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Fantasy Matchmaking: The Grudge Match Edition

There are few things that get to the heart of a passionate MMA fan quicker than a good old fashioned grudge match.While seeing two elite level fighters trade leather and kicks on the sport’s biggest stage gets the blood pumping, the scenario only becom…

There are few things that get to the heart of a passionate MMA fan quicker than a good old fashioned grudge match.

While seeing two elite level fighters trade leather and kicks on the sport’s biggest stage gets the blood pumping, the scenario only becomes that much sweeter when there is shared disdain involved. Perhaps it is only the viewer’s perception, but the intensity of the fray seems increased when the combatants have no love lost for one another.

The punches are thrown harder. The intentions behind them worse. The victory sweeter while the sting of defeat undoubtedly lingers.

MMA’s brief history has enjoyed a handful of solid rivalries. With the hyper-speed increase of trash-talking and public posturing on social media between fighters, the potential for a future filled with heated match-ups appears all the more likely.

That being said, the current landscape of the UFC roster features a handful of grudges just waiting to be settled. Some are relatively new where others have been simmering for years, and due to a collection of high profile losses over the past several weeks, there now becomes an opportunity for a few of these feuds to play out.

Undoubtedly the decision to do so would ultimately depend on the respective divisional pictures of the fighters involved — which is unpredictable at best. But that doesn’t stop us from taking a look at a few of these potential dust-ups.

Here are a few ideas.

Junior dos Santos vs. Alistair Overeem

A week ago, the match-up between “Cigano” and “The Reem” seemed like a beautifully violent dream far off in the distance. The Brazilian slugger had recently suffered a five-round beating at the hands of Cain Velasquez and floated back into the stack of contenders in the heavyweight division.

The stage was set for Overeem to earn the No. 1 contender spot at UFC 156, but Antonio Silva’s flurry of monster shots in the third round of their tilt in Las Vegas, not only knocked the former Strikeforce heavyweight champion out of consciousness, but out of the immediate title picture as well.

With Overeem’s loss to “Bigfoot,” the possibility of trilogy bout between Velasquez and dos Santos greatly increased. Nevertheless, a third title fight between the two elite heavyweights remains uncertain and the UFC may wait to see how a few upcoming bouts play out. If the UFC decides to go in another direction, then a heavyweight clash between dos Santos and Overeem needs to happen.

The match-up between two of the most devastating strikers in MMA history is a long time in the making. They were set to square-off at UFC 146 last May, but a failed drug test from Overeem scrapped those plans.

In the nine months that have passed, both men have taken turns taunting one another in the headlines of MMA media.

The temperature of the feud increased when Overeem took to Twitter following dos Santo’s loss to Velasquez—a favor JDS ultimately returned when the former K-1 champion was defeated by Silva.

Both men coming off losses sets the table nicely for their grudge to be resolved in brutal fashion and it is has the huge fight feel fans can get behind.

Donald Cerrone vs. Jamie Varner

In May of 2012, Cerrone and Varner couldn’t have been on more different paths. “Cowboy” had won five of his six showings under the UFC banner where Varner was having difficulty booking a fight. The picture was far removed from their days in the WEC when both fighters were at the top of the heap, fighting the best of the best in the “little blue cage”.

During their time in the WEC, Cerrone and Varner locked up on two occasions. Their first throw down at WEC 38 came with a controversial ending as the Jackson’s MMA-trained fighter hit Varner with an illegal knee in the fifth round. Due to the strike, Varner was unable to continue and earned the victory via technical split-decision.

The outcome angered Cerrone as he voiced his criticism of what he believed to be Varner‘s acting chops and this fueled the fire for a rematch down the road.

That highly-anticipated opportunity would come at WEC 51 where Cerrone swept the cards with a dominant performance. Throughout the fight Cerrone displayed his animosity for Varner at every turn with taunts both verbal and physical.

Often times, upon the conclusion a bout between rivals, both competitors will show some degree of mutual respect, but this was hardly the case following the rematch as Cerrone added a post-fight shove for good measure.

Now with Cerrone losing to Pettis at UFC on Fox 6 and Varner experiencing a career resurgence, it could be a good time to stoke the fires once again.

The MMA Lab-trained fighter is coming off a big win over Melvin Guillard and is just beyond the borders of Top 10 status in the lightweight division. The loss to “Showtime” will not drop Cerrone‘s stock that far down, but with nearly every top ranked 155-pound fighter booked up with fights in the coming months, a third tilt with Varner is a possibility.

John Dodson vs. Ian McCall

The flyweight division just recently completed its first year under the UFC banner. The division is far from developed, leaving a situation where the weight class’s top fighters are in a merry-go-round of title opportunities.

To this point, Team Alpha Male fighter Joseph Benavidez appears to have benefited the most from this scenario and will likely get another chance to compete for the title following his victory over Ian McCall at UFC 156.

The No. 1 contender position is one John Dodson is very familiar with. The former TUF winner recently fell short on his attempt to earn UFC gold when he was defeated by Demetrius Johnson at UFC on Fox 6.

But due to a solid performance in Chicago, “The Magician’s” stock will not fall far and another opportunity to fight for the flyweight title will not be far away. Due to the unique scenario in the 125-pound weight class, a match-up between McCall and Dodson makes a lot of sense.

On the grudge side of things, this particular feud has been more subtle than most. Neither fighter is particularly bashing the other publicly, but McCall recently described the elite fighters in the division during an interview with Bleacher Report and Dodson’s name was not included on that list. There is a chance McCall simply forgot to mention him, but with only 14 fighters on the flyweight roster, most signs point to “Uncle Creepy” believing Dodson isn’t in the same class.

For his part, Dodson has stated publicly he’s looking for the biggest fights possible in the hopes it will elevate him to become a household name. Under the current circumstances, a bout with McCall would be the biggest draw available, and keep Dodson in the hunt for another title shot.

Things are a bit more tense on the McCall side of the coin. Coming into the UFC he was the top-ranked flyweight in the world, but has gone 0-2-1 since coming into the Zuffa fold.

A victory over Dodson would keep McCall from getting pushed into the rest of the pack and serve well to help him establish his footing in the 125-pound weight class.

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UFC Welterweight Division Has a New Threat in Demian Maia

This past weekend at UFC 156, Demian Maia put the entire welterweight division on notice. The Brazilian submission ace earned a lopsided unanimous-decision victory over perennial contender Jon Fitch and, in the process, solidified his position in the u…

The victory over the AKA-staple was Maia’s third consecutive since dropping down to the 170-pound weight class. The fashion in which he defeated Fitch and steamrolled Rick Story has made it clear to see the 35-year-old’s skill set poses some interesting problems for his peers in the divisional elite.

While his victory over Story was impressive, sweeping the cards against a gritty veteran the likes of Fitch is on a different level. Maia’s win at UFC 156 proved he is a force to be reckoned with at 170 pounds, and the Brazilian jiu-jitsu phenom’s sudden entry into the welterweight division’s title race couldn’t have come at a more interesting time.

In five weeks, six of the top fighters in the weight class are set to square off at UFC 158. When the smoke clears from this batch of high-profile dust-ups, it is possible Maia could find himself within striking distance of a potential title shot.

Back to Basics

When Maia entered the UFC fold back in 2007, he wasted little time making his presence known. The Team Wand fighter was successful in his first five bouts in the middleweight division, earning impressive submission finishes in each outing and building solid momentum toward a title shot. That progress was eventually halted by the right hand of Nate Marquardt as the former Strikeforce welterweight champion scored a first-round knockout in their tilt at UFC 102.

Maia would bounce back in his next fight against Dan Miller, but a lopsided loss to middleweight king Anderson Silva at UFC 112 once again silenced the buzz surrounding the Brazilian grappling ace.

Following his loss to “The Spider,” Maia found varying success as he won three of his next five. Unfortunately for Maia, the two losses he suffered during that stretch, to Mark Munoz and Chris Weidman, served to eliminate him entirely from the 185-pound title picture.

Another interesting footnote in Maia’s middleweight journey was his decision to work a more standup-heavy approach. Where he dominated the opposition on the ground in his earlier bouts, Maia seemed to abandon his greatest strength during the final leg of his middleweight run.

Undoubtedly, Maia was on a quest to become a more well-rounded fighter, but his performances suffered in the process. In the aftermath of his loss to Weidman at UFC on Fox 2, it became clear that Maia needed to make a change in his approach. That decision not only came with a new weight class, but a return to his original style, which has yielded impressive results.

In all three of his welterweight bouts, Maia has wasted zero time getting down to business. His debut in the weight class against Dong Hyun Kim may have ended due to a freak injury 47 seconds into the bout, but it was still the result of Maia putting the “Stun Gun” on the canvas. In his next outing against Story, Maia attacked from the opening bell and only needed half a round to finish the Brave Legion fighter with a vicious neck crank.

It was a similar story against Fitch in Las Vegas, as Maia immediately went for the takedown against the former Purdue University wrestling standout. It wasn’t long before Maia took Fitch’s back, a position he would hold for the majority of the fight. Despite not being able to lock on a fight-ending submission against the former No. 1 contender, Maia’s ability to control one of the division’s most dominant grapplers was an impressive feat.

The UFC welterweight fold is chock full of fighters who rely on their wrestling skills to drive their success. If Maia’s first three welterweight showings are any indication of his potential to progress in the race to the top of the 170-pound pecking order, it is safe to say the four-time “Submission of the Night” winner is the latest threat to emerge in the division.

A Possible Title Shot on the Horizon

At the current time, it is difficult to know exactly where Maia stands in the welterweight title picture, but it would be difficult to imagine his name isn’t jotted somewhere near the top of the list. With the upcoming welterweight showcase at UFC 158, it seems likely that one of the fighters competing on that card will be standing opposite Maia in the near future.

The UFC’s decision to bypass surging contender Johny Hendricks and grant Nick Diaz a title shot against Georges St-Pierre came with a fair share of controversy. While the current trend of making title fights has been anything but predictable, if “Bigg Rigg” emerges victorious from his bout with Jake Ellenberger, it would be criminal for him not to be given the next title opportunity.

On the other hand, should “The Juggernaut” score a win over Hendricks in Montreal, Ellenberger versus Maia is a bout that would make sense. The former Marine is still attempting to regain the momentum lost from his defeat against Martin Kampmann, and would likely still be a win or two out from a title shot.

Perhaps a more likely option would come from the winner of the rematch between Rory MacDonald and former interim champion Carlos Condit. “The Natural Born Killer” recently came up short in his bid to unify the divisional titles, and his road back to contention would include putting together a few solid wins. A potential bout between Condit and Maia would be an interesting stylistic matchup on multiple levels and a great opportunity to gauge Maia’s position in the weight class.

The same can be said for a potential bout between Maia and MacDonald. The 24-year-old British Columbia-native has been heralded as the future of the weight class and has looked more impressive with each showing. MacDonald’s ground and pound is of the brutal variety, and it would be interesting to see how the young Canadian would handle the threat Maia brings to the table. Add in the fact that MacDonald and St-Pierre are teammates at Tri-Star and even with a victory over Condit, a title fight between the two Canadian stars would be a long shot.

If both Firas Zahabi-trained fighters find success at UFC 158, MacDonald would most likely take another fight before title talk emerged, and this series of events would set the table nicely for a MacDonald versus Maia show down later this year.

Another possible option would be a bout with Nick Diaz. But a potential matchup featuring two of MMA‘s slickest submission artists throwing down their grappling magic deserves its own full-length article.

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The Evolution of Cub Swanson Continues at UFC on Fuel TV 7

Cub Swanson is a man on a mission.Following a 2012 campaign where the 29-year-old collected three impressive victories, Swanson is looking to keep his momentum rolling in the new year. The Southern California product will have the opportunity to take h…

Cub Swanson is a man on a mission.

Following a 2012 campaign where the 29-year-old collected three impressive victories, Swanson is looking to keep his momentum rolling in the new year. The Southern California product will have the opportunity to take his next step up the divisional ladder when he squares off with Dustin Poirier, who stepped in for an injured Dennis Siver, in the co-main event of UFC on Fuel TV 7 in London, England.

The bout against Poirier comes at a critical time in the 145-pound weight class. Over the past two weeks, contenders Frankie Edgar and Erik Koch had their title hopes turned back, and their losses have put the race to fill out the divisional upper tier in full swing.

Swanson understands the urgency of the moment, and the Jackson/Winkeljohn-trained fighter is looking to make a statement against the Louisiana native.

“Poirier is a well-rounded fighter,” Swanson told Bleacher Report. “I wouldn’t say he’s phenomenal anywhere but the guy is good everywhere. That can be a problem if I’m not well-prepared. With Siver I was expecting a stand-up battle but with Poirier I know he’s going to be looking for a takedown early and mixing up his kicks and punches well. I definitely have to be more aware of all aspects of the fight.

“We are both aggressive fighters who like to work at a high pace. We both fight with a lot of heart and always show up in shape. It could be a quick fight or a long, drawn-out three-round scrap. I’m ready for whatever.

“I’m trying to finish him right away,” Swanson added. “I’m prepared for three rounds of hell and I’m going to keep that pace the entire time. I’m going to try to put him out in the first. I feel that is what I have to do to make a statement.”

As the longest-tenured featherweight on the UFC roster, Swanson has watched the 145-pound weight class steadily develop over the years. That process has accelerated in recent months with several high-profile lightweight fighters dropping down to test the 145-pound waters.

The trend does not appear to be slowing down, as former WEC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis recently stated he was entertaining a possible drop down to featherweight to face Jose Aldo. Swanson appreciates the attention the bigger-named fighters are bringing to his weight class and has zero issues with welcoming them to the weight class.

“I think it is kind of funny because people keep dropping down and the fighters who are coming down are thinking it is going to be an easier road and it’s not,” Swanson said. “This division is a different animal. At the same time, guys dropping down brings more attention to the division and that attention is well-deserved because the featherweight division is exciting. I’m happy to be a part of it. 155 pounds is so stacked and to see some of those big-name guys come down and want to get some…I’m like hell yeah. That only brings more popularity to our division and makes bigger fights for us to take.

“When somebody drops down and takes a fight with me, I take it as they are looking at me like I’m an easy fight. I take it very disrespectfully. But that is my mentality.”

For years Swanson has battled to match his skill set to expectation. That being said, his recent three-fight win streak has indicators pointing to the scales of potential and progress finding a balance. Swanson has earned back-to-back “Knockout of the Night” honors and believes his career is firing on all cylinders. While a title shot is the ultimate goal, Swanson believes everything will work itself out in due time.

“I’m not really thinking about a title shot too much right now,” Swanson said. “If I get the title shot next I would love it, but I have this fight first and I have to perform well. I just want to be mentioned up there with the top names. If I stay on top of my game then I will get my shot. I’m not really concerned about it all too much right now. I’m just going to keep doing what I’m doing.

“All the hard work I’ve put in at the gym is paying off, but experience plays a big role too. I’m training smarter and all of the consecutive wins I’ve put together has me in a place where I feel as if I’m doing things right now. It gives you confidence that you are on the right track. I feel great and I’m ready any opponent. I have myself a tough guy in front of me and I’m excited.”

Make no mistake about it, fighting is in Swanson’s blood. From his days as a troubled youth to re-igniting his career to become one of the top featherweights in the world—Swanson knows the sacrifices it takes to alter the course of one’s journey.

Where fighting used to be Swanson’s physical outlet to vent frustration, it has now become a family affair, as older brother Steve has joined him in the professional ranks. “Killer Cub” believes it will only be a matter of time before his brother is making an impact inside the Octagon.

“My brother Steve [Swanson] is a 125-pound fighter and is 10-0 right now,” Swanson said. “He would make a great addition to the flyweight division and truly deserves to be in the UFC. He has five consecutive first-round finishes, is a heavy-hitter and it won’t be long before people know who he is. I would love to see him fighting inside the Octagon.”

Duane Finley is a Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.

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The Frankie Edgar Paradox

Tomorrow night, one of the biggest cards in recent memory will go down at UFC 156 in Las Vegas. Headlining the event will be featherweight king Jose Aldo as he looks to defend his crown against former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar.There is no shor…

There is no shortage of buzz surrounding the event as the young Brazilian phenom attempts to solidify his pound-for-pound greatness by defeating one of the most resilient champions in UFC history. On the flip side, the perpetual underdog will once again look to do what has appeared to be impossible and, if successful, will elevate his legacy to new heights.

The UFC has labeled the match-up a “super fight” and no matter what words you use to describe the bout, it is a crucial match-up in the careers of both men.

That being said, when examining the scales of gain and loss, it becomes clear Edgar is in a unique situation—a paradox of sorts, if you will. Should he upset Aldo at UFC 156, he will join Randy Couture and B.J. Penn as the only men to ever hold titles in two different weight classes.

However, if he is unsuccessful tomorrow night, a once great champion will find himself in the strangest of positions where his name alone will dictate headline worthy fights, but his hopes of getting another title shot will be somewhere out in limbo.

There is no doubt Edgar is at a crossroads in his career. There is a lot at stake in his fight with Aldo on Saturday night, and which side of victory he emerges on will dictate the next path for Edgar to travel.

One of the Greatest of All-Time

When MMA fans and media types talk about the greatest fighters in the history of the sport, Edgar’s name doesn’t often appear in the conversation. There is no doubt defeating B.J. Penn during the peak of his reign as the world’s best lightweight—and then again in the rematch—put Edgar in a significant place within the Zuffa history books, but there has yet to be the moment that pushes him to MMA folklore status.

A victory over Aldo will provide this exact opportunity.

Despite leaving the lightweight division on back-to-back losses, Edgar was given the opportunity to step in for an immediate title shot in his new weight class. Edgar is passionate about being a champion and the chance to reclaim UFC gold is the ultimate motivation.

Should he have the keys to solve the Aldo riddle at UFC 156, not only will he once again accomplish the seemingly impossible, but he will place himself in the record books alongside “The Natural” and “The Prodigy” as the only men to ever hold belts in multiple weight classes.

For Edgar, this accomplishment has the potential to solidify him as one of the greatest fighters to ever compete in mixed martial arts. Fans can certainly argue there are more talented fighters as far as skill sets are concerned, but when it comes to showing and proving in the biggest moments, when the chips are stacked against him, there is no other fighter who can claim the resume Edgar possesses.

Up to this point in his career, Edgar is known for defeating Penn and tremendous displays of heart against Gray Maynard, but a victory over Aldo puts the former lightweight champion into a different conversation.

The Rich Franklin Zone

Before Anderson Silva came to the UFC, Franklin dominated the 185-pound weight class. But after losing his title at the end of “The Spider’s” knees—and then a rematch where he suffered a similar fate—the Cincinnati-native was pushed out in the darkness which exists somewhere between a title shot and the rest of the top fighters in the division.

It wasn’t a question of talent as Franklin was easily the next best fighter in his weight class. But after two punishing defeats against Silva where he showed no signs of having an answer to the middleweight king’s puzzle, the temperature on Franklin’s title hopes had gone stone cold.

The circumstance of the situation forced “Ace” to test the waters in the light heavyweight division.

Although he had some success, Franklin was never able to gain genuine traction towards competing for the 205-pound crown. For most fighters this would most likely bring a close to their careers, but Franklin had the right amount of name recognition and fight left in the tank to start off on a new chapter in his UFC career.

Rather than chasing a title, the 38-year-old would become the UFC’s “go to guy” whenever they needed a headliner for a card, and bouts against Wanderlei Silva, Forrest Griffin and Chuck Liddell were all interesting match-ups between fighters on similar trajectories.

At 31-years old the idea of Edgar being pushed into the realm of fan-friendly bouts may seem a bit of a stretch, but there are a few things to take into consideration.

Should he lose to Aldo tomorrow night, the Toms River-native will be 1-3-1 in his last five fights, all of which were for a UFC title. He is dropping down into a new division that is set to explode in 2013. With surging featherweights like Ricardo Lamas, Cub Swanson and Chad Mendes all racing for title shots, it would be difficult to imagine Edgar not taking a back seat in the featherweight division’s upper tier.

This is not to say “The Answer” couldn’t work his way back up to title contention, but with the amount of talent now residing in the 145-pound weight class, it would be a journey with no guarantee.

The idea of Edgar returning to the division he once championed comes with a similar scenario. After dropping back-to-back fights against Benson Henderson, the idea of Edgar getting another title shot at lightweight seems far fetched. When you include the ultra-competitive race to contention going on at 155-pounds, there is no way to justify Edgar leap-frogging anyone in the Top 5.

There is simply no need for it to be done and with no shortage of possible contenders, Edgar would find himself having to battle his way through the most competitive division under the UFC banner. Again, not to say it is an impossible task for the gritty New Jersey-product, but a difficult one nevertheless.

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McCall Looking to Re-Ignite Title Run with Victory over Benavidez at UFC 156

The UFC made headlines in late 2011 when it announced the addition of a flyweight division. To kick off the action in the 125-pound weight class, the organization set up a four-man tournament with the winner being crowned the first-ever UFC flyweight c…

The buzz surrounding the announcement grew when the list of entries included the No. 1-ranked flyweight in the world, Ian McCall.

While it can be difficult for a fighter to generate buzz competing outside the UFC banner, McCall’s run at Tachi Palace made him the top 125-pound fighter in the world. Alongside “Uncle Creepy,” former No. 1 contenders in the bantamweight division Joseph Benavidez, Yasuhiro Urushitani and Demetrius Johnson were set to make a historic run at the flyweight crown.

Unfortunately for McCall, the transition to the sport’s biggest stage wasn’t a smooth one.

After a draw with Johnson in their opening-round tilt, “Mighty Mouse” bounced back in the rematch to earn the unanimous-decision nod. Johnson would go on to win the title after defeating Benavidez in the finals, and McCall was pushed to the side for the time being.

It certainly wasn’t the end result the Southern California native was hoping for, but this Saturday night at UFC 156 against Benavidez, he will have the opportunity to begin his charge back to the top.

“I feel like I have failed at this point in my UFC career,” McCall told Bleacher Report. “I want to fix that. I want to be where I should be and that is the champion. But before I can go down that road the most important thing for me right now is just to get a win. I need my first UFC win. That is my main goal. I want to get out of there with the ‘W’ then I can worry about the other stuff later.”

The matchup between McCall and Benavidez is figured to be nonstop action from bell to bell. Both men bring exciting styles to the cage and have built reputations for their high-output offensive attacks. The bout is set to kick off the pay-per-view portion of the mega-card, and McCall promises the flyweight scrap will deliver.

“There is going to be excitement in this fight,” McCall said. “We are going to beat the crap out of each other with smiles on our faces. We are friends and I think he’s in the same place I’m in because we beat up our friends everyday. I basically live at the gym and I have no problems punching my friend in the face. We are going to put on a good show. It is going to be 15 minutes of all-out fighting. Of course I’d like it to be shorter than that but fans are going to get to see some good technique and all around MMA.”

“Stylistically I think this match-up is perfect for me. He comes to fight and I like that. I have a lot of training partners who are like that and my style is good against opponents who fight that way. You have to be careful with his punching power but we worked diligently on defense. It is going to be interesting.”

Stepping into the cage on Saturday night in Las Vegas, McCall will have the opportunity to breathe life back into his UFC championship hopes. The 28-year-old came into the most successful promotion in mixed martial arts with great expectations, and a win over Benavidez is the first step on his journey back to the top.

Overcoming adversity and circumstance is familiar territory for McCall—and when you’ve been through the hardest of times, redemption is the perfect motivator.

Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained first-hand unless noted otherwise.

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Jon Fitch Back on the Grind Against Maia at UFC 156

It is impossible to talk about the top welterweight fighters in the world without mentioning Jon Fitch. The AKA staple has been a perennial contender for the past five years, as he’s dominated a collection of the division’s best.That being said, the 34…

That being said, the 34-year-old former standout wrestler at Purdue University has found difficulty in his quest to reclaim a shot at the 170-pound title, where despite one of the best records in UFC history, Fitch’s place on the divisional radar has fluctuated.

It was a situation the Indiana-born fighter was determined to change, and he took a big step toward accomplishing his goal at UFC 153. In Rio de Janeiro, Fitch derailed rising prospect Erik Silva in a three-round battle that earned both men Fight of the Night honors. It was a tremendous statement to make at the perfect time in his career, and his performance over the young Brazilian talent not only put him back into the win column, but also chipped away at the stigma of past criticisms.

“I give props to Erik Silva because of the type of fighter he is and that he wasn’t playing to the judges or the referee,” Fitch told Bleacher Report. “A lot of guys tend to hold on when they get taken down hoping to get stood back up, and he didn’t do that. Silva continued to fight for the entire time. When you do that—you get a great fight. When both guys are just constantly trying to be offensive and push forward, you get a crazy awesome fight like that.

“I think a lot of times people play that game where they get taken down and think they can hold onto a wrist or elbow, keep their guard closed, the ref will see nothing is happening and things will get stood back up. Rather than actually trying to fight back to their feet or trying to get submissions. A lot of guys kind of shut down. They count it as a moral victory because they didn’t get finished. They can hold on rather than continue to fight or try to win. There is a major difference.”

Fitch will look to continue his climb back to title contention when he faces submission ace Demian Maia this Saturday night at UFC 156 in Las Vegas. The battle matches one of MMA‘s most dominant wrestlers against a competitor largely recognized as the most dangerous jiu-jitsu practitioner in the sport today. It is a matchup Fitch is looking forward to, and he’s ready to to bring his unique brand of the grind to Maia inside the Octagon.

“[Maia] is very strong in some of the same areas I’m strong in as well,” Fitch told Bleacher Report. “It should make for an interesting matchup.He has great transitions on the ground and works them into his submission game. He also uses his control to set up submissions, and I think that is going to present some interesting challenges.”

Throughout his career in the UFC, Fitch has proven to be one of the most durable fighters when it comes to the ground game. He has one of the highest submission defense percentages in UFC history, and his ability to escape the most dangerous situations has only added to his reputation as one of the game’s grittiest fighters.

While it is a badge of honor to be worn proudly, Fitch has put in the work to find comfort where others panic. What most fighters would call being in a bad position, Fitch uses a bait method to get his opponent to maneuver to set up a position change. Part of this comes from the experience required to become a black belt in guerrilla jiu-jitsu in addition to hours spent putting himself in the worst situations. The infamous “bounty” story is one example of the process.

“It is something I started with the B.J. [Penn] fight,” Fitch said. “I had a black belt from Modesto come down and I put up 20 bucks if he was able to submit me. It pretty much started with him on my back every round and if I got out we would go right back to the starting position with them on my back. I tried to give him as many opportunities as I could and other guys as much opportunities as they could for them to submit me from there. It made me very comfortable with having someone on my back and confident in my submission defense from that position.”

As a core member of the American Kickboxing Academy, Fitch has been an anchor for one of the most successful gyms in MMA. Over the years, the team has experienced tremendous success, with its fair share of pitfalls along the way. Following a brief shakeup among the ranks, the squad at AKA has experienced somewhat of a resurgence over the past several months.

Along with Fitch’s victory over Silva, teammates Daniel Cormier and Cain Velasquez both captured big wins of their own. Those victories have everything moving in the right direction for the team, and Fitch believes the success will only continue.

“It’s been really positive,” Fitch replied when asked about AKA. “We had a little bit of a rough patch where we moved gyms and had some growing pains to get through, but we were able to come together closer as a team. We kept our mind focused on what we wanted, pushed forward, were able to get some big wins in big fights and we are looking to do big things in 2013.”

In a recent interview with Bleacher Report, Strikeforce Grand Prix Winner and recent UFC convert Daniel Cormier described the excitement he felt watching Fitch succeed in Brazil. The energy carried over into the gym on the following Monday. Although Cormier had just started his training camp and wasn’t necessarily in fighting shape, Fitch’s victory inspired him to go all-out in the gym, leaving the former wrestling standout depleted for the rest of the week..

Following Velasquez regaining the heavyweight title by defeating Junior dos Santos at UFC 155, Fitch fell victim to similar circumstances.

“It’s funny, because the same thing happened to me after Cain’s fight,” Fitch said. “I came back to the gym on Monday and had the craziest Monday ever, but the rest of the week I was dragging ass because I pushed so hard during that workout. I was so pumped and pushed so hard during that workout that I was broken down a little bit.”

Becoming welterweight champion is certainly a career goal for Fitch, but the heated race toward the top isn’t something he’s necessarily paying attention to these days. While the upper tier of the division is perhaps more competitive than it’s ever been, the former No. 1 contender doesn’t concern himself with outside interference. They only thing on Fitch’s mind is the fight immediately in front of him, and right now that opponent is Maia.

“The division kind of looks different, but at the same time I’ve changed my focus up,” Fitch said. “I’m not really looking at anything else but the singular fight in front of me. It is a much better perspective and type of focus rather than having it run all over the place thinking about what this guy is doing over here or whether I’m going to get the winner or loser of a particular fight. It’s just too scattered and I’m really not paying attention. I don’t follow it. I’m looking at what my teammates are doing or focusing on the fight that I have coming up.”

After suffering setbacks and lengthy time away from the cage due to injury, Fitch is ready to seize every opportunity that comes his way. From fighting at UFC 153 to the mega-card which is UFC 156, the 10-year veteran couldn’t be happier to keep things rolling in the right direction.

“It’s awesome to go from a good-name opponent to another big-name opponent right away,” Fitch said. “To be put on a big card feels great. Rio was a big card, and the Super Bowl card is awesome. To be put on these big cards kind of shows (the UFC) has some faith in you to deliver.”

Duane Finley is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.

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