Author: John Ruyf

Cain Velasquez Is Already the Most Talented Heavyweight Of All-Time

I am about to make an argument that most fans will attempt to disown. I think that Cain Velasquez is already the best heavyweight, ever. Not currently or in the past decade, I mean the best to ever fight in mixed martial arts.

What makes Cain Velasquez so dynamic? He has the best cardio in the heavyweight division. Most welterweights envy his stamina. This cardio skill is from years and years of hard training. It started at high school, where he won two state wrestling titles. Cain then wrestled at Iowa Central Community College where he won a NJCAA national title. Arizona State took interest in Cain and he transferred there to finish college. He compiled an 86-17 record over the next three years.

Velasquez joined the American Kickboxing Academy directly after college. From there he exploded onto the scene! An impressive statistic is that Cain has never lost a round in his MMA career. Velasquez gets better after every fight. His hand placement is phenomenal. I was a serious doubter of his until I watched him fight Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. After he knocked him down, he used his lightning fast power to pinpoint strike after strike until the ref stopped the fight.

His brilliance was shown during UFC 121. Brock Lesnar took Cain down early and Cain shrugged him off like he was nothing. He went on to dominate that fight and finish Lesnar with ease. He goes on to make his first title defense this November against Junior Dos Santos.

Cain is on top of the heavyweight division right now, and it doesn’t look like anyone is chopping him down.

With Another Hard Fought Battle With a Disease On The Horizon, Is Brock Lesnar Done

Diverticulitis is no laughing matter. It can be a nasty illness and once you have it, it may never leave you. While some forms of the sickness are mild, Brock Lesnar has a very severe form. It is causing him to miss fights and ruining his MMA career.

It has caused Brock to delay his fights and even drop out of one. Whether you believe it or not, it is very hard on him emotionally and physically. Imagine being that big and unstoppable. Now imagine being told that you can’t do something you’re born to do. Brock has viking heritage and even if its a small amount, it is in his blood to fight.

I think that Lesnar will continue to fight through this disease and get back to a UFC title fight. I don’t think that he will ever beat Cain Velasquez, but I do feel that while he is around, he will always be in the top five heavyweights. Lesnar has speed and strength that many cannot match. He trains very hard and is always improving. Brock started completely raw and has managed to defeat some seriously talented fighters. He only has 7 fights under his belt and is 33 years old.

 Rumors have surfaced that Lesnar is nearly done with his stint with the UFC, but I disagree. As a \matter of fact, he is just getting started.

UFC 133 Will Show Fans How Advanced Phil Davis Really Is

Some fans think that the UFC has rushed Phil Davis to the top. He has is 9-0 in his MMA career and is 5-0 in the UFC.His resume doesn’t stop there. While wrestling at Penn State, Davis compiled a 116-17 record with being named an All-American four times and winning one national title. Obviously, he is one of the most decorated prospects to enter the UFC. So why do some feel he is rushed?

I love to watch Phil Davis fight. He is a top three wrestler in the light heavyweight division. While he has his strengths, Davis is not without weaknesses. His striking game is average at best and he becomes overly aggressive with his takedowns. When Davis has problems and his takedowns are being stuffed, he can become flustered. Fans saw this in his fight with Antonio Rogerio Nogueira.

He now faces Rashad Evans and the winner will face Jon “Bones” Jones, or Rampage Jackson, for the title. Evans will be Davis’ toughest test to date. It is a serious jump up in the division for Davis. Rashad’s talents cannot be ignored. His striking has come a long way and his ground game is one of elite proportions.

Personally, I think that Davis should have been given two more fights before jumping into the top five. I am rooting for Phil Davis when he steps into the octagon during UFC 133. Rashad will stuff Davis’ takedowns and force him to stand up and go toe-to-toe. If Davis hasn’t improved his striking, Evans will make it seem like clockwork. I think that Evans will win this fight and it won’t make it into the third round.

Whether or not Davis wins, he still has a very bright future in the UFC.

Allistair Overeem’s Recent Win Over Fabricio Werdum Could Mean A Lot More

Before you tell me that Overeem is part of Strikeforce and that I do not know what I am talking about, hear me out. Allistair has an amazing style that makes his fights enjoyable to watch. His kickboxing skills are the best in Strikeforce’s heavyweight division. While he does have his weaknesses and critics, let me point out a few key points.

Overeem has now advanced the the semi-finals of the Grand Prix. Josh Barnett, Sergei Kharitonov, and Antonio Silva make up the rest of the field. Silva is the next man on Overeems list and will be the toughest opponent he has faced to date. Getting past Silva will be a tough test, but if Allistair can slug it out and manage to beat him he would move on to the finals. Silva will not lay down like Werdum did. He will stand toe-to-toe with Overeem in an attempt to knock him out.

I look for Josh Barnett to be in the finals against Overeem. The winner of that fight gets the belt and then it gets interesting.

Cain Velasquez fights Junior Dos Santos in November. I think that Velasquez is a dominant force and will dispose of Junior as early as the second round. Who would Cain fight next? I have the answer.

When the Strikeforce Grand Prix is over, Zuffa should try to unify the heavyweight title. Let’s have the winner of the Grand Prix fight Cain Velasquez (or Junior Dos Santos, if a miracle happens). This would be an awesome, must see, main-event! If you do not like my idea that is OK. In a recent interview, Allistair Overeem suggested the same thing.

I do not think that Overeem would be a challenge for Velasquez, but it still needs to happen.

The UFC Holds Onto its Ultimate Fighter Winners Until the Last Possible Minute

The winners of the ultimate fighter have gone on to do some impressive things. Several have fought for titles and three (Matt Serra, Forrest Griffin, and Rashad Evans) have gone on to win titles. It is not often that the UFC drop TUF champions.

Kendall Grove was let go recently by President Dana White. Grove had no ill will toward the UFC and even tweeted “Thank u UFC for a lot of Good memories. Respect to all the staff at zuffa for always treating me like family.” This was a classy move from Grove.

Grove joins Travis Lutter and Efrain Escudero as the only champions to be let go by the UFC.

It was time that Grove be let go. He has lost four of his last six fights. Boring fighting can often be Grove’s weakness. His last two fights against Demian Maia and Tim Boetsch were both fights that drew many yawns from the crowd. If Grove wants to get back in the UFC, he needs to step up the pace in his strategy.

Zuffa is moving forward with exciting fighters, more weight classes, and bigger crowds. These fans don’t pay hard earned money to watch fighters like Grove. However, there is still hope for him. Grove should go on to fight in a few minor league fights. With a few wins he may get signed back onto the UFC roster. When he gets back, I hope that his eyes find this article. Stop being boring and start pushing the fight pace.

Nate Marquardt Makes His Debut In The Welterweight Division Next Week During UFC Live: Marquardt vs. Story

The UFC welterweight division has been ruled by one man since 2008. George St. Pierre hasn’t lost since UFC 74 and regained his title during UFC 83. It appears that the class is set and no one will beat George St. Pierre. But, is that really true? GSP might be the bets pound-for-pound fighter in the land, but the event on Sunday might raise a few eyebrows, including St. Pierre’s.

Rick Story has stepped up, in place of Anthony Johnson, and will face Nate Marquardt. Story lost his UFC debut in UFC 99 against John Hathaway. Since that fight he has won six straight fights over some great fighters such as: Dustin Hazelett, Johny Hendrix, and Thiago Alves. Story has been a nightmare to face, which is fitting because his nickname is “The Horror”. Get it? Story isn’t far from the division’s top five.

The card really gets interesting because Nate Marquardt will have his first fight weighing in at 171 lbs. or less. If his body can handle the weight cut, and he fights at full capacity, he will be a terror in the division. He would be an unbelievably strong welterweight. I personally think that if he beats Story, he is one fight away from GSP. St. Pierre is amazing, but even he may have problems with Marquardt.

Marquardt has a high quality stand up game and GSP wouldn’t dominate him on the feet like he did Josh Koscheck. While St. Pierre has beaten bigger opponents, like Thiago Alves, all those fighters had major weaknesses. Marquardt’s weakness is facing a very good wrestler. Yushin Okami and Chael Sonnen have proven that. Wrestling is one of St. Pierre’s many strengths. But, would the size advantage for marquardt help him against GSP?

I will not be the one to say GSP will lose to Marquardt, I am just pointing out the dynamics that make it a fantastic title fight for both individuals.

However, Marquardt needs to keep his eyes on the task at hand. Rick Story is not going to make it easy for him. Story is looking to write a tale of his own, and if Nate The Great isn’t careful, he will find himself in a scary situation.

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