Author: Austin Green

Silva vs. Franklin: What’s Next for the Two Legendary Fighters?

Rich Franklin and Wanderlei Silva are just shells of their former selves, but they proved at UFC 147 that they are still potent forces inside the octagon.Franklin used his precision strikes and constant movement to defeat Silva by unanimous decision, b…

Rich Franklin and Wanderlei Silva are just shells of their former selves, but they proved at UFC 147 that they are still potent forces inside the octagon.

Franklin used his precision strikes and constant movement to defeat Silva by unanimous decision, but the former Pride middleweight champion didn’t go down easy. He landed a couple thunderous blows throughout the fight, including a vicious right hand that found its home on Franklin’s chin in the second round.

Franklin was able to recover, though, keeping his hopes for another middleweight title alive.

There’s no obvious next step for the 37-year-old Franklin, who has repeatedly said that he wants one more title shot before he retires. There is currently a logjam behind the top two middleweights—Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen—with the likes of Vitor Belfort, Mark Munoz, Luke Rockhold, Hector Lombard, Chris Weidman and Alan Belcher all potentially standing in the way of Franklin’s goal.

Right now, the most likely opponents for his next fight appear to be Belcher and Belfort. Both are coming off impressive victories (Rousimar Palhares and Anthony Johnson, respectively) and don’t have their next fights scheduled.

Either fight would be intriguing, and a victory would put Franklin in prime position to face the winner of Silva-Sonnen for the middleweight crown.

Meanwhile, Silva is stuck in the UFC’s version of purgatory. He’s lost seven of his last 10 fights, and at 35 years old, he’s got no shot at climbing the ladder for another title shot.

That being said, the legendary Brazilian is still one of the most entertaining fighters in the sport. Three of his last five bouts have earned Fight of the Night honors, and he proved on Saturday that his powerful right hand is still one of the most dangerous weapons in MMA.

Some have called for Silva to retire, but if he wants to continue, there will certainly be a place for him in future UFC events.

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UFC on Fox 3: Nate Diaz Primed to Win Lightweight Title in 2012

Nate Diaz is on an all-out rampage, and nobody in the lightweight division can stop him.Obviously, Frankie Edgar and Ben Henderson might have something to say about that statement, but after showing dramatic improvement yet again at UFC on Fox 3, Diaz …

Nate Diaz is on an all-out rampage, and nobody in the lightweight division can stop him.

Obviously, Frankie Edgar and Ben Henderson might have something to say about that statement, but after showing dramatic improvement yet again at UFC on Fox 3, Diaz is officially ready to snatch the lightweight title.

After a rough start to 2011, Diaz has been on absolute tear. He’s made major progress in each of his last three fights, fixing every weakness and sharpening his strengths.

Against Takanori Gomi in September, Diaz’s boxing was gorgeous. He devastated the Japanese fighter with precision strikes and even showed off his ground game. After transitioning beautifully from a triangle lock to an armbar, Diaz earned Submission of the Night at UFC 135.

In his next fight against Donald Cerrone, Diaz stepped his game up a notch. He boxed to perfection, landing a ridiculous 82 percent of his strikes. He also showed strong resilience after being swept off his feet multiple times.

On Saturday night, Diaz’s evolution as a fighter was on display again. He picked apart Jim Miller on his feet and denied a few takedown attempts. When Miller did get him on the ground, Diaz used his mastery of Brazilian jiu-jitsu to submit Miller with a vicious guillotine choke.

The win improved his professional record to 16-7 and earned him the distinction of being the only man to finish Miller before the final bell.

Now, Diaz will await the winner of Ben Henderson vs. Frankie Edgar. He matches up well with both of them, and with his steady improvements from fight to fight, I love his chances.

If he secures the lightweight title this year, the rest of the division is in trouble. At 27 years old, Diaz is entering his physical prime. He’s a menace with that 76-inch reach, and his ever-improving ground game makes him one of the most well-rounded fighters in the game.

If Bendo and Edgar aren’t careful, 2012 will be remembered as the year of Nate Diaz.

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UFC on Fox 3: Lavar Johnson Proves Why He Is One of Most Exciting Heavyweights

Lavar Johnson is a baaaad man.Although he’s a relative unknown to casual fight fans, Johnson proved why he is one of MMA’s most exciting heavyweights by destroying Pat Barry at UFC on Fox 3.Johnson rocked Barry late in the first round with a kick to th…

Lavar Johnson is a baaaad man.

Although he’s a relative unknown to casual fight fans, Johnson proved why he is one of MMA‘s most exciting heavyweights by destroying Pat Barry at UFC on Fox 3.

Johnson rocked Barry late in the first round with a kick to the head, then rushed forward, backing Barry into the cage. As Barry tried to gather himself, punch after punch rained down on him. Johnson repeatedly hit him with swooping right and left hooks and uppercuts, eventually forcing referee Dan Miragliotta to stop the massacre after Barry crumbled to the mat.

It was Johnson’s second straight knockout after knocking out Joey Beltran in similar fashion in January, making him 2-0 in the UFC (17-5 overall) after the UFC/Strikeforce heavyweight merger.

The fight was wildly exciting, providing the UFC with a perfect start to their third event on Fox and network TV. The win should also propel the 34-year-old Johnson to more high-profile fights.

Although he’s horribly unbalanced in terms of well-roundness, Johnson is one of the most entertaining fighters on the planet. He’s got bombs in his hands and he’s not afraid to throw them, teeing off on opponents at will.

In his 22 professional fights, exactly zero have gone the distance. And while his complete lack of a ground game makes MMA purists cringe, his brawling style is incredibly fan-friendly.

Even if he’s too one-dimensional to become a serious heavyweight contender in the UFC, Johnson is a great addition to the division. It’s impossible to look away during his fights, and he’s got the ability to beat anyone with his knockout power.

Keep your eyes on Lavar Johnson, because he’s well on his way to becoming one of the most popular heavyweights in the UFC.

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UFC on Fox 3: Nate Diaz Is the Smart Bet in Lightweight Clash

In the third installment of UFC on Fox, Las Vegas oddsmakers are practically giving money away by making Jim Miller a 2-1 favorite over the fiery Nate Diaz.Miller has the better record and the better ground game, but there’s no way he should be so heav…

In the third installment of UFC on Fox, Las Vegas oddsmakers are practically giving money away by making Jim Miller a 2-1 favorite over the fiery Nate Diaz.

Miller has the better record and the better ground game, but there’s no way he should be so heavily favored.

With his length, striking accuracy and volume punching, Diaz is perhaps the most dangerous stand-up fighter in the lightweight division. When he’s on his feet, he uses his 76-inch reach and relentless motor to devastate opponents.

He constantly throws strikes and lands an insanely high number of them. In his unanimous decision win over Donald Cerrone in December, Diaz connected on a ridiculous 82 percent of his strikes. If his number is anywhere near that tonight, Miller will be in trouble.

As he enters his physical prime, the 27-year-old Diaz is also showing major improvements in his all-around game.

His boxing became more technical and efficient against Takanori Gomi, and he took it to another level against Cerrone. And although he didn’t show it off in December, his grappling was much improved in the Gomi fight as well. He transitioned beautifully from the triangle lock to an armbar, earning the 10th submission victory of his career.

He won’t want to be off his feet too often against Miller, but if the fight does go to the ground, he can hold his own long enough to stand back up.

Like most MMA fights, this one will be decided by who can stay in his comfort zone. If Miller can’t keep Diaz off his feet, he will be eating punches all night long. Given the improvement in Diaz’s ground game, I don’t think Miler will be able to dominate him in that aspect.

This one will be close, and since neither fighter has been in a fourth or fifth round, it will get very interesting if this battle goes the distance. In the end, I think Diaz will win over the judges by constantly moving forward and connecting on a large majority of his punches.

If you’re the gambling type, put your money on Diaz and collect some easy cash.

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Jon Jones vs Rashad Evans: Bones Reaches Legendary Status with Dominant Victory

As elbow after elbow descended upon the face of Rashad Evans, Jon “Bones” Jones completed his ascent from UFC champion to MMA legend.At just 24 years old, Jones has already accomplished feats that most mere mortals can only dream of.In March 2011, he b…

As elbow after elbow descended upon the face of Rashad Evans, Jon “Bones” Jones completed his ascent from UFC champion to MMA legend.

At just 24 years old, Jones has already accomplished feats that most mere mortals can only dream of.

In March 2011, he became the youngest champion in UFC history. Just over one year later, he’s made three successful title defenses, each one a dominant display of poetic violence.

Through 16 professional fights, Jones has never lost a round. He’s never even been taken to the ground. The lone blemish on his 15-1 record? A disqualification for throwing 12-to-6 elbows during his beatdown of Matt Hamill.

These accomplishments are absolutely mind-boggling considering the level of competition Jones has faced. In his last five fights, he’s completely ruined Ryan Bader, Shogun Rua, Quinton Jackson, Lyoto Machida and now Rashad Evans. Only Evans made it to the final bell.

Next up is the ageless Dan Henderson, but not even the Greco-Roman wrestling god will be able to slow the phenom.

It’s obviously still early in his career, but Jones is already one of the most balanced fighters to ever step into the octagon.

He’s a master of tempo and pace, controlling every minute of every professional fight he’s been in. When he wants the fight to go to the ground, it goes to the ground. When he wants to stand up and swing, he stays on his feet and punishes opponents.

He’s a menace in the stand up game, using his ridiculous 84.5 inch reach to inflict damage from deep. In the submission game he’s even more deadly, putting opponents to sleep with guillotines or rear-naked chokes.

As good as he is now, it’s scary to think of what Jones will be capable of in the coming years. The distinction of “greatest fighter in MMA history” is certainly within reach.

Whatever happens, though, Jones has already cemented his status as an MMA legend, and no one can ever take that away from him.

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UFC 145 Results: Moving Up to Heavyweight Would Be Mistake for Jon Jones

The rest of the UFC light heavyweight division is at the mercy of Jon Jones, but that doesn’t mean the phenom should move up to heavyweight.Not yet, at least.As he unleashes his beautifully violent fury on the rest of the UFC, it’s easy to forget that …

The rest of the UFC light heavyweight division is at the mercy of Jon Jones, but that doesn’t mean the phenom should move up to heavyweight.

Not yet, at least.

As he unleashes his beautifully violent fury on the rest of the UFC, it’s easy to forget that Jones is just 24 years old. His body is still changing, still growing, and it would be foolish for him to make a premature jump to heavyweight.

Because of his massive 6’4″ frame, Jones will naturally became a heavyweight as he gets older. He currently walks around at 230 pounds, so cutting to 205 won’t be healthy when he reaches his 30s.

Eventually, nature will indicate that it’s time for Jones to move up. Until then, he should enjoy his run of dominance and learn as much as he can.

Jones is perhaps the most skilled fighter on the planet, possessing every tool that a mixed martial artist needs. But while he currently looks unstoppable, the heavyweight division is an entirely different animal.

The division currently features beasts like Junior Dos Santos, Alistair Overeem, Frank Mir and Cain Velasquez. Not only are those guys incredibly skilled, but they often have to cut weight to reach the 266-pound weight limit. That’s just terrifying.

Yes, there are no more challenges for Jones at 205 pounds. He’s already buried the division’s top contenders, crossing Ryan Bader, Shogun Rua, Quinton Jackson, Lyoto Machida and now Rashad Evans off his hit list.

Next up is Dan Henderson, who will likely be 42 years old by the day of the fight. And with all due respect to the legendary Hendo, Jones will probably knock him from the UFC to the AARP.

Jones is simply too big, too long and too skilled for light heavyweight fighters. He’s impossible to take down, he doesn’t make mistakes and he inflicts a poetic brand of punishment that’s just gorgeous as long as you’re not on the receiving end.

At this point, the rest of the division should be kindling incense and praying to the MMA god that is Jones. If he moves up to heavyweight, though, his stature within the sport—and more importantly, his health—could take a serious downturn.

Many fight fans are pleading for Jones to move up, but we must have patience. Jones has the potential to be the best MMA fighter of all time. Why would we want him to risk sacrificing that distinction by moving up in weight when he’s not ready?

Eventually, Jones will be a terror in the heavyweight division. Until then, just sit back and appreciate the greatness he displays at 205.

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