Do We Really Need GSP/Silva?

They’re back again, whispers of a Super Fight between GSP and Anderson Silva, and this time Dana is on board talking Cowboy’s Stadium in 2013. If Anderson wants to keep competing there is work to be done at Middleweight: Weidman, Stann, Bisping. In GSP’s case now is not the time, the Welterweights have been holding since he fought Shields in April 2011 and new threats have emerged: Hendricks, Ellenberger, Kampmann, and Interim Champ Condit; GSP has work to do before talking Silva. I know most will disagree, but I am more interested in seeing Champions fight in their own divisions, not Super Fights for the sake of finding out who is the best. I just see this as an instance of if Anderson wins he did what he was supposed to do, if he loses than they say he was always overrated; it’s the same for GSP.

Weidman/Boetsch added to UFC155

In a middleweight bout that I don’t think anyone ever asked for yet oddly makes sense, if you think of it only as busy work, Chris Weidman and Tim Boetsch have been tapped to face each other at UFC155. Weidman is 5-0 since joining the UFC and Boetsch is 4-0 since dropping to middleweight, including the lackluster derailment of Hector Lombard’s hype train. With Anderson Silva sitting out until sometime in 2013 and in talks for a superfight with GSP it’s hard to imagine the winner of this fight not facing the winner of Bisping/Stann for the number one contender slot as Silva weighs his options. This means if the superfight actually happens, the MW Championship could sit undefended until sometime next summer. Somewhere in England Michael Bisping just choked a little on his earl grey.

Holy Crap! Hector Lombard is Fighting Rousimar Palhares

I just got released from the hospital after a month of near death experiences so don’t expect much from me, but at least give me an “A” for effort for trying to blow the dust off MMA150 and get it going again after weeks of having red stuff drained out of my liver through five separate tubes (No, it was not alcohol related either). Hector Lombard needs to blow the dust off whatever the hell that was at UFC149 and try and get back on track, the problem is he’s going to be facing off against Rousimar Palhares whose name literally translates to, “The Remover of Limbs” this December at UFC on FX 6. Lombard claims he was injured last time out which led to his poor performance, but this fight should finally answer all the questions about where he truly ranks as a middleweight.   

Nick Diaz is Joking, Right?

Finding out Nick Diaz wants a “comeback” fight with Anderson Silva was one hell of a way to wake up this morning. First of all, a “comeback” fight? Dude is suspended, let’s not glorify that; the only reason he is pseudo-retired is because he “quit” MMA when he didn’t get his way against Condit which is the equivalent of a toddler storming off the playground when he can’t have the monkey bars. He also only wants “fights that matter” now; remember when he was supposed to fight GSP for the championship, did that not matter? BJ Penn? The Interim Title? What about the Strikeforce title and Frank Shamrock? Nearly every fight he’s had for the last four years “has mattered”. But seriously, Anderson Silva, really, this is the road he wants to go down? It’s ridiculous to think Silva wouldn’t pick him apart in under a round. 

Fighter Futures: Renan Barao

It remains to be seen if Renan Barao will defend the Interim Championship while he waits for a returning Dominick Cruz. He could defend it, sure, but the only fight that really makes sense would be a rematch with Faber and no one is clamoring for that fight right now. What this fight proved for Renan is what we already knew: that he is an elite level bantamweight, only now he has a recognizable and impressive name on his resume. The creation of a Flyweight Division (in my opinion) has stripped the Bantamweight’s talent pool leaving Barao, Faber, and Cruz miles ahead of the competition. While I would like to see an Interim Champ who remains active, I doubt Renan will, purely due to lack of a true challenger.  

Fighter Futures: Tim Boetsch

He is now 4-0 since dropping to Middleweight and Tim Boetsch is one of a few possible challenges for Anderson Silva, but realistically speaking, Boetsch is at least two fights out from challenging for a title, and he is yet to prove he can hang with the upper echelon of the division. If the UFC feels Boetsch is ready for a step up I think he will be paired with the loser of Bisping/Stann which would put him on hold until December. Another possibility is Alan Belcher; Belcher has been in and out of headlines since TKOing Palhares, but no opponent has been inked. The winner of a Boetsch/Belcher match up could be paired with the winner of Stann/Bisping in a title eliminator, allowing all men to stay active with only minimal downtime while giving Anderson Silva his typical six to seven months between title defenses. 

Fighter Futures: Hector Lombard

Well, the hype train has been derailed, a 25 fight win streak has been snapped, and Dana White wants Hector Lombard to drop to 170. Things are not looking good for the former Bellator Champion. First of all, I seriously doubt a move to 170 is in the cards, Lombard is 34 years old and I doubt he can restructure his body and continue to make the cut; besides 170 is jumbled enough without adding another name to the list. I think Lombard will remain at middleweight and become another Jake Shields, overhyped outside the UFC, struggles to transition, and will probably hang around the middle of the pack. He will probably get one more semi-big name fight before he becomes just another face in the crowd, possibly the winner of Okami/Palhares or a returning Mark Munoz.

Fighter Futures: Urijah Faber

Here’s the thing with Urijah, even though he came up short in another title fight, he is not quite in the same position as Chael Sonnen. Sonnen was defeated by Anderson twice for the Undisputed Middleweight Belt; Faber is 1-1 against Dominick Cruz and 0-1 against Barao so he is poised for either a rubber match or rematch, also it helps that he is one of the Bantamweight Division’s biggest draws. My point is even though Urijah lost the Interim Title fight he is still the number 3 guy and rematches with both champions are bound to happen before the end of his career. His future is a little murky with no schedule for Cruz’s return, but I expect he will stay active with a tune up fight which will inevitably also serve a title eliminator to face the eventual winner of Cruz/Barao.

Koscheck/Ellenberger Goes Down at UFC151

Man it’s a hot one, like seven inches from the midday sun. I hear you whisper and the words melt everyone, but you stay so cool. My munequita, my Spanish Mona Lisa. You’re my reason for reason, the step in my groove. And if you say this life ain’t good enough, I would give my world to life you up, I could change my life to better suit your mood, because you’re so smooth. And it’s just like the ocean under the moon, it’s the same emotion that I get from you, you got the kind of lovin that be so smooth so gimme your heart make it real, or else forget about it…. I’ve had that song stuck in my head for days now. Anyway, Josh Koscheck and Jake Ellenberger have been paired up for the co-main event at UFC 151, should be interesting. Man, it’s a hot one…

Shinya Aoki Makes His ONE FC Debut

Shinya Aoki has fought in the United States only three, most recently in April 2012 when he suffered a TKO loss to Eddie Alvarez. Previously he submitted Lyle Beerbohm, and fell short in a bid for the Strikeforce Lightweight Championship against Gilbert Melendez. America does not agree with Shinya Aoki, but outside of the Red, White, and Blue, Shinya is a submission machine, racking up 30 wins with 19 of them coming by way of tap out. Shinya recently signed with the ever expanding One Fighting Championship, and is set to make his debut on August 31^st against a still to be determined opponent. Aoki is one of those fighters, like Fedor, who earns his living fighting outside of the United States, so he will always have his critics (people who can’t enjoy anything), but you should stop everything and enjoy this compilation.  

Bisping/Stann Slated for UFC152

Move over Alan Belcher, because your bid for the Brit has been unsuccessful. Michael Bisping is now set to face Brian Stann at UFC152 in Toronto this fall. Stann was to welcome promotional newcomer Hector Lombard to the UFC before withdrawing due to a shoulder injury and Michael Bisping was set to face Tim Boetsch before he withdrew with a knee injury; both men are now healthy and slated to meet this September. This fight is intriguing because it could produce a new challenger to Middleweight King Anderson Silva; of course there is also Chris Weidman to contend with as well as Hector Lombard if he is victorious over Boetsch. Bisping/Stann is part of what is quickly become a stacked card featuring inaugural Flyweight Championship fight between Demetrious Johnson and Joseph Benavidez, as well as BJ Penn’s return against Rory MacDonald. Bisping/Stann will boast Co-Main Event status.

Fighter Futures: Forrest Griffin

At this point I don’t even know what to do with Forrest. He doesn’t seem like his heart is in the sport anymore, and it’s hard to blame him when the best match up the UFC can provide you with is a third fight with retiring Tito Ortiz. Forrest is in a unique position, he is no longer a top LHW, nor will he be again, but his name still carries a decent amount of weight. For his next fight, I would like to see Forrest paired with Little Nog, a returning Thiago Silva, or even Brandon Vera post-Shogun. Stephan Bonnar has been making a lot of noise about coaching TUF opposite Griffin leading up to a third fight. Dana White has ruled the coaching idea out, but a third Bonnar is another possibility. 

Fighter Futures: Cung Le

Dana White has made it fairly obvious what he wants to do with Cung Le next: UFC China. Le however could not have seemed more apprehensive post fight coming off his win over Patrick Cote. The 40 year old played along with White’s jokes, but whether we will see him on the November card remains to be seen. Le poses no significant threat to the title and has not even hinted that at a title run being in the cards. I would imagine Le would get paired up with Rich Franklin, who has hinted at another title run, but it remains to be seen whether Franklin can even make the cut down to 185 anymore. Honestly I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if we never see Le again, MMA is physically demanding and he’s not getting any younger. 

Fighter Futures: Chael Sonnen

He came, he saw, he talked monumental amounts of trash you will pass off as your own for decades, and just like that he was defeated. I’m not sure Chael has a future while Anderson is still champion; he won't get another shot, so who? So long as Anderson remains there isn’t another fight that makes sense except for “perpetual gatekeeper” and then, best case, he stops a surging contender while gaining nothing in return. Until Anderson retires, or the belt changes hands, every fight Chael has is the equivalent of treading water in the middle of the ocean. Chael was the perfect foil to a champion that comes along once in forever, but like all great villains he fell short. Just for the sake of seeing them fight I would guess Chael gets paired with Wanderlei or Vitor, if they’re not fighting each other. Damn, I’m depressed now. 

Fighter Futures: Anderson Silva

I think at this point Anderson has earned the right to do whatever the hell he wants in the realm of MMA. You can make the argument he cheated, but nothing affected the outcome of the fight, and you know that… that knee was perfectly legal; you can also make the argument that global warming isn’t real, just to keep things in perspective. Naysayers will always be there, but Silva won that fight, just ask Chael. As far as what’s next… anything is fair game. Personally I wish Anderson would ride into the sunset because there’s nothing left. He is a legend, a myth, someone fighters will tell their children about, and if anyone deserves to retire as champion it’s the man who has held it for the last six years and defended it a record breaking ten times.