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UFC 141: Dana White Must Be Rooting for Brock Lesnar, with UFC Name on the Line

Alistair Overeem, since signing that much-coveted contract last September 6, is now—for all intents and purposes—a UFC fighter. He is now officially a proud combatant of the most popular and prestigious MMA organization in the world. But to…

Alistair Overeem, since signing that much-coveted contract last September 6, is now—for all intents and purposes—a UFC fighter.

He is now officially a proud combatant of the most popular and prestigious MMA organization in the world.

But to others, especially those hopelessly afflicted by UFCentrism, The Dutch Cyclone remains an outsider. And they would like to believe that he is nothing more than an overgrown sheep being led to the slaughter.

Don’t be surprised that the promotion’s top dog himself silently seethes with the same perception towards the recently welcomed fighter. After all, Dana White has been the proud president of the UFC slaughterhouse since 2001.

Sure, White lavishes endless and much-deserved praise for Anderson Silva, MMA’s reigning pound-for-pound king whose UFC middleweight championship belt is sewn around his waist. This notwithstanding that The Spider is a former fighter of the now-defunct Pride Fighting Championship.

Count in, too, that the following Pride FC marquee fighters played musical chairs with the UFC light heavyweight throne before they got cut to the Bones: Quinton Jackson, Lyoto Machida and Maurico Rua.

The highly estimable veteran Dan Henderson is also back swinging in the UFC, surviving and winning the thrilling five-round attrition with Rua.

Lastly, Antonio Noguiera did become UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion. And we can’t blame those who think that “interim” is synonymous with “very temporary,” or worse, “phony.”

There is no doubt that that these elite fighters were given equal-opportunity treatment in the UFC after entering it as legal and highly-touted immigrants who jumped off a sinking ship. (Some may argue that Zuffa actually bought then blasted the submerging Pride FC Enterprise.)

Besides, they’re just too damn good to be ignored or swept aside, especially Silva. Heck, calling The Spider good nowadays is blasphemy.

But what about the other dozen Pride FC recruits who weren’t as fortunate?

Takanori Gomi has not been as impressive as he was in his former playground. Mirko Filipović had more losses than wins in the UFC (4-6), the last loss versus Roy Nelson pushing him into retirement.

In fairness to White, he had shown—and continues to show—patience and generosity to these Pride FC stalwarts.

This treatment merited the following grateful compliment from Filipović right before leaving the octagon for the last time: “I was treated like a king from the beginning. It’s in my best interest that this is my farewell fight, thanks everybody.”

A historical tidbit on the failed UFC expedition in the Pride 2003 Middleweight Grand Prix:

Back in the days when most MMA fans feverishly expressed their belief that Pride FC had the better fights and fighters, Dana White sent Chuck Liddell sailing to Japan to prove the popular opinion wrong.

The following is an accurate account on how it ended in disappointment for the Zuffa top brass:

After his defeat to Couture, Liddell entered the Pride 2003 Middleweight Grand Prix tournament as the official UFC representative. After defeating Muay-Thai specialist Alistair Overeem in the first round of the tournament In an action packed bout Liddell was getting out landed by the taller, quicker and more technical striking of Overeem but later in the round Liddell landed an overhand punch to the head of Overeem staggering him into the ropes, Liddell rushed in with knees and straight rights and knocked him out at the latter stages of the first round. In the next round Liddell was eliminated by Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, The first round Liddell was landing shots as he found his distance but Jackson countered with powerful strikes rocking Liddell numerous times. In the second round, Jackson continued to out land Liddell with big punches but couldn’t finish him. Later in the second round a visibly exhausted and stunned Liddell was taken down at will numerous times and while taking a barrage of punches from the ground his corner threw in the towel, giving Jackson the upset victory.

Interestingly, Overeem is now presented a chance to avenge himself against the mother organization which sent the fighter who KO’d him in 2003, by invading her home as adopted son.

White, on his part, also gets to prove the superiority of his brand versus the fan favorite of yore with a Brock Lesnar win over Overeem, who is probably the last major holdover from the Pride FC unless the fading Fedor Emelianenko eventually signs up next.

This is now only a virtual battle—waged inside the minds of veteran MMA fans who are still nostalgic of the Japanese promotion’s heyday. As for all the glory that was Pride FC, it has become a mere collection of fight videos archived on YouTube.

Still, who knows what bitter memories make White lose some sleep?

Why Lesnar over The Reem?

Lesnar was also once an outsider: from the WWE into the UFC, with a foray into Japanese Pro-Wrestling, the NFL and K-1 Dynamite!! USA, respectively, in-between.

Who can forget how the crowd booed him during his entrance for his UFC debut, which he lost to Frank Mir?

“What’s a famous fake fighter doing in in our world of real fighting? To hell with his 2000 NCAA heavyweight championship title and one-fight victory over a certain Min Soo Kim!”

Eventually, Lesnar silenced many critics by becoming UFC champion. Not only that, he proved to be a boon to the sport, with UFC events featuring his fights garnering some of the biggest live gate, attendance and pay-per-view figures.

Also, Lesnar (5-2) built his still young MMA career and earned respectability as a legit fighter in the UFC.

The UFC can claim that Lesnar is its pet project, his only venture outside being a one-night affair in K-1 Dynamite!! USA for his first MMA fight.

Mainly for his drawing power, he is the UFC’s highest paid athlete.

Overeem, on the other hand, toiled over his 35-11 fight record in various other organizations, most significantly in Pride FC and Strikeforce—both main rival promotions of the UFC till Zuffa irrefutably proved who’s boss by buying ‘em out.

Lesnar is UFC’s darling and Overeem won’t take away that esteem very easily.

For now, Overeem has to content himself and be grateful that the UFC guaranteed him further employment.

He has to bear, though, that hardcore UFC loyalists led by White are praying for his beatdown in the hands of the former UFC Heavyweight Champion.

White’s got to be rooting for his boy Lesnar this UFC 141 on December 30, 2011, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

He can’t wait to be vindicated once again in that Pride FC vs. UFC lingering war in his mind. To smirk in self-gratification in case Lesnar destroys Overeem and think to himself, “I knew it!”

After all, who invites his neighbor’s children to come over just to beat his very own?

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Jon Jones’ Undue Reach Advantage? True, but He’s as Long as He Is Skillful

Jon “Bones” Jones has become the object of limb envy in some quarters, where the UFC light heavyweight champion is denied recognition that he truly is armed with both the size and the right motion in the ocean of MMA fighting. Some even pre…

Some even preach the ridiculous view that Jones’ height and reach advantage is the only thing going for him—that if it weren’t for those poles stretching out of his shoulders and hips, he wouldn’t be where he is today.

No UFC belt nor a great 2011 hit-and-run over former title holders Mauricio Rua, Quinton Jackson and Lyoto Machida would exist if it wasn’t for that God-given physiological advantage.

He would not have succeeded with that TKO due to strikes, that rear-naked choke and that standing guillotine choke, respectively, if it wasn’t for that and that alone.

No, he wouldn’t be even attempting—much less landing—those spinning elbows and kicks and aerial knees.

Well, haters will always find reasons to hate.

Unfortunately for them, Jones has shown no inclination towards self-mutilation. He is content receiving the minimal pain delivered by his opponents throughout his 15-1 fight record. (This notwithstanding the widely accepted opinion that Machida tickled him much more than the others, until the fire-breathing stopped for The Dragon in the second round.)

No way will he sever his arms and legs and reduce them to stumps, down to average light heavyweight length (whatever that is) just to level the playing field—just to prove the vanishing but still lingering tribe of naysayers wrong.

Anyway, this spiteful tribe will either go the way of the dodo next year or live out their frustration for a decade.

Jones is simply that good—an understatement—and he’s here to overstay.

Jones may be the antithesis of Mini-Me, but he is just as dangerous—maybe even more.

And if ever Jones shrinks to the same height, reach and weight of Frankie Edgar, he’ll be the first UFC Champion to capture both the light heavyweight and featherweight belts.

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Lyoto Machida is Juan Manuel Marquez, Jon Jones is Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida’s counter-striking acumen will be tested against the nonpareil talent of light heavyweight champion Jon “Bones” Jones this coming Saturday night in UFC 140. (Comparing our top combatants with those of …

Machida the challenger is considered as one of the best—if not the best—counter-strikers in MMA today, just like, well, boxing’s current world lightweight king Juan Manuel Marquez. Also going in his favor is his much-publicised training camp under the Freddie Roach of MMA: Crane-Kick Aikido (patent pending) Master Steven Seagal.

Marquez is most famous for his effective counter-punching through Manny Pacquiao’s fistic whirlwinds in their historic boxing trilogy. The first resulted in a draw, the second and third engagements both decision losses to Pacquiao (regardless of what Marquez and a number of boxing aficionados consistently felt and still feel to the contrary).

The champion Jones, on the other hand, exudes the indomitability of arguably boxing’s No.1 pound-for-pound (again) Floyd Mayweather, Jr. And like Floyd’s versus Marquez, Jones enjoys the advantage in height and reach.

The only major difference—aside from these athletes’ respective combative sports and skill sets—is that Jones lets his fighting do most of the talking. It’s also a no-brainer on who’s class and who’s crass.

In comparing Machida and Jones, both fighters have extraordinary fighter’s instinct and timing. Both are consummately methodical in mincing their opponents.

They also share an eerie similarity in “fight face.” Sporting a countenance defined by a cold, unblinking stare that forebodes inevitable destruction of their unlucky prey.

Well, if looks alone could win fights, then expect a draw on this Saturday’s main event.

The questions lingering heavily in the minds of UFC fans.

Can Machida counter Jones’s unpredictable striking offense and efficiently land his own bombs?

Will The Dragon’s respectable takedown defense suffice to intercept Bones’s wrestling projectiles?

Does Machida have another surprise attack up his sleeve? Courtesy of Señor Risen-from-Half-Past-Dead?

And the winner is…

Unfortunately for Machida, Jones will see and thwart what Rashad Evans and Randy Couture didn’t see coming.

Catching up with the Jones is an exercise in futility. He’ll be the one to catch Machida again and again till the stoppage.

Worst for Machida is that the youthful champion not only posseses the skill akin to Mayweather—he’s also shown the KO power of a Pacquiao.

And for the unbigoted amongst us who cared to watch and see who prevailed on 09-19-09, we know who between Marquez and Mayweather had more reason to party till the wee hours of the 10th.

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Chael Sonnen Only Has His Wrestling Going vs. Muñoz, or Maybe Not

Chael Sonnen’s dream rematch against UFC Champion Anderson Silva has met a recently-announced pre-condition at UFC on Fox 2 that will be held next year: a fight versus Mark Muñoz that will decide who is the real numero uno middleweight contender…

Chael Sonnen‘s dream rematch against UFC Champion Anderson Silva has met a recently-announced pre-condition at UFC on Fox 2 that will be held next year: a fight versus Mark Muñoz that will decide who is the real numero uno middleweight contender.

A match whose outcome will bring the victor closest to possibly snatching the UFC belt from MMA‘s pound-for-pound king—something that Sonnen almost pulled off in UFC 117.

Sonnen, based on comments from various MMA online forums, appears to be the favorite over Muñoz. This is mainly because, statistically, The Unnatural has proven to be the better wrestler and the more effective takedown artist inside the Octagon compared to The Filipino Wrecking Machine.

His relentless style and boundless energy—natural or otherwise—are also impressive. Factor in his “near-win” against Silva and subsequent trouncing of Brian Stann, and it becomes clearer why most will place their bets on Sonnen.

Still, eveybody knows that, just like Sonnen, Muñoz is first and foremost a first-class wrestler. Sonnen’s advantage in takedown percentage notwithstanding, it remains to be seen who of the former top amateur collegiate and Olympic-style wrestlers is the better wrestler in MMA.

Some may say that Chris Leben successfully took down Muñoz, proof that the latter is inferior to Sonnen in the rassling department. But let’s not forget that Demian Maia also did the same to Sonnen, before immediately sinking the game-winning triangle choke afterward. (Well, this is MMA. And as a side note, who is the better wrestler between Leben and Maia?)

Sonnen may carry more submission-hold wins in his fight record—the most recent being his arm triangle choke win over Stann—but Muñoz survived and beat world submission-grappling champion Maia, who in turn submitted Sonnen.

In short, Sonnen’s grappling is not a discernible threat against Muñoz.

When it comes to stand-up striking, they appear to be equally skilled, but Muñoz without a doubt unloads the heavier hands. And it’s a no-brainer who has the more lethal ground-and-pound game.

Sonnen’s chances of getting that dream rematch lies in being able to deliver to Muñoz what he dished out against The Spider: effective takedowns, ground control and non-stop ground-and-pound…until the final bell rings.

It’s unlikely that Muñoz will eventually slap a triangle armbar from his back, but it’s also unlikely that the Filipino-American will be knocked unconscious by Sonnen’s punches (if we can call them that). So for Sonnen, it must be ground-and-paw en route to a decision win in their fight expected to happen on January 28, 2012.

Otherwise, if Muñoz keeps the fight on their feet, or worse, takes down Sonnen as often as he needs to rain down his devastating power bombs, then the dream rematch will have to wait a little longer—if not for eternity.

Or he might end up calling for a rematch versus Muñoz to be crowned, finally, as “the new UFC Middleweight Champion!”

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Steven Seagal’s Ascent as MMA Trainer: Should Greg Jackson Feel Nervous?

Steven Seagal is not one to rest on his almost US$775,000,000.00 lifetime box office laurels, as proven by his incursion into training teammates Anderson Silva and Lyoto Machida how to, ahem, kick lethally. (There would be no mention here on the exact kind of KO kick that the Black House fighters successfully executed as you must know it by now…Ok, for the less informed, it can be referenced from part one of a 1980s teen martial arts flick. Or from an aviary.)

It’s also true that Seagal is the first foreigner to run an Aikido dojo in Japan. To Americans, he is to traditional martial arts what Neil Armstrong is to space exploration.

So what if his expertise is sought by UFC’s current middleweight champion and MMA‘s pound-for-pound king? Along with the former light-heavyweight champion?

Jeff Wagenheim of Sports Illustrated‘s “Inside MMA” best articulates the contrary opinion:

I have nothing against Seagal’s martial arts background…although with him apparently having spent so much time in dojos over the years, I would have expected him to have learned a little humility. I didn’t miss his comment about Bones being “so much better” than what he showed, just as I didn’t miss his smirk when interviewer Ariel Helwani asked him about the Jones front kick that didn’t quite connect … whereupon Seagal suggested that it hadn’t landed because “I haven’t taught it [to Jones] yet.” Do you really, truly believe he taught Silva and Machida how to kick?

Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe Steven Seagal isn’t a laughable buffoon whose straight-to-video movie career is so feeble that he has to grab attention wherever he can find it, which unfortunately at the moment means sticking his nose into the UFC world. Maybe he truly is the sensei to whom Brazil’s greatest fighters bow down as teacher. If so, Jon Jones is in a whole lot of trouble, because he declined Seagal’s offer to visit before the Rampage fight, and his next bout is against Machida, one of Steven’s guys. Add a melodramatic score from Taiwan and some dubbed dialogue, and we have the makings of one heck of a martial arts action movie. Straight to video, naturally.

Here’s also an allegation from Portal do Vale-tudo, a magazine from Silva and Machida’s home country itself, stating that it could all be a public relations coup targeting North American fans:

The declaration of the champion Anderson Silva (Seagal helping him with the amazing kick) was contemplated with humor by the fans, who knows that the actor was at most twice with the Brazilian.

The approach between the two was actually a marketing maneuver planned by the agent of Anderson, Jorge Joinha, to give more visibility to its champion in the American media. The plan worked very well in the first stage, the problem was in the wrong dose and reached the absurdity of assigning a brilliant victory by the biggest name in MMA of all time to a “Master of Hollywood” who never climbed in the ring. The worst of all is that Seagal, perhaps influenced by some of his films, believed and even stated in several interviews after the fight that “He (Anderson) did everything the way I taught him and made me very proud”. For God’s sake…

And Aikido being a mostly “reactive” martial art with fantastic wrist throws, from my admittedly layman’s understanding (by “layman’s understanding” I mean unaided by Google), I find this to be a valid question: Just when, where and from whom did Seagal learn to strike effectively in the first place?

In any case, I don’t think we’ll find Jones’s top-of-the-line MMA trainer Greg Jackson frequenting cockfights anytime soon before UFC 140 (Jones vs. Machida), to discover a novel defense-and-counter-attack technique from another feathered species…

Or will he?

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UFC 137: Lucky Nick Diaz Regains Headliner, with More Beatable Opponent BJ Penn

Nick Diaz, after unilaterally imposing his will—actually unwillingness—over those two fateful press conferences for UFC 137 a while back, has already won two rounds before October 29, 2011. Round 1: Regaining the headline billing which was …

Nick Diaz, after unilaterally imposing his will—actually unwillingness—over those two fateful press conferences for UFC 137 a while back, has already won two rounds before October 29, 2011.

Round 1: Regaining the headline billing which was originally his and Georges St-Pierre’s in the first place.

Round 2: Regaining the headline billing, and this time in a more winnable match against B.J. Penn.

By a fortunate twist of fate and St-Pierre’s knee, his makeshift and face-saving fight versus Penn has risen from co-main event to become the event itself come the final Saturday of this month at Mandalay Bay.

After the dizzying love-hate roller-coaster ride this Cesar Gracie protege gave MMA fans, he still comes back to the UFC as a headliner. Only this time, he is opposite a fighter who has lost his belts and not as daunting as the one who wears one.

This is more palatable to the more exacting fans who believe that this comeback kid does not deserve a title shot in MMA’s top organization—yet. And that his original title fight versus St-Pierre was a tad premature and pretentious for “little” Nick.

“You a Strikeforce champion? Huh, Strikeforce ain’t a force to contend with, while GSP is and will blow you away!” they say.

Versus Penn, he faces a former champion who is a lesser wrestler, threatens “only” with boxing rather than with the whole striking arsenal, and hails from a lower weight class.

This doesn’t take away the fact that Penn is only the second fighter in UFC history to win titles in two different weight classes. He remains a first-class submission artist and is still regarded by many as a top welterweight.

Diaz without a doubt will make the most of his chance to make a loud statement by beating The Prodigy. And this time we can count on him to show up. (Right?)

Lucky guy, this Nick “I Hate Beauty Pageants” Diaz. Who knew how the UFC 137 main fight card would end up after that poor imitation of a Houdini stunt?

In hindsight, Diaz is more psychic than psycho.

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