Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion “Sugar” Rashad Evans (right) has the advantages of a more solid striking game and experience on his side in his UFC on FOX 2 match-up against Phil Davis, who, though undefeated, has only half the number of fights to his credit and is predominantly a ground fighter. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

The UFC takes its second FOX Network fight card to Chicago, Illinois’ United Center tomorrow night for UFC on FOX 2: Evans vs. Davis. The national broadcast network will feature three fights this outing, including a newly shuffled fight between budding middleweight prospect “All American” Chris Weidman (7-0) and crafty submission veteran Demian Maia (15-3). The new co-main event features not only a battle for #1 contender to “The Spider” Anderson Silva’s (31-4) title, but also the crown for the most polarizing figure in MMA as Chael Sonnen (26-11-1) squares off against “The Count” Michael Bisping (22-3) in what is sure to be an all out war of skill and words. The main event is also a title eliminator as “Sugar” Rashad Evans (16-1-1) and “Mr. Wonderful” Phil Davis (9-0) vie for the next crack at 205lbs. phenom “Bones” Jon Jones (15-1). This fight is not being as hyped as it should be, as both fighters are highly skilled and pose very interesting problems to each other. The winner will also be heavily compared to the dynamic champ so a good showing here is a must for either fighter.

At First Glance: Since losing the title to “The Dragon” Lyoto Machida (17-3), Evans has been on a three-fight win streak intermixed with injury rehabilitation. This has resulted in Evans fighting only three times over the course of three years. However, that trio of bouts was against dangerous and seasoned opponents and he controlled the majority of each of those fights. His last outing was a terrifying destruction of “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Tito Ortiz (16-10-1) that had even the rarely humble Chael Sonnen exclaiming that Rashad Evans proved he was the best light heavyweight in the world that night. Despite the lengthy lay-off, Evans showed he still had speed, power, killer instinct, and the transitional game that truly makes an MMA fighter successful at the highest levels of the sport. He also has an unwavering motivation to fight his former teammate Jon Jones and showed he is willing to crush anyone who stands in the way of that goal. Phil Davis brings a relatively small undefeated record into his tilt with “Sugar”. Most recently Phil bested veteran “Minotoro” Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (20-5). He was losing the striking exchanges early on, but instead of folding under the pressure of his first headlining bout against an experienced fighter, Davis dug deep, came back strong, and pulled out the win. It will take this level of fortitude to stay focused against the very dangerous Rashad Evans. “Mr. Wonderful” has also shown a healthy level of confidence coming into this fight, eagerly jawing with Evans at pressers and proclaiming he doesn’t care who Jones fights before him because he will be waiting when the dust settles.

In Depth: On paper it appears very clear that Rashad has all the advantages in this fight. Experience aside, Evans has functional power and devastating speed in his hands, unorthodox head movement, a truly stifling clinch game, and top-rate submission defense. “Sugar” has enough confidence in the pocket to push forward with fast hands backing opponents into the cage and catching them in his aforementioned clinch. From there he is happy to grate fighters into shredded cheese and open them up for takedowns. Many a foe has succumbed to his top game, which finds “Sugar” easily shrugging off submission attempts and making fighters pay for the attempts. Evans is known for his KO power but has been a little shy to show it since being knocked out himself. His confidence level does rise, however, when he knows he has the upper hand, as he showed with Ortiz and will undoubtedly show with Davis.

“Mr. Wonderful” is certainly far less experienced than Evans, but it is no accident that Phil is being thrust into this position so early in his career. The NCAA Division I champ has the one weapon that makes champions in this sport: the ability to take opponents down at will. Skeptics might point to Evans’ own wrestling background as cause for concern, but make no mistake, Davis has a much higher wrestling pedigree and he isn’t far removed from those college days. If he finds himself outmatched on the feet, a quick level change could find Rashad on his back, scrambling back to his feet where he will likely be met with one of Davis’ shoulders in his face as they jockey for position against the cage. Though Rashad is no stranger to this game (it has won him his fair share of fights) he will be outsized and outclassed in this department. If and when Davis puts Evans on his back the ensuing scramble will be met with Davis’ penchant for taking the back, something Rashad has not had to deal with often. If Davis finds success taking the back he will find a great defensive player in Evans who can keep submissions at bay, but these advantageous positions will allow Phil to land shots to the head and knees to the body and gain points on judges’ scorecards. Outside of his wrestling Phil has grown to emulate another man who was a fast rising young superstar, “Rush” Georges St. Pierre (22-2), in the striking department, mixing in leg kick-punch combos and stiff jabs to keep opponents off balance. However, his speed is still a work in progress and he will find most of his success using his reach advantage to keep Evans out of range, waiting for opportune moments to duck under punches and plant Rashad on the mat.

Wild Card: The true wild card in this fight will actually be a test of chins. Rashad was famously starched by Lyoto Machida in their title match, and was dropped and nearly finished by Thiago Silva (14-2) and “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (32-9) late in their respective fights. Ultimately Davis’ power will factor into this and if he does knock Rashad down “Mr. Wonderful” has certainly shown finishing instincts. Phil’s chin will also be put to the test since a flush punch from Evans leaves his opponents taking an uncomfortably long time coming back to their senses.

The Verdict: The winner will likely be dictated by the grappling exchanges – whichever fighter is able to impose their wrestling will likely edge the other out. However as the fight wears on Evans’ gas tank may begin to wane and winging punches and forward momentum will leave him wide open for takedowns. Once Phil has him on the ground he will stick like glue. Davis will look to tire Rashad early in the fight to make this an easier scenario in the deep rounds. Barring significant damage, Davis should take rounds three through five en route to a decision. Davis via Unanimous Decision

Vladimir Matyushenko's (top) oppressive style of wrestling has rendered many competitors, including kickboxers like UFC 141 opponent Alexander Gustafsson, helpless while he rains down strikes from top position. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

The UFC will cap off a dynamic 2011 calendar year at the MGM Grand Garden Arena December 30 with UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem. The titular marquee fight pits two of the biggest heavyweights against each other in a title eliminator as Brock Lesnar (5-2) returns from longstanding medical issues to battle former Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion, “The Demolition Man” Alistair Overeem (35-11). Nate Diaz (14-7) will try to stop “The Cowboy” Donald Cerrone’s (17-3) emphatic rise up the lightweight ranks in a sure-fire thriller. Long-reigning #2 welterweight Jon Fitch (23-3-1) takes on Johny Hendricks (11-1) in a match that will propel either fighter into contention talk. Nam Phan (17-9) looks to put a win streak together as he faces young submission ace, “The Kid” Jimy Hettes (9-0). The lone light heavyweight tilt on this card gives up-and-comer “The Mauler” Alexander Gustafsson (12-1) a stern test in grinding veteran “The Janitor” Vladimir Matyushenko (26-5). Should Alex pass this test, he will likely draw much stiffer competition on his way up the UFC ladder.

At First Glance: This fight was likely put in motion for one good reason: both men needed a match-up relative to their current position in the UFC’s 205lbs. division. Alex brings a three-fight win streak – all finishes – into this contest. His most recent win came at UFC 133 where he eviscerated “The Hammer” Matt Hamill (10-4) to the point that Matt called it a career after the fight. The impressive win likely had UFC matchmaker Joe Silva scratching his head to find Alex an oppenent that isn’t currently tied up in contendership fights and yet isn’t too high profile so as to risk either fighters’ momentum; enter “The Janitor”. The weathered Matyushenko finds himself coming off two (T)KO finishes against light heavyweight prospects with his lone loss in six fights coming from current champ “Bones” Jon Jones (15-1). Both men are in need of a test that will determine their place in the crowded mix at light heavyweight. Can Vladimir continue to show relevance by defeating another fast rising fighter or will “The Mauler” claim yet another victim, proving foes of all styles are little match for his ruthless kickboxing and new found submission prowess?

In Depth: Stylistically, this fight is defined as striker versus grappler. Gustafsson is a prototypical European kickboxer, holding his hands more traditionally and using a lead-leg-forward approach indicative of strikers. He is constantly using his range and height to feint and jab, setting up classic 1-2 punching combos. Any given fight he also uses much of his 6’5” frame to sprawl on shooting opponents and is happy to sit in their guard, picking off shots with his massive reach. If a scramble occurs, Alex will look to maintain back control, throwing hooks to open his opponents up to chokes. Much like welterweight “Diablo” Nick Diaz (26-7), Alex’s punches appear less than dramatic until his opponents are seen reeling from a shot, flailing around to stay conscious and out of the way of heavy fire. Also similar to Diaz is Gustafsson’s passion for a brawl. He never shies away from opponents gunning for his head and happily obliges a pocket exchange while maintaining power, something taller fighters tend to lose in these scenarios. “The Janitor” is no stranger to kickboxers. In his storied 31-fight career Vladimir has fought decorated stikers from many different disciplines and beaten them with vicious wrestling. His freestyle approach has made for very effective MMA wrestling. Vladdy uses leaping jabs and wild hooks to keep opponents off-balance and the second they give up a single or double he is right on top of them, looking to transition to some of the heaviest side control in the game. “The Janitor” can keep fighters down for as long as he sees fit, using heavy chest pressure and short, busy strikes. And if he can’t take side control he will gladly hang out in half guard or full guard and fire away, keeping a constant forward pressure the way only high-level wrestlers can maintain. Vlad however, has shown that he can throw heavy leather and most recently dealt  “The Hitman” Jason Brilz (18-5-1) a knockout loss at UFC 129.

Swedish striker "The Mauler" Alexander Gustafsson (white trunks) effectively uses his lanky frame and long range to batter his opponents from the outside; he has finished eight of his 13 fights via (T)KO. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

Alex often keeps his hands low and could very well leave an opening for Vladimir’s thunderous overhand punches. Alex may be able to withstand a heavy shot, but the second he loses balance Vlad will pounce for a takedown. “The Mauler” has struggled with wrestlers before, like “Mr. Wonderful” Phil Davis (9-0) who has since taken Gustafsson under his wing and improved his wrestling defense. Matyushenko will use his wrestling any chance he can get and will mirror the more relentless style of Davis. Alexander will likely train hard to keep the fight on his feet, but he will need the cardio to do it for 15 minutes. For Vladimir’s part he will need to watch out for uppercuts and fast hooks as he rushes in. He will have to close the distance any chance he gets; not an easy feat against Alex’s range. Vladdy is hot and cold on taking heavy shots, and has crumpled under the pressure of heavy strikers in the past. Also, look for Gustafsson to find high-crotch takedowns of his own, keeping Vlad working hard and looking for a finish similar to the quick win “Bones” secured over Vlad last year.

Wild Card: Cardio may be the biggest question mark in this fight. “The Janitor” is no spring chicken at 40-years-old, but his wrestling has brought him to winning decisions in the last two years against opponents who were much younger. Alex has only seen the judges’ scorecards once in his career and looked winded doing it. His conditioning has likely improved since the 2008 bout, but if he’s unable to keep “The Janitor” from dragging him to the floor for the first ten minutes of the fight, he could find himself spent in the third round and behind on points.

The Verdict: Many rely on MMA math to come to the conclusion that this fight is an open and shut case. Gustafsson beat Hamill, a heavy-handed wrestler, so he should be able to do the exact same against Matyushenko, whose style is very similar to Matt’s. However, MMA has proven time and again that this math doesn’t always equal out. Hamill became more and more comfortable in his career using his hands and paid dearly for it against Alexander. Vlad has rarely strayed from his style and will likely look to wrestle his way to a decision or TKO stoppage. Gustafsson has shown marked improvement since his lone loss and seems to be more vicious and determined each outing. Expect to see “The Mauler” sprawling early and often and looking to light up Matyushenko at every opportunity, eventually catching Vlad flush and finishing him off after a feeling-out period. Gustafsson via (T)KO, Round 1

The legendary power in Dan Henderson's (white trunks) "H-Bomb" right hand coupled with his Olympic level Greco-Roman wrestling makes two of "Shogun's" favorite places to fight, the clinch and the pocket, very dangerous. (Photo courtesy of Yahoo! Sports)

This Saturday night the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California plays host to UFC 139: Shogun vs. Henderson much to the delight of fans both in the crowd and around the world via Pay-Per-View. Light heavyweight funnyman “The American Psycho” Stephan Bonnar (13-7) takes on “Kingsbu” Kyle Kingsbury (11-2). Welterweight stand-outs “Hitman” Martin Kampmann (17-5) and “The Horror” Rick Story (13-4) duke it out to regain relevance. UFC newcomer and former Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Cung Le (7-1) takes on legendary slugger “The Axe Murderer” Wanderlei Silva (33-11-1) in what is a guaranteed firefight. “The California Kid” Urijah Faber (25-5) and Brian Bowles (10-1) look to claim their shot at bantamweight gold in a #1 contendership fight. The main event is a hardcore MMA fan’s dream as PRIDE legend and former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion “Shogun” Mauricio Rua (20-5) takes on the only man to hold the PRIDE welterweight and middleweight belts, “Hendo” Dan Henderson (28-8). The winner will regain traction in the 205lbs. division and given both fighters penchant for slugging, this fight could go down in history as one of the all-time greats.

At First Glance: Dan Henderson only seems to be getting better with age. He’s gone 6-1 in his past seven bouts and has knocked out his last three opponents. He makes his return to the UFC after capturing the Strikeforce 205lbs. division crown from “Feijao” Rafael Cavalcante (11-3) and following that up with a blockbuster knockout of “The Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (31-4). Monetary issues with the UFC were squashed when they realized he was the baddest man not on the roster. Dan returns to the UFC fold against “Shogun” who recently rebounded from losing his title by avenging a defeat against Forrest Griffin (18-7) at UFC134: Silva vs. Okami. Rua looked sharp and refocused, knocking Griffin out in less than two minutes. UFC President Dana White proclaimed that Rua is best when he stays active and booked him for a match-up with Henderson a mere three months later. “Shogun” is decidedly a Muay Thai fighter with thrilling kicks and charging combos that, on the right night, can utterly decimate opponents. Dan Henderson is an iron-chinned, Greco-Roman clinch monster with a right hand dubbed “The H-Bomb”. While wildly different, their styles promise action and almost always deliver. The UFC needs to line up another contender behind “Suga” Rashad Evans (16-1-1) and Saturday’s main event will likely determine that man.

"Shogun" (white shorts) has brutal ground-and-pound and good top control, but it will be his ability to strike from the outside and avoid the close quarters war that give him victory over Henderson. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

In Depth: Deadly striking is synonymous with both “Hendo” and “Shogun’s” fighting styles.  This fight could very well be an all stand-up affair, as these days both fighters look to grappling only when it is necessary. “Shogun” can implement a vast array of punches, knees and elbows while mixing in trip takedowns to set up some of the scariest ground-and-pound in MMA history. Henderson, with his extensive Greco-Roman wrestling, can put a fight where he needs it to be. Lately he has preferred to trade fists with any opponent, regardless of their strengths. Dan has never showed fear and will likely charge head first, looping dangerous hooks at Rua, backing him up to the cage and locking in his infamous clinch, before releasing it only to slam Rua with a hard right hand. “Shogun” relies on great lateral movement to stay out of danger and can easily gauge range against wild opponents. Expect Rua to find his range with leg kicks early, while doing his best to avoid the overhand right that has served as Dan’s deathblow in many fights. If Rua sees his leg kicks aren’t being threatened with takedowns, he may be able to score at will. If and when Rua does find his range expect leaping overhand punches and jab-cross combos. If backed up, Henderson will do what he does best: swing hard and fast. This may leave Dan open to Rua’s more technical approach, but neither fighter is safe trading in the pocket. Dan looks to finish early and maintains a “take one to give two” approach in the stand-up. He will likely fire the first shot to make things interesting and test Rua’s mettle. If he likes what he’s seeing, “Hendo” will continue to pour on pressure. His strong sprawl and quick scrambles make him a dangerous foe to shoot on and, as Fedor experienced, he can absolutely maul an opponent if they turtle up on him. If they tie up, both can hold their own and it is where the tables of this fight can turn very quickly.

Wild Card: With both men coming from very different stylistic backgrounds, their clinch work and cardio may become the factors that can change the course of the fight. Rua’s Muay Thai clinch has sent many fighters packing. However, he is up against what is perhaps the genesis of the clinch: Olympic level, Greco-Roman wrestling. Dan is among the very strongest clinch artists around and is rarely bullied in this position. “The Spider” Anderson Silva (31-4) had trouble keeping a hold of “Hendo” and even paid the price for it, losing a whole round to Dan’s smothering top game and relentless ground strikes. If Rua finds himself in a clinch fight with Henderson it is best to strike and release. If he gets too greedy inside the clinch with Dan he could be planted on his back, spending most of the round defending strikes from the bottom. This will be the second non-title, five-round fight the UFC holds. Both men have had unreliable energy during fights as of late. “Shogun’s” withering gas tank usually shows up when he’s fighting from his back or carrying his opponent’s weight – things Dan Henderson is very good at. Dan can go the distance whenever he needs to but tends to fade, especially in the championship rounds. If Rua truly wants to stay out of danger, he will avoid the clinch altogether. Even in top position he may not have the juice to hold Henderson down. For Dan to stay on the fresher side of the fight, he will have to wear down Rua early with smothering tactics or finish him, otherwise rounds four and five will be advantage Rua.

The Verdict: Given the pedigree of both men and their legendary status, this fight will surely be thrilling. Dan will be happy to stalk Rua down until a big punch lands or getting in close and firing off huge bombs until someone falls. If Dan sees an opportunity to put Rua on his back, expect him to keep “Shogun” there until the bell rings. Rua will probably find himself side-shuffling to his right a lot in this fight, doing his best to avoid a blast from Henderson. If “Shogun” can keep off the cage, he will likely be able to land and move away. Both men have solid chins but both men also tend to fade as the fight goes on. If Rua can keep the fight standing, he may win the cardio war, but only slightly. Expect Dan to keep coming forward despite taking a barrage of leg kicks from “Shogun”. Persistence on Dan’s part however will not be enough to outpoint a busier Rua. “Shogun’s” technical strikes and effective in-out strategy will carry him into the later rounds where he will gain the confidence to land more frequently. Rua via Split Decision

Despite entering the organization on the heels of dropping the WEC lightweight belt, Ben Henderson (black shorts) has been nothing less than dominant in the UFC. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

The Honda Center in Anaheim, California plays host to the UFC’s first foray into network television, UFC on Fox: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos. The only broadcast fight and main event is one for the ages as heavyweight champ Cain Velasquez (9-0) takes on Brazilian striking menace “Cigano” Junior Dos Santos (13-1). The internet-only undercard will consist of many lesser-known and up-and-coming fighters including featherweights “The Diamond” Dustin Porier (10-1) versus “The Scarecrow” Pablo Garza (11-1). Veteran 145er Cub Swanson (15-4) goes head-to-head with Ricardo Lamas (10-2) while international favorite “Kid” Norifumi Yamamoto (18-4) takes on “BC” Darren Uyenoyama (6-3) at bantamweight. The historic night’s co-main event is being criminally relegated to FOX Deportes and internet streams as “The Carpenter” Clay Guida (29-11) and former WEC Lightweight Champion “Smooth” Ben Henderson (14-2) square off in what will likely determine the next contender for the lightweight title. With their similar styles and equally strong gas tanks, this could be a three-round fight that fans won’t likely forget.

At First Glance: “The Carpenter” has been on his longest win streak since entering the UFC, clocking four straight including a win over the last WEC champ “Showtime” Anthony Pettis (14-2) and three submission finishes before that. “Smooth” has lost only once in his last 13 fights, dropping a rout decision to Guida’s most recent opponent Anthony Pettis. Ben has rebounded well since the title loss, winning his first two UFC outings, most notably his vicious destruction of serious contender Jim Miller (20-3) at UFC Live 5. Against Miller, Benson looked absolutely unstoppable and could have easily beaten any lightweight in the world that night. The bosses took notice and lined Henderson up with Guida for their first FOX show. For Clay, there is much more on the line this Saturday. He has traded wins and losses over his five-year career with the UFC and another loss in a high profile fight could spell the end for his hopes at a title run. Henderson is a relatively young gun to the UFC and merely has to make a strong showing to keep his name in contention talk. At first glance, both fighters seem to provide the same strengths: strong wrestling, slick submissions, and gorgeous hair. There also won’t be any cardio issues as both have shown time and again that they can outlast most any opponent. Expect this to be a war of who strikes first and hardest, and who can keep the other one from imposing their relentless attack.

In Depth: With a high rate of submissions between the two of them and their dominant top games, expect “Smooth” and “The Carpenter’s” submission games to be cancelled out. Guida has recently emerged as the antidote to submissions from the back, shucking off countless attempts from Jiu-Jitsu specialists while pouring on a grinding dose of ground-and-pound. “Smooth” has taken many-a-foe out with his vast array of chokes, but don’t expect him to be sinking them in against the slippery Guida without seriously stunning him first. Ben’s big advantage over Clay will be his power, both on the ground and standing. Guida has teased the idea of featherweight while Henderson has always looked to be on the heavier side of lightweight. Being caught by Ben’s superior striking can spell a disaster if Guida finds himself on his back against a much larger, stronger opponent. If Ben lands on top, expect a violent barrage of strikes that could very well overwhelm Guida. Ben will be comfortable wherever the fight lands, but will likely look to coast on the feet against Guida, whose striking has never overly impressed. Clay’s tireless footwork and head movement will have to be top notch Saturday to keep away from this nightmare scenario. If Guida can use his angles to paw combinations he can set up takedowns and at the very least, keep Benson backing up for most the round. Ideally Clay will look to take Ben down and keep him there. Guida’s scrambles and chest-to-body control make him very effective on top. Clay can repeat this drill for hours and even if heaved off by Henderson’s powerful legs will charge right back in, easily frustrating “Smooth” and leaving him helpless against the cage for three rounds.

"The Carpenter" Clay Guida (white trunks) has faced a healthy number of extremely skilled submission fighters and has proven time and time again that his high energy wrestling game can cancel out even the best Jiu-Jitsu. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

Wild Card: Because of their similar styles it is hard to find the glaring x-factor that could turn the tables. Ben however, has power on his side and a vastly expanded stand-up game compared to Guida. Clay has shown himself to be susceptible to leg strikes and Henderson walks around with two tree trunks attached to his hips. A perfectly timed knee to Guida’s head as he comes in for a takedown could spell the end for “The Carpenter”. Clay also shows no regard for the many high kicks that have ruined his night before. Ben may very well show off his striking in this fight, knowing he will have reach and technicality on his side. Expect Henderson to rush forward with heavy combos to keep Guida from getting set, ideally keeping Clay’s back on the cage and cutting off his angles, nullifying his reaching shot. If Ben shows superior takedown defense he can pick Clay apart on the feet and make a lasting impression with the UFC brass and fans.

The Verdict: For Clay Guida, this is a must-win. Another trip back down the ladder will likely send him to featherweight. He can’t afford to let Benson unload strikes on him. Expect “The Carpenter” to look for a less-than-popular smothering game plan, keeping Ben against the cage. His cardio may be the only thing that can win him this fight because he will have to wrestle non-stop to hold off “Smooth’s” attack. Henderson probably feels very confident coming into this contendership fight. He holds advantages in size, and striking. He is basically a bigger, badder version of the lovable Guida and will use any tool in the shed he can throw at the relentless UFC vet. Expect him to find and keep his range against Guida and unload heavy punches. Kicks may come with more frequency if Ben feels like he can stop Guida’s shot. A perfectly timed strike will floor Guida late in the fight and Ben will move in for the kill and seal his title shot. Henderson via T(KO), Round 3

Former UFC Lightweight and Welterweight Champion BJ Penn (white shorts) likely won't be able to resist a slugfest with former Strikeforce 170lbs. king Nick Diaz, who is very similar to him stylistically. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

The Mandalay Bay Events Center welcomes the UFC back to its home in Las Vegas with UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz this Saturday.  Joe Silva should be given a matchmaking award for the roster of fights he’s put together including the debut of Sengoku Raiden and Shooto champion Hatsu Hioki (24-4-2) versus featherweight stalwart George Roop (12-7-1) in what will surely be an early contender for “Fight of the Night” awards. “Big Country” Roy Nelson (15-6) looks to rebound from a lackluster loss against the aging fan favorite “Cro Cop” Mirko Filipovic (27-9-2).  Cheick Kongo (16-6-2) will look to stave off the fast rise of “Meathead” Matt Mitrione in the night’s most intriguing heavyweight match. And while the title fight between UFC Welterweight Champion “Rush” Georges St. Pierre (22-2) and underrated contender “The Natural Born Killer” Carlos Condit  (27-5) has been scrapped, there is no question that its replacement fight between former UFC Lightweight and Welterweight Champion “The Prodigy” BJ Penn (16-7-2) and former Strikeforce Welterweight Champion “Diablo” Nick Diaz (25-7) has “one for the ages” written all over it. Regardless of the dubious reasons behind this fight’s origin, one thing is for sure: both men will be looking to throw down.  Penn has always been a fighter first and foremost and Diaz loves opponents who come at him full-throttle. With two multi-talented, born-to-brawl athletes like Penn and Diaz, this fight is guaranteed to entertain.

At First Glance: With 15 wins in his last 16 fights – and 12 stoppages in that time – Nick Diaz is on a serious tear. Penn finds himself back in welterweight relevancy with a knockout of UFC Hall of Famer Matt Hughes (45-9) and a hard-fought Draw against the venerable Jon Fitch (23-3-1). Nick’s first trip back to the Octagon will not be a title shot as originally planned, but the fight with Penn actually makes for a more intriguing match. Most fans could predict Diaz’s fight with “GSP” would be a ground war. With Penn, Diaz finds a fighter with little to lose and a lot of weapons.  Both fighters are actually quite similar stylistically, possessing tremendous boxing and fantastic Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Either man is also willing to throw out any of their technical talents and brawl, trading shots to test who can survive the longest. For Diaz, winning this fight means another chance to fight for the UFC belt, whereas for Penn a title shot might not be guaranteed, but an impressive win over the toughest welterweight not named Georges St. Pierre could define his contender status at 170 pounds.

In Depth: “The Prodigy” and “Diablo” are two very similar fighters in terms of attitude and ability. It is how Penn and Diaz use their tools on Saturday that will determine the winner. Penn, a multi-division veteran has shown a toughness that is rarely matched. Diaz also displays a fearless attitude in the ring, playing into his opponent’s game seemingly for fun. Both men also posses phenomenal chins. In terms of grit this fight plays even – neither fighter is scared to clash head-on. While BJ has been complimented on his athleticism it is well documented that Nick will have no issue in terms of endurance during a fight. This is the first glaring advantage that Nick has over BJ and he will likely use his fierce body shots to widen the energy gap between himself and Penn. Boxing is something that makes both fighters a pleasure to watch. Penn has fantastic head movement that sets up blindingly fast combos that have even given former light heavyweight champion “The Dragon” Lyoto Machida (17-2) fits. Expect him to get inside Diaz’s range advantage in an attempt to land uppercuts and body shots of his own. Also expect BJ to use leg kicks to disrupt Nick’s rhythm. Diaz will look to counter BJ’s onslaught using his aforementioned range to stave off Penn’s brutal jab. Nick’s cumulative combos do damage long term and while many claim his “pitter patter” style won’t knock anyone out, Nick has shown time and time again against pure strikers that his power is never to be underestimated. In terms of ground game, both men have lauded Jiu-Jitsu and if the fights ends up there, BJ will likely look to take Nick’s back to sink in a choke. Diaz will be happy to use his long guard to set up any number of submissions off his back, or use it defensively to bring the fight back to the feet.

Nick Diaz's (right) renowned Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Cesar Gracie's tutelage time and time again has proven to be the ace up his sleeve, but against a fellow world-class ground fighter such as BJ Penn, he may have to rely on other weapons in his arsenal to secure the victory. (Photo courtesy of Strikeforce and Zuffa, LLC.)

Wild Card: While Nick Diaz has been dominating foes for a few years now, he has been fighting mainly strikers with deficient ground games. This has allowed Nick to strengthen his striking while rarely worrying about being put on his back. Penn recently showed off his takedowns against Jon Fitch who is arguably the second best wrestler at welterweight. If Penn can successfully take Nick down and keep him there, this fight can change shape rather quickly. Nick’s record against strong wrestlers is spotty at best and he hasn’t shown much in the way of improving defense against a dominant top game. If Penn wants to surprise everyone again, he will pepper Diaz with effective shots and catch Diaz’s wide looping punches with clean double-leg takedowns, stealing any effective striking Diaz has by controlling where the fight goes. If Penn employs the same game plan he did against Fitch, he could find his hand raised after three rounds – just don’t expect him to put Diaz in submission danger the way he did with Fitch.

The Verdict: This fight is too tempting for either man to resist a slugfest. While a knockout is not likely to come, Diaz’s reach and height will likely be the dominant factor in this fight. Expect him to paw at Penn’s punches, keeping his head well out of range of BJ’s uppercuts and jabs and using openings to compile a high frequency of punches to Penn’s face and body. Penn can certainly find his way inside tall fighters, as he did against Fitch, but Fitch is nowhere near the boxer Diaz is. And though BJ tends to open fights with great pace, he slows near the halfway point of every fight, giving Diaz the chance to steal rounds two and three. The accumulation of punches Diaz is known for can also wear on Penn’s infamous gas tank in the later portion of the fight. Barring an unlikely wrestle-fest from Penn, and knowing full well what is on the line for him, Nick Diaz takes this fight to the judges and to victory. Diaz via Unanimous Decision

Frankie Edgar (top) proved himself to be the undisputed UFC Lightweight Champion after defeating top contender Gray Maynard via TKO in the fourth round. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

Undersized, underpowered, outclassed. These adjectives have dogged UFC Lightweight Champion “The Answer” Frankie Edgar (14-1-1) since he entered the fabled “mix” in the UFC lightweight division. Many dismissed Edgar long before he entered title contention. After a rousing start to his career in the UFC, Frankie hit a wall in “The Bully” Gray Maynard (10-1-1), dropping a one-sided decision to the bigger, stronger wrestler. But after that loss Edgar regrouped. His next few wins didn’t just show a refocused fighter, they showed a man with a plan. He was going to win the title whether anyone cared or not. And seemingly out of nowhere Frankie Edgar was the UFC champ. But just when the shrimpy kid from Toms River, New Jersey thought he was prom king, “The Bully” was back in his face, ready to take his lunch money. Frankie had to win at UFC 136, he had to show he wasn’t just a lucky scrapper. He had to show he was “The Answer” to the question: Who is the UFC’s toughest lightweight?

When the UFC lightweight division reopened its doors there was only one man to talk about: “The Prodigy” BJ Penn (16-7-2). The UFC was attempting to redevelop the weight class and it took some time before it was clear that there were lightweights all over the world ready to make it the most exciting division in years; and also to lose to BJ Penn. When the division finally filled itself out it was almost dizzying how many great talents were out there. And quite honestly, Frankie Edgar was lost in the crowd. Unless you kept your ear firmly pressed to the rails you didn’t know Frankie’s train was coming. And before the world knew it, he had taken the strap from the lightweight division’s scariest force in Penn. But it didn’t matter to most. It was a fluke, a half-win. Frankie had to prove everyone wrong almost immediately by beating BJ again, leaving no doubt who was the top 155er. Enter the quintessential “Bully” in Gray Maynard. Gray had something even BJ Penn couldn’t lay claim to: a win over Edgar. Everyone knew Gray had the tools to beat him. It was really an open and shut case. Frankie might as well have handed his belt over. But Edgar hadn’t come this far to give up, to let “The Bully” push him into the mud. Needless to say their dramatic fight at UFC 125 (ironically titled “Resolution”) was only marred by their now infamous Draw. And once again the questions arose. Fans and pundits wondered aloud if Frankie had the chops to stay on top. They were calling him small, deciding what division might be a better fit for him. But losing – in case you hadn’t noticed – wasn’t in Frankie’s plans.

His superior boxing and ability to recover helped "The Answer" Frankie Edgar (red gloves) put the stamp on his successful title defense in the UFC 136 main event rubber match between he and challenger Gray Maynard (blue gloves). (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

As sure as the day is long, the first round of Edgar and Maynard’s third fight went exactly the same as the last time they met. Frankie somersaulted back from a thunderous uppercut. He danced on ice as a more patient Gray picked his shots, knowing full well he had to measure himself because victory was within reach. The round ended and Frankie was bloody and beaten down. He was in a fight and he wasn’t winning, but curiously enough, he was still standing. Round one had proven yet again that Frankie was simply too small and too weak to handle the kind of beasts that stalked the lightweight division. The kid had heart, but heart could only take you so far. But that has been the champ’s song since he took belt. He was never supposed to make it out of Round 1 with Penn, not in their first fight- certainly not in their second. But again, Frankie had a plan. He came out in round two, looking sharper, faster, and recovered. He started to buzz around the ring, picking a shot here, changing levels there. Gray seemed to know before anyone else: the only way to stop Frankie Edgar is to kill him. Gray searched and searched but couldn’t find the kill shot. It would have been enough for Frankie to cruise to victory. By the fourth round it looked all but locked up, as it had in his rematch with Penn. Frankie was going to prove them wrong yet again. But that wasn’t enough, and Frankie knew it. He had to prove once and for all he was the champ. And another decision win after taking a beating wasn’t going to convince anyone that Edgar was the one to beat. Until that right hand connected.

When Gray began to wobble, it all became clear. The last few years we weren’t sure what the answer to the lightweight division’s question was. There are still a lot of very talented fighters out there. They’ve all won some, they’ve all lost a few, but in the writhing mass of 155ers we weren’t sure who would be the guy to beat. Just when we thought one guy was the next face of the division, he was knocked down a peg. The champion people were going to get behind was going to take the crown by force. He was simply waiting in the wings, while Maynard and Edgar sorted things out. Until that right hand connected again. It was then and there the killer instinct kicked in. The crowd looked out at this tough, little fireplug that had ground his way through the division and clawed his way to the top of the heap, and their champ emerged. His foe, a great stylistic rival in Maynard, fell to his knees, bowing to the king. The answer had been given, and his name is Champ, Frankie Edgar.

Chris Lytle (black trunks) and Dan Hardy (red trunks) are two of the most obvious examples of game fighters, those athletes who willingly gamble their health and career against the victory to give fans what they want. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

It can read it on any MMA forum: “the sport is being taken over by wrestlers”, “fighters used to fight, now they play it safe”, “I miss PRIDE rules” (we all do, relax). Even veteran fighters such as “The Prodigy” BJ Penn (16-7-2) have voiced their displeasure with where the sport is supposedly headed. The pundits worry that the days of brawls at the center of the cage are over; overshadowed by collegiate and Olympic dynamos that stifle the brutish element of the sport they fell in love with. But what exactly is all the fuss about? A few more wrestlers? The sport has had plenty of wrestlers since its inception. What the sport needs are gamers. No, not the gamers that obsess over the next World of Warcraft map update. The gamers that MMA needs grit their teeth and plunge headfirst into battle with another fighter. And whether it’s nostalgia for the  “glory days” of MMA or the odd disdain fight fans have grown for the ground game, the furrowed brows of MMA fandom have forgotten that regardless of style, gamers still exist in this sport. It just so happens that this past weekend’s UFC Live on Versus 5 brought this point home for fight fans of all persuasions, showing that gameness will trump fighting style any day. And the future of this sport is full of game fighters.

UFC Live on Versus 5 on Sunday was a great day for wrestling, as fans got to see just what kind of potential a strong wrestler has. “Smooth” Ben Henderson (14-2) showed what hardcore fans have known but seemed to have forgotten: wrestlers can deliver absolutely nasty ground-and-pound. Ben did just that as he beat “The Mongoose” Jim Miller (20-3) into a bloody mess. Miller wasn’t a pushover by any means and threw every submission he could think of at Henderson but a strong top game and slick submission defense – the very backbone of MMA wrestling – was put on full display by “Bendo”.  That is why fans need to keep an open mind to the wrestling style. Sure, a lot of fighters fall back on it when a fight gets tough. “Sugar” Rashad Evans (16-1-1) could be accused of that, but we can’t ignore Rashad’s recent mauling of “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Tito Ortiz (16-9-1) or his title grab against Forrest Griffin (18-6) that left one of the toughest fighters in the sport flailing on his back.  Rashad, despite, and because of his wrestling-based style, is game. Jon Fitch (23-3-1), who upon mention of his name draws ire from many MMA fans, has finished nearly half his fights. And Jon’s last round against BJ Penn could be described as nothing but game. He was taking a thrashing from a gritty vet and came back out and pushed back, hard, and snatched victory from Penn. Maybe it wasn’t a win for Fitch, but he showed he was in the game until the final bell. “The Horror” Rick Story (13-4) and “The Spaniard” Charlie Brenneman (14-2) put on a fight that showed nothing but gameness. Chael Sonnen (25-11-1) is downright scary on the ground and no one would dare tell him he isn’t game because of that style. Ben Henderson just managed to put the exclamation point on this Sunday night: wrestlers are game.

Another pair of the most exciting and game fighters in the UFC are Ben Henderson (left) and Donald Cerrone (right), both of whom have considerable stand-up skills but have made their MMA names with their work on the mat, proving that the man, not the style, makes the bout exciting. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

Everyone, regardless of their martial arts background or knowledge of the sport, loves a good scrap. Images of a fighter digging his heels in and swinging with conviction, taking two to get one, are what bring crowds to their feet. UFC Live on Versus 5 showed that the future of this sport still has fighters who are game to stand and trade. So to all wrestling detractors, take a deep breath – there are still many fighters who tow this line. Two young, tough, submission savvy kids, “Cowboy” Donald Cerrone (16-3) and “Do Bronx” Charles Oliveira (14-2), weren’t concerned with much else except smashing each other. “Cowboy” has received criticism for his last few fights, but fans are quick to jump on fighters for this so-called “safe” approach. A fighter with Cerrone’s history didn’t deserve the criticism. He has clearly made adjustments to his game and looked absolutely terrifying against the young prospect Oliveira. This type of gameness is not fading as some have claimed. The subtle art of brawling was all over the night’s card.  There were enough swollen faces at the end of every fight that it was hard to tell who won just by looking. Of course the absolute icing on the cake for those of the slugging persuasion was the celebrated final match of “Lights Out” Chris Lytle’s (31-18-5) career against “The Outlaw” Dan Hardy (23-10). Embarrassed should be the one to say the game has changed for the worse after watching that fight. Slug for slug, from Hardy’s deadly hooks to Lytle’s gut wrenching body shots and murderous overhand right, these two fighters went toe-to-toe, bell to bell until one of them was broken. Lytle left the sport that night showing tons of future fighters what gamers are all about. And believe you me – fights like that will influence generations of fighters.

Everyone wins after UFC Live on Versus 5. Fans saw entertaining fights, for free, as well as great displays of both grappling and striking and most every fighter on the card saved their jobs. It can all be credited to the gamers. Even in defeat Jim Miller looked like a ravenous badger fighting off a bear. Dan Hardy threw his game plan out of the window just to get into a glorious firefight with the crafty Lytle.  Fighters tested their mettle and left it all in the cage in a bloody, magnificent display of gameness. One could only hope that this will rest the weary hearts of fans, and BJ Penn, who believes the sport is getting watered down. It was a violent, joyous night and there will be many more to come, because inside every fighter, regardless of their style, lies a true gamer.

"The Carpenter" Clay Guida's (white trunks) headlining bout opposite "Showtime" Anthony Pettis (black trunks) at "The Ultimate Fighter 13" Finale left much to be desired, according to many in the MMA community, as much of the bout was spent with Guida controlling his opponent on the mat. Are the pundits justified in their claims? (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

This past weekend’s The Ultimate Fighter 13 Finale was a night to remember. TUF crowned a controversial, yet capable champ in “El Cucuy” Tony Ferguson (11-2). Fans were also fortunate enough to witness up-and-comers like “Kingsbu” Kyle Kingsbury (11-2), Fabio Maldonado (18-4), “C-Murder” Chris Cope (5-1), and others who will likely entertain for years to come. But the night was unfairly lambasted by fans when the co-main event fight between “The Carpenter” Clay Guida (29-11) and final WEC champ “Showtime” Anthony Pettis (13-2) went to the judges’ decision. The fight was derided as boring, “lay-and-pray”, and even incorrectly judged – and all this criticism came down on the winner, Clay Guida. Whether or not the fight was enjoyable is subjective and it is a moot point to try and argue. You either enjoyed it or you didn’t; there is not right or wrong there. However, fans’ displeasure with Guida’s winning tactics are unfounded. “The Carpenter” indeed displays varying skills in a sport that caters to those who know when and how to use their strengths, even if it means using one skill at a time. But it is the bias against wrestling that has misguided so much of the post-fight fallout.

The argument that Clay Guida is a boring fighter shouldn’t be dignified with a response. Nonetheless, if fans and pundits alike need a reeducation on Guida they need not look far back into his fight history. Of his last four fights, Clay has finished three. Of his 29 career wins he’s earned stoppages in 19. And to assume his decision wins – or any of his losses for that matter – were boring, would be admission to never having seen the man fight. Guida displays speed, tenacity, power and good old fashioned attrition in every fight he is in. All of this thunder and lighting is wrestling-based, but it has never failed to deliver a high energy fight from the Illinois native.

When Clay finds himself in the rare position where he is unable to take down a fighter he is happy to engage in spirited fire fights such as the memorable wars he’s had with “El Matador” Roger Huerta (21-5-1) and “The Dream” Diego Sanchez (23-4). Clay fights to win, and if he can’t win, he still manages to entertain with his virtually unrivaled speed and conditioning. Just because his brand of entertainment doesn’t involve jumping kicks off the cage (if he could he probably would), it doesn’t make him a boring fighter – not by a long shot.

What Clay lacks in striking fortitude (which seems to be the only acceptable way to fight according to fans of “MMA” lately) he more than makes up for with his often overlooked gift: his incredible ability to neutralize submissions. When the fight did hit the ground “Showtime” was ready and willing to continue fighting, throwing up a bevy of Triangles and Armbars from his back to stave off Guida’s relentless attacks. Lesser fighters would have succumbed to Anthony’s submission attempts, but Clay’s persistent ground pressure kept him out of danger and winging hooks left and right, always looking to advance. That is hardly a game plan that can be labeled “lay-and-pray”. This is a feat that should be praised, not shamed. But some go so far as to claim that the fight was misjudged entirely and that Anthony’s submission attempts should have won him the fight. The first round, perhaps, but the rest of the fight found Pettis mainly on defense. Pettis’ superior striking was nullified early and often and with good reason, Clay isn’t up to his level on the feet. No one would fault a fighter for wrestling “The Spider” Anderson Silva (28-4), yet somehow Clay does not get that flexibility with Pettis. Perhaps it isn’t Clay that fans are mad at, but rather, the style that Clay used to defeat a very exciting competitor.

Even when on the ground, Clay Guida (top) is known for being a very active and explosive fighter with an uncanny ability to neutrailze submissions. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

Wrestling itself takes more heat from critics than Clay Guida ever has. What needs to be understood by fans and critics alike is that wrestling is here to stay. It has, for nearly all of MMA’s modern history, been a factor inside the cage. Names like “The Beast” Dan Severn (99-17-7), “The Hammer” Mark Coleman (16-10) and “The Natural” Randy Couture (19-11) ushered in its presence and champions like Cain Velasquez (9-0), “Bones” Jon Jones (13-1) and “Rush” Georges St. Pierre (22-2) have shown that it’s an essential base to become an elite fighter. College wrestlers have found a home in MMA for a good reason: wrestling is a very practical offense and defense and has solidified itself as a martial art. Name another single fighting style that can neutralize striking and submissions. Clay Guida can. He spoke the truth when he said “wrestling wins championships”. It simply and effectively does just that even though the odds are stacked against wrestling in MMA. That isn’t a misprint. MMA is not tailored to wrestling.

Despite what many believe, an MMA fight is catered towards strikers. Every fight starts in a striker’s favored position: on the feet. Fights that stall on the ground are reset to standing, giving the striker a chance once again, to fight their game. When was the last time a fight was stopped and brought to the ground because a fighter refused to engage on the feet? Strikers, if they practice hard enough can actually purposefully stall a fight on the ground to change the fight back to their favored choice of attack. There is nothing in the rules against doing that. The only advantage a wrestler has is to exploit the judging by controlling the fight. Try to hold down an elite level mixed martial artist for five minutes and say, with earnest, that it’s “safe” fighting.  The format of an MMA fight is and likely always will be catered to the striker, and for good reason – knockouts sell tickets.

At the end of the day fans can always challenge wrestling and fighters who use its style so proficiently by saying they will not pay to see a wrestling match but rather, to see a fight. They claim fighters like Clay and “GSP” are ruining the sport – and again, fans misplace their anger. Every fight is a two-way street. Responsibility does not solely rely on the dominant fighter to entertain. There are two people in the cage, it is both of their responsibility to entertain. Anthony Pettis certainly agrees. He was quoted as saying “I just understand how the game works. If he controls you, you lose the round. I didn’t do enough to get up off my back, so big up to Clay”. That is coming from the beaten man. He can manage to respect his opponent even if he didn’t “stand and bang” with him. Fans can and should do the same. And to those who are still not convinced, fear not – history has shown that fighters find a way. “The Iceman” Chuck Liddell (21-8) made a multi-million dollar career out of sprawling and brawling. He found a way around wrestling’s stifling style: he himself was a good wrestler. It offers the ability to control a fight wherever it goes. Fighters should take Guida’s win Saturday night and Chuck Liddell’s entire career as a notice: fighters need to have good wrestling to be successful in this sport. And if worse comes to worse, MMA will have an army of busy-bodied wrestlers like Clay Guida, and that’s not a bad thing.

UFC lightweight champ Frankie Edgar has long been the subject of many a fan's chagrin, but do their arguments hold water? (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

After an exciting night of fights at UFC 130: Rampage vs. Hamill, my friends and I quipped about how the originally intended title fight between  ”The Answer” Frankie Edgar (13-1-1) and “The Bully” Gray Maynard (10-0-1) would have been icing on the cake. Their second fight was one for the ages. Maynard showed exactly why he should be considered a serious contender and Edgar rallied back from the brink of defeat to show the heart of a champion. I assumed that a fight like that would gain the respect of MMA fans everywhere. What struck me absolutely dumb however, was the fact that the educated and respectful MMA fans in the room with me were completely unimpressed with Frankie Edgar. Are they talking about the same Frankie Edgar who defeated “The Prodigy” BJ Penn (16-7-2) twice? My friends simply said he was “not that good” and “lucky” and explained away his key victories. As Many MMA fans have echoed these very sentiments on internet forums across the globe so I felt compelled to present their arguments and offer the counter-points as well. Interestingly enough, it has been his title fights that have caused the most controversy in his career and the most often-used arguments against his legitimacy as top dog in UFC lightweight division. Perhaps Frankie is not the champ I thought he was? We’ll break down Frankie Edgar through the many factors that have dogged him since taking the belt.

EXHIBIT A: He did not beat BJ Penn the first time around.

This is an argument that may never be solved. Judging, like it or not, is a subjective job and on the night of UFC 112, the judges believed Frankie did what it took to win. Even after studying both the Compustrike and FightMetric statistics, you’ll find the fight was razor thin with Frankie edging Penn in the later rounds. Message boards lit up for days afterward with people jousting back-and-forth about who actually won that fight. UFC President Dana White and matchmaker Joe Silva apparently weren’t satisfied either and booked an immediate rematch. If the bosses feel Penn deserved a rematch right away, this is an open-and-shut case: Frankie did not do enough to beat Penn. That is unless you consider what happened in the rematch.

Oddsmakers and fans alike gave Frankie no shot in the rematch. He wasn’t going to knock Penn out, he wasn’t going to wrestle him to the ground, and he was undersized and outclassed. BJ would not take him lightly this time and would likely put him away early. But Edgar did something remarkable: he fought the exact same fight, and won rather convincingly. Frankie staked his claim as the lightweight kingpin by just tightening up his quick hands and fancy footwork. But detractors are not easily swayed, in fact, Frankie’s “Answer” was met with another rebuttal.

EXHIBIT B: Stylistically, Frankie is a bad match-up for Penn.

A bad match-up implies that one particular fighter simply has the kind of tools that the other cannot negate and therefore would rarely beat. Perhaps at some levels of the sport, bad match-ups exist. When talking about the future UFC Hall of Famer, BJ Penn, it is an insult to his legacy. BJ Penn has fought every style of fighter you can name in nearly every weight class in the glory days of the sport. He’s seen, trained, and experienced every skill set that an MMA fighter can posses. “The Prodigy” has even been in the ring with what could arguably be a stronger, more seasoned, easily as energetic version of Frankie Edgar in “The Muscle Shark” Sean Sherk (36-4-1) and dispatched him in dominant fashion (Frankie also managed to shut out Sherk). To say Edgar was a bad match-up for Penn makes little sense considering the list of fighters Penn has managed to stuff, sprawl, brawl, and choke out.

To say that Frankie Edgar is "just a bad style match" for BJ Penn is as much an insult to "The Prodigy's" legacy as it is a shot at the legitimacy of Edgar's victories. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

Often used in conjunction with this argument is Penn’s ever questionable gas tank, which, according to the anti-Edgar faction is the only real edge he posses over Penn. Able to flit around “The Prodigy” all night, Edgar tired him out and won on points alone. This is hard to argue against. As we have seen time and time again, Penn gasses and Edgar can float like a butterfly and sting like a bee all night long. But you can’t beat Penn with cardiovascular proficiency alone. Sean Sherk and “The Dream” Diego Sanchez (23-4) have endless gas tanks and both were battered and bruised by Penn. Both are also relatively larger than Frankie who is likely a natural featherweight. Edgar was able to use his cardio to implement a game plan that gave Penn – the man legendary boxing trainer Freddie Roach called “the best boxer in MMA” – fits for 50 minutes of stand-up fighting. So if Penn has decimated cardio machines in the past, how did Edgar get by him if that’s his only advantage?

EXHIBIT C: Penn is not the fighter he used to be.

Discrediting the defeated fighter is something seen a lot on message forums. The fighter is washed up, slower, battle-worn, and simply can’t keep up with the new generation of fighters who rely not on fighting grit, but athleticism and game plans to win their fights. It is a backhanded compliment to the victors and Edgar was not spared this in his pair of wins over Penn. The problem with this argument is that up until UFC 112, BJ Penn had been on a reign of terror in the lightweight division. Four stoppages in four title fights, each opponent bloodied, beaten, and scarred. BJ had actually looked amazing up until fighting Frankie. And if losing to Frankie had convinced naysayers that Penn was all but done as a fighter, he proceeded to move up in weight, knock out Matt Hughes and put Jon Fitch in more trouble than he’s ever seen before succumbing to his unreliable gas tank. Penn has proven time and time again that he is a tough fight for anyone at any weight and his own mettle argues for Edgar’s wins over him.

Frankie Edgar, on record, has beaten BJ Penn twice. That alone should put him in rarified air. But what about Edgar’s true arch nemesis?

EXHIBIT D: Frankie Edgar can’t beat Gray Maynard.

In his second title defense, Frankie Edgar was ready  to avenge his only defeat. His night nearly ended in less than five minutes, and not the way he had planned it. In the opening round “The Bully” landed a devastating shot that floored Edgar and put him on wobbly legs, stumbling around the ring. Gray was relentless and continued to drop the champ for the duration of the round. There wasn’t a soul around the world who thought the fight was going to last five minutes. Yet somehow, Frankie survived. He came back out and proceeded to put on an incredible fight, trading back-and-forth with Maynard for the next 20 minutes, dropping Gray, taking him down, and taking rounds back from the only man to hold a win over him. Ultimately it wasn’t enough and the lopsided first round likely caused the anti-climactic Draw.

Many fans feel that Edgar's (black trunks) inability to score a win against Gray Maynard (blue trunks) in two attempts makes his title an empty one. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

So how exactly could Frankie Edgar be any good if he can’t defeat Gray Maynard, who up until that point was reluctantly “in the mix” among a talent-rich division? This shows that his wins over BJ Penn were in fact, style-based, and that fancy footwork and elusive fighting can only take you so far. Frankie Edgar is in fact, not the answer to the question “Who is the greatest lightweight in the UFC?” If he were the best, he would have found a way to defeat Gray.

An argument of this nature makes the false assumption that greatness is absent in the face of defeat. There is no mistaking the fact that Gray Maynard has a win over the UFC champ, but except Cain Velasquez (9-0) there is no champ in the UFC without a blemish on their record. Even “The Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (31-3-1NC) has tasted defeat, horribly so. Yet no one would tell you Emelianenko isn’t a great fighter. This is MMA and at some point in every fighter’s career, they will stand across the cage from someone who is better than them.

This fact does not diminish a fighter’s accomplishments and Frankie Edgar has done some great things in his career. He was able to overcome being the perennial underdog and capture the lightweight crown. But like any fighter, he will always be judged by his last fight and so far, fans are left in limbo with regard to the lightweight champ. Edgar will have to give us the answer in his rubber match with Gray Maynard. He will further be tested by a long lay-off and the haunting first round of his last fight.

As the evidence stands the jury is still out on Frankie Edgar. True underdogs like Frankie are questioned even in victory, so it will be up to him to show if he is in fact the best lightweight fighter in the UFC. He will likely always have to prove himself in the cage, but that also seems to fuel the Toms River, New Jersey native. Fight fans should be eager to see him enter the cage once again to plead his case as the UFC Lightweight Champion. After all, he is MMA’s very own version of Rocky Balboa.

Both Michael Bisping (left) and Jorge Rivera (right) exhibited unsportsman-like behavior toward one another leading up to their UFC 127 bout. The two men took it several steps even further when they met face-to-face. Should such antics in MMA be tolerated and go unpunished? (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

Leading up to UFC 127: Penn vs. Fitch, the relentless and very public trash talk of “El Conquistador” Jorge Rivera (19-8) fueled interest in a fight that many considered a mere formality for his opponent, “The Count” Michael Bisping (21-3). Bisping however, took the ribbing to heart claiming Rivera’s comments hit below the belt. When the two came within arms length of each other at a pre-fight presser, Bisping fired back, likely seeing the need to add fuel to the fire for the sake of hype. And on camera, with many around the world watching, Bisping used the “F” word. In this case the “F” stands for the derogatory word for a homosexual, or if you’re in England, a cigarette. Being an Englishman, Michael knew which version of the “F” word he was using and exactly what context it was delivered in. Whether or not the viewing public found the slur offensive is up for debate. MMA’s key demographics, Males 18-34, are also likely the largest users of this particular “F” word. So we can leave the right or wrong at the door on this one. But hate slurs and post fight misbehavior by Mr. Bisping beg the question: Is it time for MMA’s leading organizations to enforce a code of conduct?

UFC President Dana White has said in many interviews that he believes one day the UFC will be bigger than football. It is a lofty goal, and one that will require work in every aspect of the sport. So why should conduct not be an area of attention? The NFL has recently levied fines for such use of the “F” word and is constantly trying to wrangle in their young, often misguided players. One might argue that NFL players are indeed more tumultuous off the field than their MMA counterparts, but that is beside the point. The NFL does this in order to maintain an image with the public as a family show, safe for viewing at any time. MMA is indeed a brutal and violent sport, but recent business trends show that kids are latching on to MMA at a rising rate and sticking with it over other sports. Marketing to youth will prove a key to bringing the sport front and center in the coming years. Promotions like the UFC and Strikeforce will have to start watching their fighters a little more carefully if they are going to take “mainstream credibility” seriously.

Chael Sonnen is arguably the master smack-talker in the UFC and is one of MMA's most loved bad boys. Unlike some of his competitors, he clearly makes the distinction between hyping a fight and being unprofessional. (Photo courtesy of Dave Mandel and Sherdog)

Critics of this safe approach will turn to boxing, MMA’s wayward cousin. One name in boxing showcased the argument that safe doesn’t always need to be part of the equation for success, and that variable’s name was Mike Tyson. “Iron” Mike was a brash young slugger who made his name laying waste to opponents within a round. He had not just fight fans, but the world was enthralled with his aggressive style. He also gave mixed martial arts a run for its money in pre-fight talk. Some of the things he said would make Chael Sonnen (24-11-1) cringe. But ultimately, Mike Tyson’s persona overwhelmed itself. Boxing promoters never bothered to tame him because it sold Pay-Per-Views. Why can’t MMA hold itself above that standard? Of course hype can’t be eliminated altogether, that would be a foolish business move. But specific actions: hate slurs, assault, and public misconduct should be put to a stop. It will show the uneducated that these aren’t bar room brawlers. It will show the casuals that this is a serious sport after all. And the hardcore fans will have yet another weapon against detractors. Taking conduct seriously is the next step in mainstream credibility, and it won’t only benefit the straight-laced public.

Fighters themselves can benefit from a bit of guidance. This has already come in the form of financial planning seminars put on by the UFC to keep fighters from spending their fight night bonuses on a new sports car. The next step would be to insist that a fighter’s conduct outside the cage reflects on himself and the sport at large, and missteps can result in a fine or suspension by the organization. The idea of taking money out of the pockets of fighters who already hedge so much on a fight immediately upsets many. But perhaps the threat of financial punishment will make a fighter think twice.  Some will falter regardless of the rules, but an organization taking a clear stance, up front, can certainly give many fighters a serious pause before acting out in public. Such a conduct clause might not stop a fighter from kicking out a limousine window or slur through a late night talk show interview, but it could make a fighter think twice before letting certain words enter his headspace while trying to hype a fight. A side effect of this counting of P’s and Q’s would benefit a fighter’s public image and possibly open their respective value to potential sponsors.

These practices hold financial benefits beyond just the organizations’ ticket sales as well. No one brings in the merchandise dollars like women and children. While MMA is slowly cornering the market on male viewers of adult age, women and children are the true key to mainstream marketability. When a mom approves, kids consumes. If a boy loves “Diablo” Nick Diaz (24-7) and his mom catches wind of his post-fight antics or his medical malpractices it’s very likely that she will close the door on products related to Nick Diaz, including the promotion that he calls home. That might be a stretch, but that child isn’t going to have the money and accessibility to the product, his parents will. So responsibility from fighters and promotions can not hurt in the least. A larger demographic can only lead to greater exposure for the sport and more money for fighters and promotions. All for the simple act of behaving like professionals. If fines and suspensions effect zero conduct in any fighter, the humble and apologetic approach taken by promotions will at least appease any furrowed brows. It’s all a matter of upkeep for the greater good of the sport.

But what about the stale political correctness that waters down the sports landscape? The “no celebration” rule in football, the dress code enforced while basketball players attend games? These rules, imposed by non-players to keep others from being offended simply pander to an audience that doesn’t exist for MMA. MMA is about the perfection of physical violence in the form of a more refined combat sport – why try to dress it up in Osh-Kosh Bigosh? Promotions should and will very likely impose this in the future and the reason is simple: they will have to. MMA gains headway every day, but to break into Sunday afternoon sports, it’s going to take some refinement and they should start this process before a fighter crosses the line out in the open, where the rest of the world can see. That means the “F” word will have to go, and possibly cleverly shaved chest hair as well. Just saying.

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The following is a GIF of Michael Bisping spitting at/on Jorge Rivera’s corner men after “The Count” conquered “El Conquistador” at UFC 127. What are your thoughts on Bisping’s post-fight antics? Sound off in our comments section below.
We want to hear from you!

(GIF courtesy of mma-core.com)

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"The Spider" Anderson Silva is on top of the world now, but how will he be remembered when he's gone? (Photo courtesy of the Associated Press)

What will become of the legacy of “The Spider” Anderson Silva (27-4), who fights tonight at UFC 126? When his career has faded into the grainy memory of mixed martial arts, what will be remembered? Will it be his vicious, calculated striking? Will fans talk of the daunting 12 consecutive wins that he currently holds within the toughest promotion on the planet? How will the MMA community remember his demolition of “Ace” Rich Franklin  (28-5) not once, but twice in a shocking symphony of punches and kicks that left “Ace” crumpled on the floor, humbled and broken? Or will we remember the indifferent, stand-offish Silva? The one who danced around “The Predator” Patrick Cote (13-7) at UFC 90. When the fighter who toyed with Thales Leites (18-4) and Demian Maia (14-2), the latter of which was so painful to watch that even Silva’s biggest supporters shook their heads, puzzled as to why one of the most gifted fighters the sport has ever seen would act in such a pathetic and classless manner.

There is nothing easy about being Anderson Silva. He has talents that only a very small percentage of people in the world possess and he has developed those talents into a fighting genius that comes only once in a lifetime. Like Anderson’s favorite superhero, Spiderman, it is true that with great power comes great responsibility. He is responsible for doing his job, which is to fight, and at times he has let his bosses down. He has a responsibility to the audience, who without their viewership, “The Spider” would not enjoy the lifestyle he is afforded today and yet, he has let them down as well. When confronted by journalists about the crimes of indifference he has committed, Silva shrugs. “Not every fight can go as you plan,” he might say. An infantile “Sorry”, uttered in his alto-Brazilian accent. Fans light up the internet with their displeasure, calling him arrogant and overrated, wishing his next opponent not just to defeat him, but embarrass and shame him. Some argue that it’s not Anderson’s fault at all. They say he is so far beyond his opponents in terms of ability that it’s impossible for him to take them seriously. They say that he’s never really in danger and can win at any time without any real effort – and they may have a point. Just ask Chael Sonnen (25-11-1) how easily Anderson Silva can claim a victory in a split second.

With all that can be said about the often-maligned champion, with his dark sunglasses and one-word answers, we cannot forget that at the end of the day, Anderson Silva is only human and thus is fallible. He cannot be the perfect champion. No one can. In fact, take a moment to think about every champion in MMA today. Now be honest and admit that there is no champion for whom no criticism may be allotted. There is not one champ who has not taken the lashings of the public. If not criticized for their attitude, they are ridiculed for their fighting style, or their lack of experience, or their questionable chin. No champion will ever stay in favor with the seasoned fans, because it is not in our nature. Spectators feel entitled and almost obligated to cut down those at that top, so that they are attainable to us. “Rush” Georges St. Pierre (21-2) couldn’t be a more complete athlete or nicer person, and he is even criticized for that.

Anderson Silva may no longer be considered the people's champion, but his unrivaled skill set and once-in-a-lifetime accomplishments in MMA should permit some leeway for "The Spider". (File photo)

Anderson Silva is an easy target, with his sometimes cavalier attitude towards his fights and the outright disrespect he has shown to opponents and fans alike. But being a fighter is nothing short of walking the line of insanity. Fighters are paid to put themselves in harm’s way, in a cage, in front of millions of people. They may walk out seriously injured, they may not walk out at all. And when they aren’t fighting, they are fielding repetitive questions, about opponents, gameplans, their style, and of course: their shortcomings. Now ask yourself how well you would respond to that kind of pressure. Anderson does not handle pressure the way we would like him to, and fans have to get over that. He is a man who puts himself at risk for his pay. He is a man who has accomplished things that other mixed martial artists may never be able to recreate. Tonight, he will pit himself against a foe who can end anyone’s night quickly and violently. That foe tends to be universally more well-liked than Anderson as well. It is easy to root against him these days, but he hasn’t given the crowd the finger, he hasn’t punched a fighter after the bell, and he hasn’t even laid on someone for five rounds to grab a boring if safe victory.

Anderson Silva is a great champion who has not only shown his brilliance, but his flaws as well and for all the flaws, through all the criticism, all the expectations, all the pain, Anderson has prevailed. Try for one second to imagine staring across the cage from “The Phenom” Vitor Belfort (19-8) and not losing your mind, even a little. Here’s to lucky number 13.

UFC 118 in August was predominantly centralized around its "MMA vs. Boxing" co-main event between UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture (red/black shorts) and superstar boxer "Lights Out" James Toney (camouflage trunks). Couture demolished Toney and put an end to his night about halfway through the first round. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

This past month rounding out the 2010 MMA calendar and transitioning into the New Year has been thrilling. UFC 124: St. Pierre vs. Koscheck II was for all intents and purposes an exciting affair. “Rush” Georges St. Pierre (21-2) put on another picture perfect fight against perennial contender “Kos” Josh Koscheck (15-5) and “Pitbull” Thiago Alves (18-7) showed he could stay relevant at welterweight by testing the iron chin of “Doomsday” John Howard (14-6), Strikeforce: Henderson vs. Babalu 2 was quite literally a knockout, WEC 53: Henderson vs. Pettis was an explosive send-off for the exciting organization, and the main event at UFC 125: Resolution featured lightweight champ “The Answer” Frankie Edgar (13-1-1) and his challenger, NCAA Div. I wrestler “The Bully” Gray Maynard (10-0-1), partaking in a five round war dominated by stand-up that rather surprisingly resulted in a Draw. However a disturbing realization has come to light. It is likely that given the growth of MMA, especially the UFC, this beloved sport one day will begin to emulate the stale monotony of professional boxing. As the UFC and MMA continue to grow into the meganaut of combat sports, mainstream growth’s effect on the sport, its entertainment value, and its fighters will only become progressively more apparent.

The sheer size of the UFC roster is starting to wreak havoc on fight cards in the form over-saturation. Recently, UFC President Dana White said that his organization plans on hosting over 30 live events in 2011. That is at least a pair of events in any given month. This is not only an aspiration for the UFC, but a necessity to keep the promotion’s fighters working. The UFC is, at times, home to as many as 200 fighters, an impressive but demanding list of employees. More fights is not a bad thing, but the constant feed of shows throughout the month – coupled with TUF shows and other organizations like Bellator Fighting Championship (BFC, better known as Bellator), Strikeforce, and DREAM can eventually lead to waning interest. So how can the UFC combat its audience becoming jaded? More title fights.

WEC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz is also the first ever UFC Bantamweight Champion. The UFC acquired the 135lbs. division along with featherweight as a result of the recent merger between the two promotions. The UFC's current roster is comprised of seven weight classes, with talks of potentially adding flyweight and a 195lbs. division in the future. The abundance of weight classes is very reminiscent of the way boxing organizations are set up. (Photo courtesy of Scott Petersen and MMA Weekly)

Enter the WEC/UFC merger that recently took place. In November, “Junior” Jose Aldo (17-1) was awarded the first ever UFC Featherweight Championship belt and at WEC 53, “The Dominator” Dominick Cruz (17-1) was crowned the first UFC Bantamweight Champion. A third belt will likely be established late next year in the flyweight division and there has even been talk of a 195lbs. division in the UFC. So with three new titles soon to grace the UFC emblem, the problem should be fixed, right? Perhaps not. The issue with more titles is that it obviously involves additional weight divisions; having so many begins to emulate the ugly pattern of boxing’s current state of stagnation. In other words, more fighters bring pressure to add more weight classes so that more titles will be on the line. This leads to confusion among the fan base and a devaluing of the titles themselves. After all, when was the last time fans cared what title was being defended in boxing? In the same 15lb. grouping, an elite boxer may hold six belts over two or three weight divisions fans have to keep up with. Worse yet, there may be two or three “unified world champions” in one weight division! The 205lbs. title is a prime example. This was something that set MMA apart from boxing. Be it the UFC’s now retired legend “The Iceman” Chuck Liddell (21-8) or PRIDE’s “The Axe Murderer” Wanderlei Silva (33-10-1), when those belts were on the line people sat up and took notice. These men dominated the competition from 185-205lbs. The established divisions in MMA have allowed fans to really connect with fighters and follow the road to the belt much more easily over the years. With more weight classes, that same dominant champion can hold belts in three divisions over the same 15lbs. spread. Sounds interesting, but again, which belt are fans most excited to see “Pacman” Manny Pacquiao defend? The answer is none of them. They tune in to see “Pacman” – the titles mean absolutely nothing. The number of divisions and titles in boxing has diminished the lure of the belt. Losing that distinction in MMA would be a shame. Luckily enough, MMA fighters more often than not put on a great showing and that should counter-act the lost interest in title fights.

But wait, there is another problem. As the UFC swells to massive proportions keeping a job in the organization becomes a very difficult task. Recent cuts of The Ultimate Fighter Season 8 winner Efrain Escudero (9-2), “Hurricane” Gerald Harris (17-3), and TUF Season 6 and American Top Team stand-out “Killa B”  Ben Saunders (9-3-2) have left some scratching their heads. There is little room for error now in the UFC. If a fighter loses his bout or even wins but puts on a lackluster performance, he is at a higher risk than ever before of being cut from the promotion. This is a disservice to fans and fighters as the process of becoming an established fighter becomes more difficult. The UFC’s exceptionally high (in most cases) performance standards prompts fighters to be nervous of their neck being the next on the chopping block, and often leads them to fight safe so as not to lose as opposed to fighting to win.  This in itself changes the dynamics of mixed martial arts and serves as a cardinal sin to the hardcore fans as well as grievance for even casual fans. Those who carry the flag for MMA in the battle for supremacy over boxing have often pointed to the frequency of finished fights as a reason that MMA is the superior form of combat sports entertainment. This issue is functionally killing that argument. In the young sport’s more recent history, statistics show that MMA fights are not only going to decision more often overall, but that decisions are more common among the mid- to upper echelon fighters in each respective weight class. Once a mixed martial artist earns his place in a promotion, he does what he can to maintain or advance, and that often results in fighting “safe”. Boxing became stale when the point fighters replaced the sluggers and knockout artists. It can happen here too, and it looks as though the process is already underway.

Legendary boxing promoter and hypeman extraordinaire Don King was well known in the industry as being the man who could sell any fight to the masses. Hype is an element that has also become increasingly important in the promotion of MMA events. (File photo)

So what to do then? How does a promoter sell fighters who now fight methodically rather than viscerally? They hire master smack talkers like Josh Koscheck, Chael Sonnen (24-11-1), or “Big Sexy” Sean McCorkle (10-1). They bring in “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Tito Ortiz (15-8-1) and “The World’s Most Dangerous Man” Ken Shamrock (28-14-2) or Brock Lesnar (5-2) or resurrect any number of grudge matches. Let’s face it – the fans all buy into that, and numbers show that trash talk, grudge matches, and hype sell fights. They always will. But again this feels familiar. Boxing promoter Don King could sell any fight – he just needed a heaping portion of smack talk, a dash of rivalry, and enough spin to get the fans to believe the fight they were going to watch was going to be the most explosive battle anyone had ever witnessed.

Hype has since become almost equally important as a solid fight card in promoting a particular event. It is a sign of the times that fights alone can’t sell MMA cards anymore and while Chael, “Kos” and Tito do their jobs well, it might not always pay off for them or the fans in the end. Then there are the “The Lunatik” Junie Brownings (3-3) and the “Kimbo Slice” Kevin Fergusons (4-2), whose sole purpose is to reel in casual fans if only for that brief moment they are in the spotlight. It always seemed MMA didn’t need those impulse buys; that fans were in it for the long haul to watch fighters progress and become great. Even Sean McCorkle managed to trash talk his way from undercard fighter to co-headliner with his UFC 124 bout against “Skyscraper” Stefan Struve (18-4). Boxing managed to sell that kind of hype only for a very short period of time. How long will MMA be able to rely on that? Did Koscheck or McCorkle’s trash talk leading up to UFC 124 make their fights themselves more exciting? The answer to such a question usually is dependent on an individual’s perception of the loose-lipped fighter, but that is beside the point. The point is hype is just that: hype. It sells tickets and Pay-Per-Views. Rarely – especially at the highest levels of the sport – does hype do anything but garner media interest and viewership for that brief time before it all begins to sound like the same story as the last fight.

So the smack talker brings fans in and likely pays for his or her disrespect when the heroes serve their own brand of justice. But now, the heroes once again stand atop their divisions, waiting for that true threat to their title. Fans and pundits alike do crave this type of champion, be it MMA or boxing. But while MMA is in its respective infancy, boxing is showing the ill effects of the unbeatable champ. One would be hard-pressed to find a front-page article on boxing’s last big heavyweight title fight in the sports section. It was once the marquee division of the sport, the only way to make fans buy Pay-Per-Views. What happened? Wladimir Klitschko happened. His dominance became, quite frankly, boring. The lack of real threats to Klitschko caused fans to simply turn to something else. One of the currently most well-known boxers in the world is Manny Pacquiao, who, much like the UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre or UFC Middleweight Champion “The Spider” Anderson Silva (27-4), tears through one opponent after another. But Manny only has so many fights left. Then what? Boxing has made the hype about Manny’s name, not his titles. Where do they turn to rebuild the fans’ interest when he retires or worse, loses? St. Pierre is at his peak now, but if he plans on moving up in weight, the fights will be much more difficult and his air of invincibility could be lost. And once a fighter of that caliber loses that can lead to loss in revenue, viewership, and media interest and potentially plunges MMA back into the dark ages. Just ask “The Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (31-2) what a loss can do to a “brand”.  Ultimately, MMA’s over-saturation is breeding this environment, because it is becoming less conducive to building up rosters of top fighters. MMA now relies only on a few marquee fighters, the crutch that has plagued boxing.

The UFC will continue to grow. There is already talk of expansion of The Ultimate Fighter into other countries as well a UFC network. Such avenues will provide unprecedented access to MMA worldwide, an exciting prospect for hardcore, casual, and new fans alike. The flip side to this growth, however, will be stagnation.  There are great boxing events taking place every month but outside of the hardcore viewership, which is a deteriorating demographic, those fights are rarely seen or talked about by the masses. But when “Pacman” books a fight or Floyd Mayweather Jr. comes out of hiding, the public converges on them for that one big night. MMA will become that once again. Yes, again. Moguls like Dana White and Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker have tried very hard for years to make MMA a relevant sport year-round and have succeeded for now. Eventually, when MMA stars’ wages balloon up and over-saturation leads to drop in demand for the sport things will start to look a lot like boxing. A dwindling hardcore fan base will watch religiously and the public will take notice only once or twice a year. Maybe “The Spider” Anderson Silva will come out of retirement to fight a young stud. Perhaps an aging Chuck Liddell will win a title in some flash KO, much like famous-boxer-turned-grill-master George Foreman did. And there will be phenoms of the sport, young blood like “Junior” Jose Aldo (17-1) or “Bones” Jon Jones (11-1) who will fight once or twice a year. They will be shining beacons of a sport once so dizzyingly full of talent it was sometimes hard to choose which fight to watch that weekend. Dana White has been quoted as saying that if and when MMA becomes like boxing, he will bow out of combat sports. Quite frankly, he is a guy the sport can’t afford to lose. And while this bleak future is perhaps still far off in the distant future, its low, foreboding thunder can be heard rolling through the present.

Last week, the Internet blew up. Well, at least the part where MMA fans gather. All week fans and journalists speculated what UFC President Dana White was going to announce on Thursday. Most dismissed it as another “non-announcement”. Perhaps his Round 5 doll would include his famous “Do you want to be a fucking fighter?” speech, or Frank Fertitta was now head of UFC accounting. But alas, the day came and the foul-mouthed head honcho delivered a right hand straight to the MMA community’s collective jaw that could make even “The Engineer” Shane Carwin blush (11-1): The UFC will absorb the WEC and its fighters. “Junior” Jose Aldo (17-1) will defend the first ever UFC Featherweight Championship, “Smooth” Ben Henderson (11-1) and “Showtime” Anthony Pettis (12-1) will vie for a shot at the UFC lightweight crown, and Miguel Torres’ (37-3) mullet will appear in the Octagon in all its glory! These sentiments echoed through the halls of many MMA fans’ home, but what does this merger really mean for the MMA world?

Needless to say the majority of the MMA community is ecstatic that, first and foremost, more casual fans will see the WEC fighters who have consistently delivered solid performances and will no doubt threaten to steal  away “Fight of the Night” bonuses from the  UFC veterans. There is also the prospect of lighter weight fighters making more pay. But let’s not forget that Dana has plans of his own and this merger falls right in line with his grander vision of the UFC becoming the dominant voice of combat sports around the world. This plan has several stages, but as always the boys at Zuffa have all their ducks in a row. The UFC will now be the largest stage for lighter weight fighters as well as the traditional weight classes, and it will undoubtedly attract the attention of the international community.

Step one: attract talent. Featherweight and bantamweight fighters around the world have struggled to gain a foothold in the global MMA market. When a lighter fighter gets a fight in the Asian market, getting paid in a timely fashion, or at all, can be very difficult. They also have to deal with travel, late notice opponents and getting enough fights to keep themselves relevant. The European and Australian markets are gaining momentum, but are still light years behind the American and Asian markets. American promotions like Strikeforce and Bellator have offered promising lighter weight fights, but struggle to promote those fighters effectively. The WEC itself became a hot bed for lighter weight classes, but limited exposure and frequency of fights made making the trek to America very risky for Euro/Asian fighters. With the UFC/WEC merger, all that will change. Being labeled a UFC fighter can change a foreign fighter’s career overnight, gaining major exposure via the UFC promotional juggernaut. The average UFC show outdoes Major League Baseball and NBA Basketball in terms of number of viewers. That means sponsors pay more to have their logos plastered on a fighter’s manties than they do anywhere else. A lot more.

Step two: make it worth a fighter’s while. With the merger comes the chance for even former non-contenders to become a UFC champion. For the typical European or Asian lightweight who is built like a racehorse jockey, the odds of becoming UFC champ were slim (pun intended). However, now that goal is within many international fighters’ grasp. MMA gyms across Europe and Asia have likely sprung into action and are looking to expose their fighter as the next TUF star or contender for Dominick Cruz (15-1) or Jose Aldo’s belt. Hypothetically speaking, now that that undefeated Czech bantamweight has Joe Silva knocking on his door, he could be fast-tracked to European Ultimate Fighter stardom. Win the show, put a few solid wins together and he would likely be in line for a title shot in under a year. It also means that fighter becomes one of about 16 athletes eligible for those oh-so-tantalizing “Fight/Knock-out/Submission of the Night” bonuses which equal more than the purse, sponsorship and win bonus combined of a fight on a DREAM or Sengoku card. Lighter fighters give the bigger fighters a run for their money in the entertainment department so the chance to make the big bucks is an undeniable benefit for a foreign fighter. The UFC will have feather- and bantamweights banging down their doors with highlight reels in their hands.

But one has to wonder, what’s in it for the UFC? There is little doubt it will cost them a fortune to employ more fighters and put on more shows. So why go through all the trouble of creating two new weight classes, with a minimum of around 70 more fighters to pay and maintain?  Let’s have a look.

Step three: long term expansion. The UFC got their global ball rolling with multiple international shows in the last few years, but that won’t keep the fans in foreign markets crawling back for more. They had to start developing a base in these countries. They’ve used local talent in places like Ireland and the UK to develop the fan base, but overall the reception has been lukewarm. Bringing in lighter weights, where the foreign talent is more diverse, allows the UFC to bring more international fighters to the forefront. With a larger international fighter base, they gain a larger international fan base. Bringing in the lighter weight class means real and ready potential title contenders who are just a few wins away from UFC gold to give international fans more than just one big homegrown name to cheer for.  Couple that with The “International” Ultimate Fighter television shows and other carefully targeted programming and the UFC has created a permanent fan base, invested in its own fighters.

Suddenly lighter weights aren’t the factor anymore – it’s the international appeal. Imagine a Japanese UFC champ? A German champ? An Egyptian champ? Ultimate Fight Nights where international talent is not buried on the under card can make the UFC a true presence in other countries. Mexico has always made its name with smaller boxers. The WEC’s current roster of Mexican fighters are enough to create a nearly all-Mexican card in a place like Mexico City. South Korea is already starting to makes its presence felt in MMA. “Korean Zombie”? Imagine a whole card full of Zombies. It is the smaller fighters that can make this possible in a much more timely fashion for the UFC. With greater recognition, more money will go into MMA gyms in these countries, nurturing talent at all weight classes. And if the UFC is bold enough, putting on more country vs. country events and Ultimate Fighters could be the next big marketing tool. Ever see soccer fans from other countries? Now imagine a Japan vs. Korea Ultimate Fighter Finale that takes place in Seoul. These are lofty dreams indeed, but the UFC has been able to achieve great things in a short amount of time. If they succeed, both fighters and fans around the world will benefit greatly.

I jump around all the internet forums. Obviously that’s a hotbed for armchair quarterbacks. I’m going to give you some stuff I’ve pulled off these forums. I just want your as-real-as-you-want-to-be reactions to these anti-grappling statements. We’ll start with some mild stuff.

Phil Davis: (Laughs)

The first is the old ELITEXC rule: 20 seconds or so of inactivity on the ground and if there are no major moves, the ref stands the fight back up.

Phil Davis: I think its stupid to put a time limit on it. Twenty seconds is very unreasonable (laughs). You really don’t get a chance to work your proper Jiu Jitsu game. And I’m not even a really deep Jiu Jitsu guy, but you cannot work your Jiu Jitsu game good or great in a 20 or so second span.

This is another mild one: yellow or red cards for inactivity. Now this can work against both strikers and grapplers. Anderson Silva could easily be susceptible to that, but so could a wrestler. How do you feel about that?

Phil Davis: Hmmmm. Interesting. What would they mean exactly?

Yellow would mean that you are stalling action. So that could mean you put a guy on the ground and he is putting in enough work that you can’t advance so the referee makes the judgment call that you’re stalling the fight by holding him there.

Phil Davis: So yellow card means stalling a red card would mean?

A red card means you’re disqualified (for multiple warnings). And in Japan (cards also meant a deduction) from your purse.

Phil Davis: Nah, nah dog. I’m trying to help some people out. That (10% deductions) is a lot.

That is a lot. And that is also something that is dependant on the referee’s subjectivity- if he feels like you’re delaying the fight.

Phil Davis: I think that’s wack.

Now this next one is something that I not only see on forums, but I hear when I’m sitting around watching a fight. Judging a fight based on visible damage. For instance the King Mo fight (against Gegard Mousasi), where King Mo looks more physically damaged at the end of that fight. Some people suggest that he should have lost that fight just based on the fact that his face looked worse. How do you feel about that?

Phil Davis: You should definitely take damage into account, but sometimes if you are going for a submission (or a TKO) you might be taking some damage, it’s a risk. You could just get hit in the face while you’re trying to lock up your submission. I don’t know. Yes and no on that.

I think these first three “suggestions” still fall under judging. They still rely on outside opinion. Now let’s start getting into stuff that is a little strange. This is where people start getting creative.

Phil Davis: (Laughs)

Making the cage larger to make using the fence less of a factor.

Phil Davis: That’s…probably…no. That shouldn’t happen. The cage is large enough. You know what I used to say? Maybe they should make the goals for soccer larger so it’s not as boring and there will be more goals. The soccer goal is big enough (laughs) it is big enough. Trust me if you made the cage any bigger it’s not going to solve anything. It’s a horrible idea (laughs).

Here’s another one. I don’t know where somebody comes up with this: banning picking up an opponent and carrying him to the cage.

Phil Davis: Again, that is a bad idea. Many a people have been knocked out against the cage not using the cage (to your advantage) that would just be stupid.

Gerald Harris just picked a dude up and knocked him out and he ended up on Sportscenter.

Phil Davis: There it is.

I don’t get it Phil.

Phil Davis: If you want boxing, then watch boxing.

If you want kickboxing, watch K-1.

Phil Davis: If you want MMA then watch MMA, but don’t say you want MMA without grappling or cages or ropes or any type of submissions. That really does not make a whole lot of sense. You might as well stick to Youtube videos of people with no gloves.

Speaking of no submissions, this guy, and I’m serious when I read this: banning rear-naked chokes.

Phil Davis: (Phil takes a few moments to laugh) Did he say why?

Because they end fights too often when someone gets another guys back.

Phil Davis: You know what? Okay.

Will you go with him on that?

Phil Davis: I don’t see how I can’t (agree with his reason) they do end a lot of fights (laughs). Let’s ban knockouts before we ban that. That is crazy. Well he’s probably the most knowledgeable fan there is (laughs). I really don’t see where he’s going with that.

Alright, so this suggestion came out right after the Dan Hardy vs. Georges St. Pierre fight. And this guy was dead serious. We should make a new rule that in any championship fight, you are not allowed to go to the ground for the first two rounds.

Phil Davis: I should probably use the most politically correct (response). That is… (laughs) that is very silly. A silly person would say that. Alright I tell you what. That could be reasonable if they could only use their left hand in the first two rounds. Then that would be cool.

Okay, advantage Hardy.

Phil Davis: If you say something crazy like “in championship fights you can only use your left hand in the first two rounds, no going to the ground”, then deal. That’s reasonable (for both fighters) now. So…(laughs) wow. That is some serious restriction. That’s skillful if you can come at somebody only with a cross (laughs).

Well I’ll propose that to that guy.

Phil Davis: (Laughs)

So this is some of what is going out there on the internet. Do you have a message to those people who are less inclined to enjoy the ground game? Is there anything that you want to say, maybe a plea to them, an appeal?

Phil Davis: You know I respect the people who enjoy a good standup fight, so do I. I also enjoy a good grappling fight. (Andre Galvao’s last fight) was a crazy, crazy Jiu Jitsu fight. The fight was already good then every time the fight hit the ground- Andre would get the takedown and try to get the takedown and this guy would sweep him. It was crazy man, just back and forth all the time attempting submissions, getting position. If you can follow the submission or grappling game, it was a great fight.

Phil Davis: If you’re a big fan of MMA, go to a gym take Muay Thai class, take Jiu Jitsu class and everything you see on TV will seem that much more difficult when it’s done to a real person real time. You will appreciate it so much more.

Phil Davis: If you’re a fan of basketball you probably go to the park and shoot some hoops with your friends and you’ll know that its hard to drain a shot from half court.

Before we go Phil, we’ve seen the looks. We’ve seen “Phil”, we’ve seen “Dave”. Will there be any new looks coming?

Phil Davis: (Laughs) You know I can’t really debut too much right now. I can’t talk about them but there’s definitely some new stuff coming down the pipeline. It’s fresh off the presses ya’ll are not gonna see it until it’s in the octagon. But if you do find out about it, it’ll be on Twitter, @PhilMrWonderful.

Anything you want to say otherwise before we take off?

Phil Davis: I appreciate everyone that follows me on Twitter and thanks for all the love and support.

Thank you, Phil. I’d love to do this with you again some time.

Phil Davis: Absolutely.

“Mr. Wonderful” Phil Davis (5-0) is currently a hot prospect in the UFC’s Light-Heavyweight Division. When he isn’t trying to make his opponent a permanent sponsor on the mat, Phil is actually quite a nice guy who is never shy about making his feelings heard. He has kindly agreed to bless MMA Gospel with knowledge straight from the fighter’s mouth.  In this week’s segment we discuss something close to Phil’s heart- and hot on the minds of fans- grappling.

Please note: This is not an interview, it is a conversation, you will hear me chime in whether you like it or not.

My big topic for this segment here is that it seems like currently there is a phenomenon with fans, where they have a disdain for grappling. What is your take on all of that? Are you experiencing any (backlash for your style)?

Phil Davis: No, not yet. Grappling is part of my game. (Criticism for grappling) comes from really not knowing. If you don’t know what’s going on in a grappling match I guess it can seem boring, I guess it could seem dull. It doesn’t really take a lot to understand who’s winning and who’s losing in a one-sided boxing match- one guy is getting hit, the other guy is missing punches. Anyone can turn on any (boxing match) and see that. But it’s not always apparent who’s winning in a grappling match unless you know what you’re talking about, unless you train or are knowledgeable about the sport. It looks like the top guy is winning but that’s not always the case.

Phil Davis: The more fans watch (MMA), the more they will realize and appreciate grappling for what it is. It really is awesome, I think.

Do you think there is a fair amount of time for someone to stay in top position? Obviously as a wrestler, top game is critical. Fans are complaining about Georges St. Pierre’s last few fights, about Rashad’s last fights; the idea of playing in safe. In your opinion do you think if a guy is on top, controlling (his opponent) he’s winning a fight? Do you think that when you translate that to MMA it’s okay to keep a guy down?

Phil Davis: You should definitely look for action. If it’s too boring, stand them up, if there is no action, stand them up, there is no punches, no position changes, no submission attempts…a referee needs to stand them back up. Otherwise you will end up with a situation where the guy on top has accumulated points for not doing that much, or running out the clock.

Phil Davis: But if a guy gets the takedown in the first 20 seconds and is actively punching a guy and (making) position changes and submission attempts, he could be there for 4:40 seconds, I don’t care.

I’m not trying to play journalist here, I do think that’s an absolutely fair way to win a fight. But some people don’t see it that way. Look at Georges St. Pierre’s fight with Thiago Alves. He’s on the ground with him, beating him up. When the fight was over (Thiago) looked like he got in a fight with a baseball bat.  People say he was playing it safe.

Phil Davis: I don’t think Georges St. Pierre is playing it safe at all. You have to understand the level that these guys are competing at. Georges St. Pierre has great striking but at the same time, his game plan is to take a guy…you have to play your strengths. This is not a game of egos. This is not two guys going in there saying “I don’t care what you do, I’m going to go in there and duke it out with you”, no not at all. You want to go in there and technically find the best way to beat this opponent.

Phil Davis: (Hardy posed) a real threat to Georges St. Pierre and he had to take him to the ground. That is the game plan. If (Hardy’s coaches say) “in order to beat this wrestler you need to work on your takedown defense, don’t get taken down and knock him out standing” (taking Hardy down) would be logical (for Georges). That may seem boring, but it’s the game. It’s what you need to do if you are going to succeed at the higher levels.

You are one of these guys that thankfully for fans and journalists alike, you are out there in the public, on twitter, being vocal as much as you can, giving access to fans. Do you ever get a fan criticizing wrestling to you directly?

Phil Davis: Every now and then. Sometimes you just start reading them (laughs) and you just know right away if they agree with you or are saying something you just don’t feel like reading (laughs) you just don’t even finish the whole message. I do have some loyal people who follow me on Twitter so I read their stuff.

Stay tuned for part two of our Fireside Chat with Phil Davis where we get into the more unique rule changes anti-grappling MMA fans have suggested on the Internet. Phil isn’t afraid to address the ideas head-on.