In Mixed Martial Arts, as with any sport, you have the discussion about who is the best of the best. While many times this is a subjective topic and one that can’t ever be proven fully, fans love to have an organized list and to debate who is the…
In Mixed Martial Arts, as with any sport, you have the discussion about who is the best of the best. While many times this is a subjective topic and one that can’t ever be proven fully, fans love to have an organized list and to debate who is the best athlete of the time, and of all time.
In the sport of MMA, there is a slightly different dynamic. Most sports are team based, and while fighters do have their camps, they are individual athletes once they step in the cage. Rankings shift, fighters get sick or injured and the rankings shift some more. While the Top 10 pound-for-pound list for MMA fighters has constantly morphed, one man has remained steadfast in his position on top of the hill.
The best Middleweight to ever grace the Octagon and MMA—and arguably the best fighter ever— Anderson “The Spider” Silva has formed a legacy that will not soon be forgotten. While fans may view the likes of Georges St. Pierre, Fedor Emelianenko or Jon Jones as better candidates for the GOAT title, there is no denying that Silva has been the most dominant champion and deserves credit toward his athleticism and abilities.
Silva is on a reign that has lasted since 2006; 2005 if you don’t count the disqualification from the Okami fight. However, the Brazilian superstar has also been fighting professionally since 1997. Silva turned 37 this year; a number not many fighters have continued to find success in, and one that has never been reached by many before retiring.
While Silva still shows creative dominance and an unprecedented fighting prowess, one must wonder, how much longer does he have left?
Silva’s manager in recent past has mentioned Silva has only a handful of fights left, but no one can get a read on what he plans to do. Some feel he might retire after his upcoming rematch with Chael Sonnen, and some feel he will move up in weight. Some think he needs to fight a few more times at Middleweight, or at least until he loses.
It is hard to get a read on Silva because he continues to put on astounding performances. He has shown very little sign of wear and tear, and physically you would never realize he is a professional fighter at all. Being very elusive with great head movement, Silva has also avoided trauma to the head, certainly giving him some longevity in his career.
According to CompuStrike, in his fight with Chael Sonnen, Sonnen hit Silva close to 300 times, while in his first 11 UFC fights totaled up, he was only hit around 200 times. Sonnen showed dominance in his fight with Silva, but the BJJ black belt showed that even from the brink of defeat, he will find a way to win. The Sonnen fight was not a sign of a down-slide, but just reiterated the fact that Silva has some issues with wrestling. TRT and broken rib aside, Silva has never been a great wrestler.
If he decides to keep fighting, he has the winner of Munoz vs. Weidman to keep in mind, as well as Alan Belcher. Many fans want to skip all of that and see Silva face the winner of Brian Stann vs. Hector Lombard. There are still great fights for him at Middleweight, but what Silva ultimately decides to do is only known to him.
While in the cage he hasn’t shown wear and tear like others his age, he is starting to be plagued by injury more often. From his ribs to his shoulders to his knees, Silva is showing these acute signs of a possible down slope. Injuries happen all the time, but when it happens at his age, people start to wonder what state his body is in.
With each fight, Silva breaks records, and with each fight, we are closer to seeing the end of an astounding legacy. Silva could retire tomorrow and still go down in the hall of fame as one of the best fighters to ever live.
While we all have been fortunate to have watched “The Spider” climb up the spout, the water will come one day; whether from his own decision or at the hands of another. If Sonnen beats Silva come July 7th, it will be the burning question if Silva will climb up the spout again. Regardless of when he hangs up the gloves, he will still be remembered as one of the greatest of all time.
Whether you just have a short downtime during work, or don’t want a lengthy breakdown, these “Quick Breaks” are for you. “Quick Breaks” are short breakdowns of upcoming fights. In a summed up focus of strengths, weaknesses and variables, th…
Whether you just have a short downtime during work, or don’t want a lengthy breakdown, these “Quick Breaks” are for you. “Quick Breaks” are short breakdowns of upcoming fights. In a summed up focus of strengths, weaknesses and variables, this will analyze what could happen in the fight, and end with this writer’s prediction.
The end of The Ultimate Fighter Live is upon us and a new finalist will emerge. The UFC will go to the Palms Casino Resort in Paradise, Nevada for the finale of Team Cruz vs. Team Faber. While Mike Chiesa and Al Iaquinta will fight for the contract, two welterweights will headline the event to determine yet another top contender. GSP is away, and Condit is the interim champion. Johny Hendricks has earned a title shot, but Jake Ellenberger and Martin Kampmann will face off to make their own statements toward a title shot.
In the blue corner you have Martin Kampmann. “The Hitman” is currently 19-5 and riding a two-fight winning streak. The past few years have been up and down for him, but after submitting Thiago Alves, he is once again on the hunt to move past more than two wins in a row—something he hasn’t done since 2008. Kampmann is a very well-rounded fighter, with great submissions and great striking. He is confident wherever the fight goes, and he will face an opponent who is ready to test his striking prowess.
In the red corner you have Jake Ellenberger. Ellenberger is 27-5 and is riding a huge six-fight winning streak. If one thing can be said for Ellenberger, it’s that he has power in his hands. His striking has led him to 17 knockout or technical knockout victories. While he hasn’t shown his ground game and won via submission since 2006, he is a talented NCAA wrestler, and has now evolved into a complete MMA fighter.
Kampmann is not afraid to get into a standing war, but he may want to take this fight to the ground. Ellenberger’s wrestling is strong and it will be hard to control him, but the submission advantage goes to Kampmann. On their feet, Ellenberger will be looking for a knockout. Kampmann has lost by knockout or technical knockout before, and we will see if Jake can put him away, or take him to a decision. Ellenberger has mostly lost decisions, but one loss came by submission.
While this fight does have a great chance of ending in submission (Kampmann) or knockout or technical knockout (Ellenberger), this is one that could also easily go to a decision, but be “fight of the night.”
Prediction: Jake Ellenberger wins via unanimous decision
Whether you just have a short downtime during work or don’t want a lengthy breakdown, these “Quick Breaks” are for you. “Quick Breaks” are short breakdowns of upcoming fights. In a summed-up focus of strengths, weaknesses and variables, thi…
Whether you just have a short downtime during work or don’t want a lengthy breakdown, these “Quick Breaks” are for you. “Quick Breaks” are short breakdowns of upcoming fights. In a summed-up focus of strengths, weaknesses and variables, this will analyze what could happen in the fight and end with this writer’s prediction.
UFC 146 is now upon us, and it brings us the UFC’s first-ever all-heavyweight main card. This event takes place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Headlining the card is a heavyweight championship showdown between Junior “Cigano” Dos Santos and Frank Mir.
In the blue corner, you have Frank Mir, who is riding a three-fight win streak. He is currently 16-5 and is a two-time heavyweight champion. No stranger to a title shot, Frank Mir has shown his composure and technicality in his fights, and he will be well-prepared for this match. Also, more than half of his wins have come by submission.
Coming off a huge win against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, where he submitted the BJJ expert and broke his arm, Mir has great momentum going into this fight. He will look to once again attain the UFC gold.
In the red corner, you have the champion, Junior Dos Santos. JDS has shown great striking prowess and is arguably one of the best boxers in MMA. His heavy hands and technical striking have led him to be 14-1 in his career, riding a nine-fight winning streak and unbeaten in the UFC. Out of his 14 victories, 10 have been by KO/TKO. The heavyweight title has not been defended more than twice, and Junior looks to cement his legacy and prove he is a true champion.
Styles make fights, as they say, and this one will certainly be a war of style. In this fight, you have arguably the best striker in the HW division facing arguably the best submission specialist in the division.
Frank Mir does have hands, and his striking should never be overlooked, but on the ground, he is another animal. If this fight goes to the ground, Mir could emerge victorious. JDS does have BJJ skills, but he has not shown the need to use those skills in his fights, and Mir statistically has the higher level.
Every fight starts standing, though, and the outcome will be determined on where the fight goes from there.
Prediction: Junior Dos Santos wins via TKO in the first round
With an impressive win over Dustin Poirier, Chan Sung Jung has made quite the statement for himself in the Featherweight division of the UFC. Now on a three-fight win streak, “The Korean Zombie” has his sights set on taking out Jose Aldo, t…
With an impressive win over Dustin Poirier, Chan Sung Jung has made quite the statement for himself in the Featherweight division of the UFC. Now on a three-fight win streak, “The Korean Zombie” has his sights set on taking out Jose Aldo, the current 145 lbs champ.
This is not only his third win in a row, but his third impressive win. The first was the UFC’s first ever Twister submission, and the second was the second-fastest knockout in the UFC’s history. To top it off, he now has added a D’arce choke following an incredible battle with Poirier.
Jose Aldo will be facing Erik Koch at UFC 149, so in order for this matchup to happen, Aldo must retain his title against Koch, who is riding a four-fight win streak. Since it is hard to bet against the champ, especially Aldo, let’s assume he keeps his belt for this purpose.
In the blue corner you have Jung, who has shown his dynamic and diverse set of skills and is willing to put everything he has into his fights. He is great on the ground, and does not mind slugging it out on the feet. Appropriately nicknamed “The Korean Zombie”, Jung will take punishment and keep pressing forward. While his style is sluggish at time, it creates an unorthodox style that is not typically expected.
In the red corner you have Aldo, who has proven time and time again his athleticism and explosive strikes. His leg kicks are lethal, and he is quick to throw unorthodox strikes himself. While he is a black belt in BJJ, he has not needed to use his ground game too often. Most of his finishes come by way of his hands or knees. Ranked high in the pound-for-pound lists, Aldo reigns supreme over his division and has shown very little sign of losing his belt anytime soon.
Jung may have not yet faced an opponent like Aldo, but his unique style and versatility could pose a problem for Aldo. Typically, the technique would win, but having an opponent that does not fight like everyone else, sometimes can cause issues for even the best of fighters. It is like when you play a video game you are very good at and the person you are playing against is so non-technical, it actually works for them a little.
If Jung can get this fight to the ground, he is clever and quick enough to find a submission. If this stays on the feet, Jung could very well have a short night. Jung has been knocked out cold from a vicious head kick before, and that was an experience that had him rethinking his life path. One thing is almost certain, and that’s you will probably see some knees thrown in this fight. Flying knees are no stranger to either man’s repertoire, and doing so quickly.
This fight will be an interesting style matchup, since while both are technical, but Jung is in a much more relaxed and awkward way. Aldo will want to use his quickness and legs for this matchup, and Jung will look to get in close and take him down. If this fight does get made, it will be a big seller, since both men are very popular and very talented. This fight has tremendous “fight of the night” potential.
Ian McCall is a relatively new name to the UFC, but has become very well-known from his first bout inside the Octagon against Demetrious Johnson. His highly controversial bout that was miscalculated by the judges has left McCall and Johnson with only o…
Ian McCall is a relatively new name to the UFC, but has become very well-known from his first bout inside the Octagon against Demetrious Johnson. His highly controversial bout that was miscalculated by the judges has left McCall and Johnson with only one solution: rematch. The two will face off again to determine Joseph Benavidez’s opponent for the inaugural UFC Flyweight championship title. Bleacher Report’s Gregory Chase spoke with Ian McCall on the aftermath of his fight, his background, and the man behind the mustache!
GC: UFC on FX 2 was a great night of fights, but the biggest story came from your bout with Demetrious Johnson. Quite a unique situation, how did you think the fight was playing out, going into the third round?
IM: Going into the third round, I thought it was one round to one. I thought I had won the first round and he won the second. You know, my coach said “You have to win this round,” so I went out there and did what I had to do, and I thought that was enough to win.
GC: Now after the event, there were videos of both you and Johnson being informed by Dana White of what had occurred with the scorecards. When he told you that what had happened, what was going through your head?
IM: I thought I was laughing to be honest with you! I really thought I was laughing, and then I watched the video and I was just staring at him. Maybe I was laughing on the inside [laughs], I’m not really sure! You know, I had a big **** eating grin on my face, and everyone keeps saying I just asked where my money was!
GC: Now you’ll have your chance to get a decisive win at the next UFC on FX event in June when you rematch Demetrious Johnson. In what ways are you preparing differently for the rematch?
IM: There’s not much difference. The gameplan is a little bit different, but not too much. We know where my strengths are against him, so we’re just kinda going to employ that stuff. You know, I wanna finish the fight. I like battles and stuff, but if I can really show my dominance and finish him, then that’s obviously what I want to do.
GC: Do you feel more confident in facing Johnson this time around, now that you know what his speed and style is like?
IM: Yeah. I was confident to begin with, I never doubted myself about the fight, but now I know that I am the better fighter than he is. I’m stronger, physically stronger, more aggressive; things like that. I know I can finish him, I know I can beat him up.
GC: So everyone is excited for this rematch, but because of the controversy, do you feel that you have gained a new level of popularity?
IM: Oh of course, you know, controversy does that. Any press is good press. So luckily I haven’t really gotten any bad press out of this. I think I’ve maybe heard one or two people say that he won out of however many thousand people. So I’m happy about it all.
GC: Let’s get to know Ian McCall a little better. Let’s start with the nickname “Uncle Creepy”. What’s the story behind that?
IM: My friend, his son calls me “Uncle Ian”, he just ended up calling me “Uncle Creepy” one night when I was trying to put him to bed. He wanted to play with a skateboard at like three in the morning, and he just called me Uncle Creepy and everybody heard. You know, I’m not a fan of nicknames. I think they’re stupid, but it’s one of those things where I always make fun of people with nicknames; especially people whom give their nickname to themselves. You know, if you give yourself a nickname, I already don’t like you.
GC: Now what got you into MMA? What drew you to it?
IM: I’ve been doing martial arts my whole life. I saw UFC 1, UFC 2, you know, all the ones I could see. If I didn’t see them live, I rented them. I just always wanted to do it. I liked fighting as a kid, it always interested me. I always got in fights as a kid. I think I was always a little quick to throw blows. I like fighting. If someone, when you were a kid, especially as small as I was; people always want to talk ****. It was like they didn’t expect me to be ready to fight at the drop of a hat. You know when little kids go back and forth and they just push each other…well if someone pushed me, I would punch them. I was never the kid who was getting into a shoving match. I was “Okay, you pushed me, I’m punching you in the mouth” [laughs]. Maybe that was just because it is what I was taught, but I still obviously enjoy it; it’s the ultimate test of MAN. It makes me feel good.
GC: The mustache is a symbol for you, why did you pick that style? And what does the Mrs. think of it?
IM: Oh, my wife hates it! But she knows it pays the bills. She knows that it pays my rents and she’s okay with it. It kinda just happened one day. You know, the nickname just happened, the mustache…I think I just grew a beard out, I was being lazy, I just grew out a huge beard. Then I just trimmed it, and it just ended up happening like that and I thought it was funny so I kept it. The joke turned into more than a joke, and now I can’t shave the freakin’ thing! People won’t let me!
GC: Now you are a father to an adorable baby girl, is that a future fighter in the making?
IM: No no no! [Laughs] She won’t be a fighter. I mean, maybe she’ll do a little bit of jiu-jitsu or something growing up just because she’s with me at the gym.
GC: Everlast did a promotion once where they asked people the question “What do you fight for? Finish the sentence, I fight for [blank].
IM: Man…I fight for my family. I fight for my wife, daughter, and my two dogs that I have to feed. That’s what I fight for.
GC: Now aside from fighting and rocking the mustache, what do you enjoy doing outside the Octagon? Any hobbies or interests?
IM: You know, I live fast. I like the beach, I grew up on the beach. I don’t surf as much anymore, but just being at the beach. Just being in the water is like church, man, you know….that’s holy ground. During training camp and stuff, I don’t go as much. But when it’s the summer time, especially now that I have a little girl, I go to the beach as much as possible.
GC: Now you have a few different tattoos, what are they and what do they mean?
IM: On my leg and my ribs it says “War” in Japanese, and I got three Japanese Gods of war on my side. On my leg it’s a snake, a Japanese snake with another God of war. Basically all my Japanese tattoos are war-based. And I’m sure I’ll connect my rib to my leg and my arm. Then on my chest I have “Capulet.” I’m a big Romeo and Juliet guy. Then I got the sacred heart from Romeo and Juliet on my chest. I got a new one on my hand that’s Shakespeare: “These violent delights have violent ends.” I just found out that it’s the same [laughs]…the girl says it in Twilight. I saw one of the Twilights for the first time last night and realized; yes, I have a twilight tattoo.
GC: Is that something you are saying in pride or disappointment?
IM: Kinda disappointment, like “Oh man, really?!….REALLY? No one told me that before I got it? [Laughs]
GC: As a fighter, I want to get your thoughts on the whole TRT, PED, any drug under the sun in MMA. What do you think of the whole Overeem situation for example?
IM: You know, I don’t think steroids give you an advantage in MMA at all. Like honestly, I don’t think they give you a tactical advantage. Being buff isn’t….you know…muscles are for ****ies. Like, I have low testosterone; I’ve gotten this far with low testosterone, I don’t’ really care. If someone wants to do that stuff and I’m going to fight them, I don’t care, they can do it all they want. You know, I think especially if someone is hurt, they should do it. You know, we’re here for entertainment; it’s our job to do what we have to do to recover as fast as possible so we can put on a show.
GC: Now because you have low testosterone, is TRT something you would consider?
IM: Yeah, I’ve been thinking about it. Obviously I have to go to the UFC about it. I don’t know, like I said, I’ve gotten this far without it…I don’t know if I need it. I just found out, not too long ago; before my last fight. I’m not too sure if I want to do it or what. I have to talk to my coaches and my doctors about it, and talk to the UFC about it too.
GC: Last thing, give me the official prediction for the highly anticipated rematch between Ian “Uncle Creepy” McCall and Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson. Who wins, what round, what method?
IM: Hmm…well….I’m going to win obviously. Third round, ground and pound. Just like last time, but I’ll finish him this time.
Whether you just have a short downtime during work or don’t want a lengthy breakdown, these “Quick Breaks” are for you. “Quick Breaks” are short breakdowns of upcoming fights. In a summed-up focus of strengths, weaknesses and variables, thi…
Whether you just have a short downtime during work or don’t want a lengthy breakdown, these “Quick Breaks” are for you. “Quick Breaks” are short breakdowns of upcoming fights. In a summed-up focus of strengths, weaknesses and variables, this will analyze what could happen in the fight and end with a prediction.
The UFC will return to Fuel TV once more for its third event. The event takes place on May 15 at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Virginia. Headlining the main event is an exciting Featherweight matchup between Chan Sun Jung and Dustin Poirier.
In the blue corner you have Poirier, who is currently on a five-fight winning streak and has only one loss in his career. Poirier has been on a tear since coming over to the UFC from the WEC,and has recently racked up two submission wins in his last two fights. While he has found success on the ground, Jung may be the man to match him.
In the red corner stands “The Korean Zombie.” Coming off of two incredible finishes, Jung is on a hot streak that seems to be leading him straight into a title shot. While he only is on a two-fight win streak, his twister submission win and seven-second knockout speak for themselves. Known for constantly coming forward and his willingness to exchange, he has created a persona for himself that is very well known and liked. With most of his victories coming by submission, Jung poses a unique threat to Poirier on the ground.
It is worthy to note that neither man has ever been submitted, and only Jung has suffered a KO loss.
This fight is important due to not only the style matchup, but also the title implications. The winner of this fight is likely the next in line for the winner of Jose Aldo vs. Erik Koch.
Both men have proven themselves on the ground, but the stand-up may be where this fight is decided. Jung has good hands, but the advantage would have to edge toward Poirier, who will likely want to keep it standing. It’s not that he couldn’t submit the Zombie, but his hands are much more proven than Jung’s.
Jung may have gotten the quick knockout of Mark Hominick, but his fights with Leonard Garcia show a much less technical fighter. Regardless, fans can expect a great fight standing or on the ground.
Prediction: Dustin Poirier wins via TKO late in Round 1 or early in Round 2.
In Mixed Martial Arts, as with any sport, you have the discussion about who is the best of the best. While many times this is a subjective topic and one that can’t ever be proven fully, fans love to have an organized list and to debate who is the best athlete of the time, and of all time.