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UFC 109: Not a "WWE retirement match" for Randy Couture and Mark Coleman

By Erik "Nahm" Fontanez
Published on 2:45 PM at , , , ,

Randy Couture and Mark Coleman head into their UFC 109 bout with an enormous amount of criticism shot at them.

The two UFC hall of famers are 45 and 46 years of age, respectively, and talk of calling it a career is the last thing on each of their minds.

Couture does not want to hear one word of a “retirement match ,” like they do in professional wrestling. “I’m insulted that you would associate us with the WWE, first of all,” Couture told me during the UFC 109 conference call. “I don’t think there is any parallel there. I don’t know what a WWE retirement match is all about. Win or lose, I think Mark and I have a lot, still to contribute to the sport.”

If anyone knows Randy Couture, they know it takes a lot to strike a nerve. The former heavyweight and light-heavyweight champion chuckled a bit when asked the question, but made his point when commenting on how he sees the bout’s role in determining the fate of he and his opponent.

“I don’t think this is a make or break fight. We [Couture and Coleman] both have a lot of competitive spirit left in us…every time Mark and I fight, they’re gonna judge us…I don’t focus on those things. I think they’re negative things.”

The hunger and spirit of Randy Couture is undoubtedly second to none. The Greco-Roman wrestler is still on the hunt for excellence and, apparently, will continue to do so until his last dying breath.

Mark Coleman, having just come of a win over Stephan Bonnar, is equally as eager to continue his career after the fight with Couture.

“Barring a career ending injury, this won’t be my last fight…if I were to listen to the critics, I would have been retired ten years ago,” said Coleman during the same conference call.

Coleman is not about to let critics decide when and where he should hung up his gloves. The 2000 Pride Grand Prix champion opened up about people’s opinions when he said, “I’m not going to let someone else determine when I’m finished, I’ll determine that myself.“

The two fighters hold a mutual respect for each other and understand where the other is coming from. “This won’t be my last fight and I don’t think it’ll be Randy’s as well,” said Coleman. “I just want to put on a good show…and quiet the critics a little bit.”

Couture and Coleman are the living example of what UFC 109 has been dubbed —”relentless.”

UFC 109 will take place on Saturday, Feb 6 at 10PM ET/7PM PT at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, NV.

Strikeforce: Miami, Saturday night is crucial

By Erik "Nahm" Fontanez
Published on 11:55 AM at , , , ,

Miami is a destination of wild parties and clubs with an atmosphere unlike many within the lower 48 states. Strikeforce has determined this to be the perfect setting for showcasing their next fight card on Saturday, Jan. 30.

The beginning of 2010 is a crucial time for the San Jose-based mixed martial arts organization.

Universally known as industry heavyweight No. 2 to the Ultimate Fighting Championship , Strikeforce begins the new year with an event that had trouble coming to fruition due to athletic commissions, contract negotiations, and matching their newest athletes.

Jan. 30 will be a night where every fighter that is contractually obligated to perform will have to do so at the highest expectation and commentators will have to express excitement from opening round to closing horn.

The largest, and most obvious weight to hang from a fighters shoulders is that of Herschel Walker .

The 47-year-old NFL Hall of Famer is destined to enter the Strikeforce cage and prove that he is not the circus act that critics have labeled him as. Never having competed in mixed martial arts, Walker will debut with all of three months of professional training at an outstanding gym in American Kickboxing Academy.

His opponent, Greg Nagy, has relatively the same experience in MMA as the former running back.

Having a 1-1 record, Nagy goes into this fight with just over a year of experience himself. Coming off a loss to Francisco Navarro at Rage in the Cage 136, the Tempe, Ariz. native Nagy comes as a perfect fit for Walker to test his ability and determine if he can compete at a professional level.

Strikeforce has taken the correct approach in matching Walker; pitting him against a veteran in the sport would truly ruin the highly anticipated debut of a man who claims to do over 1000 sit-ups every day.

Good bet that the Walker-Nagy duel will be one that keeps this card above water, due to its intrigue and essentially equal experience between the two combatants.

The same can finally be said about Bobby Lashley as he is set to take on Ultimate Fighter Alumni Wes Sims .

After weeks of waffling and unconfirmed opponents, Lashley will receive the first true test of his career in Sims, a fighter who has a decent amount of experience on his fighting resume.

Until Sims, Lashley was rumored to fight Yohan Banks. Banks was then pulled for Shane Del Rosario, then Del Rosario pulled in favor of Jimmy Ambriz. The debacle that was matching Bobby Lashley finally came to an end when Sims was put into play.

I have been very critical about this very situation in a previous article I wrote entitled, Strikeforce Begins 2010 on a Stumble Matching Bobby Lashley .

Now, Strikeforce has righted their wrong by matching Lashley with someone who fit’s the bill as a step up in competition and is not a washed up, over the hill, image of his former self. Although many would argue that with a record of 22-12-1, 1 NC, Sims is a fighter on his way out. The fact is, Sims has won three in a row which gives him a little bit of momentum coming into his fight with Lashley.

Based off his experience and the level of competition he‘s seen, Wes Sims makes an excellent gatekeeper for the 4-0 Bobby Lashley. After this fight, Lashley will have to take on the next highest tier of competition.

Robbie Lawler and Melvin Manhoef will have to put on a stand-up war if anyone is to believe in the Strikeforce middleweight division beyond Dan Henderson and Jake Shields.

Manhoef's lack of ground game is the ugly duckling for Saturday night. The excitement brought on by one of Holland’s most vicious kickboxers is exactly what this card needs in order to draw the attention of the casual fan and keep them glued to the television.

Lawler packs some power in his own punch, so there's a great possibility that this bout will be an all-out slugging war.

Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos and Marloes Coenen are set to fight for the Stirkeforce women’s lightweight title, while Nick Diaz and Marius Zaromskis tangle for the welterweight title.

The two championship fights are a bit out-shined by the debuts of the aforementioned combatants; however, let’s not take anything away from either of them.

Santos is on a mission to dominate women’s MMA and put a stamp on the fact that females can handle their own and have a place in the sport. She made quick work of Gina Carano to win Strikeforce’s inaugural women’s title and has established herself as a ferocious athlete through her fight style and rigorous training regiment.

Marloes Coenen is an outstanding submission fighter and, given the opportunity, if the bout with “Cyborg” goes to the ground there is a enormous chance the women’s title can change hands after just one fight.

Be forewarned, the ladies will do their part to make sure Strikeforce shines on Saturday.

MMA bad boy Nick Diaz will surely want to stand with Dream welterweight champion Marius Zaromskis, even though his strong point is jiu-jitsu. Diaz has never been one to follow the popular trend, so he will surely do whatever he feels like in the cage on Saturday night.

Zaromskis was last seen head-kicking his way through the Dream welterweight tournament last year in Japan. The fight between he and Diaz may end by doctor stoppage since Diaz is not one to give up, even if his face is beaten beyond recognition.

Jay Hieron and Joe Riggs were pushed to the under card but, luckily for them, EASportsMMA.com will stream their fight live over the Internet.

The two have made their rounds in the UFC and been journeyman for the last few years, but have maintained a stable fan base while making their recent treks.

Probably the most underrated fight of the card, Hieron and Riggs have all the talent to produce an entertaining bout that could end a number of ways, from KO or submission to split or unanimous decision. Both men are well rounded enough to ensure casual fans that they will have something to talk about when explaining the versatility of MMA to all those who have yet to understand this wonderful sport.

Saturday night is a crucial for Stirkeforce because it is their first attempt to gain ground on the UFC in 2010. Fortunately, Chief Executive Officer Scott Coker and the rest of the Strikeforce staff have taken the correct steps towards guaranteeing Strikeforce: Miami is the party to be at in South Beach.

Strikeforce: Miami is scheduled to air live on Showtime in the US and Superchannel in Canada at 10 p.m. ET.

Jake Shields: "There are holes in Dan Henderson's game"

By Erik "Nahm" Fontanez
Published on 3:00 PM at , , , ,

Later this spring, Strikeforce middleweight champion Jake Shields is destined to defend his brand new title against a legend in MMA, Dan Henderson .

Shields sees more than an opponent going into their title fight, which is still in negotiations. The 185-pound champion views Henderson as something to marvel at with the admiration and respect deserving of the former two-division PrideFC champion.

"I think he’s a phenomenal opponent…he's one of my favorite fighters of all-time," Shields said to me in Los Angeles this past weekend. "He's a legend in the sport so it's something I really hope comes together."

It appears Jake Shields will have one of his most desired battles come to fruition once Strikeforce is able to write up the appropriate contracts for both fighters and their respected camps. "There are a couple tiny things that need to be worked out," Shields said when asked if both he and Henderson have verbally agreed to the bout.

Admirable as he is of his pending opponent, Shields enters the anticipated title fight as an underdog against the man who nearly put Michael Bisping in a coma at UFC 100 last July.

The title of "underdog" is likely not the concern of Shields. The San Francisco native appeared confident when talking about the fight and is even a bit critical of his opponent's technique. "I think he’s a little wild at times…makes a few mistakes," said Shields.

The submission wizard feels there are holes in Henderson's game and plans to exploit them. "There are a few weaknesses in his jiu-jitsu," said Shields, "so obviously, that's my strongest point…I'll try to exploit him there."

Shields does not plan on holding back any offense against the decorated wrestler in Henderson. When asked of his style of jiu-jitsu, Shields explained how it is not one where he waits for something to happen, but rather one that forces the issue.

"I try to force the submission instead of just waiting of the guy to make a mistake. When you have a shorter round you don’t have time to wait."

Let's not be mistaken, Dan Henderson is not the type of fighter who would sit and wait for something to happen, either. A powerful right hand awaits ignition to fly through the atmosphere and land on his opponent's jaw, causing chaos on catastrophic levels.

Shields will find it in his better interest to take this to the canvas of the cage and prevent any type of stand up.

Criticized for a lack of striking technique, Shields has finished a great deal of his opponents by submission due to his incredible ability to takedown his opposition and neutralize their striking. With only three TKOs to his credit, it is very unlikely that Shields will attempt to trade shots with the heavy-handed Henderson.

Going into his fight with Jason "Mayhem" Miller , Shields was considered the weaker of the two on the feet. Utilizing his strong wrestling and jiu-jitsu, Miller was controlled by Shields and barely able to get in a strike, edge-wise. Ultimately, Shields was determined to be the victor after a five-round affair and claimed the vacant Strikeforce middleweight belt.

Many within the MMA community were displeased with the outcome of the Shields-Miller fight due to the "dragged-out" style used by Shields to control his opponent.

What many fail to realize is that in MMA, fighters have their strong points and weak points. Jake Shields is an intelligent fighter who can realize this of his opponent and capitalize on what he sees as an opening.

Being the sportsman that he is, Shields is not totally turned off to a potential rematch with "Mayhem."

"I would if that's what people wanted to see," said Shields of a Miller rematch, "I'd like to see him win a couple fights first. I'm OK with rematches but I'm not a big fan of rematches right away unless there is a reason for them."

Shields-Miller does not exactly have the same controversy of Machida-Shogun. Shields sees no reason for a rematch with Miller, whereas with Machida and Shogun he says, "There was a reason for it."

Before anyone can try to put some sort of purpose behind Shields-Miller II, fans will get their chance to watch Shields-Henderson in an epic battle of between two MMA veterans.

For all the accolades and accomplishments Dan Henderson has collected over the past 13 years, little attention is given to Jake Shields and what he has been able to overcome throughout his career.

Not many realize that Shields has not lost a fight in over six years and is the winner of 13 straight. Regardless of how he has finished fights and opinions of his stand-up, Jake Shields has gotten the job done, even in the most lopsided of affairs.

Henderson will have no easy task once the two tangle later this year.

Kenny Florian, Takanori Gomi to headline Fight Night 21

By Erik "Nahm" Fontanez
Published on 11:15 AM at , , , ,

Kenny Florian and Takanori Gomi have apparently agreed to their highly anticipated lightweight bout.

After weeks of rumors and hearsay, news finally broke of the blockbuster match-up today via ESPN MMA Live’s Twitter account:

“Kenny Florian-Takanori Gomi expected as the main event for UFC Fight Night 21 March 31st in North Carolina,” read the tweet.

The announcement comes just a week after Florian spoke to MMAJunkie.com, where he denied any knowledge of a potential fight with “The Fireball Kid.” It appears Kenny Florian knows when to keep a lid on things when they are important; something, I’m sure, Brock Lesnar wishes people in his camp knew how to do.

Gomi’s UFC debut is now guaranteed to lack a soft entrance with Florian waiting for him at the front door. There are no opportunities for Gomi to cupcake his record when he gets to the world’s most popular MMA organization.

Having gone 2-2 in his last four bouts, Gomi (31-5-0-1NC) has not, exactly, been the dominating lightweight he was when he was champion in Pride Fighting Championships. The move to the UFC is great for the sport since it brings one of it’s legends to the biggest stage, but if Gomi is looking to resurrect his career he’ll have a tough time doing it against the top UFC fighters.

Florian (12-4) was last seen dominating Clay Guida at UFC 107 in Memphis, Tenn. where he showed great improvement in his hands. Having lost his 2nd bid for a title prior to the Guida fight, Florian is still a good distance away from getting another shot at UFC gold, but the Massachusetts native is still one of the top 155-pounders on the planet.

Gomi is sure to have his hands full when he takes on “Ken-Flo” this March. Let’s applaud the UFC for providing this Pay-Per-View caliber fight for free on Spike TV.

Thanks Dana White!

Brock Lesnar Doesn't Want A Restraining Order on Frank Mir "The Stalker”

By Erik "Nahm" Fontanez
Published on 3:43 PM at , , , ,

Based on today’s Brock Lesnar-Dana White media call, it's clear Lesnar is 100% motivated to fight anyone and everyone in the UFC Heavyweight Division, especially the man he pummeled at UFC 100.

Frank Mir is on the returning heavyweight champion’s radar and Lesnar is ready to drop a mega-ton warhead on the man fighting Shane Carwin at UFC 111 in New Jersey later this year.

Lesnar held nothing back about Mir when he said, “I didn’t beat him as bad as I could."

Lesnar also poked fun at Mir when he spoke of the jiu-jitsu ace’s comments and actions after their last meeting. “I’ll take care of that stalker," Lesnar said of Mir.

Apparently, Brock feels that Frank Mir’s attention has focused far too much on the heavyweight champion after handing him a beating at UFC 100 last July. The tension in Lesnar’s voice is a perfect example of how badly he wants to get a third crack at Mir.

Dana White stated that the winner of the Mir-Carwin bout in March would face Lesnar in the summer. It is no secret, at this point, that Lesnar wants to finish Mir off once and for all.

If he can pull out the victory over the undefeated Shane Carwin, Mir will get his opportunity to get all the Brock Lesnar he wants.

Defeating Carwin will be no easy feat, however. The Colorado native, Carwin, has some heavy hands and is just as eager to get a shot at using them on Lesnar.

The ironic thing is that if Lesnar really wants Mir as badly as he says, then he’ll be cheering him on in March when he fights Carwin for the interim title.

Oh, the soap opera that is the UFC heavyweight division.

Brock Lesnar: Returning This Summer Is "a Miracle to Me"

By Erik "Nahm" Fontanez
Published on 3:40 PM at , , , , , ,

Brock Lesnar is back. No other way to put it folks, as the UFC heavyweight champion conducted his first interview today on Sportscenter since falling ill this past fall.

The news of Lesnar making his first appearance since going MIA spread quickly, and many tuned their televisions to ESPN today as Lesnar sat with UFC President Dana White and spoke openly about his recent past and future.

White confirmed that Lesnar will indeed return this summer and defend his title against the winner of the Frank Mir/Shane Carwin interim title match, which takes place in New Jersey at UFC 111.

If one of those fighters is injured, Lesnar will take on the winner of Minotauro Nogueira and Cain Velasquez, which takes place at UFC 110 in Australia.

The rumors of a drop to 220 pounds were quickly dismissed, as Lesnar graced the television screen with all the mass he routinely carries on his massive frame. Lesnar did state, however, he lost 40 pounds during his 11-day hospitalization but was able to put back on about 30 of those pounds.

Lesnar was advised by doctors that he needed surgery to have his colon removed. The heavyweight champion was uneasy about doing the surgery and opted to heal himself.

After a check-up on Jan. 5, Lesnar says that doctors were “dumbfounded” and that no trace of any problem could be found in his stomach. “It’s just a miracle to me,” Lesnar said during his interview.

Well, it is all said and done. The Brock Lesnar mystery is solved and a return to action for him is on the horizon this summer.

As of right now, the only events targeted this summer are UFC 115 in June and the unnamed event taking place in Boston this August.

The speculation is that Brock will fight the Mir/Carwin winner at the first UFC event to be held in Massachusetts but nothing at this point has been confirmed.

More details will be reported as new information surfaces.

City of Angels plays host to 2010 Bodybuilding.com Los Angeles Fitness Expo

By Erik "Nahm" Fontanez
Published on 3:31 PM at , , , , ,

Downtown Los Angeles is set to prepare itself for the 7th year of Bodybuilding.com’s Los Angeles Fitness Expo.

The event is being presented by Gaspari Nutrition and Pro Fight Supplements and will be held this Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 23-24 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 South Figueroa Street, South Halls G & H.

“2010…is going to be our biggest and best yet,” says Bodybuilding.com Los Angeles Fitness Expo Executive Director, Erin Ferries. “Southern California is the center of the fitness world and it is exciting to see the tremendous growth our event has had as we introduce new competitions, exhibits, and guest speakers.”

Attendees will find over 250 exhibits offering the latest in fitness, diet, nutrition, strength and wellness products and services.

The Bodybuilding.com Los Angeles Fitness Expo also offers 10 major competitions, including two new events introduced this year.

New events for 2010 are:
• THE AAU USA WARRIORS CLASSIC WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP (Saturday) - High school students will compete at The Bodybuilding.com Los Angeles Fitness Expo.

• THE LA OPEN MARTIAL ARTS COMPETITION - This two-day event will feature the best in Karate and Sport Martial Arts Competition with extreme forms and weapons expertise.

Also, MMA fans will have their opportunity to meet some of the biggest names in sport, as scheduled appearances will be made by the following MMA personalities:

Urijah Faber, Vladimir Matyushenko, Referee Herb Dean, Ryron Gracie, Ralek Gracie, Eddie Bravo, Freddie George, Mike “The Joker” Guymon, Jason Lambert, Hector Lombard, Rob McCullough, Tim McKenzie, Antonio Mckee, Mark Munoz, Daniel Puder, Juliano Prado, Amir Sadollah, Bob Sapp, Jake Shields, Thiago Silva, James Wilks and last, but not least, UFC legend Kimo.

Other appearances of note are NFL Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and, The Incredible Hulk himself, Lou Ferrigno.

All other ticket and event information can be found at TheFitExpo.com.

Where in the world is Gina Carano?

By Erik "Nahm" Fontanez
Published on 12:31 PM at , , , ,

For the past five months, the MMA world has not seen the slightest bit of “the first lady of MMA” Gina Carano.

Since losing her bid for the Strikeforce women’s lightweight title to Christiane “Cyborg” Santos on Aug. 15, the Las Vegas native has been missing in action with no outlook as to when she will return to the sport.

Some might speculate that she was abducted by aliens and taken to another planet, never to be seen again. Others may think that some psychopathic, obsessed fanboys kidnapped her and have her tied up in their mother’s basement.

The possibilities are scary once you think about them.

Fear not ladies and gentleman (mostly gentleman), Gina Carano hasn’t been taken to another planet, nor is she the victim of some horrific act by a less than balanced fan.

Hollywood has taken up the time of many fighters within the sport of mixed martial arts and Carano just happens to be one of them.

Ryan Couture was able to provide some insight yesterday via email when he wrote, “I saw Gina briefly over the holidays and it sounds like she’s been working long days in preparation for her upcoming film role.”

Hollywood seems to wear out even the most conditioned of athletes. The time spent preparing for a fight is grueling, to say the least, but let’s not take anything away from the hours spent working in front of the camera.

“It won’t be until shooting wraps on that project that she’ll be able to shift her focus back to fighting.”, Ryan continued. “At the time that I spoke to her she didn’t have a timeframe [for her return] in mind but did mention that she missed training and was eager to get back to it.”

The general feeling is that a great deal of fans are anxious to see Carano return to the cage, and maybe even avenge her loss to Santos. The problem is that we will all have to wait until production of her next film is complete.

According to IMDB.com , Carano is set to take on a role in the movie Knockout which also stars GI Joe ’s Channing Tatum. Other actors rumored to perform in the film along side Carano are Ewan McGregor, Dennis Quiad, and screen legend Michael Douglas.

This is certainly a step up from her last role as Veretta in Blood and Bone where she worked along side known martial artist Michael Jai White. The film also featured MMA personalities Bob Sapp, Maurice Smith and Kimbo Slice.

Much like a handful of other mixed martial artists, Carano has attracted the eyes of film directors and producers alike. As one who brings a tremendous amount of charisma and charm to the sport of MMA, it only seems reasonable that Carano would have the same influence in Hollywood.

It does not hurt Carano’s case that she is one of most attractive women on the planet.

With Quinton “Rampage” Jackson set to star in The A-Team this summer, the trend of fighters transitioning to actors may grow in popularity.

Carano certainly makes a case as someone who can easily leave MMA and pursue other careers in the acting of modeling industry. Just look at her Maxim or ESPN magazine photo shoots.

Worst case scenario, Gina Carano will leave MMA for Hollywood. The bright side? No more watching her get punched in the face.

Strikeforce begins 2010 on a stumble matching Bobby Lashley

By Erik "Nahm" Fontanez
Published on 4:08 PM at , ,

With less than two weeks away from the Strikeforce: Miami show, the San Jose-based fight promotion continues to struggle to find an opponent for wrestling superstar Bobby Lashley.

With a record of 4-0, the former WWE United States Champion is set to make his Strikeforce debut on Jan. 30. The promotion’s lack of mid-level heavyweight resources have them waffling around, looking for someone who fits the profile of a “Lashley victim.”

Some might say Strikeforce is looking more and more desperate in their attempts to match Lashley.

The first opponent offered to the wrestling monster was Shane Del Rosario (9-0). What seemed like a good test for Lashley ended up being pulled out from under him for unknown reasons.

“They asked me if I wanted to do it and I said, ‘Yeah, let’s do it for sure’”, Del Rosario said in an interview with FiveOuncesofPain.com . “They got back to me and it was a no.”

With not one of his nine wins going to decision, one can speculate that Del Rosario was pulled to prevent a premature knockout or submission loss so early in Lashley’s career.

Strikeforce may be attempting to avoid the Kimbo/EliteXC effect, where a fighter with so much star power and little experience goes into a fight with a great deal riding on their shoulders then gets KO’d in quick fashion.

My feeling is that Stikeforce is not nearly in the financial trouble EliteXC was when they fell, but a devastating loss to one of their marquee names could hurt their new year after an impressive uprising in 2009.

Enter Jimmy Ambriz (14-12). The 32-year old super heavyweight is the next rumored opponent for Lashley, but doesn’t hold quite the same prowess as the previous offering to the wrestler.

Ambriz was last seen winning his fight at Midwest Fighting Championships against Chris Clark via bulldog choke. If you have ever seen this move utilized, it is very similar to what looks like a school yard bully choking an unwilling fourth grader. A useful tool if one wanted to apply a nuggie.

Prior to that, Ambriz lost two in a row to Jeff Monson for two different promotions and one to Sergei Kharitonov at Dream 6.

Despite having enormous trapezius muscles, the Los Angeles-based fighter has not looked very impressive in his MMA career and appears to be offered up as an easy win to Lashley. A win over Ambriz would do nothing for the Lahsley’s career other than soften his record.

Strikeforce is taking their name a little too serious in this affair by “forcing” Lashley to fight a weak opponent for the sole purpose of showcasing the physical strength of a former wrestling champion.

A lesson can be learned from UFC in this situation. When Brock Lesnar made his UFC debut, they pitted him against a former heavyweight champion in Frank Mir. No easy starting road for Lesnar.

Ultimately losing his UFC debut, Lesnar went on to learn from his experience and find out what the holes in his game were. The same cannot be said for Lashley, as his Strikeforce debut is against an opponent with a record similar to a mid level NBA franchise.

The feeling is that Lashley will learn nothing from this experience and the holes in his arsenal will continue to be a mystery to him.

Looking ahead, what is next for Lashley?

Given the amount of free agent pick ups they have done recently, and assuming Lashley beats Ambriz, Strikeforce would have little options if they plan to keep feeding the wrestler small bits of competition.

Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva stands as a quality opponent, given his improved striking and upper class ground game. If Lashley can defeat someone the caliber of Silva, then there can be some real discussion about him being a contender in Strikeforce’s heavyweight division.

In the meantime, Lashley will be on vacation in South Beach because no one of true quality will be available to contend with him on Jan. 30.

Enjoy your leisure time in Miami, Mr. Lashley.

Confirmed: Fedor has a sense of humor, perhaps human after all

By Erik "Nahm" Fontanez
Published on 3:50 PM at , ,

Ten years in, is Murilo "Ninja" Rua now fighting for relevancy?

By Erik "Nahm" Fontanez
Published on 4:55 PM at , , , , , , ,

Mixed martial arts journeyman Murilo “Ninja” Rua’s career has been nothing short of eventful.

Based off a release sent to me by my colleague Phil Lanides, the former Pride Fighting Championship standout, and elder sibling to UFC contender Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, is set to return to action this Spring. Rua’s opponent will be Hawaiian native Falaniko Vitale and the bout will be under the banner of Shine Fights III. No date for the bout has been set, as of yet.

With eighteen wins to his credit compared to ten losses, the Brazilian has obviously been on the winning side of a majority of his bouts, but are ten years competing combined with recent inconsistencies forcing Rua to fight for relevancy?

Up until this point, Rua’s career has included a handful of fan appealing fights that will go down as some of the best the sport has ever witnessed.

Win or lose, Ninja has personally made sure that no one in the vicinity of the cage or ring is left with a feeling of being unimpressed with poor performances.

Having fought some of the toughest and most well rounded fighters in the world, Rua reeled off a seven fight unbeaten streak before experiencing his first loss to Dan Henderson via split decision.

Instead of bitter defeat, the Henderson fight could be tallied up as a great learning experience since, at the time, Ninja was merely at the tender age of twenty-one.

This, however, was not the case.

Over the next eleven fights, Rua went a dismal (5-6) and was on the losing end to some of the sport’s best light-heavyweights at the time. Not all his fights, however, were a testament of his record.

One fight that stands out during this slump is Ninja’s battle with former UFC light-heavyweight champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson at Pride 29: Fists of Fire.

Though Rua lost the fight by split decision, the Chute Boxe trained fighter stood with Jackson and traded shots with the Tennessee raised wrestler for three rounds, refusing to stand down at any point.

The judges in Japan forwarded their decisions to the announcer. To the surprise of nearly everyone in attendance, including play-by-play announcers Mauro Renallo and Bas Rutten, Jackson was considered the victor.

Judging by the amount of control and strikes Rua had over Jackson, the loss could have easily been considered a win for Rua.

Following that fight, Rua lost to Paulo Filho and Denis Kang then left PrideFC for Cage Rage until settling down in, the now defunct, EliteXC.

The move to EliteXC was during a camp transition where Rua left the famed Chute Boxe gym. With his bother Shogun and teammate Andre “Dida” Amade, the trio formed a new team called Universidade da Luta, or in English, Fight University.

With a new gym and renewed focus, a ray of hope shined on Rua as he was able to defeat Joey Villasenor for the EliteXC middleweight title. This would be the first and only championship held by Rua in mixed martial arts. His reign did not last long, as Rua was defeated in embarrassing fashion by Robbie Lawler in his very next fight.

Since his “one and done” era as champion, Rua has gone (4-2) and even returned to fighting at 205 lbs.

The transition from PrideFC to EliteXC and now a show with Shine Fights speaks volumes about the level of competition Rua is able to compete with.

With recent losses to Benji Radach and Riki Fukuda, it is sad to see such a phenomenal talent go from top contender to mid level fighter. The hope is that Ninja will rediscover his stride at light-heavyweight and, one day, be considered in the top ten of his weight class.

Now, with a bout pending with Falaniko Vitale, Murilo Rua has a chance to continue a win streak and turn doubters into believers who can look at him as a definitive threat in mixed martial arts.

It’s been a long decade for Rua, but the next one can start out on a high note if he can beat Vitale this Spring.

Dana White, Brock Lesnar presser: Hope or more hype?

By Erik "Nahm" Fontanez
Published on 1:48 PM at , , ,

Dana White announced yesterday that he would hold a press conference that will include discussion of Brock Lesnar’s health status.

Ariel Helwani of MMAFighting.com interviewed the UFC president and asked if there were any updates on the heavyweight champion and White answered, “Actually…uh, yeah…I will have something for you guys by Tuesday or Wednesday…I’m probably going to hold a press conference in Las Vegas.”.

White also confirmed that Lesnar will be in attendance at the presser, but would not go into detail on if they have good news or bad news.

For all the news fans have been hearing on Lesnar since his publicized illness, little information has been given beyond the fact that he is ill and his career is in jeopardy.

With an official press conference set to take place next week, UFC fans and media may finally get some real insight about what to expect from the 265-pound juggernaut.

Will this reveal good or bad news for Lesnar? Will he be forced to retire? Can the public expect a date for his return?

Speculation has circulated that Lesnar has been sparring and looks to return in Spring, but nothing can be confirmed.

The hope is that Lesnar will make his return and defend his belt as normal.

A match with fan favorite Shane Carwin was in the works, but Carwin is now scheduled to take fight Frank Mir at UFC 111 in March. Pending a return, Lesnar would likely take on the winner of that match.

Lately, too much hoopla has been thrown around the rumor mill and “not news” is the only news we have read or heard about since the champion went down. Headlines like “Mums the Word” are all relative to the Brock Lesnar saga, but by the middle of next week we all may receive something different.

UFC faithful now sit and contemplate if next week’s press conference will be a ray of hope or just more hype.

Article has been posted at the following sites:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/325412-dana-white-brock-lesnar-presser-next-week-hope-or-more-hype

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-33600-Glendale-MMA-Examiner~y2010m1d13-Dana-White-Brock-Lesnar-presser-next-week-Hope-or-more-hype

Evan Dunham: Making his claim in the UFC lightweight division

By Erik "Nahm" Fontanez
Published on 5:50 PM at , , , , , , , ,

Last night in Fairfax, Virginia, the UFC presented it’s fans with an Ultimate Fight Night card loaded with hungry up and coming fighters looking to make their mark.

One fighter who made one of the biggest statements was lightweight Evan Dunham, as he pulled out an impressive submission victory over Ultimate Fighter winner Efrain Escudero.

Coming from the brink of destruction, Dunham pulled off a great comeback when he was able to submit the man who has trademarked the nickname “Hecho En Mexico”.

The first round of the affair looked as if Dunham was going to be put away as Escudero pulverized the Xtreme Couture fighter with blow after blow with no let up in sight.

Halfway through the first, Escudero landed repeated power shots; one of which was a looping right hand that sent Dunham toppling backward toward the canvas. Miraculously, Dunham survived the ground assault from Escudero and finished out the round after neutralizing the Mexican contender.

The second round showed Dunham getting a second wind. Almost like his corner lifted a fire under his grappling shorts, Dunham became the aggressor and flooded Escudero with strikes. Unlike the first round, Dunham looked sharp and clean as if the previous five minutes never happened.

Unfortunately for Escudero, his gas tank appeared to have run out by the second round. This may have been the deciding factor in the bout.

The third round opened with Dunham having a evil smirk on his face. As if he could smell blood, Dunham came out and controlled the center of the cage like a lion settling in to catch his prey.

At the one-minute mark of the final round, Dunham secured what would be his final takedown of Escudero. In some of the most graceful fashion in recent history, Dunham transitioned from Escudero’s back and locked in a beautiful armbar that looked like it broke the reality show winner’s limb. Bending back in an unnatural state, Escudero had no option other than to tap out.

For the first time in his career, Efrain Escudero feels the bitter taste of defeat as it wallows in his system while en route to a local Fairfax, VA hospital to get his arm checked.

As for Dunham, he enjoys a win and earns a submission of the night paycheck as well.

This marks Dunham’s tenth win overall, compared to no losses, and three wins in the UFC. The leading MMA promotion on the planet might have a diamond in the rough and not even know it.

With all the talk of Gray Maynard and Frankie Edgar being the next opponents for champion BJ Penn, one cannot turn their attention away from the rise of Xtreme Couture’s Dunham.

Quality wins over quality fighters is a requirement of a championship contender and Dunham appears to be well on his way to adding such content to his fighting resume. This last win has to be a step towards a main card pay-per-view bout and upper class competition.

If Evan Dunham can reel off a couple more victories in the 155-pound division, expect to see him in the conversation when it comes to potential challengers of Penn’s dominance. That being said, who could be considered Dunham’s next opponent. The smart money goes in the direction of four names: Florian, Gomi, Maynard and Edgar.

With Florian rumored to fight Gomi and Edgar recently getting the title bid, it appears that Maynard may be the next reasonable scrap would be fellow Fight Night winner Gray Maynard. Only problem with that is their affiliation with Xtreme Couture.

The question is if the two talented lightweights will be able to set aside the closeness from fighting out of the same camp and understand that the bout would be a smart business decision. Only time will tell.

Leave it up to Dana White and the rest of the UFC big wigs to start the negotiation process and makes some sense out of the enigmatic lightweight division.

UFN 20: Nate Diaz Looks To Block Gray Maynard's Road To the Title

By Erik "Nahm" Fontanez
Published on 3:55 PM at , , , , , ,

For Gray Maynard (8-0, 1 NC), the UFC road has come to a point where things can get very interesting for him.

With talks of a rumored title shot against BJ Penn, the UFC lightweight is on his way to the big show of big shows. Few road blocks have forced Maynard to stumble while making his trek, but one fighter who has seemed to let some air out of his tires is Nate Diaz.

Diaz (11-4) stands in the way of Maynard’s title run and plans to put an outright halt to his caravan’s trip to title town at Ultimate Fight Night 20.

This won’t be the first time Diaz gets in the way of Maynard’s goals. During season five of the Ultimate Fighter, the two were contestants on the Spike TV reality show and faced each other in the semi-finals of the tournament. The ending of the bout, though not counted as a professional fight, included Diaz submitting Maynard by guillotine choke.

To Maynard‘s disappointment, Diaz went on to win the tournament and become the Ultimate Fighter.

Now, two-and-a-half years later, Maynard has the opportunity to avenge his loss to Diaz and continue his way up to BJ Penn and title contention. The importance of a win against Diaz is compounded by 1) the fact that a win can give him a title shot and 2) vengeance is a delightful experience.

For Diaz, his role of spoiler couldn’t be a better fit for him. Laying down spikes, making potholes and blocking traffic will be Diaz’s key responsibilities when stopping Maynard’s drive towards a title.

Diaz’s label of bad guy will makes perfect sense going into Ultimate Fight Night 20, as a win for him will surely take Maynard out of title contention. Not only will a win skid Maynard off the road, but also provide Diaz with a little bit more momentum since beating Melvin Guillard at UFC Fight Night 19.

Small discussions have taken place hinting at the fact that Diaz should also be considered for a shot at BJ Penn, but the popular opinion is that Diaz would need a few more wins to truly be considered for the lightweight title fight.

We must ask ourselves, is Nate Diaz worthy of a title shot? Maybe not now, but what if he does get a winning streak going? Who would he fight next?

Frankie Edgar might have a say in the argument. If Maynard isn‘t the talk of next in line, it’s Edgar who gets the popular vote for a title shot. They way things are unfolding, either Edgar or Maynard get BJ Penn next while Kenny Florian and Takanori Gomi settle their differences.

Nate Diaz will likely be behind all of these fighters, collecting the left over scraps left by the winners of the previously mentioned bouts.

If it takes eating leftovers for a while, then that is what Diaz will have to welcome the task if he is ever to be considered for contendership in the UFC lightweight division. Things usually have a way of working themselves out and if Diaz remains patient, his time will come.

If Gray Maynard can avoid the roadblocks laid out by Diaz, he’ll get to his destination quickly and have the opportunity of a lifetime. Look for Nate Diaz to force his opponent off the road to a title town. One can guarantee, Diaz will not make the road anything relatively close to smooth.

Ultimate Fight Night 20: Everyone makes weight

By Erik "Nahm" Fontanez
Published on 2:10 PM at , , , ,

UFC Fight Night 20 is going down tomorrow, Jan. 10, 2010, at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Virginia.

The weigh-ins were held today and, to the delight of everyone in attendance, every fighter made weight. Not only did every fighter make weight, but they all came in right on the dot.

Not one fighter was a pound over or a pound under their weight-class limit. Let’s all start thanking Anthony Johnson and Paul Daley for not tipping the scales on this fight card. Just kidding guys! Here are the results:

Main Card Bouts:
Nate Diaz (155) vs. Gray Maynard (155)
Evan Dunham (155) vs. Efrain Escudero (155)
Aaron Simpson (185) vs. Tom Lawlor (185)
Brad Blackburn (170) vs. Amir Sadollah (170)

Prelim Bouts:
Jay Silva (185) vs. Chris Leben (185)
Jesse Lennox (170) vs. Rick Story (170)
Nick Lentz (155) vs. Thiago Tavares (155)
Rory MacDonald (170) vs. Mike Guymon (170)
Rafael dos Anjos (155) vs. Kyle Bradley (155)
John Salter (185) vs. Gerald Harris (185)
Jesse Forbes (185) vs. Nick Catone (185)

Minimum fireworks between fighters during stare downs, however, Jesse Lennox and Rick Story don’t appear to enjoy each other’s company very much. Luckily, Dana White stepped in and put a quick stop to any pre-fight scraps, as usual.

Tom Lawlor took a page out of Akihiro Gono’s book and did a little roll onto the stage while wearing a wig. Let’s hope his fight is as entertaining as his weigh-in entrance.

The tension between Gray Maynard and Nate Diaz is building and tomorrow night, something might explode. The stare down between these two fighters gave an idea as to how much Maynard wants to put a hole through Diaz’s face. He’ll get his chance tomorrow night on Spike TV at 9pm ET/6pm PT.

UFC 111 poster: Back in Jersey

By Erik "Nahm" Fontanez
Published on 9:05 AM at , , , , ,


The UFC 111 was released earlier today. If you ask me the dimensions are off with Shane Carwin being shorter than both Dan Hardy and GSP. Also, Frank Mir and Hardy look as if they are going to fall asleep. Luckily for us, neither of these fights will put MMA fans to sleep. It goes down on March 27 in the dirty Jers.

Takanori Gomi's acquisition will not change BJ Penn's UFC dominance

By Erik "Nahm" Fontanez
Published on 5:27 PM at , , , ,

If you were a fan of Pride Fighting Championships, then you are probably aware of the name Takanori Gomi.

The last Pride lightweight champion made waves in the news late last week as the newest addition to the UFC’s 155-pound division. The acquisition of Gomi makes for a great amount of talk, especially with the general opinion that division champion BJ Penn is unbeatable.

While many in the MMA community feel is that there is a new contender to put up against the champion Penn, so many fail to realize that Gomi is still a few good fights away from contending with Penn, if at all.

With a record of (31-5), Gomi is a stand-out in the world of mixed martial arts. Record aside, he is not the same fighter he was when he won Pride’s lightweight title in 2005.

For being as gifted an athlete as he is, it’s difficult to understand why Gomi has had difficulty with his conditioning. There have been times in the past where he has, all but, gassed out completely and put himself into horrible positions allowing opponents to take advantage of his lack submission defense.

If Gomi is to make any legitimate run at BJ Penn, he will have to make some considerable adjustments to his training regimen that will allow him to build the endurance to keep up with the UFC most tenacious division.

Fighters like Kenny Florian and Joe Stevenson are top notch grapplers. Any opening for them to wrap their arms around the neck of the Japanese superstar will surely be regretful on the part of Gomi.

There was a time when the overall consensus was that Takanori Gomi was the world’s best lightweight. During this time, BJ Penn was making his run through the welterweight division. Since BJ Penn returned to 155, Gomi has seemed to lost some sort of mojo or fight sense, if you will.

First he submitted to Marcus Aurelio in 2006 then, four fights later, submitted to Nick Diaz, although the decision was later turned to a no-contest by the CSAC due to Diaz testing positive for marijuana. Back to back losses later on overshadow the four wins he was able to stack up in 2008 and 2009.

The last three to four years have been up and down for Gomi, and now, he seeks to reignite his career on the biggest stage on the sport.

For all the accomplishments he has had in his thirty-six fight career, it is difficult to take Gomi’s run at BJ Penn’s title seriously.

Let’s not forget, Penn already submitted Gomi seven years ago when the two of them fought at Rumble on the Rock 4 where Penn submitted Gomi via rear naked choke. Since then, Gomi has done relatively nothing to improve his ground game.

If he is looking for resurgence, the UFC is probably not the best destination for Gomi to do it. With a rumored bout with former number one contender Kenny Florian on the horizon, Takanori Gomi will not be given any cupcakes opponents to feed on before he climbs into the octagon for a real meal.

“Ken Flo“, as you may know, is no slouch. Despite having lost to the last two lightweight champions, Florian is the in the top three to five of 155-pound fighters in the world. Not only has his boxing improved, but he has never been one to make a fight on the ground easier.

If Gomi is to take on Florian, the likelihood of there being another UFC debut loss for a Pride champion is of the strongest possibility.

If it just comes down to dollars and cents, Gomi being signed by the UFC is a great business deal. The love that Japanese fans still have for Gomi will carry over the Pacific Ocean and translate to dividends upon dividends for Dana White and the Fertita brothers. Gomi’s popularity, alone, will flood UFC gates and drive up pay-per-view numbers.

The feeling is that UFC brass expects nothing more from Gomi than to be a side show attraction and not a legitimate title contender. As long as Penn remains on top, side show may be Gomi’s only claim in the UFC.

UFC 108: Evans, Daley and dos Santos prevent lackluster fight night

By Erik "Nahm" Fontanez
Published on 12:31 PM at , , , , , , ,

Now that UFC 108 has come and gone, the public finally has a chance to judge the show based off of performances.

For all the flack that the promotion, it’s president and match maker received over the past few weeks, the show put on at the MGM Grand was one of excitement, impressive submissions and devastating knockouts.

While the main event remained the focus of the night, it was Paul Daley that made the biggest impact, literally.

A tremendous left hook echoed down the Vegas strip when he connected with Hazelett through an exchange leaving the jiu-jitsu ace on the mat seeing stars. Daley followed up with three more strikes to the head while Hazelett tried to collect himself to know avail.

The win puts Daley, as expected, in the mix for a shot at Georges St. Pierre’s welterweight title. Dana White made it clear in the post fight presser that Daley would have to have a couple more fights with top contenders in the division in order to get to GSP; maybe Jon Fitch or Josh Koscheck.

When asked about the opportunity of fighting the top fighters in the weight class, Daley made mention of Thiago Alves which brings up an interesting striker vs. striker scenario.

Daley’s heavy hands and Alves’ devastating Muay Thai in the same octagon can have fans flipping, boiling over in anticipation of a knockout of the night. Don’t expect any grappling on the ground in this match up. Each fighter would look to take the other’s head off.

Junior dos Santos made another enormous statement about his intention of fighting for the UFC heavyweight strap when he put down former PrideFC fighter Gilbert Yvel.

Having a giant cauliflower ear made no difference to the young Brazilian stand-out as he looked sharper than ever. It took all of 3:05 into the first round for dos Santos to deliver a left hook pushing Yvel’s eyes into the back of his head leading to a finish on the ground.

The fight was called to the surprise of Gilbert Yvel. It appeared as though he was the only one at the MGM who felt that way.

This marks the fifth straight win, forth in the UFC for “Cigano”. The complicated heavyweight title picture is getting more intriguing by the month as news of Brock Lesnar’s health should be updated this week. Dos Santos is hungry for a shot at that title, however, fighters like Shane Carwin, Frank Mir and Cain Velasquez are desperate to make a claim for the title as well.

One of dos Santos’ biggest obstacles will continue to be his mentor and fellow Black House fighter Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.

My colleague, Bryan Levick, wrote a great article about this very issue. The problem is that dos Santos and Nogueira, like all Black House fighters, have vowed never to fight each other as a sign of respect. If Nogueira gets passed Velasquez at UFC 110, he is sure to get the next shot at whoever is the heavyweight champion at that time.

Luckily for dos Santos, he is only twenty five years old and has a number of years ahead of him, unlike Nogueira who has been in the fight game for several years and will likely retire around the time dos Santos is at his peak.

If there is a cynical side to Junior dos Santos, then it would have him hoping Velasquez puts away Nogueira at their bout in Australia. With Nogueira down, dos Santos is given an opening to a title shot and top three status in the division.

Rashad Evans and Thiago Silva stepped into the main event knowing a lot was on the line.

For Evans, the thought of losing a second straight time was his biggest fear after not having a loss in his first nineteen outings. Dana White made a statement relative to Evans getting a shot at Rampage if, and only if, he beats the American Top Team striker Silva. With so much media attention on a pending bout with Jackson, Evans stuck to a game plan that had him winning the fight with Silva for two-and-a-half rounds.

It wasn’t until half-way through the final five minutes of the bout where something turned itself on in Silva.

Almost like he was trying to sell a highly criticized UFC 108 card himself, Silva raised his hands, egging on the crowd to get excited about what was going on inside the octagon. Silva began to taunt Evans, very different from his attitude leading into fight night where he answered all his press questions with, what sounded like, pre-written answers made to not disrespect his opponent.

Dancing around, shucking and jiving, Silva looked to get under his opponents skin. Weather or not it affected Evans mentally is unclear, but it definitely opened up an unexpected flurry from Silva.

Down for a majority of the fight, being a victim of takedown after takedown, Silva finally connected with a right cross that made Evans wobbly. The Brazilian, Silva, engaged and knocked down the former light heavyweight champion and landed a few more strikes on the ground. Unfortunately for Silva, his gas tank ran out and he had nothing left to finish off Evans as time ran out with little offense from both fighters.

The unanimous decision went to Evans and, even though the crowd booed the judges opinions, the rightful winner was announced. Despite having had his senses knocked around in the third round, Evans controlled the majority of the fight with aggressive stand-up leading into solid take downs. If it had not been for Silva’s flurry in the third, Evans would have collected a flawless victory.

Thiago Silva is now in a place where no fighter wants to be. This loss puts him in a crowded swamp of light heavyweight fighters seeking division supremacy. A rematch with Lyoto Machida is all but impossible and title hopes are now a distant fantasy for the Brazilian. It appears now the only UFC title Silva will own will be that of “gate keeper”.

Perhaps, too much was made about UFC 108 not having a big draw fighter and not enough attention was given to the potential of what could happen with the fight card provided.

At the post fight press conference, Dana White made a good point about how many say the UFC doesn’t respect it’s fighters, but leading into fight night the fighters were disrespected by people for labeling the card lackluster.

UFC 108 definitely beat the critics on Saturday. If you are a fight fan you will agree that it takes more than marquee fighters to make a great card. It’s the quality of the fights beyond the star power of the fighters.

I’ll take a closing quote from Walter Cronkite when I express how I feel about the topic when I say, “and that’s the way it is!”.

UFC 108 weigh-in results, Daley misses weight

By Erik "Nahm" Fontanez
Published on 6:57 PM at , , , , ,

Well, the UFC 108 weigh-ins are done and all is set with the exception of one fight. The co-main event between Paul Daley and Dustin Hazelett will have their contracts re-drawn due to Daley’s failure to make the 170 pound weight limit and refusal to lose the required one pound.

Here are the weights for the main card:

Gilbert Yvel (239) vs. Junior Dos Santos (237)
Duane Ludwig (156) vs. Jim Miller (155)
Sam Stout (155) vs. Joe Lauzon (155)
Paul Daley (172) vs. Dustin Hazelett (168)
Thiago Silva (205) vs. Rashad Evans (205)

Watch two prelim fights on Spike TV at 6pm pt and catch the pay-per-view live at 7 pm pt.

(UPDATE)

Paul Daley and Dustin Hazelett have agreed to fight at a catch weight of 172 lbs. The failure to make weight will come with a twenty percent fine for Daley. The fine will be equally shared between the Nevada State Athletic Commission and Hazelett.

UFC 108: Thiago Silva has the most to prove

By Erik "Nahm" Fontanez
Published on 11:10 AM at , , ,

With all the focus on Rashad Evans’ feelings towards Rampage Jackson’s return, little attention is given to the main event at UFC 108.

The biggest loser in this situation has to be Thiago Silva.

205-pounder is slated to take on Evans this Saturday night, but no one out in MMA-land really cares. With all the disappointment created by injuries and withdrawals leading into UFC 108 , Silva appears to the general public as a second rate replacement.

MMA fans and media hold back from the typical excitement leading into fight night due to the lack of draw power the American Top Team striker carries with him.

This type of negative hype can have a major affect on a fighter, especially for Silva.

Making it clear that he is pays no attention to it, Silva shrugs off the hype and continues to prepare for his Saturday night bout with the same focus he has for any other fight…or so he says.

The mental toughness of a fighter has to be extremely grand in order not to be phased by something like this. A main event spot for the world’s most popular MMA promotion and people turn their cheek to it.

Suffering his first loss just two fights ago, Silva needs a great performance to stay legitimate in the light heavyweight division. His battle will be tougher than most since his fight with Evans is not the most popular. It is not just the ability of the mixed martial artist to fight, but also the selling power.

Can Thiago Silva perform at a rate that will force fans and media to change our opinion of UFC 108? For Silva, he will have to. It will take a remarkable knockout of Evans for Silva to gain the star power and marketability that deserves top tier recognition.

Being the underdog in a fight a majority of the viewing public cares less for is not an easy position to be in.

Regardless of Silva’s constant comment of not listening to it, he still hears what is said about UFC 108.

Going into Saturday night, Silva is already the loser. With little support for the event itself, he fights more than a top light heavyweight. Silva is carrying the burden of selling a show to UFC faithful who have already dubbed this event as one of the most unattractive in years.

The added pressure is so enormous, it may overshadow the must-win scenario already put in place for the Brazilian.

Another loss will almost guarantee no title shot or a rematch with Lyoto Machida. While Evans is, win or lose, almost guaranteed a fight with Rampage after UFC 108, Silva’s path is more cloudy and up in the air. Silva will have to shine brighter than anyone else in the arena or he will fall into a pool of light heavyweights that is already so cluttered and over-flowing.

Up against a wall, Thiago Silva and has more to prove than all the previous UFC 108 main event possibilities. Regardless of how insignificant fans think Saturday night will be, it remains the biggest fight Silva will ever have.

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