Author: David Daniels

UFC 147: Loss to Rich Franklin Proves Clock Is Ticking on Wanderlei Silva Show

Father Time is knocking.In UFC 147, Wanderlei Silva lost to Rich Franklin by unanimous decision. Despite fighting in his home country of Brazil and Franklin being a fill-in, Silva couldn’t pull off a victory in the grudge match. Yet another letdo…

Father Time is knocking.

In UFC 147, Wanderlei Silva lost to Rich Franklin by unanimous decision. Despite fighting in his home country of Brazil and Franklin being a fill-in, Silva couldn’t pull off a victory in the grudge match. Yet another letdown proves that his hourglass is rapidly running out of sand.

While Franklin controlled most of the match, Silva missed a golden knockout opportunity. In the second round, he nearly ended Franklin’s night, but Ace stayed upright and kept competing.

Franklin McNeil of ESPN reported after the fight that Silva thought he had the KO in the bag. He said:

“At the end of the second round, I thought I was going to knock him out but I wasn’t able to. I pushed it a bit too much. I wanted to knock him out.”

Silva is now 3-7 in his last 10 matches. Before his slump began, he boasted 31 wins compared to just five losses. He simply hit the wall that is the age of 30.

The Axe Murderer will turn 36 years old on July 3rd. He began fighting professionally in 1996. The wear and tear from all those years of competing has reduced Silva to a nearly unrecognizable fighter from his former dominant self.

Josh Gross of ESPN gave Silva a C- grade for his performance against Franklin and wrote of his deteriorating ability:

He had one legitimate burst in the fight, which he claimed afterward was enough to wear him out. Silva always left himself open when he punched. Now he does so as a slow, predictable, weak-chinned man in his mid-30s who’s suffered too many bad knockouts.

Silva has led a legendary MMA career. But his best bet would to be to set up one last matchup that would allow him to leave the fight game on a high note.

 

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

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Silva vs Franklin: Ace’s Victory Will Extend His Career

Rich Franklin is the only one who won’t remember Saturday.The former math teacher that swapped his calculator for a punching bag turned into a punching bag in the second-round of UFC 147. Wanderlei Silva nearly knocked out Franklin, but the Ameri…

Rich Franklin is the only one who won’t remember Saturday.

The former math teacher that swapped his calculator for a punching bag turned into a punching bag in the second-round of UFC 147. Wanderlei Silva nearly knocked out Franklin, but the American refused to lose. His ability to endure Silva’s onslaught proves that he still has plenty of fights left in him.

Franklin didn’t need a calculator to figure out that the odds were stacked against him before the fight even began. He faced off against Silva in Brazil, The Axe Murderer’s home country. Combine that with the fact that Franklin wasn’t even supposed to be in the octagon—he was scheduled to take on Cung Le in UFC 148 until an injury prevented Vitor Belfort from fighting Silva and Franklin stepped up as the replacement—and it looked like Silva was in position to get revenge for his 2009 loss vs. Franklin.

Following a flurry of second-round blows, Franklin’s odds weren’t improving. But he battled back, avoided a knock out and earned a victory by unanimous decision from the judges.

Kevin Richardson of the Baltimore Sun reported that Franklin admitted that his memory was cloudy after surviving Silva’s beating. He said after his triumph:

Honestly, I don’t remember between the second and fifth rounds. I just remember my corner man saying it was the fifth round. When that kinds of stuff happens, you remember bits and pieces. My coach told me not to get greedy, to pick my punches. I thought I did a good job of that. I was operating on autopilot.

Despite ending Chuck Liddell’s career just over two years ago, Franklin’s ability to stay on top of the UFC world was anything but certain before his latest W. He was coming off a loss to Forrest Griffin, and another letdown would’ve given him four losses in his last seven fights. But Franklin’s display of a granite chin and unmatched determination will maintain his standing as a UFC asset even at 37 years old.

 

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC 147 Predictions: Rich Franklin Will Take out Wanderlei Silva Again

Rich Franklin is primed to dish out punishment. In UFC 147, Franklin is all set to face off against Wanderlei Silva in a must-watch grudge match. While the two MMA fighters are sure to put on a show, the result of their Saturday night fight won’t…

Rich Franklin is primed to dish out punishment.

In UFC 147, Franklin is all set to face off against Wanderlei Silva in a must-watch grudge match. While the two MMA fighters are sure to put on a show, the result of their Saturday night fight won’t be different from that of their previous bout.

On June 13 back in 2008, Franklin and Silva went the distance in Cologne, Germany. While the fight didn’t end by knockout or submission, there was still no doubt who won the bout.

The judges ruled in Franklin’s favor by unanimous decision.

Matt Erickson of MMAjunkie.com reported that, while Franklin is a replacement for an injured Vitor Belfort, he isn’t opposed to the role. Franklin said:

I really like having that role. I like being the guy that people can count on. I kind of embrace that role. When I heard that Vitor was hurt, I knew the UFC was going to end up calling me. And sure enough, they did. I won’t say it was just because I’ve bailed them out before, but I was ready for a fight already, and I was pretty much at the point where I was peaking for a fight.

Franklin is confident. He defeated Silva before, and he knows exactly what he has to do to pull off another victory.

Now, each competitor has similar strengths in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, so neither possesses a major advantage in terms of a certain fighting style. Because of that, it wouldn’t be the least bit surprising for the showdown to go the distance once again.

But don’t expect an upset to be pulled off. Franklin is a UFC legend. Silva is a solid fighter, but he isn’t on Franklin’s level.

Silva has lost six out of his last nine fights, and on Saturday night, that slump will be extended.

 

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Dos Santos vs Mir: Why Cain Velasquez Must Be Cigano’s Next Opponent

Junior dos Santos needs a rival. Rivalry breeds hate. Hate breeds passion. Passion breeds entertainment.Dos Santos’ next opponent must be Cain Velasquez because that’s UFC’s best chance to provoke a rivalry that sells. On Saturday nig…

Junior dos Santos needs a rival.

Rivalry breeds hate. Hate breeds passion. Passion breeds entertainment.

Dos Santos’ next opponent must be Cain Velasquez because that’s UFC’s best chance to provoke a rivalry that sells.

On Saturday night, Cigano smoked Frank Mir, defeating him by technical knockout in the second round. With the win, Dos Santos defended his heavyweight championship belt.

As the No. 1 fighter in his class, there isn’t a countless amount of worthy competitors out there. The man he took the belt from, though, falls into that creditable category.

According to Fox, Dos Santos said after knocking out Mir: “What you’ve done in the past, you’ve got to get over that. This is a step in the right direction.”

In reality, a step in the right direction is one towards the past. Josh Gross of ESPN reported that UFC president Dana White hinted that Dos Santos’ next hurdle would be a familiar one. And that’s exactly what the sport need.

Before falling to Dos Santos this past November, Velasquez had knocked out every single one of his opponents by punches outside of Cheick Kongo. He continued that pattern on Saturday against Antonio Silva, ending his night in the first round. Velasquez’s lone loss remains at the hands of Dos Santos, and despite the fact that his knockout came so quickly, he deserves another shot.

Whether the fight last November was a fluke or a display of Dos Santos’ dominance, a rematch needs to happen regardless. Rivalries bring in revenue. Velasquez vs. Dos Santos was the most watched live MMA event in the United States—pressing that button again is UFC’s best option to boost their popularity.

Dos Santos had a brief rivalry with Joaquim Ferreira, the only fighter to defeat him, but that was back in 2007. UFC needs something fresh. And nothing would fire up fans like the creation of a rivalry between the sport’s top two heavyweight fighters. 

 

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.


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UFC 145 Results: Jon Jones Showed Mercy to Rashad Evans

Rashad Evans was lucky to survive five rounds versus Jon Jones.Or was he? Jones went all out to defeat Evans—don’t get it twisted. But his post-match words revealed that a sliver of mercy allowed his former training partner to last the figh…

Rashad Evans was lucky to survive five rounds versus Jon Jones.

Or was he?

Jones went all out to defeat Evans—don’t get it twisted. But his post-match words revealed that a sliver of mercy allowed his former training partner to last the fight’s entirety.

Saturday night’s bout was hyped to the max as a grudge battle between two hated rivals. According to FoxSports’ Reid Forgrave, Evans went straight for the heart of his friend-turned-enemy and said leading up to the fight:

“He wears so many masks. You really never know which one you’re dealing with. You’re not going to get a consistent straight guy with him. He puts on a little bit—a little bit too much.”

Jones wasn’t backing down from a fight in the octagon or in front of a microphone, retaliating:

Rashad is the one who takes a lot of things, his own personal demons, and he tries to stick ‘em on me, almost like a nametag he’s peeling off his shirt and putting onto my shirt. Like ‘cocky.’ Before I came along, Rashad Evans was the king of cocky.

This wasn’t just a simple war of words—it was personal. But while Jones admitted that his triumph was his most satisfying victory, he silenced the hatred with his reaction to it.

According to Sports Illustrated’s Brian Armen Graham, Jones said of the feud after his latest W that he hopes the two can resume communication.

“I have a lot of thinking to do about this situation,” Jones said. “I hope to rekindle some communication with Rashad, and I hope we can do that in private. There is a lot of emotion between us that can lead to a friendship.”

Hold up—let’s stop and rewind.

After Evans attacked his character countless times and he returned the blows, Jones is contemplating friendship? Such a reaction is insanely rare in any form of rivalry. Gloating was expected, but an offer of compromise arose instead.

Following such a surprising lack of rubbing it in, one is forced to reevaluate Jones’ mindset going into the match. Not unwavering hate, but regretful bitterness seems to have fueled the pre-fight trash talking. Knowing that, mercy (if you can call it that) doesn’t seem out of the question.

Prior to Evans, Jones successfully completed a TKO or submission in his last seven fights. His domination was on full display yet again on Saturday, but his win came down to a decision—a method that hadn’t determined the outcome of a Jones match since January 2009.

Did the UFC light heavyweight champion show compassion for Evans to allow the possibility that their friendship be renewed? Jones’ refreshing response to a victory that reeked of sweet revenge answers that question.

 

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.


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Tate vs. Rousey: Miesha Doesn’t Stand a Chance Against Rowdy Ronda

An asterisk lies next to Ronda Rousey’s record.No, that asterisk doesn’t suggest that she’s on the juice or cheated in any manner.  Rousey is simply a different animal than her 4-0 record gives her credit for. She isn’t jus…

An asterisk lies next to Ronda Rousey’s record.

No, that asterisk doesn’t suggest that she’s on the juice or cheated in any manner.  Rousey is simply a different animal than her 4-0 record gives her credit for.

She isn’t just undefeated.  Rousey has won by submission in each of her professional bouts.  Not only that, not a single one of her opponents lasted not just into Round 2, but even 50 seconds into Round 1 against her.

A key reason behind Rousey’s dominance is her unparalleled preparation.  According to Heavy’s Duane Finley, she said going into Saturday night’s match that:

Fights are crazy and chaotic.  People can expect all they want, but I expect the worst-case scenario all the time.  I expect it to be a five-round war where I could be behind every single second of the fight and I’ll have to fight back at the end to win it.  That’s what I’ve prepared for.  I would rather have what I don’t need than need what I don’t have.  Of course, I’m always going to aim for a first-round finish.  I’m always going to take the first opening I see and then the second, third and fourth.  I will constantly keep trying to take advantage of the openings for myself – but I’m always prepared for the worst.

Rousey won’t need five rounds to take out Miesha Tate, though.  Tate currently holds the championship belt, but never once has she defeated an opponent as quickly as Rousey has in every single fight.

Tate is talented, but again, Rousey is just a different animal.

 

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.


Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com