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MMA: Have the Heavyweight Divisions Lost Some of Their Fire?

Strikeforce came to Texas and brought on the second installment of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix.The HW GP fighters on the card were Josh Barnett vs. Brett Rogers, and Alistair Overeem vs. Fabricio Werdum. By the end of the night, Barnett had …

Strikeforce came to Texas and brought on the second installment of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix.

The HW GP fighters on the card were Josh Barnett vs. Brett Rogers, and Alistair Overeem vs. Fabricio Werdum. By the end of the night, Barnett had risen victorious in a submission victory in the second round, and will now face Sergei Kharitonov.

The main event did not go as quickly or exciting as the co-main, however. Watching Overeem and Werdum fight was like a flashback to Anderson Silva vs. Thales Leites.

As soon as Overeem would close the distance, Werdum would fall to his back and teasingly invite and plead for Alistair to join him on the ground. Alistair did not oblige him.

What did happen was that Overeem seemed to hold back his hands and would not let them go. In fact, Werdum many times got the better of striking exchanges. In the end, Overeem walked away with a decision win, and will advance to face Antonio Silva.

Alistair Overeem, Fedor Emelianenko, and Fabricio Werdum are arguably three of the most well known and popular fighters in the heavyweight division of Strikeforce, however their performances recently have been quite abnormal and not impressive.

With Fedor’s two losses in a row, Alistair’s struggle with Werdum, and Werdum apparently not wanting to keep the fight flowing, is the heavyweight division starting to look less exciting?

Of course, Werdum was using his advantages and strategy for the fight, but one has to look at his stamina and willingness to engage. Both he, and Overeem, did not look like the fighters many had hyped them up to be.

Fedor, whom many revered as one of the greatest of all time, was submitted quickly in his fight vs. Werdum, and then was dominated by Antonio Silva.

Right after his bout with “Bigfoot,” he made remarks about possible retirement in the near future. With his new opponent, Dan Henderson, he has the chance to gain his aura back.

But for now, how do fans view the heavyweight division in Strikeforce? Before, fans have expressed that Strikeforce’s HW division is better than the UFC’s.

One has to wonder after a fight like Overeem vs. Werdum, and Rogers losing his fight, does the heavyweight division still have the strength it did before?

In boxing right now, many people believe that the reason the sport is not as popular as it used to be, is because it is missing a good heavyweight division.

In fact, if Pacquiao and Mayweather do ever fight, boxing could have nothing much left after to offer the Pay-Per-View community.

But how does the UFC heavyweights stack up against the Strikeforce ones?

If the UFC and Strikeforce ever decide to merge, or if the HW fighters sign with the other organization, we will see how some of these potentially exciting matchups will play out.

The heavyweight division in MMA has always been one of the divisions that has had great fluctuations of talent and popularity. But are fighters like Emelianenko, Werdum, and Overeem able to keep it afloat?

With both UFC and Strikeforce being under the same roof, the HW division is sure to get the attention it needs from the company, but as far as pleasing the fans, we very well may be hitting a lull.

With media-magnet fighters like Brock Lesnar being sidelined, the UFC’s Heavyweights seem to be composed of guys who are very tall, very round, or get very gassed.

Not to say they are bad fighters, since all are very good and fight on the most prestigious stage in the sport, but as far as promotionally, the divisions of the UFC and Strikeforce could be stronger.

But this article wants to ask YOU, the fans, what you think of Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum, and the heavyweight divisions in general in MMA.

Is it losing its luster? Is it doing just fine? Who needs to fight each other to make a great Heavyweight bout? Who are some of your all-time heavyweight favorites and why? And last but not least, if there were a MMA Heavyweight Hall of Fame, what three fighters would you put in it?

Leave your answers and comments below!

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Arianny Celeste: The UFC’s Number One Octagon Girl

The Octagon girls are no strangers to anyone who is a fan of MMA. Their simple, yet important role in an event is sometimes overlooked. Their jobs at the events is to put on their outfits, and then hold round cards up while walking around the perimeter…

The Octagon girls are no strangers to anyone who is a fan of MMA. Their simple, yet important role in an event is sometimes overlooked.

Their jobs at the events is to put on their outfits, and then hold round cards up while walking around the perimeter of the cage. Simple. But along with that, they play a bigger role.

It is always nice to have balance, and for a sport filled with predominantly sweaty, half-naked men wrestling on the ground or in a hold, having some ladies next to the cage and between rounds is a welcomed thing for most.

But for these girls, it does not have to be that simple. Take Arianny Celeste for example. Arguably the most popular card girl now, and maybe most popular to date, she has created her own image and identity just as significant as any of the fighters. She is becoming just as well known and media friendly as some of the MMA executives.

Why is this?

She does not simply just do her job and leave it at that. She extends her involvement with the company and remains in the public eye. Of course her physical appearance tends to be half of the equation, but she is also involved in more organization functions.

Arianny hosts the UFC.com’s popular UFC Ultimate Insider, which is a weekly installment of news, interviews, recaps and more. Not only that, she almost always attends any social function the UFC puts on.

Meeting her for the first time, she seemed very willing to engage her fans and be amongst them, instead of on a stage or in front of a barricade. Whether it is a fan expo, community outreach or other promotional outlet, her face is always around somewhere.

Currently, she is becoming more fluent with media outreach. With her cover debut of Maxim and being put in their Hot 100 list, she has made herself known to the world outside of MMA.

But then she took it a little further. Arianny was featured as the cover girl of Playboy magazine in November of 2010. Once again, she created a media boom that would continue to resonate.

Sometimes when a celebrity has always been covered up and people wanted them to show more skin, once they do, they can lose some of their luster. For Arianny, she has continued to put herself out there and it helps in a counteracting way.

Her recent commercial with Bud Light, which features her topless surrounded by limes, is nothing short of a perfect example of “sex sells.” Also, she is the newest cover girl for the latest issue of UFC magazine. This continuous growth aides in retaining her popularity.

She has created an image so successful that even the UFC online store has given Ms. Celeste her own cardboard standup along with big name fighters. She is featured fashioning the newest apparel for the UFC and is involved with the video games as well.

We do not know how long her reign of popularity will last, but she will still be a significant part of UFC history, just as Rachelle Leah had done before her. Wherever the UFC goes, Arianny Celeste is surely to be alongside.

Who do you think is the best ring card girl and why? Share your thoughts below!

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UFC Undisputed 3 and the Past, Present, and Future

Since its debut in video games on the Playstation original and Dreamcast, MMA video games have come a long way. The UFC though, has been the brand to corner the market of the digital MMA world. With its original game “Ultimate Fighting Championsh…

Next came a series of games; UFC Tapout, UFC Tapout 2, UFC Sudden Impact, and UFC Throwdown. All improved upon the last, but still failed to capture the aura of the sport and never made giant leaps forward.

The ground game for many of these titles was very simple, and very one-sided. The graphics and rosters were limited and the presentation was nothing more than just selecting your character and fighting.

That all changed in 2009.

In 2009, the UFC partnered with game developer THQ and created UFC Undisputed 2009. The game brought realism, an impressive roster and many great modes for UFC and MMA fans to enjoy. It truly was the biggest step forward for MMA in the video game world.

Then came UFC Undisputed 2010, which added a more defined career and presentation experience and many new mechanics. They added a sway system and a fighting against the cage mechanic that an Anderson Silva and Randy Couture play date would inevitably facilitate. Even in the PS3 version, FIVE Blu-Ray fights were included with the game, showing the integration of the real thing with the video game.

Meawhile, EA Sports, a competitor at the time, released EA Sports MMA, giving the Strikeforce fans the game they wanted. The game featured a strong roster of talent, the Showtime presentation, simple career development and intuitive ground game controls. Also, an arcade style title that showacased a more underground and less professional MMA game called Supremacy MMA, was recently released.

The yearly deadline for the UFC Undisputed franchise posed a problem to the developers, who did not want to just shovel out a new installment without properly making it a “new” installment. Plus, with UFC and MMA being a non-seasonal sport, the developers can choose to release a new title whenever they want, thus getting rid of the year in the title.

It seems the developers have made a good choice and the wait will be worth it. With the recent announcement of the latest and greatest, UFC Undisputed 3, the video game community has erupted in excitement.

Early media has shown that a new presentation, a Pride mode, and an enhanced roster of over 150 fighters including the WEC divisions are some of the things in store for fans of the series. For newcomers, they have made a simplified control scheme for those who choose to use it.

This is highly favored since a criticism in the past was the learning curve for the ground game. A complex system of rotating and stick gestures can now be expressed with directional pushes of the stick. The days of blistered palms are at an end.

Where this leads, we do not know, but one can only hope that the Strikeforce organization and fighters will be unified into one game. Also, women’s divisions would be a welcomed addition, and an added “The Ultimate Fighter” mode or career integration would be something this writer would like to see. With the use of UFC PT for Kinect, maybe the training could be integrated into the career mode using the Kinect peripheral.

Along with the video games that simulate the sport, UFC Personal Trainer will add the fitness aspect to it, which comes out at the end of this month. Using the likes of Greg Jackson and Mark Dellagrotte, this game should prove to be accurate and innovative in fitness gaming.

Available on all platforms, the true enjoyment for this game may come out of utilizing the PS Move and Xbox Kinect. Whether Steven Seagal will be downloadable content as a new trainer is yet to be seen, but this could start a wave of gamers front-kicking their TV’s into their neighbor’s houses.

Not only the video games, but at Xbox 360’s press conference at E3 2011, Dana White made a special announcement about UFC PPV events coming to Xbox Live. You will be able to watch them with an added enhanced experience for the viewer. For example, you can look up stats and make predictions while watching a fight.

With UFC taking the media Truly, UFC is becoming integrated into all facets of our lives, and is pioneering the MMA world toward being the greatest sport ever.

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GSP vs. Nick Diaz: What to Look Forward to at UFC 137

With the recent announcement of the GSP vs. Nick Diaz superfight, the MMA world has been set ablaze. Media and fans are jumping on every social site and outlet to share their thoughts on one of the biggest welterweight showdowns in MMA history. What ma…

What makes this a superfight is defined simply by the two men who will face each other. On one side, you have Georges St. Pierre, UFC Welterweight Champion and one of the pound-for-pound best fighters in MMA. On the other you have Diaz, Strikeforce Welterweight Champion and one of the top welterweights in the world.

GSP has dominated his division in the UFC, and Diaz is the last opponent to truly define him as one of, if not the best, welterweights of all time.

Diaz has won his past 10 fights in a row, and he has successfully been the only person to hold the Strikeforce welterweight title. Diaz has defended the belt three times since its inception.

Now he comes for GSP’s title.

Diaz is a fighter not afraid to exchange with his opponent. He pushes forward and does not let the pace slow down. This is one of the biggest reasons why this could be a very interesting fight.

Diaz has attained 25 career wins in MMA. Impressive, but overshadowed by the fact that 21 of those wins were finishes. Diaz has shown that his striking is effective and has led to many TKOs or his pedigree. But his dominant strength comes on the ground.

His jiu-jitsu, under the study of Cesar Gracie, is at a very high level. This makes him dangerous on the ground as well as standing up.

This matters because it makes him a more well-rounded opponent for GSP, who has fought high-level wrestlers or strikers in the past. But in October, fans will see GSP being tested in all areas.

The main criticism that follows the Canadian champion is that he does not finish his fights. Some say he fights safe, while others say he just either doesn’t have the ability or get the chance. Now he faces off against an opponent who finishes his fights and has very few wins by decision. It is very much a battle of opposites being pitted against one another. UFC vs. Strikeforce, decision winner vs. finisher, Canada vs. USA.

But the fact that Diaz likes to push so much may lead to an opportunity for GSP. Instead of sitting back and avoiding GSP’s takedowns, Diaz may very well come at him and try to be the aggressor. This could give GSP the chance to grasp a finish that fans and critics alike have been clamoring for. For media relations, GSP needs a finish. Diaz could be the perfect candidate.

But not to sell the Strikeforce champion short. Iron sharpens iron, as they say, and Diaz is in no short supply. Training with the likes of his brother Nate Diaz, Gilbert Melendez, and Jake Shields does nothing but improve his own abilities. With training partner Shields having been GSP’s most recent opponent, Shields may be able to shed some light and provide helpful tactics for Nick’s match against the UFC champ.

With his own desire to please the fans and continue his legacy, GSP may very well step into the Octagon in October with a different mindset. He could see it as an opportunity to silence the media or, conversely, to permanently define himself in the welterweight division of MMA.

Come October, we will all find out.

Who do you think will win and why? (Make you predictions here: Include winner, method, which round and why you think so!)

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UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre: Defining a Champion

Start up a conversation with anyone about mixed martial arts, and who are the best or favorite fighters, and inevitably one Canadian superstar tends to pop up. You will not find any list of pound-for-pound best without seeing Georges “Rush”…

GSP has been one of those fighters that comes along every so often that is able to adapt and improve himself as time goes on. He has proven his dominance in the cage and has truly written his name down in MMA history already.

When defining a champion, one has to look at a few factors.

By sheer numbers, the opponents they fought play a role, as well as the means in which they came out victorious. Beyond the arena, fans and critics alike look at a fighter’s character and demeanor to determine if they ACT like a champion.

Lastly, after winning the title, many believe that in order to be considered a “true” champion, they must defend their title at least once.

GSP is in no shortage of any of these factors. He has fought top name fighters such as Matt Hughes, Matt Serra, Josh Koscheck, Thiago Avles, Jake Shields, BJ Penn and more. He has defended his UFC title six times in a row, a feat that is impressive in an organization where titles change quickly in other weight divisions.

GSP now stands with a record of 22-2.

The one factor that is of controversy and debate is the HOW he was victorious in his fights. GSP is notoriously criticized by fans and critics alike about his inability to finish fights. It may be an inability, but even some fellow fighters have looked at their Canadian colleague and have indicated they thought he was playing it safe, and just trying not to lose instead of trying to win.

Having five out of the six title defenses be by decision, it does not help his case.

Whether or not he is playing it safe, his wins are still wins. With almost every fight, we see two things stand out.

We see what new developments he has made to his game, and we see his game plan unfold.

For example, after bringing on Freddie Roach to train him in boxing, GSP showcased his vast improvement in striking. Josh Koscheck can attest to that. Many have said that GSP is one of the smarter, if not the smartest, fighter.

He intelligently prepares and comes up with a game plan, and then executes it in the cage. He shows that he learns from his mistakes and pushes himself to be a better fighter each day.

A champion is a fighter that does not attain the belt, then sit back and wait. They train and study the same way they did to get to the top. GSP has proven that having the belt is not the summit for his legacy, but rather the beginning. He stays unsatisfied with himself to a degree and looks for new means of improving himself as a champion, an athlete and a mixed martial artist.

GSP may be the next best Canadian product aside from Mark Messier and Wayne Gretzky drinking maple syrup while riding a moose, Eh?

But he truly has been not only an ambassador for the fan-filled nation of Canada, but for the rest of the world as well. GSP is a name that people recognize far more than other fighters in MMA. With his sponsorships of Under Armour, ESPN, etc, he is not only a terrific fighter, but a very marketable one as well.

His humbleness inside and outside the cage is unwavering and helps his overall image as a champion.

Whether you are a fan of GSP or not, one cannot deny his ability as a fighter in the biggest organization in MMA. He still retains that 12 lbs of gold and does not show any signs of slowing down. Whether he loses his next fight or retires tomorrow, he will go down as one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time.

EPISODE TWO of “Defining a Champion” Series: Georges St. Pierre

What do YOU think is GSP’s defining factors that makes him a Champion? Please leave your answers and why in the Comments Section below!

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Defining a Champion: UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones

Jon Jones may just be another kid from New York, but what defines him are his accomplishments and persona that have landed the 23-year-old a place amongst the best in the world in mixed martial arts. He is the current Light Heavyweight UFC Champion after winning the belt from Mauricio “Shogun” Rua this past March and is currently the youngest champion in UFC history.

When defining a champion, one has to look at a few factors.

By sheer numbers, your opponents you fought play a role, as well as the means in which you came out victorious. Beyond the arena, fans and critics alike look at a fighter’s character and demeanor to determine if they act like a champion.

Lastly, after winning the title, many believe that in order to be considered a “true” champion, you must defend your title at least once. The UFC Light Heavyweight division is one that has proven to be very difficult to stay on top of. No champion in the division since 2007 has won the title and then successfully defended it against their next opponent (a different one in Lyoto Machida’s case).

In less than five years, the belt has gone to seven different people. Time will tell if he will be the one to break the trend and continue to hold the belt, but from what he has shown us so far, it is not as implausible as one might believe.

Number of People To Hold Title in Last 5 Years

Heavyweight: 4

Light Heavyweight: 7

Middleweight: 1

Welterweight: 3

Lightweight: 3

When you look at the defining features of a champion, it very much reflects the fighter that Jonny “Bones” Jones has become. From his unorthodox striking to his humble nature, he truly represents the sport well. His friendly nature, spirituality and athleticism are nothing short of inspiring for other fighters.

Jones says that watching other 23-years-olds become successful in this sport motivated him, and it helped him believe in himself. Inadvertently or not, he has become that role model himself.

The tattoo he dons on his chest says it all: “Philippians 4:13” which means, “I can do all things through Christ whom strengthens me.” Religious fans or not, he sets a great example for many. Because of his talents and overall demeanor, he becomes a great ambassador for the sport as well.

For an individual who has climbed the ladder so quickly, he remains full of energy and drive. His fighting is something to behold, after getting past the humble personality. Currently having the longest arm-reach in UFC history, his unorthodox striking mixed with his experience in wrestling creates a very well-rounded fighter after factoring in his continuing study of jiu-jitsu and Muay Thai.

His creativeness in the cage has proven to many to be an enigma on how to handle the 6’4’’ Jones. Currently with the record of 13 wins and one loss, he has skyrocketed himself onto the pound-for-pound top-10 lists and will surely climb the ranks as time goes on.

More bewildering than anything, Jones is nowhere close to his ability summit. Many people can build their legacy to a point, but Jones is a carpenter with a shopping spree to Home Depot.

Whether his next fight is taking on Rashad Evans, Lyoto Machida, Phil Davis or any other top contender, his legacy will once again continue to build toward one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time.

Where people whose abilities are described as “the sky’s the limit, Jonny “Bones” Jones has the potential to break free of the atmosphere.

EPISODE ONE of “Defining a Champion” Series: Jon Jones

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