UFC Discussion

[Mario-Rijo]

Rashad's become the villain by wiping out the UFC's darlings Chuck and Forrest. It makes for a compelling story line. In some ways he's the new Jack Johnson. I expect him to mow through the rest of the division over the next year and set up a mega-fight with the Spider.

He is becoming a villian to me because of his actions. In baseball I am emotionally invested in the team and it's players, in MMA I have yet to tie myself to any wagons except a good fight (Sans Rich Franklin a bit and Royce Gracie once upon a time). Besides Chuck lost his darling status long ago.

[Javy Pornstache]

I've actually never cared for Evans since he was on TUF. I'm also indifferent on Liddell and Griffin too. It's actually kind of strange because while I don't care for Evans' act, I always though Tito Ortiz was a hoot.

I would like to see Machida get a title shot if he beats Silva (and for Silva to get a title shot if he beats Machida). Like Javy, I don't mind watching Machida fight, but I do know a great deal of more casual MMA fans can't stand the guy. Nevertheless, he's extremely effective with his style and he's winning fights. If he beats Silva, he deserves the title shot, IMO.

Yeah, Evans got off to a bad start with the fans by virtue of ridiculously boring fights on TUF and his first few actual UFC fights after TUF. However, once he hooked on with Greg Jackson's camp, he's been a completely different fighter. He had a great wrestling base, but his boxing is now really, really, crisp... I mean like worlds ahead of where it was even a year and a half ago or so. That's a testament to how good the Greg Jackson camp is. Without Jackson's training, neither Evans nor Jardine beat Liddell, imo, but that's another discussion.

Agreed one million percent that the winner of Machida-Silva deserves the next title shot. Machida has deserved one for a while, and if Thiago wins this one, he certainly should be in line, as an undefeated fighter who was already considered the top prospect at 205 in the world prior to coming to UFC and beating a top three fighter in the class should solidify his shot. I'm afraid that Lyoto will keep missing out on his shot for his perceived lack of action, but I think he has to get the shot if he wins this one if for lack of other options - the only other choice was the winner of Rampage-Wanderlei, and from what I've heard, Rampage requested a rematch with Griffin when broached about getting the first title shot at Rashad.

[Mario-Rijo]

Yeah, Evans got off to a bad start with the fans by virtue of ridiculously boring fights on TUF and his first few actual UFC fights after TUF. However, once he hooked on with Greg Jackson's camp, he's been a completely different fighter. He had a great wrestling base, but his boxing is now really, really, crisp... I mean like worlds ahead of where it was even a year and a half ago or so. That's a testament to how good the Greg Jackson camp is. Without Jackson's training, neither Evans nor Jardine beat Liddell, imo, but that's another discussion.

Agreed one million percent that the winner of Machida-Silva deserves the next title shot. Machida has deserved one for a while, and if Thiago wins this one, he certainly should be in line, as an undefeated fighter who was already considered the top prospect at 205 in the world prior to coming to UFC and beating a top three fighter in the class should solidify his shot. I'm afraid that Lyoto will keep missing out on his shot for his perceived lack of action, but I think he has to get the shot if he wins this one if for lack of other options - the only other choice was the winner of Rampage-Wanderlei, and from what I've heard, Rampage requested a rematch with Griffin when broached about getting the first title shot at Rashad.

While maybe not the most intelligent business decision that's the type of move that can be respected.

[Javy Pornstache]

Well: So much for Freddie Roach all but guaranteeing that Andrei Arlovski would knock Fedor Emelianenko from his pedestal - Arlovski did have a boxer's good footwork before being faceplanted with a ferocious right from "The Last Emperor" last night. Freddie doesn't understand that MMA striking and boxing striking aren't the same from all the interviews that I've seen him give in recent weeks. Even though this is titled "UFC Discussion", a fantastic event by Affliction last night that deserves some props.

For boxing fans out there, a hell of a showing by Shane Mosley last night too - drinking from the same fountain of youth as his boy B-Hop, apparently, with his absolute demolition of Antonio Margarito.

WEC show tonight (Sunday) featuring Jamie Varner and Donald Cerrone in what should be a great striking bout... and a weird, pointless rematch between Urijah Faber and Jens Pulver, but hey, they're names, so that's probably what Sean Shelby was going for in booking that bout.

Oh, plus it's now officially St. Pierre-Penn week

[kbrake]

Looking very much forward to St. Pierre Penn going to be a great fight though I think UFC 94 as a card will have a hard time being better than Affliction was last Saturday night. That was a great night of fighting and yes Fedor really is just a machine.

[Javy Pornstache]

^ I don't know, I think UFC's cards from top-to-bottom have been terrible lately, and loved the Affliction show, but this is one UFC event they could have sold with just the one good fight, and they managed to put some more really interesting fights on it. Lyoto Machida-Thiago Silva is a battle of unbeatens, with the winner HOPEFULLY being the next top contender to the 205 title. Nate Diaz-Clay Guida should be nonstop excitement. Karo Parisyan and Dong-Hyun Kim are the two best judokas in the UFC, so it'll be interesting to see how they fight each other (probably all standup). Jon Fitch-Akihiro Gono is a fight between two names though I expect Fitch to easily control his way to a decision, and Stephan Bonnar-Jon Jones, while not a contender's bout, could wind up being fight of the night even with all these others mentioned, due to their styles meshing pretty well. It'll be fun.

[kbrake]

I'm not overly thrilled with UFC after dropping money for UFC 96 tickets awhile back to end up with Rampage vs. Jardine. There are some other fights on the card I like but I have zero interest in watching Jardine.

As for 94 I agree the card has some good fights but Affliction was great Saturday night, GSP Penn is going to be insane though I really wish tomorrow was Saturday.

[Javy Pornstache]

Oh yeah, I feel your pain, that card is atrocious. I think they'll be in for a rude awakening with the less than stellar gate they'll get in Columbus for that show, and probably low buys compared to what they've been pulling. Some Zuffa people were alarmed by the drop in attendance from the first Columbus show to the second; I'd say they haven't seen anything yet.

[kbrake]

Still have 2 two tickets if you are interested haha.

[Cyclone792]

I certainly hope that the winner of the Machida/Silva fight gets a title shot at LHW.

If Silva wins it, I've got a feeling the UFC will give him a title shot. If Machida wins it, I'm not so sure though. I've long thought that Machida is deserving of a title shot, and I could care less if he bores 90 percent of the fan base. The dude just goes out and meticulously picks guys apart, he fights within the rules, and he's extremely effective and dominant at what he does.

[Javy Pornstache]

Still have 2 two tickets if you are interested haha.

I'm good, thanks. Haha. Really, if you have a couple to unload, I may know someone who's interested, I'd have to check with them.

Agreed with Cyclone on Lyoto, he's one of my favorite fighters. I have a fear that he is being "Lindland'ed", in that while at this time he may be one of the top two or three fighters, if not the best, in the world in his division, he's not aesthetically pleasing to watch to casual fans, and a threat to the champion, so he needs to stay far, far away, in their eyes. To me, I love watching Lyoto's footwork and watching him pick apart fighters standing. If he wins, especially since Rampage is taking another fight before getting a title shot, to me, he HAS to be the next contender. If Thiago wins, I'd imagine he'd get a shot, no questions asked.

[Mario-Rijo]

I am just starting to lose touch with some of these fighters (don't know much about Machida), too many PPV events. It will end up just like boxing if they don't do more on TV. Nobody I know has the many to spend on a PPV event every other month. Heck I can't even get most people I know to play fantasy football for a one time 20 dollar (winner take all) entry fee.

[Javy Pornstache]

Lyoto won by complete first round destruction over Thiago and STILL likely won't get the next title shot, per "The Baldfather" Dana White.

[Caveat Emperor]

I am just starting to lose touch with some of these fighters (don't know much about Machida), too many PPV events. It will end up just like boxing if they don't do more on TV. Nobody I know has the many to spend on a PPV event every other month. Heck I can't even get most people I know to play fantasy football for a one time 20 dollar (winner take all) entry fee.

I agree about the number of PPV events -- I'd rather they did fewer PPVs and focused on putting cards together with multiple good fights and then did free TV specials with more undercard stuff.

As for the cost, I go to Buffalo Wild Wings to watch the events. A beer and some wings is $10-15 -- much better deal than ordering the fight myself.

[Cyclone792]

Lyoto won by complete first round destruction over Thiago and STILL likely won't get the next title shot, per "The Baldfather" Dana White.

That's just absurd.

I'll just go ahead and put it out there that I think Machida is probably the best 205lb fighter in the world right now. The fact that he can't get a title shot is an absolute travesty.

Maybe Machida's next opponent will be the Liddell/Rua winner, and maybe, just maybe, when Machida runs over either Chuck or Shogun they'll give him a shot.

Then again probably not.