Stats | UFC Betting Sites - The Best MMA Online Bookies

MMA Champions: How Much Does It Matter Who They Beat?

When fans analyze MMA champions, they tend to look at a few things. First, they look at how many times they have defended their title. Second they look at how they beat their opponents, and third, they look at the names of whom they fought. …

When fans analyze MMA champions, they tend to look at a few things.

First, they look at how many times they have defended their title. Second they look at how they beat their opponents, and third, they look at the names of whom they fought.

Start up a conversation with a fellow MMA fan and ask who they think is the current best champion in the sport. Most likely Anderson Silva and GSP’s names will pop up, but a plethora of others can come to mind as well. Some argue for UFC champs, others for Strikeforce or Bellator. Regardless of who the different people choose as their top one, the conversation inevitably leads to comparing the champions.

In this comparison, the aforementioned criteria are applied in the same way. Fans look to see which of their respective choices had the most defenses. They look at their fights, and if they had a lot of knockouts or submissions. Lastly, they go down the list of opponents faced on their way to being the champion of their division.

These are all great points to argue and compare, but it is the last one that raises more thought than the others.

The list of past opponents. A simple stat, but the most complex of them all.

Fans have shown that they sometimes put great value and importance to this statistic more so than others in a debate over who is the greater champion. The debate leads to one side claiming that the other’s choice of champion has not faced anyone really challenging.

This is where fans can run into trouble. Not all fans think this way, but in many debates over the Internet, in media and among peers, this debate comes up. The issue is how generalizing are we being by summing up a fighter’s opponent list and comparing it to another?

For example, Frankie Edgar has just retained his lightweight belt in the UFC and the MMA universe has erupted in comments on whom he should face next. Most believe that Gilbert Melendez, the current Strikeforce LW champion, should come over and get the title shot. The opposition to this idea argues that Melendez has not fought anyone of worth in order to be champion, and remain champion.

Similar accusations are received by UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva. Silva is many times compared to the UFC welterweight champion, Georges St. Pierre. GSP fans argue that the Canadian has faced tougher opponents than Silva, whereas Silva fans argue they were all just as good as the welterweight contenders.

The truth is, there are different levels of competition between all fighters. However, discounting a victory over anyone is a premature action at this level in the sport.

The UFC, Strikeforce and Bellator are the top three organizations in the world. They are at the forefront of the sport and represent the best talent in the world. If you can make it into these organizations, especially the UFC, many people revere you as a successful MMA fighter. Not saying all fighters are on the same level of competition, but the bigger picture is that they are still professional fighters in a substantial organization.

In regards to the previous example, Anderson Silva critics claim he hasn’t fought anyone “good,” making a note of how many of his opponents are still in the UFC or still top contenders. This is a good point, and a bad one at the same time.

It is a good point, since if the fighters Silva has beat do stick around and cause trouble in the division after losing to Silva, they look better. However, it is a bad point since it lays a standard for what constitutes a worthy opponent. Essentially, just because a fighter is not in the UFC anymore, or loses a few fights after Silva, it does not mean that they were any less of a great challenge for Silva.

Chael Sonnen and other critics of Anderson Silva discredit his fights against Patrick Cote, Demian Maia, Thales Leites and even Chris Leben. Sonnen even goes as far as to discredit Rich Franklin.

The truth is, all the fighters deserved the title shot and worked to get there.

Patrick Cote was on a five-fight winning streak before facing Silva, having nine finishes in his 13-4 record at the time. Demian Maia was 12-1 going into his fight with Silva, and Thales Leites was 14-1 and riding a five-fight winning streak as well. Chris Leben was on a six-fight winning streak at 15-1 before facing Silva, 11 of those wins by finish.

Lastly, Rich Franklin was the champion, 22-1 at the time, riding on an eight-fight winning streak with two title defenses. Twenty of those wins were via finish.

The point of mentioning Silva’s case is that his opponents were not any less difficult and posed as much challenge as GSP’s. They were not any less difficult than any other champion’s repertoire. All of the champions have to face whomever is put in front of them, and the ones put in front of them are usually the ones that have worked to be there.

In and of itself, comparing the lists of two separate champions is a convenient way of making an argument, but fundamentally is futile. Each champion has faced whomever they had to face. Regardless of what happened to their opponents after they beat them, the challenge was the same.

Any fighter can win on any given night. It just takes one punch, one slip or mistake, one moment to change the MMA world.

Still, fans and critics will have their opinions on the importance of this particular statistic, but it is wise to try to look at the bigger picture sometimes. Where this opinion is perfectly fine for all to have, the generalization of fighters under a banner or a strict standard can degrade some great fighters.

Sometimes it is a case of a champion being so dominant, their competition looks “weak” or “bad.” Sometimes fighters do not receive the credit they deserve because they are not media-friendly or well publicized. Sometimes people are just looking for ammunition in an argument.

Regardless, the list of opponents a champion has faced and defeated is really nothing more than just that at this level of competition.

Follow the @FightersCreed on Twitter!

How important do you think a champion’s list of opponents is?

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Does Chael Sonnen Have a Negative Impact on MMA?

Chael Sonnen is one of the greatest talkers in all of sports, let alone mixed martial rrts. His colorful commentary and his opinions have sparked a worldwide phenomenon of attention for the UFC Middleweight division. But with his words and attitu…

But with his words and attitude, are they doing more harm than good?

As such an article will ensue, readers have already formulated their thoughts and comments as to their opinions on this subject. This is purely a look into the man that Sonnen has become and to provoke thought on this presence.

First off, Sonnen, love him or hate him, he must be given his dues.

Sonnen is a fantastic fighter and has been involved with MMA for quite some time. He fought in the UFC before his days in the WEC, later returning to the Octagon again, where he currently resides.

He has proven himself in the cage and shows expertise in wrestling and grinding guys out. He holds them down, beats on them and doesn’t let them get up.

He has fought some of the toughest opponents at 185 pounds, and he gave the first real beating to the current UFC Middleweight Champion, Anderson Silva. In his most recent fight, Sonnen put on an impressive performance against Brian Stann and showed that ring rust was not existent in his game. His dominant performance over Silva during their fight showed to the world that his words could be backed up. But before that fight, his whole character seemed to change.

In his WEC days, Sonnen seemed like he got the short end of the stick. His dealings with Paulo Filho left fans cheering for Sonnen in the rematch; but they were dismayed by Filho’s actions to not make weight. This caused Filho to lose his fans and Sonnen to gain fans.

During these times, Sonnen was a monk compared to what he has become today. Once in title contention in the UFC, Sonnen started going on a tear of bashing his future opponent, Anderson Silva. He made comments regarding Silva’s camp, training partners and even his clothing. He then focused his attention on all of Brazil and the martial art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It seemed he had an opinion and trash talk for everyone, including people who had no previous dealings with him.

This, of course, is a natural progression of an upcoming fight. There is always hype to be made or not, and if they choose to do so, every fighter hypes in their own way. Some stay quiet and let the hype take care of itself, some work harder at it. The lines that have always been drawn, were starting to be crossed, though. With Sonnen’s comments regarding Silva’s camp, they were comical and perfectly normal things to attack (case in point, Jorge Rivera and Michael Bisping). It was his comments toward Brazil that seemed to make people find the Oregon native not so funny.

MMA is full of Brazilian fighters, and some of them are the best in the world. The art of BJJ, injected into MMA by the Gracie family, is a major part of most MMA fighters today. In essence, you can make an argument that BJJ created and helped grow MMA, to the point where it can give guys like Sonnen a career.

As said before, hyping a fight is normal, but is attacking whole countries and their culture too disrespectful?

Prior to his last fight, Sonnen also made comments regarding Silva’s wife. Some found it funny, but many saw it as another line crossed. Typically, bashing a fighter, their camp, their friends and their accomplishments is all fair game and very common. Bringing a fighter’s family into it is a whole different beast.

Every fan has their own views on it, but should set aside the joke for a moment, and look at what he is saying and why.

After his fight with Brian Stann at UFC 136, Joe Rogan approached him in the cage to do the traditional post-fight interview. During this time, Sonnen stated, “Anderson Silva, you absolutely suck! Super Bowl weekend, the biggest rematch in the business. I’m calling you out, but we’re upping the stakes. If I beat you, you leave the division. You beat me, I will leave the UFC forever.”

These words immediately made the MMA universe do a proverbial, “Oh no he didn’t!”

Sonnen’s challenge comes at a price, though. His words incite initial excitement, but mask the after taste of such an act. All too many people found his words to hit too close to home with pro wrestling organizations. Some felt that watching Sonnen talk with Rogan, and Ariel Helwani afterward, was like watching a Vince McMahon scripted publicity stunt.

Wrestling has given MMA some of the most exciting athletes over the years, but we must keep in mind that one organization is entertainment, the other a sport.

Herein lies the issue. With Sonnen issuing a challenge, the shock value inhibits the true repercussions of such action. Hearing “the loser leaves” is a very exciting concept, since any fight is anticipated more when there is more on the line.

Some fans thrive off of bad blood between fighters, others just love title fights. Some just want to see the skills match up, and some support their country’s fighters. Regardless, Sonnen’s challenge immediately puts everything on the table.

The issue with Sonnen’s words is that, if such challenges can be made, does this not pose an issue for the sport as a whole? If every fighter could issue those challenges and the loser would have to leave off of one fight, the UFC and MMA would not be what it is today. Most of everyone’s favorite athletes wouldn’t be around if that were the case. Making someone leave the division or the UFC can be detrimental to the organization as a business as well.

Also, fans must also recognize that either Sonnen or Silva leaving, is not what the sport is all about. Fans must keep in mind that fighting is many of these athlete’s sole career. It is their livelihood and how they support their families and themselves. By making a fighter leave, it can be like asking a worker to quit if they didn’t get a raise.

In the process, you lose the sportsmanship.

But this applies for Sonnen, too. He has stated he is fine with his finances, but leaving the UFC would cost him a great salary. Regardless of whether it’s their main career or not, or if they need the money or not, no one wants to lose any amount of their income. Just look at what’s happening with the NBA.

Lastly, fans must also be aware of some underlying differences. They can choose to acknowledge them or not but should be aware nonetheless. Sonnen’s comments are often hilarious and extremely clever, but fans should look at what is talk and hype and what is true and honest. With Sonnen, you tend to get a little bit of both, sometimes a mix. What happens for some fans is they believe what he says because he is saying it in an entertaining way. The problem can lie in that fans do not want to be on the victim side of Sonnen’s bashings, so they support what he says.

In other words, it’s wise to be careful not to take on opinions that are not your own, based solely on one guy saying them. This is similar to how WWII was instigated. Sonnen is not like Nazi Germany, but there are similarities in use of propaganda.

It is similar to voting for a politician based solely on what you hear from your parents. You do not wish to support the one they dislike, so you go along with them. This is not always the case with Sonnen or MMA fans, but it certainly happens.

Regardless of his talk, nothing should be taken away from Sonnen and his fighting ability. It is because of his actual skills as an athlete that anyone is paying any attention to him at all. His words of calling it the “biggest rematch in the business” is exactly what the rematch with Silva will be and wouldn’t be true had Sonnen not given Silva his biggest and hardest fight to date.

Is Sonnen a negative impact on MMA? Some say yes, some say no, and some say both. This question can only be answered by each individual fan and cannot be definitively stated, so it is always subjective. Everyone can agree that Silva and Sonnen are two of the top middleweights in the world, and we all anticipate their rematch for different reasons.

Do you think Chael Sonnen has a negative impact/positive impact, or both? Who do you think will win in the rematch between Silva and Sonnen? Leave your comments below!

Follow the @FightersCreed on Twitter!

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Defining a Champion: UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez

Cain Velasquez is truly a force to be reckoned with. He attained the UFC heavyweight title last October, defeating the massive and dangerous man known as Brock Lesnar.Learning from Shane Carwin’s shot at Lesnar, Cain intelligently picked his shots to a…

Cain Velasquez is truly a force to be reckoned with. He attained the UFC heavyweight title last October, defeating the massive and dangerous man known as Brock Lesnar.

Learning from Shane Carwin’s shot at Lesnar, Cain intelligently picked his shots to avoid gassing himself. Cain’s stamina is immense, but he still made sure his shots counted. He used his strength to stay off the mat, and ended up overpowering the former WWE star.

Cain is currently holding a statistic that is very rare in the UFC and in MMA in general. He is undefeated in his career inside the Octagon. With that, his run hasn’t been a short one either. Nine wins in a row has landed him at the top of the heap, and made him the first Mexican UFC champion.

When defining an MMA 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.

Cain’s only flaw in this equation and criteria is a title defense. He will have the opportunity to prove he deserves to have the belt around his waist at the UFC on FOX debut. He will be facing Junior Dos Santos, a devastating fighter with incredible boxing skills.

With nine straight wins, six of which were first round finishes, Cain makes a statement that is very impressive for any professional fighter. In fact, only one of his victories has come by decision, and that was to Cheick Kongo back in 2009. Everything else has ended from his fists.

As far as opponents, having finishes over Lesnar, Nogueira, Rothwell and Jake O’Brien is a great testament to his relativity to the division. He still has many challenges ahead of him, especially with the addition of Alistair Overeem. But next he will face JDS to add another very reputable name to his repertoire.

His character and overall personality are also very humble. Where he wins fans with his fights, he wins them over with himself sometimes as well. He remains focused and determined, and rarely bashes the other opponents.

He takes pride in his heritage, and feeds off it and his supporters. He dons the “Brown Pride” across his chest and carries the flag with him as well, wrapped around his right hand. Very appropriate, since as mentioned before, it is his hands that are what has gotten him to where he is.

Due to his injuries, he has been sidelined for a year, but with his power and strength fueled by motivation, he should be one of the few to show real signs of ring rust. A strong wrestler, he knows not the meaning of taking it easy and always prepares himself for his endeavors.

Aside from yet attaining a title defense, Velasquez most certainly meets many of the standards people set for Champions. He will be fighting on one of the most historic nights that the UFC will put into the history books.

With the biggest television deal and the biggest belt class, comes two of the biggest heavyweights in the sport, ready to show the world why they believe they are the number one heavyweight in the world.

EPISODE FOUR of “Defining a Champion” Series: Cain Velasquez

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

Follow the @FightersCreed on Twitter.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Dan Henderson: A Look at His Possible UFC Title Fight Opponents

Dan Henderson is a guy who makes you wary of shaking his right hand, just out of respect for the power it conceals.Dan Henderson is a living example of how it only can take one punch to change a fight. Hendo has been up against some of the top competit…

Dan Henderson is a guy who makes you wary of shaking his right hand, just out of respect for the power it conceals.

Dan Henderson is a living example of how it only can take one punch to change a fight. Hendo has been up against some of the top competition in MMA, and at 41 years old, shows no signs of stopping.

Hendo’s “H-Bomb” hands have led him to victory for nearly half of his MMA career. His punching power speaks for itself, but he possesses the strength and background of an Olympic wrestler.

Not one to submit you typically, he will surely control you on the ground until you want to stand up, and then deliver his “Mortal Kombat” finishing move, the H-Bomb.

Now in dealings with the UFC again, the current Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion has his eyes fixed on the UFC Light Heavyweight belt as well.

The current UFC Champion: Jon “Bones” Jones.

At UFC 135, Jon Jones will be defending his title for the first time since defeating Shogun Rua last March, and becoming the youngest UFC Champion in history.

Jon Jones will face the always dangerous Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. Once these two meet, the title shot opens up for other fighters such as Rashad Evans, and possibly Dan Henderson.

The outcome is yet to been seen, but ideally, when Dan Henderson makes his return into the Octagon, it will be a title shot/unification. But how does Hendo stack up to his two possible opponents?

Betting odds state that Jones will still be Champion at the end of the night against Rampage, but Rampage is hungry for his belt back. A motivated and well-prepared Jackson is a threat to any fighter, and Jones will be sure to use his wrestling and reach to dictate the fight.

If Rampage pulls the upset, he could face Dan Henderson as his first or second title defense. The two have not met since 2007 at UFC 75, where the Pride and UFC belts were on the line in a unification bout. Depending on the events to follow, we may see something similar between the Strikeforce and UFC Belts with the same fighters.

Hendo and Rampage fighting for the championship makes for a very interesting striking match. Hendo may lean toward the takedown and beating up on Rampage, but every fight starts standing. Both are different fighters than their last meeting, but the constant has always been their fists.

If Rampage can stop the takedown, or work on getting up, it could be a challenging fight for Henderson. Rampage is a deadly counter-puncher and if Hendo were to wail one and miss, Rampage could capitalize.

Of course, with Hendo, the fight could end within a few exchanges as well. Hendo has every ability to make Rampage and Bisping have more in common than just training in England together.

His superior wrestling is more than dangerous enough for anyone on the ground, and based on track record, Rampage’s legs are not his greatest foundation. Hendo will be sure to get in and get out with his striking, while the fight remains on the feet.

If Jon Jones can hold onto the LHW belt, a task that has proven very difficult these past years, then a title fight between the new generation of fighter and a seasoned veteran could be on its way.

But first, Jones faces a veteran in Rampage Jackson, who has stood across the cage from the “who’s who” of the Light Heavyweight big-name fighters (multiple times in some cases).

With Dan Henderson, Jones faces a veteran fighter that has donned so many medals and belts in his athletic career, it makes Michael Phelps blush. Hendo is no stranger to the Championship scene, fighting for it and winning it. Jones’ chin has yet to be tested, but if Rampage isn’t the man to do it, Dan Henderson certainly is.

The biggest challenge for any of Jones’ opponents is his reach. His unorthodox style and being a young, fast and hungry fighter makes him a deadly force to be reckoned with. The problem for Jones that lies in Hendo, is his wrestling ability.

A fantastic all-around athlete, Jones has had his share of amateur wrestling. However, Henderson’s pedigree of wrestling is far beyond the repertoire of Jon Jones. Henderson has won wrestling championships right around when Jon was just about learning how to walk.

Regardless if Jones has a good chin, not many can stand up to Hendo’s H-Bomb if it lands flush. Jones must keep the distance, especially for his unorthodox strikes.

Henderson must be the aggressor if he wants to utilize his deadly combo, while Jones needs to keep his cool under the pressure of Hendo’s cocked-back “of the night” fist. The fight should remain more on the feet than on the ground, in which speed can go to Jones, but power goes to Henderson.

At the end of September, fans will have a better idea of what’s in store for the UFC Light Heavyweight division. Whatever the outcome, Dan Henderson is coming. Fans will eagerly speculate and wait to see if Hendo will be either breaking bones or stopping a rampage in the near future.

Who would YOU rather see Dan Henderson face for the title? Jon Jones, Rampage Jackson, Rashad Evans? Leave your comments and thoughts below!

Follow the @FightersCreed on Twitter!

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC FOX: Cain Velasquez vs. JDS Early Breakdown

It seems after much anticipation, the UFC on FOX debut will feature the long-awaited Heavyweight Championship fight between Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos. Junior Dos Santos will be looking to give Cain Velasquez his first loss of his caree…

It seems after much anticipation, the UFC on FOX debut will feature the long-awaited Heavyweight Championship fight between Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos.

Junior Dos Santos will be looking to give Cain Velasquez his first loss of his career, as well as take the belt. JDS is riding an eight-fight winning streak, and Velasquez is on his own tear of nine. This will be Cain’s first title defense after the dominating performance against Brock Lesnar to win the HW title.

For FOX, the Heavyweight title on the line is a great way to showcase the UFC. The HW division in general has looked much more promising than in past years with the Strikeforce GP going on, and prospective SF HW fighters coming over to the UFC.

Many believed that Brock Lesnar would be the one to headline the UFC on FOX debut, and probably would have been a fantastic move business-wise due to the draw Lesnar brings from the Wrestling community. Overeem was another many wanted to see, making his debut in the UFC and throwing him in the mix with some of the best Heavyweights in the world.

But had the main fight turned out to be one of the rumored matchups such as Lesnar vs. Mir, it would have been very successful, but with Velasquez vs. Dos Santos, making it a title fight made it all the better.

In boxing, some of the most popular times for the sport was when the Heavyweight division was extremely strong and wasn’t ruled by Ukrainian brothers. The HW division is an exciting one because of the sheer stature of some of the fighters, as well as the knockout ability that is naturally amped from the heavier weights.

Many want to see Velasquez tested against arguably one of the best boxers in the Heavyweight division, JDS. One of Cain’s methods of domination against Lesnar was to wait and pick his shots, learning from Shane Carwin’s crack at the title. With JDS honing the striking skills he does, he may present a new challenge.

Cain is an excellent wrestler, and it may be the advantage for him. JDS is no slouch on the ground, but recently has been testing his striking against his fellow Heavyweights.

With both fighters riding on long winning streaks, neither is in a position where a loss is just a loss. They are at the top of their games with much to lose. If Cain loses, it tarnishes his undefeated record and strips him of his title.

If Dos Santos loses, it further puts him away from the title. With many other Heavyweights in the mix, a loss could set you back a ways until your next shot at the Championship.

The criticism that the HW division has inherited has sometimes been due to lack of stamina. The fighters will gas after two rounds and then carry out a lackluster performance through to the final bell of the 5^th round.

The exciting aspect of this main fight is that, not only do you have the best HW boxer in the UFC, but he is against a heavyweight with excellent endurance.

Even if JDS starts to falter, it just gives Cain more opportunity. How Cain will handle a striker like JDS, time will tell. These are both men that have, on very few occasions, been out of the first round.

This matchup, accompanied by whatever else the UFC decides to put on the Co-main will be exciting to watch, and could shake up the Heavyweight division even more.

One thing for sure is that this main event on UFC on FOX will be sure to deliver. Out of Velasquez’s nine wins, eight are via TKO/KO and have never left the second round. Out of JDS’s 13 wins, only two have been by decision.

Either man can walk away from the arena on November 12^th with a finish. It just becomes a matter of will yet another Brazilian take home the 14 pounds of gold, or will the Mexican continue to be the one to have his hand raised at the end of the night.

Who did YOU want to see Headline the UFC FOX debut? Who do you think will win – Cain or JDS?

Follow the @FightersCreed on Twitter!

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC Rio: Breakdown of Anderson Silva vs. Yushin Okami

Anderson Silva, love him or hate him, is one of the best fighters to ever set foot in the Octagon.To some, he is in the top two pound-for-pound best. To others, he is the best fighter in the sport today. It seems like ancient history when trying …

Anderson Silva, love him or hate him, is one of the best fighters to ever set foot in the Octagon.

To some, he is in the top two pound-for-pound best. To others, he is the best fighter in the sport today.

It seems like ancient history when trying to remember the last time Anderson Silva was standing in the BLUE corner. He has dominated the UFC Middleweight division like none other has in any weight class. With each win, Silva sets records and builds his legacy of being one of the greatest of all time.

One glance at him, and you do not see a fighter. You see a skinny Brazilian man, with little to no scar tissue, who does not have the typical cauliflower ears many BJJ and wrestling fighters tend to have. But once in a cage, he turns into a phenomenal combatant.

His championship reign, winning streak, and record setting will be on the line once again come UFC RIO. He will be facing the strong contender, Yushin Okami. Okami is the last man to have a win over “The Spider”, but came at the disqualification of Silva when he knocked out Okami with an illegal upkick.

This is redemption time for Silva, and the stage is set for him. He will be fighting in his home country of Brazil, looking to avenge the blemish that his fight with Okami has left. But one must look at factors that affect a fighter’s situation during the fight.

By being in front of his home country, the pressure may be on Silva to perform. This may very well get him out of his element and cause openings for Okami to capitalize on. Also, his records are on the line, not to mention his belt.

Silva wants to build his legacy and remain undefeated, but each fight he wins is also an addition to the risk and what he can lose. A fighter who wins the belt after two fights and then loses it right after, does not hurt their legacy too significantly. If Silva loses to Okami, he will take a dramatic hit to his reputation.

Anderson is at a point where fans want to see him lose just because he is doing so well. It may be out of jealously, the fact he dominated well-liked fighters like Forrest Griffin and Rich Franklin, or because they have given in to Chael Sonnen’s jokes.

Whatever reason, the greater he becomes, the more people hate him. Yushin will look to shock the Middleweight division and be the one to end Silva’s reign.

The pressure is on Yushin Okami as well. He is on a three-fight winning streak, and it is finally his shot at the belt. He was in title contention against Rich Franklin in 2007, riding on a six-fight winning streak, but lost the decision. He followed with three wins before being stopped by Sonnen, and then gained three more wins. He has been clamoring for his shot, and due to Sonnen and Vitor Belfort, his shot has been pushed and postponed.

With the pressure of his first UFC title shot, he will try to prove to the world that he is the best Japanese fighter, as Dana White has stated. He will also be on Silva’s home turf, which can psychologically hinder a fighter.

His advantage will be his wrestling and the fact he has been training with Chael Sonnen, the only man to give a beating to the Champion and come the closest to taking his title.

The question is, will Yushin be fast enough to get Silva on the ground? Every fight starts standing, and this is where Silva is the most dangerous. If Yushin pushes the pace, he could eliminate the time Silva takes to figure out his opponent, setting himself up for a takedown. But once on the ground, will Yushin stay busy like Sonnen? Or will he take more risks in going for submissions?

Yushin is not one to recently go for submissions, but rather get TKOs or decision wins. This could be the problem for Okami since his normal striking will not work the same way.

Silva is only human, and makes mistakes, but one cannot deny that you cannot fully understand fighting Silva until you actually do. Okami has faced Silva before, but not the Silva we know today. The situational advantage that Okami has is that most of the pressure is on Anderson.

Also, if Okami loses, it just makes Silva look better, whereas if Anderson loses, he looks worse, and Okami looks incredible. The situation will be similar to when Fabricio Werdum fought Fedor Emelianenko.

One other factor is that Anderson is getting older. He may not show it a lot, but at 36, his MMA career is starting to come to an end. He may or may not be at his peak, or he may be on the down slope. But for a fighter like Silva, his descent will be more gradual.

Dana White said it well that Silva is fighting for his legacy, and Okami is fighting for respect. Okami, like the rest of the Middleweights, are fantastic fighters. The problem is that Anderson has been so dominant for so long, the rest of the division looks weak. If you were to remove Silva from the division tomorrow, the Middleweights would all look a lot better.

This is Silva’s legacy. By shutting down Yushin Okami, he will continue his march toward greatness, and stay on top of the rankings. If he loses and Georges St.Pierre wins his fight against Diaz, he may very well be bumped to second place. Whether this is justified or not, it will inevitably happen.

Regardless, you will see history be made at UFC RIO. Either Silva will once again expand his reign, or Okami will dethrone him and make “The Spider” keep his hand at his side.

Give us your thoughts on the UFC Rio card below! Predict Main and Co-Main (Winner, Method, Round). Winner(s) will be mentioned in a future article.

Follow the @FightersCreed on Twitter!

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com