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UFC Interim Titles: The Good, the Bad and the Reality

There are plenty of issues stirring up the fanbase in MMA these days. Somewhere in the mixture of chaos and outrage over the recent TUF announcement and Strikeforce’s uncertain future, the debate concerning interim titles in the UFC is swelling.The top…

The topic has lingered since interim welterweight champion Carlos Condit announced he was waiting for Georges St-Pierre to return, but the issue regained a full head of steam this week when interim bantamweight champion Renan Barao‘s coach Andre Pederneiras revealed his fighter would be waiting for champion Dominick Cruz’s return as well.

The news left fans to question the reasons behind the UFC implementing a temporary title holder. What purpose does it serve if the belt is not defended? This is a major point fans and fighters have taken stances upon, and while there is certainly cause for concern, other factors at play make this a slippery issue in the sport’s biggest organization.

A Brief History of Interim UFC Titles

Since the UFC launched in 1993, there have been seven men who have held interim titles. In addition to Condit and Barao, the list includes some of the biggest names to compete in the sport. St-Pierre, Randy Couture, Frank Mir, Shane Carwin and Antonio “Minotauro” Nogueira have all held interim straps at one time or another, but history tends to remember these interim titles serving the greater purpose of keeping the respective divisions rolling.

Of the fighters listed, only Nogueira attempted to defend his interim title outside of unification. The other belt holders all fought their next bouts with the opportunity to become the undisputed champion of their divisions. Granted, the carousel retirement/unretirement of Couture factored into the bout scheduling for “Big Nog,” but he is still the only fighter in UFC history to attempt to defend an interim title against a non-champion.

Another aspect to review would be the length of time it took for unification bouts to be scheduled. Condit and Barao have been scorned for taking to the sidelines and perhaps rightfully so. Of the previous champions, Mir had the longest layoff (six months) until he had the opportunity to combine the heavyweight titles where GSP and company all sought unification in four months or less.

When Condit steps in against St-Pierre next month at UFC 154, ten months will have passed since he defeated Nick Diaz at UFC 143 in Las Vegas. The picture looks a bit more bleak for Barao as there is yet to be word on when champion Dominick Cruz will return. Both of their respective divisions have been active with contenders rising, and with the top spot stalled out, other fighters have been forced to wait as well.

Regardless of the other factors swirling about, few can ultimately blame Condit and Barao waiting for what will undoubtedly be the biggest fights and paydays of their careers.

The Business of Fighting for UFC Titles

In the relatively short history of the sport, never has the business aspect of things been more front and center than it is right now. Fighters certainly acknowledge the need to be entertaining inside the cage, but the most important factor for them is winning. With the UFC continuing to produce a record number of events each year, the pressure to stay on the rising side of the swell is at an all-time high.

For those who are on the upward trend, gaining ground, raising their profile and earning bigger paydays are what matter most. Becoming a champion is a solution to remedy all things, but with increasingly competitive divisional pictures, making calculated choices have also become a large part of the equation.

Fear of the actual fight may be nonexistent, but realization of the consequences attached most certainly are.

Opportunities such as the ones facing Condit and Barao are rare in this sport. Both the Brazilian and “The Natural Born Killer” are going to square off with dominant champions in an effort to define their place as the division’s best. In Condit‘s case, he will not only face one of the sport’s pound-for-pound best in St-Pierre, but also the largest pay-per-view draw on the current UFC roster.

To put that opportunity at risk by fighting Johny Hendricks or Martin Kampmann would have been foolish by most standards, and those who believe Condit‘s decision to be ducking or avoiding the competition have to realize just how much reward outweighs the risk in this situation.

A rising wave of contenders may be nipping at his heels, but if they were in his position and locked to fight St-Pierre, I have a difficult time believing the majority of them wouldn’t have made the same choice.

There are many similarities in Barao‘s situation. The Team Nova Uniao fighter has been a monster since coming under the Zuffa banner and has wrecked shop en route to his current position. Where Condit had a list of potential contenders, this is not the case with Barao.

The 135-pound division is still lacking depth in its upper tier and following his lopsided victory over Urijah Faber, Barao stands alone at the top. Besides a unification bout with Cruz, the only other fighter with enough moment to make a case is Michael “Mayday” McDonald, but the 21-year-old is currently sidelined due to injury, and any other fight besides this showdown of rising stars simply doesn’t make sense.

The Future of Interim Titles

Throughout the history of the UFC, the organization has only implemented the interim title a handful of times. Each has come as the result of an injury or contract situation. While past situations have yielded less friction, the ever-changing landscape of MMA will provide more adversity and difficult choices to be made on the road ahead.

Will fighters embrace the “anytime, anyone, anywhere” mentality that is being pushed?

I believe in some cases the chances are likely but not in matters where career altering paydays and opportunities are concerned. Fighters competing in the sport work their entire careers for high-profile fights, and it’s a painful truth that most never reach those goals. But when the call does come, and the chance to find what they have been sacrificing for arises, they are going to make the decisions that will protect those interests.

It may not be the most popular decision to make, but how can we fault them for attempting to seize the moment?

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Rising Tide: Brad Tavares Looking to Lead Next Wave of Middleweight Contenders

In the world of sports, natural talent is typically the most precious attribute an athlete can have. Those who have been blessed with such gifts quickly ascend the various levels of competition until they reach a point where knowledge, maturity, and ex…

For a young fighter like Brad Tavares, competing on the biggest stage in the sport has been a baptism by fire. Inside the Octagon, physical gifts are tested much more quickly, and the intangibles that differentiate contender from prospect must increase with each subsequent fight.

What began on pure instinct for the 24-year-old Hawaiian has now turned into calculation and execution. Countless hours at the helm of coach and mentor Ray Sefo, have not only strengthened his skills and body but his mind as well.

The respected and experienced Sefo has worked to add structure and technique to Tavares‘ raw power and aggression. Where he once worked off instinct, footwork and spacial difference now dictate his attack. The process has yielded impressive results, as Tavares has evolved from a tough island kid with a warrior spirit to one of the most promising prospects in the increasingly competitive 185-pound weight class.

“Honestly the biggest change is the coaches I get to work with,” Tavares said. “It is such an honor getting to work with Ray Sefo. I like striking and while I’m a mixed martial artist, striking is what I like to do.

“I think strikers with good ground and wrestling games get the farthest in the sport. They are the most notable and the ones fans want to see. Striking is a huge part of my game and it has always been like that. In the past I wasn’t able to work with someone with as much knowledge and experience in the sport like Ray Sefo has. That has made a very big difference to me.

“On top of that I get to train much more than I did when I was living and training full-time in Hawaii. When I was training Hawaii I had a normal job where I was working 60-plus hours a week, at least 40 hours minimum, and then I would go train after that. But then I moved to Las Vegas and began training at Xtreme Couture.

“Now I’m surrounded by coaches and awesome fighters who are great training partners. Luckily they are also full-time fighters and we can meet up any time of day. We can get together, go over things, and have a great training session. That makes a huge difference.

“This sport is very young and you have to continue to constantly evolve. There are so many aspects to this sport when it comes to striking, clinching, wrestling, and jiu-jitsu, you have to always be evolving.

“Even back when I was on The Ultimate Fighter, I said learning is what I like to do on my off time. I like to learn knew things and sharpen the skills I already have. I don’t train crazy when I’m off. I listen to my body and I’m smart about it but I’m always training and learning. I want to always be a better fighter than I was the last time.”

Positioning himself at one of the sport’s premier gyms has fueled Tavares‘ growth tremendously. While he came from Hawaii with a solid base of skills, the collection of experience at Xtreme Couture has pushed Tavares to new heights.

He has elevated every aspect of his game but it is his wrestling abilities which have developed the most. With hours of drilling and grinding in the trenches with a collection of the sport’s best, Tavares has a new found love for grappling and is constantly preparing for the challenges he will inevitably face on the road ahead.

“It’s great working with so many wrestlers at Xtreme Couture but what a lot of people don’t know is that the little team I came from in Hawaii had a lot of good wrestlers as well,” Tavares said.

“Early in my career I never had to use my wrestling too much. My first four or five fights were all either fast TKO’s or submissions. My wrestling definitely has stemmed from Hawaii. I never wrestled in high school or as a young child. I started wrestling when I began training with my team in Hawaii MMA Development. The wrestling coach is Rob Hesia and I’ve just grown from there.

“I love wrestling now and I wish I would have done it growing up. That would have helped me tremendously in this sport. I’m learning and I get to work with guys like that and the guys I work with now like Jay Hieron, Kyle Griffin, and all the great wrestlers that come through the gym. It’s an awesome experience.

“The guys I’m fighting nowadays come with these crazy wrestling pedigrees. They are collegiate Division One wrestlers, All-Americans and things like that. It really helps being able to train with these guys to prepare me for the fighters I’m going to have to face.”

During his time in the UFC, Tavares has found victory in four out of five outings, with the lone setback coming via decision to Aaron Simpson. Each showing has been a learning experience as Tavares has shown marked improvements with each performance. Though he has always shown flashes of promise but it was his most recent fight that showed the talented kid from TUF was becoming a force to be reckoned with.

Stepping in against highly touted newcomer Tom “Kong” Watson at UFC on Fuel 5 in Nottingham England, Tavares attacked from the opening bell as the two fighters put on one of the card’s most impressive scraps.

Watson’s UFC debut may have come in his home country, but it was Tavares who refused to give ground as he fired combinations from bell to bell. The battle ultimately went to the judge’s scorecards and Tavares‘ hand was raised in victory. It was a huge step for the TUF alum and another important learning experience in the books.

“To be quite honest I had a weird anxiety leading up to the fight,” Tavares said. “It stemmed from it being the first time I had to travel that far and taking that long of a flight. I was going into a different country where I wasn’t quite sure what to expect as far as nutrition. I didn’t know what was going to be available and if those things were going to throw off my weight cut.

“Ray Sefo and I discussed it and I went out there a little bit lighter than usual. I did that just in case because I’ve had fighters tell me when they fly that far their bodies won’t let go of the water. I was kind of worried about that but luckily when I got there, everything worked itself out.

“When it came fight time everything went right like it normally does. I got those same emotions where I was excited and anxious to get out there to fight. You work so hard for so many weeks and the fight itself is really the fun part about it. That’s your play time. You have been putting in work for eight to 10 weeks, and the fight is your chance to go out there and showcase your skills.

“As far as thinking about who he was or what he’s done, none of the hype or any of that bothered me. I knew I needed to respect this person. Just looking at his record, how long he’s been at it, the people he’s fought and how those fights went; I knew he was going to be a game opponent. He trains with a very good team at Greg Jackson’s. He is a tough guy and I knew he was going to come out with a good game plan.

“I re-watched the Watson fight and it was a good pace throughout. We were going at it, hitting each other with hard blows, and all the fans really liked the fight. Even the other fighters on the card enjoyed the fight. That is what people can expect from me. I’m just going to get better and better.”

While Tavares may still be in the early stages of his career his eyes are fixated on the levels above. Ever the student of the fight game, he pays attention to the fighters who are competing in the positions he strives to reach and is excited by the resurgence of the middleweight division.

Tavares knows that in order for him to become one of the weight class’ elite fighters, he will have to face the best the division has to offer, and it is an opportunity he’s eagerly awaiting. But until the UFC calls with an offer to fight a top-ranked opponent, he is happy to work his way up the ladder in a division that is heating up.

“I definitely think things are getting exciting in the middleweight division,” Tavares said. “There are guys who have come up in recent years who are proving to be real contenders. For example, a fighter who has taken the division by storm is Chris Weidman. We came into the UFC around the same time. Obviously I came off the show and he fought his way in. He is definitely a contender now.

“There is Chael Sonnen who is the only man to have taken the fight to Anderson Silva thus far. Mark Munoz just lost but he is still a contender. Michael Bisping has been around for a while but I think he’s really coming into it. I think he’ll get the next title shot at 185.

“Tim Boetsch has really been a surprise. Nobody expected him to be a contender but here he is knocking off top guys like Yushin Okami and Hector Lombard. He is another guy who recently came to the division with a lot of hype. I don’t think anybody expected Boetsch to beat him but he did.

“The division has gotten a lot deeper and a lot more exciting. There are a lot of different looks and hopefully by next year I’ll be right up in that mix. Hopefully, I’ll be one of those guys people are talking about who came up and fought his way into title contention.”

As the sport continues to grow and the dynamics of the fight game evolve, Tavares understands he will need to stay one step ahead in order to obtain the goals he has set.

He knows it won’t be easy—nothing about fighting ever is—but with an unbreakable work ethic, the desire to learn and a genuine love for the tumultuous fray of trading leather with another human being; the future looks incredibly bright for Tavares.

“I’m in this sport because I love it but now I’m in the UFC and I eventually want to be a champion one day,” Tavares revealed. “The only way to get there is to fight the best guys and big names. In the near future that is what I want. I want to be getting the calls to fight these guys.

“People talk so much about fighters being preliminary card guys or main-card status, but to me the only difference is how much you get paid. That is a big difference and I do want that main-card status.

“I want to be on the main card where people will be able to see my fights without having to go on Facebook. I definitely see myself getting there. I’m young and have a great work ethic. I’m only going to get better.

“I’m going to keep bringing exciting fights. I’m always going to go out there and look for the finish. That is super-important in this sport. You have to put on exciting fights because nobody really pays to watch somebody hold somebody down for three to five rounds or put them against the cage. They want to see exciting fights and finishes.

“I’m not saying you can go out there and finish every fight. At this level of competition you are going to have two men inside the Octagon who are fighting at a very high level and you have to be very precise.

“I’m not one of those fighters who is going to come out there guns blazing crazy, do something stupid and get myself knocked out. But I do go out there to push the pace and look for the finish. Even if I can’t get those finishes fans can always expect exciting fights from me.”

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Fitch’s Return to Form Makes Welterweight Division Most Competitve in UFC

Saturday night in Rio de Janeiro, the spotlight was locked on the main event between the greatest mixed martial artist of all-time, Anderson Silva, and his long-shot opponent, Stephan Bonnar. It was a fight created by circumstance, guaranteed to be a spectacle, and in the unique fashion only he can provide, Silva once again proved he is capable of doing things other fighters can’t.

While the main event captured the majority of attention, it was a bout from earlier on the pay-per-view ticket which carried the most weight.

The matchup between perennial contender Jon Fitch and rising prospect Erik Silva drew a clear line between the divisional elite in the 170-pound weight class. The former Purdue standout wrestler was looking to break out of a tough-luck slump and regain his upper tier status, while the young Brazilian fully intended on certifying himself with a victory of the gritty veteran.

Going into the bout, Fitch seemed to be a forgotten commodity, but once the action got under way, the American Kickboxing Academy staple reminded the MMA world why he has been considered one of the world’s best welterweights for the past five years. Over the course of 15 minutes, Fitch imposed his classic grinding style on Silva as he repeatedly drug him to the canvas and battered the younger fighter.

Silva looked to capitalize on the small windows of opportunity that arose, but the bout ultimately ended with Fitch in total control, punishing Silva with a barrage of ground and pound. The result was a huge victory at a crucial time for the 34-year-old and its immediate impact in the welterweight division should be interesting.

The King of the Grind Returns

A year and a half ago, the 170-pound division appeared all but cleaned out. Dominant champion Georges St-Pierre had run through all of the top contenders and was in the process of recycling his way back through previously defeated opponents. Misfortune would fall on the champion in the form of injury, and while St. Pierre went to the sidelines to recover, a handful of fighters set about making their climb to the top.

Much like St-Pierre, Fitch was also recovering from injury and forced to watch the next wave crash through. For years he had worked to regain another title shot, but now with names like Carlos Condit, Johny Hendricks and Martin Kampmann rapidly ascending, Fitch found himself being pushed further and further away from his goal.

After being on the shelf for the majority of 2011, he attempted to break the rising tide in a bout with Hendricks but suffered a 12-second knockout at UFC 141. Fitch would later reveal he rushed his return to the Octagon due to financial reasons, but nevertheless the loss appeared to mark a changing of the guard in the division’s upper tier and left questions swirling about the future of the former contender.

Fitch’s showing at UFC 153 served to erase many of those doubts as he earned a dominant victory. While defeating Silva certainly won’t launch Fitch back to contention, it showed he still has what it takes to mix it up with the best.

Although he has been heavily criticized in the past for his fighting style, the truth remains clear: When he is on top of his game, the weapons Fitch brings to the table are extremely difficult to stop. He is going to grind you down, test your heart and pummel you in the process.

Should you be able to stop him from imposing his will on you, there is a good chance you will get your hand raised when it is all said and done. But as we have seen over the course of the past seven years, when Fitch is healthy and motivated to do what Jon Fitch does, the margins of victory are slim.

The victory in Brazil puts Fitch back in the title chase, and with plenty of options available in the welterweight division, he has put himself back on track for the caliber of fights that will allow him to once again climb the ladder at 170 pounds.

Champion vs. Champion, and a No. 1 Contender Will Emerge

In just a little more than a month, UFC 154 will hit Montreal. There is no card bigger for welterweights as the event’s premier matchup features the long-awaited return of GSP, facing current interim champion Carlos Condit.

The fight occurs at a crucial time for both fighters as St. Pierre will look to re-establish himself as the world’s best while Condit is out to prove St. Pierre’s reign is over and the time for a new champion has come.

Since his arrival in the UFC, “The Natural Born Killer” has been on a tear to the top of the division. Outside of a split-decision loss to Kampmann in his debut, Condit has wrecked the opposition in punishing fashion. He earned the opportunity after defeating Nick Diaz at UFC 143 and following the victory, he decided to wait for St. Pierre’s return rather than defend the interim strap.

The Jackson/Winkeljohn-trained fighter poses the biggest threat to date to the returning champion due to his knockout power and ability to remain dangerous at any point in the fight.

The largest question looming over St. Pierre’s head will be how he adjusts to a lengthy lay-off.

“Rush” has become one of the sport’s pound-for-pound greats by working a methodical approach as he systematically breaks down the opposition.

St. Pierre has stated in recent weeks that there is a newfound motivation to his career, and he will be looking at this fight with Condit as a chance to regain his title. Strength and athleticism are both in his favor, but Condit‘s spontaneous and unpredictable style will be difficult for St. Pierre to break, especially if ring rust plays a factor.

In the night’s co-main event, another pair of welterweights will determine who is next in line for a title shot as Johny Hendricks squares off with Martin Kampmann. Both fighters have taken turns dispatching some of the division’s best as they have worked their way into this title eliminator.

While Hendricks is the fresher face in the divisional elite, he has certainly earned his stripes. The former two-time NCAA Division I wrestling champion has put together four in a row, with his two most recent victories coming over Fitch and Josh Kocheck.

Following his victory over “Kos” at at UFC on Fox 3 back in May, Hendricks appeared poised for a shot at Condit‘s interim title. But when Condit made the choice to wait for St. Pierre, “Bigg Rigg” was pushed aside and will finally get his opportunity at UFC 154.

With one-punch knockout power and a strong wrestling background, Hendricks will present interesting problems for Kampmann to solve.

But if there is anyone in the division who likes to mix it up, it is “The Hitman.” The Danish striker has made a career of throwing caution to the wind and settling things in the middle of the Octagon.

Following back-to-back losses that included a controversial defeat to Diego Sanchez, Kampmann has put together three consecutive wins. With those victories coming over the likes of Rick Story, Thiago Alves and Jake Ellenberger, Kampmann positioned himself firmly in the upper tier at 170 pounds.

While Hendricks brings a strong skill set into their meeting at UFC 154, it would be difficult to find another welterweight more well-rounded than Kampmann. The Xtreme Couture product comes forward at all costs, bringing heavy strikes with both hands and feet. He also possess incredible takedown defense, but should the action hit the canvas, Kampmann has one of the slickest submission games in the sport.

Just Beyond the Gate

As the action plays out next month at UFC 154, there is a batch of hungry welterweights eagerly awaiting their opportunity to rise. They are a collection of veterans who have earned their way to elite status but suffered setbacks on their road to title contention.

With names like Ellenberger, Koscheck, Fitch, Diaz, Rory MacDonald and newly minted welterweight Demian Maia in the mix, the competition is guaranteed to become fierce.

After amassing an impressive win streak, Ellenberger was knocking on the door of a title shot when he faced Kampmann at The Ultimate Fighter 15 finale.

Despite a first round which saw “The Juggernaut” put Kampmann on the deck with power shots, Ellenberger couldn’t finish the fight and was ultimately KO’d in the second round. The loss didn’t sit well with the former Marine and he bounced back into the win column with a solid showing against Jay Hieron in Minneapolis.

Ellenberger‘s power and wrestling are enough to give any of his peers fits, and his next showing will come against a fellow top contender. Previously scheduled bouts with Fitch and Koscheck were scrapped in the past, but it is a good possibility those matchups come back around for the Omaha native.

Another rising star looking to break into contention is Rory MacDonald. The 23 year-old has been making steady progress since his UFC debut in 2010 and has collected three consecutive victories with the most recent coming over Che Mills at UFC 145. He has publicly voiced his intention to reach the divisional throne and will face his toughest test to date when he meets B.J. Penn at UFC on Fox 5 in December. Should MacDonald have an impressive showing against “The Prodigy” he could find himself within striking distance of a title opportunity.

You can’t discuss top welterweights without mentioning Nick Diaz. The Caesar Gracie-trained fighter may be a lightning rod of controversy, but there is no disputing the fact he brings the ruckus each and every time he steps into the cage.

Stockton’s finest battered Penn in his debut, but his momentum was halted in his next showing against Condit in Las Vegas at UFC 143.

Some found the decision controversial, and insult was added to injury when Diaz tested positive for marijuana following the fight. He was suspended by the Nevada State Athletic commission but with that sentence set to expire in early 2013, Diaz will be looking to come storming back into title contention.

The most pleasant surprise to show up in this mixture of contenders is Demian Maia. After failing to win a title at middleweight, the submission ace decided to try his hand in a lighter weight class. His debut against Dong Hyun Kim ended in strange circumstance as the South Korean suffered a freak rib injury 47 seconds into their bout. Maia walked away with the victory but truly hadn’t shown anything in the process.

Any questions surrounding his talent as a welterweight vanished this weekend in Rio as Maia brutally submitted Rick Story in the first round of their bout. The Brazilian wasted no time getting back to his roots as he set about wrapping Story up, taking him to the ground and locking in a fight ending submission.

Story attempted to fight off the choke as long as he could, but when Maia adjusted the hold to a neck crank, the young wrestler quickly tapped. A change of grip, some spouting blood from the nose, and Maia launched himself into the mix in the welterweight division.

With St. Pierre returning and a host of fighters looking to become the next champion, the UFC’s welterweight division has emerged as the organization’s most competitive weight class. The next 12 months have the potential to shift the long-standing power balance and bring a new wave of talent into the picture.

The great thing is that MMA fans will not have to wait long to see this story play. The welterweight show is about to take center stage, and it will be exciting to see who rises and falls in the process.

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Jon Fitch: Losing Isn’t an Option

Over the course of his mixed martial arts career, Jon Fitch has seen it all. For the past five years, the Indiana native has been considered one of the world’s top fighters at 170 pounds. He holds victories over some of the division’s best, and on the …

Unfortunately for the American Kickboxing Academy trained fighter, a series of injuries and a first-round loss to Johny Hendricks have threatened to push him out of the sport’s upper tier.

But if there is one thing about Fitch you can pick up from his time in the Octagon, it is resilience. While he has spent his entire career testing the heart and spirit of the opposition, Fitch now finds himself under the microscope. He knows the first step in his rejuvenation begins with a victory over Erick Silva at UFC 153 because losing is simply not an option.

“Honestly it has to be,” Fitch told Bleacher Report in regard to the next chapter of his career. “If this fight doesn’t go the way I need it to, I’m kind of at a loss of what to do next. Losing fights is not paying the bills. It is not really an option for me to go out there and not perform well or not put on a good show. I’m really looking for the ‘Fight of the Night’ bonus. That is something which is really going to put some distance between me and financial problems.

“Fans are going to see a man who is highly motivated and a man who is driven to perform well. They are going to see a man who has to perform well, not just for himself, but for his family and career.”

The saying in MMA is “styles make fights,” and there a few better examples in contrasting styles than Fitch and Silva.

The young Brazilian brings a unique blend of speed, power and accuracy into the cage. During his three fights in the UFC, Silva has made short work inside the cage, as he’s dispatched all three opponents in quick and dominant fashion. He has yet to make it out of the opening round under the UFC banner, and that is one of the areas Fitch will look to test the young prospect.

“My intention is to drop him into deep water,” Fitch said. “He’s a prospect, very explosive, with a lot of ability, but he hasn’t been tested. In his career leading up to the UFC, he wasn’t really tested. That can mislead a lot of people and the fighters themselves because fast knockouts or fast finishes over opponents who get finished and knocked out often could build a false sense of confidence.”

When Fitch’s grinding style of fighting is mentioned, criticism is sure to follow. Over his seven years on the sport’s biggest stage, he has held the line as a perennial contender.

Despite carrying one of the highest winning percentages of any fighter in the organization, a lengthy run of decision victories and a wrestling-heavy attack have put Fitch on the defensive where fans are concerned.

The ideology of being a better fighter who can impose his will on the opposition at anytime is something which drives a wedge between the sport’s fanbase, and Fitch believes it is a point the fans miss.

“I think that concept is a little bit lost in MMA today,” Fitch said. “On top of that, I believe I receive unfair criticism. If you look at the guys I’ve fought and the fighters I’ve been matched up against, they are not people who get finished often or ever. I think that is lost on a lot of people. Take a guy like Mike Pierce who has never been finished. A guy like Akihiro Gono, who at the time I fought him, had been finished four times in a 15-year career. He’s fought guys like Dan Henderson. He’s fought multiple times against opponents several weight classes past his size. The list goes on with a lot of the guys I’ve fought.

“I still don’t get credit for great performances against really tough guys who are very tough to finish. I think people are kind of superficial with their fandom in this sport. Sometimes I think they are more impressed with somebody beating up an opponent who isn’t that good in quick fashion rather than a drawn out battle between two guys who are top tier and very good at what they do. If you are a better fighter than me, then you are going to be able to stop what I’m trying to do and be able to take advantage of whatever holes in my game you find.”

When he steps into the Octagon Saturday night in Rio de Janeiro, Fitch will be a man at a distinct crossroads of his life and career. The 34-year-old is fully aware of everything teetering on the line and knows only one result will suffice.

This is a case of the savvy veteran versus the dynamic young prospect, and Fitch intends to prove the time for a change in positions has not yet come.

He will square off against Silva in the Brazilian’s home country and rather than allow the pressure of the situation to set in, Fitch believes he will harness the energy of the spirited crowd in Rio.

“It is something I think I’m going to be able to feed off of,” Fitch said about fighting in Brazil. “I love it when the crowd is excited, screaming and going nuts. It is something I missed and really didn’t have in a wrestling background. When I played football in high school, it was there, but not when it came to wrestling. We had a very good team and performed well, but the crowds weren’t there going crazy.

“Being able to to be in that type of environment with that type of crowd creates a lot of energy to feed off of and I’m looking forward to it.”

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UFC 153: Rick Story Looking to Battle His Way Back to Top 10 Status

Last year Rick Story’s name was on the watch list of surging contenders in the UFC welterweight division. The Vancouver, WA native had put together an impressive six-fight win streak, and with his victory over Johny Hendricks and next Thiago Alves at U…

Last year Rick Story‘s name was on the watch list of surging contenders in the UFC welterweight division. The Vancouver, WA native had put together an impressive six-fight win streak, and with his victory over Johny Hendricks and next Thiago Alves at UFC 130, positioned himself in the Top 10 of his weight class.

Story was ready to square off with the division’s best, and when the opportunity to step up on short notice to fight Nate Marquardt arose, he attempted to seize it. But it was a fight he would never see, and following a storm of circumstance which resulted in a loss to last minute replacement Charlie Brenneman, Story suddenly found himself once again on the outside looking in.

“It still bugs me to this day,” Story told Bleacher Report. “I hadn’t experienced that before and didn’t know how to deal with the situation. I still lost and I have to accept it. I have to prove myself. Everyone almost remembers me for that fight. They don’t realize I’ve had two fights since. Every conversation I hear people are saying they saw my last fight with Brenneman. I get haunted by it quite a bit.”

The 28 year old attempted to get back on track as quickly as possible, but a unanimous decision loss in his next outing against Martin Kampmann kept that from happening. It was the first time in his career Story had tasted defeat in back to back outings. The Brave Legion fighter refused to focus on the negatives and channeled that energy into his training. He returned to the gym and locked his sights on making his way back to where he feels he belongs—amongst the divisional elite.

After getting back to the win column at the expense of Brock Jardine at UFC on FX 4, Story is focused on the next task in Demian Maia at UFC 153 this Saturday night in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

“When the fight with Jardine was over it was a sense of mission accomplished,” Story said. “I accomplished what I wanted to. I didn’t get it done up to my expectations because when I go out to fight I want to lay a beating on my opponent and make everyone watching happy that watches me fight. I don’t want to be one of those people where fans don’t want to see me fight. I don’t want to be in that category. I want to be an exciting fighter everyone looks forward to seeing fight.

“This fight with Maia is going to be a dang fight. It’s not going to be a fight like my last fight with Brock Jardine—I can tell you that much. This going to be way more action packed.”

The bout between Story and Maia is the classic “wrestler vs. jiu-jitsu” matchup. While both fighters have shown a willingness to stand and exchange in recent years, Story isn’t sugar-coating what he will be dealing with on Saturday night. Story knows the threats Maia brings to the table, and is looking forward to testing the Brazilian’s heart in his home country.

“I probably won’t feel anything different until I hear my name announced,” Story said about fighting in Brazil. “I’ll probably get booed but as of right now it doesn’t feel different. I’m not really paying attention to any of that. I am paying attention to whether I’m the underdog in this fight or not. That is motivation for me because it seems the underdog angle is where I have been coming from my entire life. It is a place of comfort for me and gives me more motivation.

“All the facts are out there about this fight. It is what it is. Everyone knows my strengths and everyone knows Demian‘s strengths as well. I believe wrestling is better than jiu-jitsu as far as fighting is concerned. High level wrestling is far more adaptable to MMA than jiu-jitsu is in my opinion, especially where striking is concerned. If it gets slowed down and turns into a grappling match, I’m going to have my hands full, but everyone knows the facts in this fight. There aren’t any secrets here.”

The fight will only be the second appearance for Maia at 170 pounds. A freak injury to Dong Hyun Kim halted his welterweight debut inside of the first minute and didn’t reveal much about Maia’s skill set in his new weight class.

“Making the weight is always an issue for anyone fighting,” Story said. “Him coming down and having a 47 second fight with Dong Hyun Kim doesn’t really show anything. Anyone can be strong for the first minute of any fight. This is going to be new ground for him and I’ll be happy to take him there.”

While his immediate focus rests on Maia, Story’s ultimate goal is to become a UFC champion. It was a road he was traveling at a steady pace, and while the path has taken some twists and turns, he is confident he can not only regain the position, but take himself to the top.

It will all come down to Saturday night at UFC 153. Story is aware of where he currently stands in the division and believes he belongs in the next tier of the weight class. With that being said, he is excited and ready to prove it inside the Octagon.

“A win over Maia will definitely sling shot me back in the direction I want to go,” Story said. “I am not going to make any predictions about where it is going to put me. I know who I have beaten, who I can hang with, and where I belong. I just have to prove it. I have to get it done and then wait for the next call from the UFC to see where they want me to go.

“I’d like to say thanks to my team at Brave Legion and my coach Pat White. I’d also like to say thank you to my teammates Luis Iniguez, Tommy Takemoto, Hamza Salim, and my brother Tyler Story for helping me prepare for this fight. I’d also like to thank my sponsor Hayabusa.”

To learn more about Rick Story follow him on Twitter @Rick_Story and his Brave Legion Gym at www.infernoclubs.com.

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UFC 153: Silva vs. Bonnar: An MMA Oddity

This Saturday night in Rio de Janeiro at UFC 153, the greatest mixed martial artist the sport has ever known will once again step into the Octagon to put his skills on display.Over the past seven years, Anderson Silva has built a legacy unmatched thus …

This Saturday night in Rio de Janeiro at UFC 153, the greatest mixed martial artist the sport has ever known will once again step into the Octagon to put his skills on display.

Over the past seven years, Anderson Silva has built a legacy unmatched thus far in the sport’s history, and he’s accomplished this feat by turning the world’s best into highlight reel victims.

We’ve all seen the front-kick knockout of Vitor Belfort. We have been amazed by his hands-down, Ali-esque laser beaming of Forrest Griffin. We have seen “The Spider” poetically dismantle the opposition sent his way as he has earned his place at the very top of the sport.

This is a man who handles his business inside the cage, and the next task at hand is Stephan Bonnar at UFC 153. Crazy, right? At least, that was my original sentiment when the fight was announced, but that opinion has since changed.

When measuring the madness of this situation, you must keep several key factors in mind: The decision to make the bout came in the wake of Jose Aldo’s injury and subsequent withdrawal from his fight with Frankie Edgar.

This turn of events left the UFC without a main event for the upcoming card, and from out of this chaos, one of the strangest matchups in UFC history was born. Silva and Bonnar agreed to fight on short notice and the UFC machine continued onward towards Brazil.

This fight pits two men at distinctly different places on the MMA spectrum willing to throw their best in search of victory. While this scenario is a rare occurrence in the fast-paced world of the UFC, matchups of similar pairing are weaved throughout the history of combat sports.

Whether this fight between Silva and Bonnar have what it takes to shake the foundation remains to be seen, but what is there will be an opportunity for the biggest upset in UFC history and the pound-for-pound king to fight in his home country.

UFC President Dana White recently labeled this bout a “fun fight,” and because of the potential chaos lingering in the balance I wholeheartedly agree. Should Bonnar do the unthinkable and defeat Silva, the MMA world gets turned on its ear. This is by no means a conventional matchup to any degree of belief, but the odd nature of the fight is what makes it so appealing.

Due to the increased competitiveness of the divisional pictures, we are conditioned to seeing champions defend their belts in each outing. Nearly every weight class under the UFC banner has a competitive upper tier and this warrants the belt-holder fending off the next emerging contender.

This is simply the way things are done and every system needs order and structure. These are the cogs which keep the machine in motion but every now and again, a circumstance will arise where unconventional methods fit. Silva vs. Bonnar is precisely this situation.

There will be no belt on the line, only varying levels of opportunity. For Bonnar, the upside is tremendous. Minus being violently robbed of his consciousness, he has nothing to lose.

In what will most likely be the final showing of his career, Bonnar will be given the chance to blast himself into the stratosphere of MMA folklore. For a man who is credited as one half of the fight that saved the UFC, and who has never been able to break into elite level status, this is the perfect setting for a swan song.

If he is forever linked with Forrest Griffin and by comparison they are Black Sabbath, this is his Ozzy Osbourne moment. UFC 153 could be his “Crazy Train.” At the same time, it could be Ozzy singing the National Anthem at Wrigley Field, but finding out is the exciting part.

Things look different on the Silva side of the fence. He is approaching the end of his career and is looking to finish his run in proper fashion.

Will a victory over Bonnar be a crowning jewel? Absolutely not. But his willingness to fight outside of his weight class and to headline a card at a crucial moment when the organization he has become a legend fighting for needed him most; those become gems in the royal scepter.

In the past examples we have seen where the opposition genuinely shows up to fight him, the best version of Silva emerges, and the opportunity to see a great fighter work his science is always something worth seeing in my humble opinion.

The UFC isn’t attempting to sell Bonnar as the man who holds the answer to the Silva puzzle, but you can guarantee he will try like hell to figure it out. Bonnar knows what he is walking into. He has embraced the mystique of the man he is fighting and appears to be strangely excited for it. The guy isn’t called “The American Psycho” for nothing.

As for Silva, this fight is about the here and now. His legacy is rock solid. The most dominant champion in UFC history has set records which may never be broken and has publicly voiced his intention to retire undefeated under the organization’s banner.

Silva’s accomplishments are unparalleled, and the biggest fights of his career could still hang somewhere on the horizon. He is fully aware this is a fight he should win and intends to do exactly that on Saturday night.

Against overwhelming odds in hostile territory, Bonnar will attempt to do what no one in the UFC has done before. That still sounds crazy to me but it’s just the right amount of crazy I can get behind.

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