The main event could easily take up this entire article, but this card is stacked and that means there are a lot of questions to ponder coming in. It will be interesting to hear the jawing that comes from Jon Jones and Rashad Evans on the UFC Primetime…
The main event could easily take up this entire article, but this card is stacked and that means there are a lot of questions to ponder coming in. It will be interesting to hear the jawing that comes from Jon Jones and Rashad Evans on the UFC Primetime special before the event, and that is definitely something that I am looking forward to for sure. But, I could talk about Jones and Evans all day, and there are 11 other bouts on this card.
Some of the bouts that I am looking forward to are the bouts between Chad Griggs and Travis Browne, Mac Danzig and Efrain Escudero, John Makdessi and Anthony Njokuani and the return of Mark Hominick just to name a few. This is one of the most stacked cards in a long time, and the great part for the fans is that UFC 146 is an even more impressive card.
In the next few slides, I will reveal the seven questions I’m burning on leading into fight night in Atlanta.
First, this is purely fictional. I understand that Randy Couture is retired and will realistically never fight again. But, anything is possible and this fight almost happened once.Back Story If we rewind to 2007, Fedor Emelianenko was still on his…
First, this is purely fictional. I understand that Randy Couture is retired and will realistically never fight again. But, anything is possible and this fight almost happened once.
Back Story
If we rewind to 2007, Fedor Emelianenko was still on his famous win-streak having never lost his Pride heavyweight title. The Last Emperor was a machine in his prime. He was tactical, durable and relentless in his attack. Plain and simple—he won fights. Whoever was put in front of Fedor, lost.
His aura of invincibility made him a legend. But, there were still challenges that he had not embraced for one or another reason. One dream bout for Mixed Martial Arts’ fans was a collision with then UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture, a Hall of Fame fighter in his own right. Because of a contract dispute in the numbers, it suddenly looked as if Randy Couture would be fighting Fedor and for a brief glorious moment the clouds parted and a dream bout fell into our laps.
But, in the end it was a dream that would not come true. Randy was contracted to the UFC plain and simple. So he could not break that contract by fighting Fedor elsewhere—but in the Octagon. M-1 successfully botched an amazing opportunity to enhance their brand and line their pockets by not putting Fedor in the UFC in 2008.
They could have used the UFC and its marketing machine to make millions, introduce the United States fan base to M-1 Global and to get the fights that everyone wanted to see. Instead, this bout never happened and Fedor never made it to the UFC.
2012
In 2011, Fedor took a further slide in his now infamous decline out of the top-tier heavyweight picture. He was beaten soundly in 2010 by Fabricio Werdum by submission. Then the next year, he was beaten so badly by Antonio Silva that the doctor intervened. Lastly, he had been knocked out by Dan Henderson. It wasn’t the best year for the former recognized pound-for-pound best fighter on the planet.
Randy “the Natural” Couture entered last year on a three-fight win-streak amid rumors of a title contention—once again at an impossible age for any lesser man. He wanted a fight and he was given one at the historic UFC 129 event in Toronto, that broke the MMA attendance record for North America. His opponent would be Lyoto Machida.
Randy had seemed primed to defy the odds one last time. But, it was not meant to be. Captain America went out on his shield as the victim of one of the most epic knockouts in UFC history. Machida caught Couture completely off guard with a leaping crane-kick that knocked the legend violently to the floor. He would not get up. The fight was over.
Couture retired and an era had ended. Like Chuck Liddell before him, Couture walked away from the sport that made him a legend in his own era.
Fedor ended 2011 with two wins over respectable, but clearly outmatched opposition. It was a clear indication that Fedor was going to stop fighting on any serious level soon. The end may be very near for the legendary Russian as well.
A Viable Option
Randy Couture hopped on the opportunity to get back in the UFC when they gave him a big fight on Pay-Per-View with Brock Lesnar. He flew across the world to film an action movie. He fought in the UFC before he even knew one bit about what it meant to be a mixed martial artist.
The point I’m trying to make is that he is an opportunist. I think Fedor is too. I also think there is some sense in making this a legend’s retirement one-night-only farewell bout. That was quite a mouthful, but you get the point.
Below is a possible scenario that has little chance of actually happening. What makes this a viable option is that it would greatly benefit all parties involved in sheer dollars because this fight would sell like hotcakes.
Fedor signs to fight Bobby Lashley under the Dream banner in Tokyo, Japan on March 17, 2012.
Randy Couture finishes final publicity tour and premiere-week appearances for feature film The Expendables on April 1, 2012.
MMA outlets tout Fedor’s return to form. Randy Couture says in an interview with the Sagerville Sun that he could still beat Fedor—April 11, 2012.
After a three-fight win-streak Fedor and M-1 Global sign modest three-fight deal, and he immediately requests to honor the challenge presented by Randy Couture on May 3, 2012.
Randy Couture says he is healed, still in great shape and training. He indicates that his next film does not begin production for “some time.” May 24, 2012.
HDNet’s Inside MMA breaks the news that Randy Couture has signed a one-fight-only deal with Pay-Per-View bonuses and performance incentives, as well as a merchandising agreement on May 27, 2012.
Fedor Emelianenko vs. Randy Couture is confirmed for UFC 150—August 25, 2012 for Madison Square Garden in the newly regulated state of New York, New York. The fight is a truly epic affair. The winner is—.
Just eight months after 55,000 fight fans filled the Rogers Centre for the mixed martial arts company’s first ever Ontario show, Toronto will host UFC 140 on Saturday night. The fanfare for the event has paled in comparison to last April’s spectacle when the city had been buzzing for months about UFC 129, which was headlined by Canada’s own Georges St. Pierre. But this time around, it is being held at the much smaller Air Canada Centre…Despite the great line-up, there’s been little hoopla over the city’s second ever UFC event, which still has tickets available.
What the hell happened, Toronto? How did you go from a record-destroying immediate sellout in April to a “Good seats still available!” situation in December? On the surface, it doesn’t make much sense. So let’s throw some excuses around…
Just eight months after 55,000 fight fans filled the Rogers Centre for the mixed martial arts company’s first ever Ontario show, Toronto will host UFC 140 on Saturday night. The fanfare for the event has paled in comparison to last April’s spectacle when the city had been buzzing for months about UFC 129, which was headlined by Canada’s own Georges St. Pierre. But this time around, it is being held at the much smaller Air Canada Centre…Despite the great line-up, there’s been little hoopla over the city’s second ever UFC event, which still has tickets available.
What the hell happened, Toronto? How did you go from a record-destroying immediate sellout in April to a “Good seats still available!” situation in December? On the surface, it doesn’t make much sense. So let’s throw some excuses around…
— Canada’s interest in MMA is about 90% dependent on Georges St. Pierre. Make no mistake, Canadians are rabid MMA fans when GSP is on the card. When he’s not, only the hardcore fans show up. In that sense, Canada is no different than any other country in the world. When an athlete from your part of the globe is dominating a high-profile international sporting competition, you pay attention. Think about how apeshit Filipinos go for Manny Pacquiao. Would they be known as a nation of boxing fans without him? And do you really think I would have watched one minute of women’s soccer this year if not for Hope Solo?
— UFC 129 had novelty factor. UFC 140 does not. The April show marked the UFC’s first visit to Toronto after the sport was Ontario legalized the sport in 2010, and the crowd was packed with locals who just wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Well, they saw it, and now they don’t have to see it again.
— The card’s just weaker this time. If you’re Canadian, you could certainly make this argument. UFC 129 didn’t just feature GSP vs. Jake Shields, but also another Canadian (Mark Hominick) challenging for the UFC featherweight title, plus Canadian fighters battling American fighters in the first eight fights on the card, and Randy Couture’s farewell appearance. By comparison, UFC 140 doesn’t have a single Canadian on the poster. The biggest native stars on Saturday night will be Hominick and Claude Patrick, who will be leading off the main card in bouts against Chan Sung Jung and Brian Ebersole, respectively. Good matchups? Sure. Good enough to convince 16,000+ people to pay for seats? Apparently not.
— The UFC can’t promote every card like it’s a blockbuster. In a way, UFC 129 was a once-in-a-lifetime moment, and it’s unfair to compare “Jones vs. Machida” to “St-Pierre vs. Shields.” But this conspicuous lack of local excitement might be part of a larger trend. As the promotion loads its schedule to ever-busier levels, breaks into new markets (or back into old markets), and juggles live broadcasts on pay-per-view, FOX, FX, and FUEL, they will no longer be able to spend a lot of time promoting each individual show. UFC 140 might be a victim of the UFC’s success, or at least its current state of frantic forward motion. Plus, Dana and the gang are still hung over from their holiday party with Snoop Dogg. Did you really expect anything to get done this week?
There are times when you sit down and talk candidly with a fighter about some cool topics and you just aren’t quite on your game. Such was the case last week at the UFC 140 press conference when I was fortunate enough to sit down with UFC lightweight c…
There are times when you sit down and talk candidly with a fighter about some cool topics and you just aren’t quite on your game. Such was the case last week at the UFC 140 press conference when I was fortunate enough to sit down with UFC lightweight contender and Canadian Mark Bocek.
I asked if I could chat with him about a couple of topics and sat down beside him. I didn’t turn on my video recorder and we just chatted for five minutes. Well I ended up dropping the ball huge on that one because Bocek turned out to be cordial, intelligent, and extremely honest in his words on the questions I asked him.
It is widely known that Bocek teaches jiu-jitsu in Las Vegas to none other than UFC President Dana White and the Fertitta brothers aside from being a formidable fighter in the UFC as well.
He quite frankly turned out to be one of the most interesting guys I have talked to in the game so far, though I have only talked to a few.
Here are some highlights of our conversation
DW: “Can I talk to you a minute about a few things Mark?”
MB: “Sure have a seat.”
DW: “I wanted to ask you first about your opponent at UFC 140 Nik Lentz. Are you OK with that matchup, I mean coming off of Benson at 129, i would expect a bigger guy?”
MB: “Well, people don’t know Nik maybe but he is a tough tough guy. He’s got over 20 wins and he’s undefeated in the UFC. Plus, coming off a loss, it’s not like you can really demand anybody.”
I then switched the topic to that loss to Ben Henderson at UFC 129.
DW: “Were you happy with your performance at 129?”
Bocek looked me dead in the eye and shook his head from side to side.
MB: “I mean, he pushed a pace and not taking anything away he beat me, and he beat Miller whom I have also fought so, he’s a tough guy.”
Then came the zinger…
MB: “Let’s just say that’s what happens when you maybe take a fight lightly…” he looked at my surprise and smirked
DW: “Oh really? well, he beat you in that fight but he didn’t really you know, hurt you.”
MB: “Well, I don’t want to take anything away from him. These guys coming in from other organizations, they are proving they are legit. They are tough but…”
You can tell that Bocek would love another shot at Henderson or a Pettis, or any other top lightweight if he can get past Lentz in December.
I then turned the subject to a dream fight for me and a subject I have been harping on for a while now.
I want to see a fight for the UFC Canadian Lightweight Championship of the world between Bocek and Sam Stout. Many have told me that Mark’s jiu-jitsu and size would be too much for Sam to handle, but I beg to differ. I’m not saying who would win but surely the fight would be a close one in my eyes.
DW: “Is that a fight you would be interested in? I’ve asked Sam Stout about it and he says if the UFC would be interested it would be kinda cool but…?”
MB: “Well, it’s an interesting question for sure, I really stopped fighting in the regional shows up here very early for that reason, you know, the titles don’t mean much. My fourth fight was in the UFC.”
DW: “I agree some local named title is irrelevant but at the level that you and Sam are at, you guys are right up there, surely it could be a UFC Canadian title or something like that.?”
Bocek smirked but disagreed.
MB: “I just can’t see it happening, I mean they just did it with two Brazilian guys I guess but there was no Brazilian official title on the line or anything like that.”
Even if there wasn’t I would love to see that fight done in Canada. Sam Stout and Mark Bocek have both been in the UFC and ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in Canada for a long time now. This Canadian fight fan wants a score settled.
Dwight Wakabayashi is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report MMA and correspondent for MMACanada.net.
When he left World Extreme Cagefighting as its final featherweight champion, many expected Jose Aldo (19-1) to be the first man not named Urijah Faber to come from the promotion and gain mainstream success in the UFC.His dynamic striking, engaging pers…
When he left World Extreme Cagefighting as its final featherweight champion, many expected Jose Aldo (19-1) to be the first man not named Urijah Faber to come from the promotion and gain mainstream success in the UFC.
His dynamic striking, engaging personality and seeming invincibility in the 145lbs. realm provided the fuel, all he had to do was put it together.
Booked to fight on New Year’s Day 2011, Aldo had to pull out of his first defense of the newly-created UFC featherweight title due to injury. He was re-booked to defend against Mark Hominick at UFC 129 in Toronto, where the biggest crowd in North American MMA history saw what he was all about.
A five round war against the home favourite Hominick ensued, a memorable scrap that had Rogers Centre bouncing and made both combatants $129,000 richer as a result of matching ‘Fight of the Night’ bonuses.
“It couldn’t have been a much better night. Fighting in the UFC for the first time and defending my title for the first time was great.”
Now, in his second defense—another that was rescheduled due to injury—Aldo will see veteran contender Kenny Florian across the cage. Florian, a longtime staple of the UFC, dropped to featherweight after two failed attempts to win gold at lightweight.
Aldo has great respect for the challenger, and doesn’t take offense to a notion many have that Florian is moving down solely to take his title away.
“It’s a natural transition for Kenny, a lot of guys move up and down in weight. I’m focused on my training, I respect Kenny, I don’t take it personally.”
For Florian, the fight is a chance at cementing his legacy as a champion, instead of the best bridesmaid the UFC has ever seen. Aldo has a legacy of his own to protect, seen by many as a top pound-for-pounder and a man who could reign atop the division for as long as he sees fit.
However, after a video of Aldo’s battle with cutting weight for the Hominick fight recently surfaced online, the possibility that he may elect to compete at a higher weight class seems to be growing more realistic.
“Since I started training martial arts, going back to my jiu-jitsu days, I’ve always been cutting a lot of weight. I’m comfortable now at 25 years old cutting that weight, but there may come a time when I’m older that I have to look at going to lightweight. Right now though, I’m okay cutting the weight. Before [UFC 129] we were working on putting on muscle mass, that might have been why that weight cut was a little bit more.”
Regardless of where his future lies and what his plans are, the violent Brazilian has one task at hand at the moment, that of a very crafty, very talented veteran on October 8. Kenny Florian is no joke for anyone, and Aldo knows what he’s up against.
“I’ve fought taller guys, guys with longer reach. All I can do is expect to impose my gameplan and win the fight.”
The talking is done. All that’s left is to lock the cage door and see which man is better. The champion believes it’s him, and he’ll look to prove it at UFC 136.
UFC fans have yet to see Lyoto Machida compete in the Octagon since his knockout victory over Randy Couture at UFC 129.One of the most talented light heavyweights in the world, Machida has been left on the outside looking in, while in the prime of his …
UFC fans have yet to see Lyoto Machida compete in the Octagon since his knockout victory over Randy Couture at UFC 129.
One of the most talented light heavyweights in the world, Machida has been left on the outside looking in, while in the prime of his career. But “The Dragon” is content with that, for now.
In an interview with TATAME.com, Machida said he is remains without an opponent but is willing to wait before his next bout is announced.
“I guess I’ll fight later in November or in December, even so I could have time to get ready, but the guys (from UFC) haven’t mentioned anything,” Machida said.
The former UFC light heavyweight champion was in attendance at UFC 134, where he said he tried to negotiate a deal, but nothing materialized despite his best efforts.
Rumors regarding a bout between Machida and Phil Davis have caught the Brazilian’s attention and although he is interested, he said the UFC have yet to make him an offer.
“People have been talking a lot, but nobody from UFC talked to me, so,” he said.
Machida still has a considerable amount of potential in the light heavyweight division, but the fact that he remains without an opponent seems like a waste of an opportunity. Perhaps it is bad karma following his attempt to negotiate for more money in a proposed bout with Rashad Evans, but that incident has passed and all has been forgotten.
And whether the UFC is already exercising their plans for Machida is anybody’s guess, but it doesn’t look like they intend on acting on the situation any time soon.
First, this is purely fictional. I understand that 
