Georges St-Pierre’s Legacy

With the UFC 130 St-Pierre vs. Shields event approaching there is lot of talk about GSP’s Legacy, something he often speaks of himself.  Many consider him the greatest welterweight of all times.  The question remains does GSP have to move to Middleweight to truly be a legend.  This whole move to Middleweight is of course discussed assuming he beats Jake Shields, while Shields is no easy task for any welterweight or middleweight for that matter, for this discussion we will assume GSP wins his the fight.

George St-Pierre has arguably the most impressive record of any welterweight, second maybe only to hall of famer Matt Hughes.  In GSP’s most recent fight he has coasted to victory with relative ease over his opponents.  His size and top-notch wrestling leave many to question how many other challenges he has left at welterweight.  With this lack of competition many fans have grown excited over the possible super fight between GSP and Anderson Silva.  Silva has not commented much on the fight, but does seem very open to the possibility.  When questioned GSP doesn’t give a very solid answer, he obviously has to focus on Shields and not look past this fight but his politically correct answers seem to leave more questions.  He has long spoken of how he would need to bulk up in order to move up to middleweight and while no one can argue that bulking up takes time and is a wise decision he has been saying this for well over a year.  While I’m sure fans can understand how he wants to take this move up in weight seriously; eventually they will question why he isn’t taking the fight.

Many fighters have jumped up in weight to challenge for the belt, or even just to challenge themselves.  Some fighters have met great success while others have lost many of their ventures to higher weights but in either case they are always applauded for their efforts.  Two great examples of moving up are Anderson Silva and BJ Penn.  Silva has stepped up to light heavyweight on two occasions in the UFC winning both fights in the first round in devastating fashion.  His destruction of former champion Forrest Griffin left much of the MMA world stunned.  BJ Penn on the other hand has stepped up on numerous occasions and has had only mild success if you just look at the win loss columns.  BJ however, goes down as a legend due to the fact that he has stepped all the way from lightweight to fighting a heavyweight Lyoto Machida.  While losing several of his ventures to higher weight classes BJ has proved that he will fight anyone, and is confident in his skills even as the smaller fighter.

Does GSP have to move up to middleweight to true be a legend?  I think GSP can be solidified as the king of welterweight without moving up. However, he will not be on many pound for pound greatest lists.  If he passes up an opportunity to prove that he is more dominate not only in size but also in skill then many will start to question just how great he really is.  Also passing up a super fight will make it appear as though he is afraid not only to lose but also afraid of Silva, this may not be the case at all but I predict that many could and would perceive it that way.  A true champion will fight any and all comers and is not afraid to challenge anyone. If GSP turns this fight down I believe it would hurt his legacy more than losing to Silva.

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Diaz vs. Daley Post Fight Recap

April 9^th marked the first Strikeforce event under the new Zuffa banner.  Scott Coker and Dana White have both stated things would remain business as usual for Strikeforce, last night this held true.  Diaz vs. Daley ran just like any other Strikeforce event with the exception of seeing Dana White in the Audience with a Strikeforce tee shirt on.  Also there was much talk of the UFC and possible super fights between the UFC and Strikeforce.  It was a quick, but great night of fights, with KO’s subs and epic mustaches.

The night started with Aoki/Beerbohm, which was a fight that Aoki was given to win.  Beerbohm was just no match for Aoki, with a wrestling base he was sure to end up on the ground in Aoki’s world.  Aoki quickly got top control and took Beerbohm’s back quickly looking for a choke, he settled for a neck crank which ended the fight at 1:33 of the opening round.

The next fight on the main card was Mousasi/Jardine.  This fight was reffed by a man with one of the most epic moustaches known to man, however the moustache did not help with making good calls.  Jardine took this fight on less than 2 weeks notice and with his very questionable chin this fight wasn’t expected to go long according to many.  Mousasi vowed to be more aggressive which I did not see happen.  It also amazed me to see how little Mousasi has worked on his take down defense since losing the belt to King Mo; who essentially took him down and controlled top position for 5 rounds.  The first round was a close one where Jardine was able to secure a few take downs, but they did not lead to any ground and pound. Mousasi was back on his feet within seconds.  Mousasi won the stand up exchanges stalking Jardine down, Jardine looked rocked and winded towards the end of the round.  The first was however tainted by a point deduction with no warning from a very insignificant strike.  Mousasi threw an up kick that landed as Jardine was taking a knee. The 2^nd and 3^rd round looked virtually identical, Mousasi stalking Jardine down and picking him apart, at the start of the 2^nd Jardine was already bloodied up above both eyes.  Jardine was able to secure the occasional take down but every takedown lead to nothing. No ground and pound and no advancement of position with Mousasi back on his feet within seconds.  The ref made another questionable call stopping the fight in the middle of a Mousasi flurry to replace a fallen mouthpiece, giving Jardine more time to recover.  The judges ruled the bout a majority draw which again showcases the flaw in North American judging, takedowns that lead to nothing were enough to keep Jardine in the fight even though he was being picked apart standing, bloodied and rocked on numerous occasions!  Even with the point deduction Mousasi won the fight.

Melendez/Kawajiri entered the cage for the first Title fight of the night, in a rematch from a meeting in Pride back in 2006, where Melendez won a Decision.  Melendez came out super aggressive standing, not wanting to leave this fight to the judges!  Melendez was throwing huge punches, he connected early with a right that dropped Kawajiri, he kept this momentum going throwing bomb after bomb.  They eventually ended up against the cage where Melendez continued to throw huge shots. Once the fight hit the mat Melendez put himself in top position and utilized Strikeforce’s new unified rules allowing elbows and threw a Hellbow that stopped the fight!!  Melendez wins and retains his belt by TKO at 3:14 of the first round.

Now it was time for the Main Event Diaz/Daley.  This was a fight no one wanted to blink during. The bout was fast passed and momentum shifted several times.  Diaz started with his patent hands down trash talking style, luring Daley in.  Daley was caught off guard when Diaz came forward in exchanges aggressively throwing strikes.  Diaz seemed to catch Daley early a few times wobbling his feet and backing him up.  Momentum shifted when Daley was able to land his highly feared left hook, which dropped Diaz hard.  He followed Diaz to the ground looking to finish but Diaz was able to recover and work back to his feet.  From here Diaz started landing often, working the body as well as the head.  With just seconds remaining in the opening round Diaz dropped Daley and followed him to the ground finishing him with strikes from top position for a TKO victory at 4:57.  Daley was badly wobbled and needed assistance getting to a stool.  Diaz keeps his title and shows yet again why he is a top welterweight, beating Daley at his own game, not looking for the easy victory by taking the fight to the ground.

With only 4 fights on the main card this was going to be a short event, but with 3 of those 4 bouts ending in the first round the event only lasted for just over 90 minutes.  It was very disappointing that Strikeforce didn’t take advantage of this free time to air some of the preliminary fights.  They had the opportunity to show 2 or 3 more fights as 3 of the prelims ended in the first round, and wouldn’t have taken much time to air with skipped entrances.  Overall the night was a great night of fights, Strikeforce has its holes, mainly the commentary staff but it is nice to see some variety from the UFC events.  Things like keys to victory, compustrike and even the video game pre fight clips are a great addition to the show.  It’s hard to complain about a free MMA show with 2 Title fights on the card, Strikeforce did not disappoint and has many exciting fights on upcoming events.

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Diaz Vs. Daley Fight Picks

Diaz vs. Daley- This should prove to be a very entertaining fight. Diaz certainly has more ways to win. His jiu-jitsu is very effective and he's good at using his length standing. Daley has significant power in his hands and great technique but this is a very tough match-up for him as he still has a very rudimentary ground game. In the end I think Diaz will be competitive standing using his jab and peppering technique but will eventually take Daley down and submit him.

Diaz Round 2 submission

Melendez vs. Kawajiri- Kawajiri looked impressive in his last fight with repeated takedowns and effective ground and pound winning a clear unanimous decision.  Even with the impressive performance the momentum is clearly with Melendez who is on a 4 fight win streak and holds a victory over Kawajiri. Melendez has the advantage standing and I believe has the ability to keep the fight standing. He eventually catches Kawajiri in the championship round and finishes with ground and pound.

Melendez Round 4 TKO

Mousasi vs. Jardine- Jardine has done Zuffa/Strikeforce a huge favor by taking this fight on short notice. Keith is trying to work his way back to the big leagues after being dropped by the UFC following a 5 fight losing streak.  Jardine is possibly the least consistent fighter in MMA, he has had some great performances, but I don't think we will be seeing that here. Mousasi has the advantage in all areas, and will decide where the fight takes place. With Jardines very questionable chin I expect to see Mousasi come out aggressive trying to finish the fight early.

Mousasi Round 1 KO

Aoki vs. Beerbohm- Aoki enters this fight on a 3 fight win streak while Beerbohm dropped his last fight. This is definitely Aoki's fight to lose he will come out as he always does looking to take the fight to the ground as soon as possible, which shouldn't be hard as he is comfortable fighting off his back and won't mind if Beerbohm shoots for a takedown. Aoki will aggressively attack subs until he finds a limb to take home with him.

Aoki round 2 submission

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Teammate vs. Teammate: Optional or Mandatory

As the top camps in MMA continue to grow with more and more fighters, the potential need for teammate vs. teammate matches increases.  Many camps and fighters have long said that teammates would never face off inside the cage. However, fighting the title has never been part of this equation. We are now seeing a situation in John Jones vs. Rashad Evans where the desire to be champion outweighs the feelings against fighting a teammate.

For years Jon Fitch and Josh Koscheck have stated many times that they would never fight each other regardless of the stakes. Other camps and fighters have followed suit, Rashad Evans and Keith Jardine also explained their "brotherhood" and how nothing could motivate them to face off inside the cage.  While many have said nearly the exact same thing the true need for teammates to face off hasn't ever occurred.  Fans seem to be pretty split on this issue; although the fans have never put much demand in seeing teammates square off. Interestingly enough there have been occasions where not teammates, but Brothers have displayed an interest in fighting one another. Both the Shamrock and Lauzon brothers have not only said they would fight each other but actually also showed interest in a possible fight. Fighters trying to enter The Ultimate Fighter house have been willing to fight just for the opportunity to fight in a competition that would in turn lead to a UFC contract or fight.

If brothers and fighters who haven't even made it yet are willing to fight why aren't many top fighters? This is a question that has long puzzled me, as fighters their sole job is to fight opponents put in front of them, fights that fans want to see.  I personally think teammate match ups should be reserved for title situations or to determine a clear number one contender.  It seems that most fighters are not shy about sharing how intense their training and sparring sessions are; so why not show the fans in a title match? Multiple fighters have stated that they wouldn't fight a teammate, but go on to say in the same interview that they battle it out on a daily basis with said teammate.  Fighters can go to war everyday in preparation for a fight. So why can't they put on an exciting fight to please their fans; and also to earn a paycheck in the process?  Many including myself have long thought that the title being added into the picture would change things drastically. Which would cause fans to think that is exactly what has happened with John Jones vs Rashad Evans.  Every fighter’s dream is to be the champion, and it seems that at least for Evans; not even a supposed pact to not fight a training partner will stand in the way of fighting for the belt.

At the end of the day fighters get paid to fight. No matter what company or camp they work for they are paid to fight. If any fighter has any aspirations to be the champion and hopes to earn a title shot they must (should) be willing to face anyone and everyone!  With all of this said I don't by any means think this is something that should be taken advantage of where training partners are forced to fight just for the sole purpose of seeing teammates fight. However, there are plenty of circumstances where it needs to happen.  As fans we can only hope that Jones and Evans can have a great title fight, and continue a professional relationship and help set a new precedent in regards to teammates fighting off. 

 

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Fitch out of UFC 132; Why This Is Good for the UFC

Jon Fitch was scheduled to fight BJ Penn in a rematch on the July 2^nd UFC 132 Card.  It was announced yesterday that Jon Fitch had sustained an injury during training severe enough to have to withdraw from the fight.  Fitch and Penn recently fought at UFC 127, which ended in a draw.  The fight was close, but in my opinion the decision should have gone to Penn, Fitch did too little too late.  The announcement of an immediate rematch was announced, and was not a surprise to anyone, however I do not think it is a fight many fans want to see.

Fitch is no doubt a top contender in the welterweight division, but he does not have a fan pleasing style.  Fitch has long been known as a grinder. He does enough to win fights, but he certainly isn’t winning over fans and crowds.  One of the reasons fans aren’t cheering for Fitch is the fact that he hasn’t finished a fight since June of 2007.  He is a large welterweight with tough top control but he doesn’t advance position or land devastating ground and pound. He seems to do just enough to avoid stand ups.  These are all contributing factors to his lack of marketability.  Penn on the other hand is a fan favorite. He has a cocky attitude, brings the fight no matter where the fight takes place. He has crisp boxing, world class Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and that cocky attitude that some fans love, and others love to hate.  Hate him or Love him BJ draws fans in, and is easy to market.  With Fitch now out of the fight it gives the UFC the option to make some very entertaining, and easily marketable fights. Such fights that I personally believe will sell better than a Fitch vs. Penn rematch.

The possible match ups for BJ at Welterweight are exciting and plentiful.  Diego Sanchez has in the past mentioned how he would like another shot at BJ, and I think the fight would be entertaining, but I believe the outcome will be the same as their lightweight fight.  Last night (3/30/11) Carlos Condit also stated interest in fighting BJ Penn with a tweet stating that BJ was a legend, and that he would not hesitate to accept the fight if it was offered to him.  Beyond these fights there are plenty of other exciting match ups for Penn. Serra vs. Penn 2 would be easy to market as it keeps the rematch theme going.  Johnson is in the mix again and this could also be a very exciting match up.  The bottom line is that with Fitch out of this fight the UFC has many more marketable and profitable fights available.

While neither the UFC nor myself would ever wish injury upon a fighter this seems to be beneficial for all involved.  The UFC gets a more marketable fight, and I believe this is good for Fitch as well as Penn.  It leaves a rematch option available for a title fight in the event that Georges St. Pierre vacates the title and moves up to middleweight.  The belt being added to the picture would make this match up extremely marketable, rematch for the title works much better than immediate rematch after a controversial draw.  I fully believe BJ and Fitch will both win their next fight regardless of whom they face. They will meet again, under better conditions for the UFC.

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Farewell LHK: Homage to Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic

Cro Cop was once the most feared striker in the HW division, his kicks have never been matched by anyone. Over the years he has created one of the best highlight reels in all of MMA. The 2006 Open Weight Tournament showcased Cro Cop's Left High Kick as well as his overall MMA abilities with a Left High Kick victory over Wanderlei Silva, and his ability to keep the fight standing over a great wrestler, Josh Barnett. This is the Cro Cop I chose to remember.

Mirko comes from a kickboxing background and is a former K-1 star.  He started his transition to MMA in 2001 to further challenge himself and evolve as a fighter.  He entered the Pride ring and quickly became one of the most feared strikers in the world.  From 2004 to 2005 Mirko went on a 7 fight winning streak defeating legends such as Mark Coleman, Kevin Randleman, Josh Barnett and even buried the Heavy Weight champion’s younger brother Aleksander Emelianenko  This winning streak earned him a shot at then champion Fedor Emelianenko, where he lost a hard fight to a decision.  In victory and defeat Cro Cop has been in some of the biggest and most memorable MMA fights of all time. From his destruction of Heath Hearing, to his war with Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira he always showed a warrior spirit and toughness that cannot be matched by many.

In 2007 the entire MMA community buzzed about Mirko's UFC debut. Hardcore fans were excited to see him in the octagon and casual fans were exposed to the greatest LHK in MMA.  He entered the UFC as the Pride Open Weight Grand Prix champion. His debut fight was against a relatively unknown Eddie Sanchez. The fight with Sanchez was somewhat lackluster as Sanchez avoided engaging in exchanges with Cro Cop.  At the end of the first round Sanchez could not avoid Mirko's strikes anymore and lost via TKO.  Just like that Mirko had his first UFC victory!  This is when the story takes a sad turn. The head kick KO by Gabriel Gonzaga was the beginning of the end for Cro Cop.  Many have referred to this kick as the kick that stole Cro Cop's soul.  Mirko went on to win fights in both Dream and the UFC, but these victories were always against mid level fighters and Mirko seemed to have lost his killer instinct.  Mixed in these victories were disappointing losses to Cheick Kongo, JDS, Frank Mir and most recently Brendan Schaub.  After the loss to Schaub it was announced that Cro Cop was being dropped by the UFC, a sad but justified action.  It is believed by many fans and analysts that he has fought past his prime, but Mirko is a true warrior and fighter and has entered the octagon every time with all intentions of putting on a fight for the fans that will show is old form.

It is unknown if Mirko will be hanging up the gloves for good or looking for fight elsewhere, but not matter what he does he is a true MMA legend. He has never asked for any easy fight and has always strived to be the best and challenge himself.   We as fans never got to enjoy CroCop in his prime in the UFC, but it's hard to complain when he gave us so many memorable moments.  Whether he fought past his prime or the sport just evolved, Mirko is a true warrior and competitor and will always be remembered.

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Three Strikes and Your Out!!

Fighting for the UFC is most fighter’s dream, the equivalent of making it to the big leagues.  However getting there and staying there are two very different things.  The UFC has an unwritten, yet usually followed rule; three straight losses and your out, looking for fights elsewhere.  There are of course exceptions to every rule and Dan Hardy will be the next exception I believe.

Dan Hardy started his UFC career on a four-fight win streak that earned him a shot at the Welter Weight championship belt against Georges St. Pierre.  Dan proved his toughness in this fight but other than that it was a very lopsided loss.  His next two losses came to Carlos Condit, and most recently to Anthony Johnson at UFC 128.  Dan hasn't looked impressive in any of his losses but he has done one thing very right, he earned the respect of Dana White.  Dana has said before, and even after the most recent loss that he likes Dan Hardy, and it's never a bad thing to be on your bosses good side! Having Dana behind you is a great thing, but it's not the most important reason that I think Dan will stay in the UFC. He is a strong draw with the fans, especially with the fans in Europe. The UFC is constantly trying to expand, and grow to new countries worldwide, having a likable fighter from the UK will certainly help them accomplish this.  Helping the UFC grow in a new market definitely out weighs three losses in the octagon.

What's next for Dan Hardy? The UFC will put him on a main card in the UK in a very winnable fight in my opinion. The UFC and Dana want Dan to get back on the winning track, as it's good for business.  This situation proves it's good to be on Dana's good side, and even better to have fan support in a growing market! Dan Hardy will get back on the winning track and become one of the poster boys for the UK and Europe.

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