically he’s 4-1 since losing back-to-back bouts during his first run in the UFC (with a “No Contest” against Alistair Overeem after having his gonads launched into orbit by the Strikeforce heavyweight champ occurring along the way). Were the numbers reversed he likely would have already hung his checkered shorts up and called it a career, but seeing as how they aren’t and the single loss came to rising star Junior Dos Santos I think it’s premature to think Filipovic is finished in the UFC. He’s too valuable a name, and seems to have enough left in his tank, to give walking papers to unless “Cro Cop” comes out of UFC 115 with a horribly one-sided defeat to Barry.

Tool: I’ve got to go with True here. This is the last fight on Cro Cop’s current UFC contract, and a loss to Barry would put him at 3-4 in the octagon. Those three wins all came against meager competition and offered little to be impressed with. His losses just prove that “The Croatian Sensation” can’t hang with the current level of talent in the heavyweight division. The guy got out-wrestled by Cheick Kongo, is there any reason to think that he would hold his own against somebody like Cain Velasquez?

The name value and drawing power Cro Cop brought at the beginning of his UFC run is all but extinguished. Modern day fans have seen nothing in his fights that lives up to the terrifying reputation the hardcore fanbase has given him. His fans will keep tuning in for the hope that they’ll see some of that old Cro Cop magic, but there’s been no sign of the old Cro Cop since PRIDE went quietly into that good night. Unless Pat Barry is on the receiving end of a highlight reel knockout this weekend, I wouldn’t get my hopes up too high about hearing “Wild Boys” on the UFC PA system ever again.

If Paulo Thiago beats Martin Kampmann, should he be the next welterweight contender?

Conlan: No, because he’ll need to fight someone in the period between UFC 115 and George St. Pierre’s post-TUF title defense against Josh Koscheck. If all goes according to plan the Ultimate Fighter Season 12 coaches will face off in December meaning the eventual welterweight champ won’t be available for at least another 3-4 months after that. Asking Thiago to sit out for close to a year is ridiculous, especially in a class as deep as 170 pounds and with Jake Shields potentially showing up in a few months. A victory over Kampmann would definitely make Thiago more deserving of a shot at St. Pierre’s belt than some who’ve had a crack, so I see how “should” could apply in that instance, but as far as reality goes the timing isn’t right for it to occur. Rather, if the Brazilian police specialist emerges with his hands raised in Vancouver, I think he’ll have to serve as Shields’ debut opponent or fight the winner of Jon Fitch’s rumored rematch against Thiago Alves before receiving an opportunity at the title.

Tool: It’s a little weird how much Thiago has slipped under the radar in the welterweight. He’s got decisive wins over two of the top ten guys in the world (including the next #1 contender) and the lone loss of his career was against the second best guy in his weight class. Brendhan makes a solid point in that even with a win on Saturday, Thiago would still likely need at least one more fight to solidify potential contender status.

The idea of matching up this weekend’s winner with the almost-certainly-soon-to-be-signed Shields is not bad, particularly since Shields will likely be thrust right into the thick of things at the upper levels of the UFC. I can also support a potential match-up for Thiago with the winner of Fitch/Alves, although that may not be a bad idea for Shields’ debut either. I was certainly intrigued by the Paulo Thiago/Thiago Alves fight when it was initially rumored earlier this year, although a Thiago/Fitch rematch doesn’t excite me quite as much.

One fact that remains to be seen is whether or not Thiago can pull out the win this Saturday. Martin Kampmann may have been knocked around by Paul Daley last year, but in the meantime he managed to Jacob Volkman in a much more convincing fashion than Thiago did. It goes without saying that Thiago has a firm edge on the ground, but there are few strikers in the welterweight division that can stand toe-to-toe with Kampmann. For me this is easily one of the most exciting fights on the card, but it’s also a fight that could determine one of 2011’s welterweight contenders.

Do you have any interest in seeing The A-Team and if so how much of that interest is due to “Rampage” Jackson’s starring role?

Tool: In all honesty, my interest level for this movie begins and ends with “Rampage” Jackson. I don’t have some huge attachment to the original series and overall the movie looks a little bland to me. I’ve seen Jackson’s acting before (there’s my review of direct-to-DVD crapfest Never Surrender somewhere out there on the internet) and it’s not terrible. Of course, at the time I was comparing it to the acting chops of BJ Penn and Heath Herring. I’ll catch this one at home in the future, but don’t look for me in line at the theater this weekend.

Conlan: It was basically a prerequisite to love “The A-Team” if you grew up in the 80s like I did. As such, I’m definitely looking forward to seeing the movie and the fact “Rampage” is in it as “B.A. Baracus” makes the pot THAT much sweeter. After all, he apparently read against the likes of Ice Cube and Common so his presence is not only excellent from a MMA enthusiast’s standpoint but also in terms of being appropriately cast for the role. The action sequences I’ve seen look good and the other three actors involved are all entertaining in their own way. I don’t know if I’ll spend $20 to catch it at the theater, as it takes a lot for me to throw that kind of cash down on any movie, but I’m absolutely planning on seeing it at some point in the near future.

In the past 7 days there have been at least three threads on different forums where some have suggested that the guillotine is somehow no longer an acceptable submission in International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation events.

• The Underground: Guillotine choke and rules?
• Sherdog: So apparently the IBJJF is outlawing the standard guillotine in gi tournies …
• EFNSports: guillotine choke now illegal with no arms in (ibjjf)

Thanks to the Mighty 600,000 for informing us of this meme. We reached out to IBJJF head referee Alvaro Mansur, to see if there was any truth to this:

There are many people who have read online that the rules regarding the guillotine choke have changed. Have there been any rule changes to the use of the guillotine this year?

Please let me know and I will post your response to let everyone know.

Mansur responded:

Caleb, the rules don´t change, you can stay calm, becouse you are right.

So everyone can relax. The rules about guillotines in IBJJF tournaments have not changed. This confirms a response I received from an IBJJF official who wrote me back to the same question, saying:

Nothing has changed

This is a lesson that when we read something that sounds unlikely, it might be a good idea to take a deep breath and wait for confirmation before announcing the death of BJJ as we know it. Heck, even if you read something crazy on our site, please question it.

After a week off from espousing my knowledge (or lack thereof) when it comes to correctly picking MMA results I’m back once again offering up a little insight and opinion on how I see this weekend’s “UFC 113: Machida vs. Shogun 2” event unfolding. The card includes a number of interesting pairings highlighted by a headlining rematch featuring not only the intrigue of a controversial decision dished out in the combatants’ initial encounter but also that derived from the simple fact Mauricio Rua and Lyoto Machida are among the truly elite 205-pounders in Mixed Martial Arts. Beyond the light heavyweight championship clash, a bout with less-direct title implications is also set to take place in the form of welterweights Josh Koscheck and Paul Daley facing off, as well as the scheduled sophomore appearance of Kimbo Slice in the Octagon, the involvement number of local products guaranteed to amp up the Montreal crowd, and what I feel are some truly excellent stylistic match-ups involving both veterans and prospects.

Before I get into the “pick em” part of this article let me preclude the breakdown of bouts by saying one of the things about Mixed Martial Arts I’ve always loved is its unpredictable nature. I’ll do my best to steer you in the right direction with a little insight/opinion included in the deal, but readers would be wise to avoid laying down money on my attempts to glimpse into the future. Beyond that, please don’t hesitate to share your own thoughts on any or all of the scheduled fights in the “Comments” section below, and let’s get this show on the road…

PRELIMINARY CARD

Jason MacDonald vs. John Salter

Smart move by the UFC brass to have a popular Canadian fighter open the card up against an adversary he should have no problem beating. MacDonald’s primary focus will be on dragging things down to the mat and working his jiujitsu. If successful Salter will find himself swimming in treacherous waters as “The Athlete” has submitted eighteen of the twenty-four of the opponents he’s beaten. I think he’s slick enough on his feet to defend anything Salter will have to offer and as previously stated his grappling is superior. Outside of the old “puncher’s chance” I think it’s safe to say it’s pretty much a given MacDonald will win this match-up.

Winner – Jason MacDonald via Submission Round 2

Johny Hendricks vs. T.J. Grant

This is an evenly matched fight where each man essentially negates the other’s skills based on their respective styles. Grant specializes in jiujitsu while Hendricks is a top notch wrestler, meaning Grant will likely struggle to take Hendricks down and seek out submissions while Hendricks will have to be wary of shooting in because of the threat Grant poses from the bottom. I think it could result in a stalemate of sorts that isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing thing for fans to watch. I’m giving Hendricks the edge to win because I think his grappling will allow him to control in-ring positioning, as well as assist in avoiding mistakes that might result in a submission from the bottom. After all, more than half of Grant’s wins have come by way of armbar, so it’s definitely a technique the former All-American needs to be consciously looking out for.

Winner – Johny Hendricks via Decision

Joey Beltran vs. Tim Hague

Beltran vs. Hague is a guaranteed slugfest that very well may produce the show’s “Knockout of the Night”. Neither is afraid to stand and bang while both possess knockout power. I would be shocked if this bout sees the third round. I’m picking Beltran because he’s been hot as of late, winning seven of his last eight fights by TKO, while Hague is coming off consecutive losses and has the added pressure of knowing a third could equate to a pink-slip from the organization.

Winner – Joey Beltran via TKO Round 1

Yoshiyuki Yoshida vs. Michael Guymon

Yoshida hasn’t lived up to the hype he entered the UFC with, but then again two of his four fights have come against extremely dangerous opponents (Anthony Johnson and Josh Koscheck) so it’s hard to fault him for stumbling a bit along along the way. I like that Guymon has the same number of wins by TKO as he does by submissions, and I won’t be surprised if the diversity of his skills lead way to an upset victory. However, I’m picking Yoshida because I simply think he’s the better overall fighter, and I have more confidence in his ability to finish things with strikes or successfully land takedowns while working his way into position for a choke.

Winner – Yoshiyuki Yoshida via Decision

Marcus Davis vs. Jonathan Goulet

I have high hopes for this match-up as far as entertainment value goes. Like I said in this week’s Grappling with Issues, “Though neither is within a stone’s throw of title contendership or is likely to dramatically improve their standing in the immediate future, both are veteran fighters who prefer to strike and may be in a ‘loser leaves town’ situation.”

Also, the fact Goulet will be fighting in front of his fellow Quebeccers should introduce additional elements of excitement and energy into the bout. Ultimately, I think Davis will win based on his superior boxing and the fact he’s been consistently active in the ring as opposed to Goulet’s recent absence from it. The New Englander may not be “Top 10” material in the welterweight division but he’s definitely skilled enough to beat most opponents, especially journeymen like “The Road Warrior”. He should be able to win the stand-up battle while stuffing the bulk of Goulet’s takedowns and scoring a few of his own if need be.

Winner – Marcus Davis via Decision

Tom Lawlor vs. Joe Doerksen

The Bell Center’s custodial staff may deserve a bonus after the dust settles and these two exit the Octagon given that their nicknames are “The Filthly Mauler” and “El Dirte”. It seems all the bout needs is Peanuts’ “Pig-Pen” acting as referee.

On a serious note, I think it’s actually a very interesting pairing, and I can see the end result going to either since each individual has a few things working for and against him. Doerksen’s experience eclipses Lawlor in as severe a fashion as you’re likely to ever see in the Zuffa era. The 50-fight difference between them is a remarkable stat, and I’d wager it’s the largest gap in the promotion’s history minus a bout or two involving Jeremy Horn (a veteran of more than 105 professional matches). Doerksen has won his last five fights, and his grappling ability makes him a threat on the ground to submit most foes or occasionally work his way into a TKO-friendly position.

However, as good as Doersken can look at times, he’s also inconsistent. He splits decisions against lesser competition and has shown himself to constantly be at risk of losing by submission or knockout instead via one specific method of attack. I think Lawlor’s energy, power, and steadily improving skills will prove to be too much for the eleven-year MMA veteran and earn him the win though it won’t necessarily be pretty. Unlike Doerksen, Lawlor has the ability to severely hurt opponents while standing or when postured up over their downed form. I also feel he’s strong enough, and smart enough, to handle Doerksen’s ground game…and gosh darnit people like him!

Related to that final note, it will be interesting to see if the UFC makes an effort to show this fight specifically because of Lawlor’s status as sort of a cult hero in the MMA community. The Ultimate Fighter Season 8 contestant endeared himself to many while on the show due to his antics and sense of humor while also being a regular member of popular MMA forum “The Underground” and delivering two of the most entertaining entrances in the UFC’s recent history. Since it’s expected another memorable walkdown will take place on Saturday night (rumors range from a theme involving classic World Wrestling Federation tag-teams “The Mounties” or “The Hart Foundation” to the use of an American-centric theme song) it would make sense for the UFC to capitalize on his popularity/behavior as long as the PPV’s running time and the actual quality-of-fight permit it.

Winner – Tom Lawlor via Entrance TKO Round 3

MAIN CARD

Alan Belcher vs. Patrick Cote

First off, major credit to Cote for taking on such a difficult opponent in his return to action after almost a year-and-a-half on the sidelines recovering from a severe knee injury. Belcher continues to improve on a per-bout basis and is polished enough to earn a “W” from any position. Only two of his fifteen career wins have come via decision, so he definitely knows how to seal the deal rather than eek out victories, and he’s equally tricky to finish as well based how infrequently he’s been taken out in less than fifteen minutes. Cote has a similar knack for avoiding the judges’ scorecards, but he’s primarily reliant on striking to merit his hand being raised at the end of the night instead of being comfortable in all areas of the fight. He may have physically recovered from knee surgery but I wonder if he’s mentally recovered from it. I’ve heard it takes awhile for athletes to fully trust their joints and ligaments after major reconstruction and I wouldn’t be surprised if “The Predator” is a bit hesitant to go 110% in the ring. The outcome of the contest may rely on what goes through his mind when he digs in to sprawl, takes a few vicious leg kicks to the once-damaged area, or tries to plant and put his full force into a punch. I don’t think the psychological aspect involved can be denied, and coupled with ring rust from the extended hiatus I think it means Belcher is going to break thousands of French-Canadian hearts en route to a win tomorrow night. Expect him to clinch whenever possible to negate Cote’s ability to throw power-punches, test his fitness, and even sneak in a takedown or two along the way.

Winner – Alan Belcher via Submission Round 2

Kimbo Slice vs. Matt Mitrione

Slice has definitely shown improvement since his days in EliteXC but there’s one thing I haven’t seen – devastating power. He couldn’t flatten Houston Alexander or James Thompson even though both are known to have jaws made of Ming Dynasty china rather than glass. If Kimbo isn’t able to leave his opponents seeing stars with every looping blow he launches then what else does he really have to use against them?

On the other hand, “Meathead” has decent stand-up and heavy hands. He’s a better grappler with a greater chance of taking Kimbo down to work a submission than having the same done to him in return. His striking is a bit more technical than the former street fighter’s, so I believe he’ll find a few opportunities to land jabs and work in a couple nice combinations. If Seth Petruzelli could finish Slice while walking backwards I’m confident Mitrione can at minimum do the same.

Winner – Matt Mitrione via TKO Round 2

Sam Stout vs. Jeremy Stephens

This particular bout has serious “Fight of the Night” potential. Stout and Stephens are both fearless strikers who could use the momentum a memorable win on a stage like UFC 113 would provide. I expect them to stand and bang until someone falls down. I’m giving the nod to Stout because I think he packs a little more power in his punches, plus he’ll have the entire support of the arena being yet another popular Canadian fighter on the card.

Winner – Sam Stout via TKO Round 3

Josh Koschek vs. Paul Daley

I don’t disagree with the general structure most people seem to be assigning to Daley vs. Koscheck. Tell me if this sounds familiar. “Kos” will likely see what his British adversary has to offer in the stand-up department while trying to avoid any of the knockout blows Daley is known for. As soon as he no longer feels comfortable risking the proposition of staring up at the arena lights he’ll shoot in for a takedown. At best he’ll work towards either a submission or ground-and-pound TKO and at worst he’ll grind out a decision win. “Semtex” will clearly have a few knees loaded up to unleash when the takedown attempt comes. If he lands one or even a solid punch he could end things immediately but other than that he’s in trouble. It’s a pretty simple scenario and one I subscribe to. While Koscheck has definitely been rocked before, I think his chin is durable enough to absorb a little damage if it means latching on and dragging Daley down to the canvas. He’s smart enough to recognize the opportunity a win at the event would provide and as such I don’t think he’ll waste a lot of time tempting fate on his feet.

Winner – Josh Koscheck via Submission Round 2

Lyoto Machida vs. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua

Based on their first fight I’d say the result of the rematch is an equivalent coin-flip. Both Machida and Rua are of such quality as Mixed Martial Artists neither has a significant advantage or overwhelming hole to exploit. Each has knockout ability, mainly due to precision and technique rather than pure power, while also possessing the necessary jiujitsu skills to latch onto limbs or procure choke holds on the mat. Conditioning was a gray area for “Shogun” after his slew of injuries in 2006-2008 but he looked to be in excellent shape against Chuck Liddell and in the initial bout with Machida so I don’t think cardio will be an issue. I’m only picking the champion to retain his belt because I feel Rua may be a little more aggressive this time out which could open him up to making uncharacteristic mistakes. If Machida can score a few clean punches, or possibly even land a trip or takedown, he should be able to mix in enough offense along with his standard defense throughout the bulk of the bout to come away with another win.

Winner – Lyoto Machida via (More Tolerable) Decision

FiveOuncesofPain.com first reported the possibility of a light heavyweight match-up between the fast rising Jon Jones and grizzled vet Vladimir Matyushenko last week, and now the bout has been made official through one of the fighters involved in the upcoming scuffle.

Matyushenko recently reported that the bout was “official” in a recent posting on The Underground forum.

The duo will go at it during “UFC on Versus 2” on August 1 from the EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah.

“Bones” Jones is coming off of the most impressive performance of his career with a devastating first round TKO of Brandon Vera during the inaugural “UFC on Versus” event, while “The Janitor” is currently on a three-fight win streak in the UFC with cosecutive victories over the likes of Jason Lambert, Igor Pokrajac and Eliot Marshall.

A light-heavyweight bout between up-and-comer Jon Jones and veteran fighter Vladimir Matyushenko is official for August's UFC on Versus 2 event.

MMAjunkie.com passed along news of the bout this past week, and Matyushenko recently confirmed the fight as official on The Underground forum.

UFC on Versus 2, the second of two 2010 UFC events contracted to air on Versus, takes place Aug. 1 at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City.

Seven-time UFC veteran Eric “Red” Schafer has been released from the promotion on the heels of a two fight losing skid.

The news comes courtesy of Schafer himself in a recent post on The Underground.

I found out an hour before reading this, was just joking around (though it really does suck). I’ll just get back into the gym and see what the future holds. Despite losing the last 2 decisions, I felt I learned a lot, but the UFC is not a easy place to be working on my game. Oh well, I had some good battles and always went out looking to finish. Was an amazing experience.

With an overall career record of 11-5, and a UFC record of 3-4, Schafer recently dropped consecutive bouts at the hands of Ryan Bader at UFC 104, and most recently to Jason Brilz via unanimous decision during the first “UFC on Versus” event.

A former XFO light heavyweight champion and black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, “Red” has notched notable wins over the likes of Rob MacDonald, Antonio Mendes and Houston Alexander in the past.

Seems like Chuck Liddell and Jenna Jameson have been arguing via Twitter, after there was a picture recently posted of Chuck having a belly(Chuck has since shown a much new picture and he’s looking quite ripped.) Here’s the low down, via the Underground:

@jennajameson: I think its funny that @DanaWhite defends Chuck Liddell like he’s his boyfriend… It’s kinda embarrassing

@jennajameson: Yes, Dana favors Chuck, always has… maybe he has a weiner to match his belly, and Dana may like it.hehehe