In a new interview with Sherdog, Nogueira recently said the following: “[Chael Sonnen is] a guy everybody wants to beat. He’s not a good example for the sport… He has a problem with Brazilians; he discriminates against us. He could find a way to promote a fight without speaking ill of anyone… He has to know that’s not the way things work. In martial arts, we learn to respect each other… Sonnen disrespects others and has no principles or character.”

When you consider Sonnen’s troubles with both the athletic commissions and the judicial system, it’s hard to say that “Big Nog” is wrong.

In all reality, this is something all Chael Sonnen fans should recognize before they go any further in their support of him. You love him because he’s a good fighter, sure, that’s how it all starts. But you know and I know that it’s all really about Sonnen being a well-spoken laugh riot that has the mouth of a stand-up comic and can throw out some of the best insults we’ve heard in years.

What does that make Chael Sonnen? It’s simple really: it makes him another “bad boy” in the world of sports. You love him because he’s controversial, and because you love him and other people loathe him, you always rush to defend him. He’s certainly a unique character in MMA, because to his credit, he really can hype a fight better than almost anyone.

But he’s still unprofessional when he says he didn’t know Brazilians had computers. He’s still a jackass when he says that Antonio Rogerio Nogueira looks like Roy Nelson in a Frankenstein mask. He’s still doing the sport a disservice when he says that a Nogueira black belt is similar to a Happy Meal toy.

But it’s all part of being a “bad boy”: you love him because he’s both brave enough and reckless enough to say things and do things that just aren’t normally accepted in society.

In the end, my point is this: if you love Chael Sonnen, you need to admit that Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira is completely right. It doesn’t mean you have to stop supporting Chael Sonnen, it doesn’t even mean that Chael Sonnen is the living embodiment of all that’s wrong with major sports today. But Chael Sonnen is cut from the same cloth as all the other big sports rebels, and love them or hate them, they have their niche. They’re controversial, they’re rude, they’re crude, but they sell a lot of tickets and a lot of people enjoy watching them.

So… it is what it is. Chael Sonnen is definitely bad for the sport in theory… but in practice, he’s only bad until his mouth stops being able to sell tickets.

Recently, Nogueira gave his thoughts on Dana White’s recent assertion that Wanderlei Silva should more than likely retire after losing to Chris Leben. White even hinted that he might “Chuck Liddell” Wanderlei and basically force “The Axe Murderer” to retire.

Courtesy of Bloody Elbow, here’s just some of Nogueira’s response: “I think he was unfortunate with his comments. They’re idols of the sport, (Dana’s) not a God who decides on everyone’s career… I loved the fact that Tito Ortiz won his last fight. You see that these people were not champions for nothing. Ortiz, Wanderlei and Fedor were top fighters for a reason.”

I’ll start out by saying that I agree with “Big Nog” on one key item: Dana White isn’t some all-seeing, all-knowing deity. He’s perhaps the most powerful man in MMA, but he’s not the be-all end-all. MMA is a sport, the UFC is simply a promotion within that sport. And the sport of MMA is filled with veterans that have prolonged their careers by staying active after getting cut by the UFC.

But I will say this: when it comes to playing a pivotal role in your career… yep, that pretty much sums up Dana White to a tee.

If you’re a UFC fighter, Dana White can do… well, he can do pretty much whatever he feels like whenever he feels like it. He can ban you for life and you’ll simply have to deal with the knowledge that you’ll be forever forbidden from making the big, big money. He could bring you in with months of hype and then promptly cut you after one or two losses. He can fire you pretty much whenever he feels like it. Dana White may not be all-powerful… but for most fighters fighting under the Zuffa empire, especially the young upstarts… he’s honestly pretty close.

So, does it makes sense to call out Dana White? Only when you have a legitimate bone to pick. And to be honest, Nogueira does have a point. A fighter should choose when to call it a career, even if it means packing it in far after his peak. As veterans, they’ve earned that right. The most we can hope for is that they make the smart decision and retire before their win/loss ratio of recent years starts to overshadow the conquests of old.

And if we’re being brutally honest? Maybe Nogueira is feeling a bit spiteful because he knows that he too is coming up on the end of his career. The overall record of “Big Nog” is still ridiculously positive, but he’s lost two of his last three fights. And both of those losses were by (T)KO. So while Nogueira may have a point, a case could be made that he’s throwing stones in a glass house.

5. Travis Browne

In terms of pure fight quality, Travis Browne outperformed Frank Mir at UFC 130. He was in an exciting fight that saw a completely unexpected, incredibly exciting finish. Browne is quickly rising up the Heavyweight ranks, and he remains officially unbeaten for his entire professional Mixed Martial Arts career. This fight doesn’t make as much sense as the others on this list, though, considering that Browne needs at least one more fight, preferably against a divisional gatekeeper, before earning a shot at a former champion. And that’s why he’s starting out this list.

4. Brendan Schaub

Schaub is right on the cusp of breaking out into a major Heavyweight star, and that’s why he outranks Browne. Schaub improves on a fight-by-fight basis, and has looked incredibly dominant in all of his UFC fights except for his UFC debut, where he was knocked out by Roy Nelson. Schaub will be getting his shot at entering the upper echelon when he faces Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira later this year, and if he wants to go from a “bottom of the top” situation to a full-fledged championship contender, he’ll need to face someone like Frank Mir.

3. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira

But if Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira beats Brendan Schaub, a rematch with Frank Mir not only makes more sense, but it’s got a great story to go alongside it. Mir is the first person that ever stopped “Big Nog”, but fans of Nogueira love to point out that he was dealing with a staph infection at the time of their bout. Despite both men taking different paths in their careers since their bout, the question does remain: could a healthy “Big Nog” beat Frank Mir? If Nogueira does rebound from his recent losses with a big win over an up-and-comer like Schaub, that’s one question I’d love to see answered.

2. Brock Lesnar

There are two main reasons why former UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar takes the #2 spot despite Mir and Lesnar having one of the biggest and highest-drawing rivalries in the sport. One is that Lesnar is on the sidelines recovering from major life-altering surgery and will be out until the start of 2012 at the very earliest. The second reason is that Mir was resoundingly brutalized in both bouts, he just took advantage of a controversial point deduction in their first fight. Nevertheless, only one other fight would do a better job of proving once and for all that Mir is ready for another shot at the gold.

And the number-one opponent for Frank Mir is…

1. The loser of the Shane Carwin vs. Junior dos Santos fight.

One of the best ways to get on the shortlist of likely title contenders is to beat the man that just got done fighting in a fight where the winner does get the next shot at the title. Plus, both men would make very interesting opponents for Frank Mir. Could Mir take down Junior dos Santos, who has so far displayed a penchant for only going to the ground when he chooses? Could Frank Mir beat Shane Carwin, the man who brutally pummeled him in humiliating fashion? Mir would prove the most by beating either of these men, and that’s why both earn the top spot.

According to the one and only Sherdog, the UFC recently confirmed that Schaub vs. Nogueira has been added to the UFC 134 card. In the past, Nogueira had expressed interest in fighting Mirko Filipovic at the event. Meanwhile, the man who most recently KO’d Mirko Filipovic, Brendan Schaub, was openly campaigning for a fight against “Minotauro”. It appears that the UFC gave Schaub his wish.

“Big Nog” has been competing in Mixed Martial Arts for over a decade, and has forty fights on his record. The man whose legendary pain threshold caused him to survive and win countless wars in PRIDE has stumbled a bit as of late, losing two out of his last three fights. Worse yet, both of those losses were by (T)KO, marking the first time in history that Nogueira was ever stopped due to strikes and ever stopped, period. Nogueira has been on the sidelines since February, when he lost to Cain Velasquez via KO  in under three minutes.

His opponent, Brendan Schaub, was one of the forerunners to win the famous (and infamous) tenth season of the popular UFC reality TV show “The Ultimate Fighter”. Schaub officially entered the UFC as a TUF 10 finalist and with a perfect 4-0 MMA record. He would go on to lose to Roy Nelson in the first round, but since then “The Hybrid” has performed flawlessly. Schaub is currently on a four-fight win-streak that includes three (T)KO’s. His most-recent performance featured a third-round KO’ing of former PRIDE legend Mirko Cro Cop.

I’ve got to be honest… this is a bad fight for “Big Nog”. I’m glad he’ll be returning, and I think it’s great that he’ll be fighting in his native Brazil with what should be well over ten thousand Brazilians cheering him on. But Nogueira has been on the sidelines for over a year, and at this point, it’s almost impossible not to develop a little ring rust. In addition to ring rust, “ring age” is also a factor. Nogueira is only 34, but he’s been in so many hard-fought wars that he may be only a handful of fights away from retiring. His legendary chin has finally shown signs of crumbling, although his ground game is still without compare.

Nogueira also seems to be having trouble dealing with today’s version of the elite Heavyweight: a man with big muscles, lots of power, good cardio, and who’s good at just about everything even if sometimes they’re not great in one particular area. Brendan Schaub is that kind of fighter: very well-balanced, with good cardio, a lot of tenacity, and some pretty big and very powerful fists. Schaub has been a man possessed since losing to Nelson, and I think he has the ability to give Nogueira his third KO in four fights.

But here’s the thing: my head and my heart are in firm disagreement on this bout. One thinks that Schaub really does live up to his “Hybrid” nickname: he’s too good, and he’s evolving too quickly, and Nogueira is an old lion that has shown signs of slowing down. But the other one wants “Big Nog” to win because, seriously, it’s “Big Nog”. I think it’s pretty clear which opinion belongs to which part.

And what about you, fans and friends? Who do you see winning, and why?

Coming to us courtesy of MMA Weekly, Mitrione recently said the following: “For this fight, I wanted to emulate Dominick Cruz…  I love the way you fight brother, you’re elusive, and I wanted to be just like that… I can’t say where this really puts me as far as my progression as a martial artist… I haven’t really had the chance to capitalize or really see where my ground game is…  I know as a stand-up guy I can really let ‘em fly… I’m just saying I don’t exactly know where (my ground game) is. I prefer to trade leather, I’d prefer to let my shins and my hands fly.”

For someone who was known as “Meathead” during his time on the tenth season of “The Ultimate Fighter”, Mitrione sure has progressed considerably. I think the sky’s the limit for Matt Mitrione, and I can’t wait to see how he does against the UFC’s best. It will be very interesting to see whether or not a higher level of competition will finally be able to give Mitrione the early-career setback that some hot prospects have fallen victim to, or if Mitrione is destined to become the next Jon Jones or Junior dos Santos.

Moving forward, I think the key here will be finding ways to test Mitrione in all areas of the game and against an increasingly-higher level of competition. In a recent post I speculated that Mitrione’s next opponent should be Pat Barry, and I definitely still stand by that claim. I think this would be a great fight, since Mitrione has shown a lot of skill as a boxer while Barry is most dangerous when he’s given room to utilize his experiences as a kickboxer. It would definitely be quite exciting to see how Mitrione’s punches match up to Barry’s leg kicks.

I think Mitrione should also face a ground expert and/or submission specialist sooner or later, though the Heavyweight division seems to be lacking them for the most part (although, now that I think of it, Sean McCorkle may be a good candidate). The two best Heavyweight ground specialists, Frank Mir and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, are probably a bit higher than the skill level Mitrione should be facing right now. A fight with either of those two would be the equivalent of getting thrown into the shark tank: Mitrione has a chance of winning, but his chances of losing would be at their highest. I think Mitrione would take a fight with Mir or Nogueira without hesitation, but I also think that that’s not the type of fight he needs to be having right now.

So I say give Mitrione another striker, but one that’s at a higher level than any he’s faced before. Other potential opponents include Cheick Kongo, Brendan Schaub, or even Roy Nelson and Shane Carwin. But no matter what the future holds for Matt Mitrione, I’ll certainly be keeping an eye on him and I look forward to seeing him continue to evolve into a complete Mixed Martial Artist.

And what about you, fans and friends? What do you make of Mitrione’s comments, and what do you think the future holds for him?

“Minotauro” is not only lauded as one of the leading men in the heavyweight division, despite having gone 1-2 in his last three outings inside the octagon, but he is also becoming a great trainer for up and coming talent.

Case in point, his Black House team which has produced some of the best fighters in the world, including Vitor Belfort and Anderson Silva, two men that Antonio has spent time training in the past. Since then, Belfort has surrounded himself with the Xtreme Couture camp in Las Vegas, while Silva has remained with Antonio. Needless to say, the submission specialist is pulling for his boy Silva in his upcoming title fight.

Nogueira was recently tracked down by TATAME.com who managed to speak with the former PRIDE star concerning the the middleweight title fight this February, which headlines “UFC 126: Silva vs. Belfort” in a pay-per-view event. The Brazilian had this to say:

“Vitor is very good in striking, he’s good on the ground, has a good Wrestling, he’s complete. Anderson is a genius of the sport, has heart, he’s a showman. He can do a little bit more than the regular fighters, he always has a new trick to bring when he needs it…The fans will like this fight a lot and I’ll be there on the front seats. I already was training partner of both fighters, but now I’m Anderson’s and I cheer for him. I came to Brazil to find a way to help him on his trainings”.

It’s hard to argue. “The Spider” has been on a tear since his inception in the promotion in 2006, rattling off a 12-0 streak with victories over Rich Franklin (twice), Nate Marquardt, Chael Sonnen, Dan Henderson, and Forrest Griffin amongst his notable victims.

His striking acumen is second to none, but Vitor does still possess some of the best boxing in the weight class, coupled with the fastest hands to boot.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of Antonio’s assessment? Do you agree? Who takes this fight? Sound off in the comment section below.

Having carved a name for himself as a legend in the world of mixed martial arts, Nogueira made his inception into the UFC in July of 2007 universally believed to be in the top-3 of all the heavyweight fighters in the world.

However, in recent performances, Rodrigo has put his iron-like-chin to the test, going 2-2 in his last four outings, with both of those losses coming by way of knockout.

Losses to former champions Frank Mir and Cain Velasquez have left the MMA community doubting Nogueira’s viability as a contender in his weight class. In the past, not only was the Brazilian known for his amazing Jiu-Jitsu technique (counting 20 submissions to his credit amongst his 32 career wins) but also his for chin that has withstood the test of the likes of Fedor Emelianenko, Bob Sapp, and Mirko “Cro Cop”–who remain some of the hardest hitting men in the sport. And though many are writing off the Team Blackhouse representative, Minotauro is still one of his own biggest supporters and hopes to make a return to the top soon.

But before Antonio can come back inside the cage, he has one more surgery to go through–the last among three, which he suggests has also been the cause of much of his misfortune inside the octagon.

“I’m doing my third surgery within a month. There were three injuries that I had: my knee, my right hip and my left hip”, said the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, who recently spoke with TATAME.com.

“I have these injuries for eight year, but about three years ago it started blocking me of training hard. I handled it, but I couldn’t do my last fight and really, if you can’t train 100%, you won’t do a good fight. I did these surgeries on the right time and I’m treating myself with the greatest hip doctor of the world, the guy guarantees I’ll be 100% for the second semester.”

Hoping to return before the year is out, Nogueira–though he has accomplished a lot in his 11-plus years in the sport–wants to accomplish two more goals before he hangs up the gloves for good.

“My next goal is UFC Rio and to be among the tops of UFC”, said Rodrigo who counts the likes of UFC champion Anderson Silva and number one contender Junior dos Santos as some of his students and fellow training partners.

“I think I did great fight, I’ve fought the best of my division, I didn’t have an easy opponent. I really am one of the guys who fought great guys, but I have much more to show you, I am not done yet (laughs).”

So, MMA peeps, do you think Antonio still has what it takes to return to the top of his weight class? This is the same story we’ve heard before from fighters, speaking about injuries and training camps that have been less than adequate, but how can anyone count out a legend like Nogueira? I won’t. Sound off in the comment section below.

The following comes from a recent interview Nogueira gave where he discussed JDS, strikeforce, and more. Speaking with Bloody Elbow, “Big Nog” recently stated the following: “[Lesnar] doesn’t kick, so Cigano will not need to train too much defensive Muay Thai… he can now rely more on training offensive Muay Thai. And this is the type of fight where he’ll look for the KO, train a lot of wrestling, train the guard… even though Lesnar’s GnP is not as good as Cain’s. But (Cigano) will look for the KO in this fight.”

It’s hard to see any major difference in JDS’s strategy for Lesnar as compared to his strategy for… well, virtually everyone else he’s fought. Then again, there’s a phrase about not fixing what’s not broken that comes to mind and applies pretty well to this situation. JDS isn’t the most imposing specimen ever, but big muscles don’t always mean big power. And while the hulking freak of nature is always a good way to sell tickets, I strongly believe that JDS’s punching power is virtually uncontested at Heavyweight, save for perhaps Shane Carwin, who outweighs JDS considerably.

Although I’ve had my issues with some of the things he’s said in the past, it’s plain to see that Junior dos Santos is a near-perfect mix of the smaller Heavyweight that sets a good pace and the larger Heavyweight who has fists like freight trains and knocks people senseless with reckless abandon. I’m an unabashed fan of Brock Lesnar, but even I can admit that he’s got a whole lot of work ahead of him if he doesn’t want his chin to be added to JDS’s mantelpiece.

There’s still some hope for the former champion, though. Although it was another dominating performance, JDS did show signs of cardio problems near the tail-end of his fifteen-minute fight with Roy Nelson, who absorbed all of JDS’s best shots and somehow remained conscious. I won’t pretend that Lesnar has that type of chin, but there are ways to drain your opponent’s stamina without turning yourself into a punching bag. Lesnar may have a shot if he can keep JDS down and keep him down, or grapple against the cage and grind him out. Even so, that’s still a tall task, given how JDS has shown complete disdain for his opponent’s takedown ability and gotten right back up whenever anyone gets him down, which doesn’t happen often.

I don’t really like admitting it, but Brock Lesnar may be in for an even bigger beating than the one Cain Velasquez gave him, unless the absolute best Brock Lesnar we’ve ever seen steps into the Octagon to fight Junior dos Santos.

And what do you think, fans and friends? It appears that JDS’s strategy is virtually unchanged at this point, so if this strategy remains in place when the two do finally fight, how successful do you think JDS will be?

At 34-years-old, the Brazilian star has accomplished more than most could hope for in their career, having consistently battled against some of the best fighters in the world, including Fedor Emelianenko, Josh Barnett, Fabricio Werdum, Frank Mir, Randy Couture, and Cain Velasquez–all but Werdum were either PRIDE or UFC champions.

However with fighting top flight competition, it could certainly take it’s price on your body, and Nogueira has now become the victim of his own lifestyle and his been on the mend for the better part of 2010, however could be returning to the octagon sooner then you think.

Minotauro recently went under the knife when he underwent a much needed hip surgery, which is among one of the several mounting injuries the Brazilian has sustained over the years.

“He already is fine, recovering. Now he has to rest and take proper care so he can return on a perfect state”, said Luis Carlos Dórea, Boxing coach Nogueira as well as a number of the Team Blackhouse stars, whom recently spoke with TATAME.com about the former champ.

“Rodrigo is a very strong man; this recovery should be a good one. We believe he might return to the trainings within three months”.

Conceivably, Rodrigo could be back in action within the first half of 2011, though the recent announcement of an event to be held in Rio de Janiero, Brazil in August could prompt the former PRIDE star to hold off on an immediate return in order to fight before his fellow countryman, who idolize Nogueira as one of the legend’s of the sport, as well they should.

So, MMA peeps, who would you like to see Nogueira take on in his return, and is August a good fit for the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist? Sound off in the comment section below.

The event is currently scheduled to take place on August 27, 2011 in Rio de Janeiro’s HSBC Arena. At maximum capacity, the venue can hold anywhere from 15,000 to 18,000 fans. Reportedly, the UFC finally pulled the trigger on their long-awaited and long-planned return to Brazil based on the country’s recent and rapid economic expansion. Speaking to Yahoo Sports, UFC President Dana White had this to say: “The economy is doing extremely well… It just made sense. The economy has really been kick started and there are a lot of good things going on in Brazil… People were always asking me about Brazil and when it would happen and I always said it probably won’t happen for a while… But when they got the Olympics, I said, ‘Now we’re interested,’ and we really began to look at Brazil.”

After weeks of rumor and speculation, I think it’s great to finally get official confirmation that we can look forward to the UFC’s return to Brazil. The market does seem lucrative enough, and with Brazil’s deeply-rooted ties to all forms of fighting, the UFC should be a perfect fit. As with all the international cards, I think we can expect to see this event jam-packed with Brazilian competitors. And the best thing about that? A large portion of the UFC’s top talent are Brazilian.

However, this event does pose an interesting problem: yes, a lot of the UFC’s top-divisions stars are Brazilian, but a lot of them have been tied to other events. Several major fights have already been announced for 2011, many of them featuring the UFC’s top Brazilian stars. It’s certainly going to be interesting to see if any planned/rumored fights are shuffled around in order to better guarantee a sellout. But even without big stars like Anderson Silva, the UFC does have a host of other Brazilians that could easily make this card: Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Wanderlei Silva, and more.

At the end of the day, I’m incredibly excited for the UFC’s return to Brazil. In general, I always appreciate a good international card. Only a select few have all the major stars, but far more often than not international cards are enjoyable no matter who’s headlining. And I think the UFC will do everything in their power to make sure that this particular card is a success. 2011 looks to be an amazing year both for MMA in general and the UFC in particular.

And what about you, fans and friends? What do you think of the UFC’s return to Brazil, and what are some matches you hope the UFC puts together for this card?

UOL Esporte, with translations courtesy of MMA Mania, reports that the UFC is planning to hold an event in Brazil in August of next year. The target venue is the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro. The arena is a dual music/sporting arena and can hold anywhere between 8,000 to 18,000 people depending on what event/concert is being featured. The report also states that some of the biggest Brazilian stars the UFC has to offer have all been asked to participate in the event. No less than Anderson Silva, Vitor Belfort, and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira have all been tied to this event.

I’ve been a vocal supporter of the UFC returning to Brazil ever since the announcement was made, so I’m very glad that plans are already in motion to make this a stellar card. I think the UFC and Mixed Martial Arts as a whole owes a whole heck of a lot to Brazil, and I’m glad that the UFC is looking to give back in a big way. Without an ounce of hyperbole, I firmly believe that Brazil has consistently given us some of the best Mixed Martial Artists of all time. From one generation to the next, there seems to be no stopping the influx of young, wildly-entertaining, ridiculously-skilled Brazilian competitors.

In regards to the card itself, there are simply too many great fantasy match-ups to think about. I’d love to see Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva fight each other, it’s a rematch that’s been over a decade in the making. The UFC could also have the rematch between Frank Mir and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira go down in Brazil, that would likely almost guarantee a sellout. And if they want to ensure that the HSBC arena is packed past capacity, the UFC could give us the rematch everyone is waiting for and book Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen 2.

So the UFC is not without options, not by a long shot, especially since the new year isn’t even here yet and a lot of the UFC’s plans for 2011 are still only in the planning stages. I’m really looking forward to what the UFC produces in 2011 as a whole, especially with their two new lighter-weight divisions thanks to their absorption of the WEC. But this “Ultimate Brazil” event honestly seems like it could be one of the most interesting events in recent MMA history. Here’s hoping it lives up to the considerable hype it’s beginning to build for itself.

And what about you, fans and friends? As the rumors continue to swirl, what are your early thoughts on the UFC’s return to Brazil?

Soares recently talked to ESPN and said the following: “He’s a great guy, so he’s always in good spirits… He is rehabbing [his knee] right now in Brazil. He’s not training, just rehabbing… I am assuming [his return] will be sometime in late spring, early summer… I think [Nogueira-Mir II] is a great fight. Does he want to even the score? Absolutely! …Big Nog is a warrior. He’s never chosen an opponent. Whoever you put in front of him, he will fight.”

I still hold out hope for Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, and I don’t think I’m hoping in vain. Nogueira is still one of the best Brazilian Jui Jitsu specialists to ever compete in MMA. I think you can say with a credible amount of certainty that he probably has passed his prime, but it does him a great disservice to think that he’s entirely done as an MMA fighter. If you’re a fighter the caliber of “Big Nog”, you can still score some big wins and get some huge fights lined up for yourself even if you’re technically past your prime.

Nogueira won’t have it easy, but it’s not like the man will become a glorified gatekeeper. It’s up to Nogueira himself to figure out where he stands in the increasingly-competitive UFC Heavyweight division. And while I won’t get my hopes sky-high, I also won’t be predicting doom. The days of Nogueira dominating a fight are most likely over, but on any given day he can still be a threat to any opponent.

Personally, I’d love to see a Frank Mir vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira rematch. I think “Big Nog” does possess the abilities to even the score, and I also think that Frank Mir needs a marketable match that he could conceivably end in dramatic fashion. After the lukewarm reception (to say the very least) his performance against Mirko Filipovic garnered, a rematch with “Big Nog” would go a long way towards restoring some of Mir’s lost prestige. And if Nogueira wins, it will set him up for more big matches in the future and even a possible high-profile comeback.

So while the future may be uncertain for “Big Nog”, I wouldn’t say that dark days are ahead. Nogueira will be facing some tough tests for sure, of that I have no doubt. But the man has made a career out of rising to the occasion and defying the odds. When Nogueira returns he’ll have ample opportunity to do just that. And as a PRIDE fan and a fan of the man himself, I’ll certainly be pulling for him.

But what about you, fans and friends? What do you think of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira’s chances in the UFC once he returns from rehabbing this injury? And what future opponents do you think he should face?

The Ed-Chael feud had been well documented in the lead up heading into ufc 117 where Chael faced Soares’ client Anderson Silva just last August. After many outlandish claims directed towards Soares himself and Anderson Silva primarily, it was later discovered that after failing to capture the UFC middleweight title from “The Spider” after a dominant four-rounds turned in (before the Brazilian submitted Sonnen with a late-rally fifth-round arm bar), Sonnen was found to have been possibly under the influence of performance enhancing drugs.

Despite the fall out, and all of the negative tension shared in the media, Ed sympathizes with Sonnen and even goes as far as to say that his ‘friend’ is innocent of said allegations.

“I really feel sorry for Chael, being in this situation”, stated Soares in a recent interview with MMAWeekly.com.

“Chael’s not a bad person. He’s got a family, he’s got things (to take care of). On top of all the financial burden that this gonna put on, just for his reputation. And, unfortunately, the great performance he put on in August will now be tarnished because of this.”

While Ed (who’s management company also has under wraps some of the sports best including the Nogueria brothers, Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Rafael “Feijao” and WEC featherweight champion Jose Aldo) recognizes the burden that Sonnen must be feeling, he relays some short-changed resentment that Anderson Silva himself is feeling in lieu of the situation.

“It’s just a bummer all the way around. It’s a bummer for Anderson–and it’s a bummer for the UFC and for the fans, because I do believe it was a rematch that a lot of people wanted to watch”, began Soares. “And it would have been a big fight, and unfortunately, there’s a lot of money left on the table, because I think it would have been a big pay-per-view, big sales, and everyone would have made a lot of money. It’s unfortunate, but I just wish Chael all the best, and hopefully he’s able to clear all this stuff up”.

Sonnen was tagged as the next immediate challenger to Silva’s title, however since the allegations, the UFC botched a potential title fight that was tentatively scheduled for UFC 127 seeing as how the Oregon native can very well be sticking with his year long suspension, which runs until September 2 of next year (unless otherwise overturned and appealed) and replaced Chael with Brazilian striker and former UFC light heavyweight champion, Vitor Belfort. Regardless, Soares simply wishes Sonnen the best and hopes matters are resolved from what his instincts tell him that the situation at hand isn’t exactly what it appears to be.

“I personally don’t believe that it is what it looks like”, said Ed. “I don’t know Chael great, but I do like Chael. Chael, I consider him a friend. He’s cool. We talk once in a while. I just don’t see him doing that (PED’s). I don’t know all the details of it; it really took me by surprise when I heard the news.”

So, MMA peeps, what do you make of the news? Do you side with Soares, and sympathize with Chael? Do you feel he is guilty until otherwise proven innocent? The California State Athletic Commission, which served Sonnen with his year-long suspension following his bout with Silva at UFC 117 in Oakland, Calif., has a history with supposed-botched test results. Just ask Sean Sherk, who till this day refutes the claims that he was under the influence of PED’s. Sound off in the comments section below.

The card features a light heavyweight title fight against newly crowned champion “King Mo” Lawal against top contender Rafael “Feijao”, out of Team Blackhouse, who trains alongside the likes of the Nogueria brothers, Anderson Silva, and Junior dos Santos.

The preliminary card, which can easily headline any challenger series with it’s depth, will go as such.

Strikeforce: Houston Preliminary Bouts:

Daniel Cormier vs Jason Riley
Andre Galvao vs Nate Moore
Vinicius Magalhaes vs Rocky Long
Adam Schindler vs Kier Gooch
Jose Santibanez vs Reynaldo Trujillo
Chad Robichaux vs Humberto Deleon
Chad Cook vs Arteneus Young

Some notables there include Daniel Cormier, who has been anything short of impressive since his inception into the sport. He’s recently picked up two new heavyweight titles in his last two outings outside of the promotion, with a TKO win over seas against Lucas Brown in Australia, and then last Saturday at King of the Cage against former heavyweight champion Tony Johnson. Both men were undefeated before they tangled with the former wrestling olympian and American Kickboxing Academy standout.

Cormier will be in action against Jason Riley, who some might remember was on the losing side of things against former UFC champion Tim Sylvia in September of last year. He has since split his last two contests, with a TKO win over Joel Wyatt, and a loss to Devin Cole in his most recent performance.

Vinicius Magalhaes, though, should not be confused with season 8 competitor of “The Ultimate Fighter”–not the same guy.

Andre Galvao, a DREAM veteran who submitted long time veteran John Alessio in his debut with the Japan-based promotion last year, will look for his second win under the Strikeforce banner. The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world champion also trains with the aforementioned Blackhouse team.

The card is set for the Toyota Center, which at full capacity, can hold up to 19,000 at a time.

I noted to a friend recently that an MMA Junkie article listing the UFC’s top heavyweight talent included, of course, UFC champion and Fighters.com’s second-ranked heavyweight Brock Lesnar (4-1), his title challenger Shane Carwin (10-0), next in line Cain Velasquez(9-0), ”Cigano” Junior dos Santos (10-1), recently defeated former UFC champion Frank Mir(13-4), and former PRIDE and interim UFC champion “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira(32-6-1).  The article also threw Struve and Cheick Kongo(14-6-1) into the mix at the top of the UFC’s heavyweight division…but no Nelson.  My point to my friend was that I wouldn’t mind leaving Nelson out of a discussion of the UFC’s top heavyweights, but if you’re going to throw in Struve and Kongo, you have to include Nelson.

Struve and Kongo benefit from the same inclination to overhype.  They’re both physically imposing.  Kongo looks like he was chiseled from a 6’4″ chunk of obsidian and Struve stands literally head-and-shoulders above the Octagon cage.  But, with his mullet and soft belly, Nelson fights like Struve and Kongo look like they should fight.

Nelson is good! But, Nelson’s record indicates his ceiling.  He’s been knocked out by former UFC heavyweight champion “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (15-7) and lost decisions to former UFC title challenger “Snowman” Jeff Monson (33-9) and former IFL champ “Big” Ben Rothwell(20-7).  There’s a clear delineation between the level of talent Nelson has beat and the level of talent that beats Nelson.

The UFC’s heavyweight division is more interesting now than it has been in years.  Lesnar is the undisputed champion, but still only has a five-fight record that includes a loss.  Is he legitimately dominant, or just yet to be figured out?  Well…figured out again.  Carwin’s KO of Mir earned him the clear top contender spot, but Velasquez’s KO of Big Nog’ puts him just a notch beneath.  That latter knockout also clears the way for Fighters.com’s favorite in the division, dos Santos, who is trained by Nogueira.  Then there’s the old guard of Mir and Nogueira.

Any one of those fighters represents a step up to the level at which Nelson has consistently lost. There are some interesting matchups in the middle of the division, over which Nelson now seems to reign.  So, where does Nelson go from here?

He could await the winners in the UFC 115 matchups between “Cro Cop” Mirko Filipovic (26-8-2) and “HD” Pat Barry (3-2) and “Big” Ben Rothwell (29-5) and “Hurricane” Gilbert Yvel(33-13-1).  In fact, if Rothwell beats Yvel, a Nelson-Rothwell rematch could clearly define how far both fighters have come or what either has lost since their original matchup in April 2007 when Rothwell won by split decision.

Or, Nelson could take on one of the old guard – either Mir or Nogueira – and try to sap from them any of their remaining cache.  Wins over Mir and Nogueira have propelled Carwin and Velasquez to the top of the division, and a win for Nelson over either would push him not far behind.

Or, Nelson could take on either of the top contenders – Velasquez or dos Santos – and try to replace them in line for a title shot.

One fight Fighters.com would loath to see is a matchup between Nelson and Kongo.  I’m so bored with the UFC trying to pass-off Kongo as anything more than a physically imposing, middle-tier heavyweight.  If you want to argue with me, first Google Kongo’s record.  It tells the story.  And, the fact is, Nelson would beat Kongo handily.

Fighters.com’s preference would be for the Rothwell-Nelson rematch to determine whether Nelson has truly improved his game or he’s benefiting from generous matchups in the UFC.  If Nelson could beat Rothwell, he’d have proven he could step-up to the next level of competition.  However, Rothwell has to beat Yvel first and Nelson would have to want to wait until August to fight again.

Where do you think Nelson should go after his impressive knockout of Struve?

Velasquez certainly turned more heads than just Big Nog’s with the right hook the was the beginning of the end for the former PRIDE and interim UFC champion.  Fighters.com certainly didn’t imagine that end to the fight, and we suspect neither did most of you.  The win plants Velasquez firmly in title contention in the UFC.

White added, “We’ll see what happens with [third-ranked Frank Mir (13-4)] and [sixth-ranked Shane Carwin (10-0) ] – see who wins that – and if the guys come out unscathed, they’ll fight for the title. If not, then Cain Velasquez will get that slot.”

But, Velasquez’s win also cleared a path to the title for Nogueira’s prodigy fifth-ranked ”Cigano” Junior dos Santos (9-1).  dos Santos had been waiting as the more popular, better vetted Nogueira chased the title because the two wouldn’t fight each other as contenders.  Now that Velasquez has removed Nogueira from the title picture for awhile, dos Santos can step up as a serious contender.

Could Velasquez and dos Santos be on a collision course themselves?  If the winner of Mir-Carwin is able to challenge UFC champion and second-ranked Brock Lesnar (4-1) in July, the question for Velasquez will be whether or not he wants to wait possibly until 2011 to fight again or take a dangerous fight versus a fellow contender, but someone ranked lower than the legend he just beat.

It was a surprisingly short fight capping a night of grueling wars.  Velasquez dropped Nogueira with a two-punch combo then finished the MMA legend with five unanswered punches on the mat before referee Herb Dean stopped the fight at 2:20.

But, those nostalgic for PRIDE can take comfort that tenth-ranked light heavyweight “Axe Murderer” Wanderlei Silva (34-10-1) picked up a respectable unanimous decision win in his move down to middleweight versus “Count” Michael Bisping (18-3).  The judges’ scores were 29-28.

“This will probably be an annual event,” said White Wednesday in Sydney.  “Obviously if you see our track record, when we go somewhere and it’s very successful, we usually make it an annual event. Montreal, we did it in Columbus for a while.”

The UFC world tour has stopped in Canada, England, Ireland, and Germany in recent years and will debut in Abu Dhabi in April.  Previous years have seen UFC events in both Japan and Brazil too.

Both seventh-ranked Shane Carwin (10-0) and unranked Cain Velasquez (7-0) have been hyped as top contenders ahead of dos Santos primarily because Carwin is all-American and Velasquez is Mexican-American, two key UFC demographics.  Dos Santos has a better record than both Carwin and Velasquez over the last two years and with every bit as exciting finishes as either.  But, dos Santos has been underhyped also because Nogueira is both still a contender and a big draw.  Only one of them can be marketed as a potential contender at a time because they won’t fight each other, and Nogueira is the bigger name.

But, Fighters.com thinks dos Santos’s time gaining experience versus quality opponents like Yvel and “Cro Cop” Mirko Filipovic (23-6-2) will benefit him in the long run more than being rushed to a title shot like Carwin and Velasquez have been.

In boxing, prospects take a long road to a title shot, building their record and experiences on the path.  They beat power punchers, technical fighters, European stylists, pressure fighters, brawlers, and every look they can get while gradually increasing their level of competition.  They might even lose a fight or two along the way and good fighters will learn from those losses as much as from their wins.  By the time they fight for a title, if they’re management has served them well, they’ve seen it all and are confident going into their first title challenge.

In MMA, prospects are often rushed through the ranks and granted title shots because they’re getting a lot of hype or are marketable, not necessarily because they’re ready physically and mentally.

However, because dos Santos’s rise through the ranks has been limited by his teacher’s contendership, he’s earning an eventual title shot the old fashioned way.  And, he’ll benefit from that in the long run.

Just in the UFC, he’s beaten a world-class submission grappler and certified top ten heavyweight ninth-ranked “Vai Cavalo” Fabricio Werdum (13-4-1), a 6’11″ young thoroughbred “SkySkraper” Stefan Struve (23-3), an MMA legend and patient kickboxer Filipovic, and now a intimidating, wild kickboxer in Yvel.  Dos Santos also has one loss under his belt, a 2007 armbar submission to Joaquim Ferreira (3-3).

Dos Santos is already a top contender, though you wouldn’t know it in the UFC’s marketing.  However, when his time finally comes, he’s going to have the skills, experiences, and seasoning to be a long-serving champion.

Fighters.com January Heavyweight Rankings

1. “Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (31-1)

2. Brock Lesnar (4-1)

3. Frank Mir (13-4)

4. “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (32-5-1)

5. “Cigano” Junior dos Santos (10-1)

6. “Grim” Brett Rogers (10-1)

7. Shane Carwin (10-0)

8. “Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (20-5)

9. “Vai Cavalo” Fabricio Werdum (13-4-1)

10. “The Natural” Randy Couture (17-10)

Frank seems to be looking for an exciting stand up war which casual fans seems to thirst for today. I feel  the most exciting fights are ones where we see the actual definition of mixed martial arts. The continued rise of this sport and the very future of it depends upon fighters and promoters working to show what a true mixed martial artist is and not focusing on only one aspect of that,specifically the stand up wars.

I noticed that many times during a pay per view we get to see the knock out of the night even when it is not a main card fight. Seldom to we get to see the submission of the night when it is an under card fight. This is a travesty to the sport. We can’t continue to promote the sport, the fighters and the evolution of it while focusing on the stand up aspect and essentially ignoring the other aspects.

Promoters tout mixed martial arts as the combination of boxing, muay thai, kick boxing,wrestling and jiu jitsu. This is the evolution of the sport. We see fighters working hard to evolve into complete mixed martial artists. Guys like Fighters.com and UFC lightweight champion “The Prodigy” BJ Penn (12-4-1) and UFC welterweight champion “Rush” Georges St. Pierre (19-2). Yet it is the strikers that are getting the biggest headlines in the national media.

On ESPN’s website today we see former Strikeforce middleweight champion Cung Le. A man highly touted yet has faced not one top tier middleweight. He is known for his striking and this gets him publicity. That and his new found movie career. I would much rather see fighters such as Strikeforce interim lightweight champion “El Nino” Gilbert Melendez (14-2) and “Cowboy” Donald Cerrone (9-2) get publicity. Both of these men train hard to become well rounded. Cowboy is known as a submission fighter but has worked hard recently to clean up his stand up. This is what the sport is all about.

Spike TV has done a great job of promoting mma but look at one of the shows they like to run, Ultimate Knock Outs. This is run over and over while Ultimate Submissions is a show I have never seen. We seem to be promoting the stand up and ignoring the ground game. It is an injustice to pander to the new fans who tune in to watch someone get knocked out using the four once gloves. I understand that many new fans want to see a knock out but it is our job to make sure we educate them and a show like Ultimate Submissions would do just that. When  watching the reruns of fights on Spike, instead of showing us a fight with great stand up I say show us a fight with great transitions. Maybe then we will see a fight go to the ground and not have to listen to fans boo even while one fighter is passing guard.

This education of fans is also a responsibility fighters must take seriously. Frank is dodging a fight because he feels it would not be exciting. It is the fighters job to work to be the best and in doing so one must take fights that put them against the best. Even if a fight may end up being a fight like we saw when Strikeforce middleweight champion Jake Shields (24-4-1) took on “Mayhem” Jason Miller (22-7). The fight was a five round wrestling match with Jake doing very little striking and Mayhem unable to look for subs due to the great top control of Shields. There will be times when these things happen. Fighters seem to be more worried about how they look in the cage then if they win or lose. How many times do you see a fighter lose and then ask the crowd if they enjoyed the fight? Yes, promote yourself but let’s allow our sport to turn into a Jorge Gurgel (12-4)

Jorge is a black belt in jiu jitsu yet has decided to put all that aside to be an “exciting fighter” who focuses on stand up. This has led to him being cut from the UFC due to loses. Jorge may have the ability to be a top lightwieght fighter but it is his insistence on putting on a show that has been his downfall. Do not abandon one aspect of this amazing sport just to be exciting. Seasoned mma fans know and new fans will find out that the most exciting fights are the ones that transition from stand up, to wrestling , to jiu jitsu and then back to the feet. Fights such as Fighters.com ninth ranked light heavyweight “Axe Murder” Wanderlei Silva (15-1) versus Hidehiko Yoshida (9-6-1) or Fighters.com third ranked light heavyweight “Shogun” Mauricio Rua (18-4) versus fourth ranked heavyweight “Lil Nog” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-5-1).

We can use knock outs to bring people new fans to the sport but without educating them ikn all aspects of the sport fighters like Frnak Shamrock will continue to refuse fights they don’t feel will be exciting and we could miss the next Shogun versus Lil Nog fight. There comes a time when one needs to shut up, step inside the cage and let his skills speak for themselves and the fans will surely be pleased.

Emelianenko’s fallen foe at M-1 Global/Strikeforce, fifth-ranked “Grim” Brett Rogers (10-1), wants to comeback versus Strikeforce heavyweight champion “Demolition Man” Alistair Overeem (29-10).  And, Overeem seems ambivalent about who he fights and whether or not he’s defending his title or not.

And so,  four men makeup what Strikeforce and M-1 Global might call “a good problem to have” atop the Strikeforce heavyweight division.  Especially since the UFC is finding it hard to find four top heavyweights who are healthy enough to fight.

Second-ranked UFC champion Brock Lesnar (4-1) is out indefinitely after minor intesting surgery, but is excpect to return versus sixth-ranked Shane Carwin (10-0).

Fourth-ranked “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (32-5-1) has had to postpone a fight versus Cain Velasquez (6-0) for the interim UFC title until UFC 110 in Sydney February 21 due to a staph infection.

And, seventh-ranked “Cigano” Junior dos Santos (9-1) lost his UFC 108 opponent, “Napão” Gabriel Gonzaga (11-4), due to Gonzaga’s staph infection.

Third-ranked Frank Mir (12-4) will fight Cheick Kongo (14-5-1) at UFC 107 in Memphis December 12.

Eighth-ranked “Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (20-5) is negotiating a return to Pancrase in 2010 to defend his heavyweight King of Pancrase title.

Tenth-ranked “The Natural” Randy Couture (17-10) has moved down to light heavyweight.

Fighters.com November Heavyweight Rankings

1. “Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (31-1)

2. Brock Lesnar (4-1)

3. Frank Mir (12-4)

4. “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (32-5-1)

5. “Grim” Brett Rogers (10-1)

6. Shane Carwin (10-0)

7. “Cigano” Junior dos Santos (9-1)

8. “Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (20-5)

9. “Vai Cavalo” Fabricio Werdum (12-4-1)

10. “The Natural” Randy Couture (17-10)

The previously scheduled main event between fourth-ranked heavyweight “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (32-5-1) and Cain Velasquez (6-0) has been postponed due to a staph infection to Nogueira.

“The bout between Rashad Evans and Thiago Silva is a fight we always talked about as a main event, and now these guys have the chance to headline UFC 108 and kick off the new year in impressive fashion,” said UFC President Dana White. “At the same time, we wish Antonio Nogueira a speedy recovery and can’t wait for his return.”

Evans has told AOL FanHouse of the matchup versus Silva, “I think I match up really well with Thiago Silva.  He’s a great striker, and I love his focus.  He’s going to be a challenge, and that’s the kind of fight I want.”

Silva responded via Tatame, saying, “We’re two aggressive fighters, it’ll be a good fight, the game matches.  I want to fight with the bests and show my work to be close to a title shot.”

Fighters.com has not confirmed the report; but, if true, the first UFC event 2010 will require a possibly unprecedented fourth main event.  Originally, a title fight between Fighters.com and UFC Middleweight Champion “Spider” Anderson Silva (25-4) and tenth-ranked “Phenom” Vitor Belfort (18-8) was scheduled to headline UFC 108, but Silva was forced to postpone the fight after elbow surgery.  A title fight between second-ranked, UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar (4-1) and sixth-ranked Shane Carwin (9-0) was postponed to UFC 108 after Lesnar came down with mononucleosis, but the fight was postponed indefinitely as Lesnar’s illness has become more serious.  The matchup between big Nog’ and Velasquez was the UFC’s third try to fill the top of the bill for what is often one of the year’s biggest events.

The winner is in line for the next shot at the UFC heavyweight title currently held by second-ranked Brock Lesnar (4-1).

Nogueira lost the interim UFC heavyweight title to third-ranked Frank Mir (12-4) at UFC 92 in Las Vegas in December 2008, later returning to victory over tenth-ranked former UFC Heavyweight champion “The Natural” Randy Couture (16-10) at UFC 102 in Portland August 29.

Velasquez moved forward in contention after a TKO stoppage of “Big” Ben Rothwell (26-7) at UFC 104 in Los Angeles October 24.

Lesnar  was previously scheduled to fight sixth-ranked Shane Carwin (10-0) UFC 106 in Las Vegas November 21, but withdrew due to a reported flu-like illness.  The championship bout had been rumored for UFC 108, but it is not yet certain if Lesnar will be ready for the fight.

Chad Edward contributed to this report.

Fighters.com has learned Rogers has trained at American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose for the fight, where UFC contender Cain Velasquez (6-0) and “Headhunter” Paul Buentello (27-9) train full-time.

In September, seventh-ranked “Cigano” Junior dos Santos (9-1) cemented his ranking for October when he forced once-feared “Cro Cop” Mirko Filipovic (25-8-2) to quit at 2:00 of round three at UFC 103 in Dallas.  The win wasn’t enough to push dos Santos ahead in the rankings though.  Let’s face the fact that Cro Cop is a shell of the fighter he once was.  Still, the “W” further justifies dos Santos’s place among the elite heavyweights.

The heavyweight “Cigano” forced from the top ten with a first round KO at UFC 90 in Montréal last October, “Vai Cavalo” Fabricio Werdum (11-4-1), returned to the elite list in October at the nine spot.  He tapped “MAK” Mike Kyle (11-7-1) in a guillotine in 1:24 at Strikeforce in San Jose August 15.

Second-ranked Brock Lesnar (4-1) will defend his UFC title from Shane Carwin (10-0) UFC 106 at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas November 21.  The hype around this monster fight has been strangely muted, hasn’t it?

Former UFC champ and recent challenger, third-ranked Frank Mir (12-4) will fight Cheick Kongo (14-5-1) at UFC 107 in Memphis 12 December.

Tenth-ranked “The Natural” Randy Couture (16-10) has evidently followed through on his intimations to leave the heavyweight division and return to 205 where he’ll fight “Truth” Brandon Vera (11-3) at UFC 105 at M.E.N. Arena in Manchester November 14.

“Minotauro” Rodrigo-Nogueira”>Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (32-5-1) and “Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (20-5) are waiting in limbo for potential title shots, Nog’ versus the winnner between Lesnar and Carwin and Barnett possibly versus “Junior” Antonio Silva (13-1) for a Sengoku title.

Fighters.com October Heavyweight Rankings

1. “Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (30-1)

2. Brock Lesnar (4-1)

3. Frank Mir (12-4)

4. “Minotauro” Rodrigo-Nogueira”>Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (32-5-1)

5. “Grim” Brett Rogers (10-0)

6. Shane Carwin (10-0)

7. “Cigano” Junior dos Santos (9-1)

8. “Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (20-5)

9. “Vai Cavalo” Fabricio Werdum (11-4-1)

10. “The Natural” Randy Couture (16-10)

If you’re not North American or you’re one of the 50,000 or so North Americans who plunked down $34.95 for PRIDE 32, your poster depicts Emelianenko within a golden aureole striding a mound of pummeled flesh bags that includes fourth-ranked “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (32-5-1), tenth-ranked “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (14-7), and former UFC heavyweight champion “Maine-iac” Tim Sylvia (24-6).

If you’re North American and cut your MMA teeth on The Ultimate Fighter circa 2007 or anxiously anticipating the first F5 stoppage in MMA history, your poster depicts Emelianenko cowering within the block-headed shadow of the man-mountain that is second-ranked UFC champ Brock Lesnar (4-1).

Both posters are idealized. It’s time we get real.

Emelianenko told a post-Strikeforce signing press conference, “I’d like to develop MMA and also make some money at the same time. If Strikeforce is able to offer more than the UFC, why should we sign with the UFC?”

For Emelianenko, MMA is strictly business. It’s quite literally all about the Benjamins.

“If the numbers published on the Internet were the real numbers, we would’ve signed with the UFC,” Emelianenko added, referencing the $5 million per fight reportedly offered by the UFC.

Emelianenko even directly addressed UFC President Dana White’s criticism, “This guy doesn’t want to fight the best in the world,” by admitting, “I don’t think that I need really good fighters because the last two fights I’ve had were really good opponents.”

For the former group of fans to understand Emelianenko, they have to take the halo off of his head. For the latter group, they have to recognize that there was MMA before The Ultimate Fighter and Lesnar, and even before Dana White.

The reality is that Emelianenko is a great fighter in the second half of his career. Today Emelianenko is the best heavyweight in the world, but he turns 33-years old on the 28th of this month and is starting consider how best to taking care of himself and his family when he’s no longer the world’s greatest heavyweight.

“I feel very sorry for my fans,” Emelianenko admitted after declining the last, best opportunity for him to fight in the UFC. “But, I also think I deserve some respect to look out for my best interest.”

His best interest is establishing M-1 Global, the promotion he co-owns with Vadim Finkelchtein, as a lasting, stable international MMA promotion. That’s why Emelianenko flew from Stary Oskol to New York City for an open workout promoting his Strikeforce/M-1 Global fight versus fifth-ranked “Grim” Brett Rogers (10-0) in the autumn, then flew the next day from New York City to Kansas City to spar the same night around 4:00 AM Stary Oskol time with Strikeforce light heavyweight champion “Dreamcatcher” Gegard Mousasi (22-2-1) in front of approximately 1500 Midwestern fans, and the following day flew back home to his family in Russia.

And, headlining that M-1 Global card in Kansas City was forty-year old former UFC champion “Smashing Machine” Mark Kerr (14-11), who replaced forty-three year old former UFC champion “Predator” Don Frye (20-7-1), both still fighting past their prime because they weren’t lucky enough to be dominant in MMA during a period when you could turn the sport into a comfortable retirement. That’s what Emelianenko is trying to avoid.

Emelianenko has drawn a legit opponent this autumn in Rogers, who is ranked higher than Lesnar’s next opponent at UFC 106 in Las Vegas 21 November, sixth-ranked Shane Carwin (10-0). So, at least in the short-term, no one should have any complaints about either matchup.

At UFC 102 in Portland last Saturday, fourth-ranked “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (32-5-1) notched up a spot after a UD over ninth-ranked “The Natural” Randy Couture (16-10), who dropped a notch this month. Nog’ has publicly called for the winner between Lesnar and Carwin for a UFC title fight, but White hasn’t committed to the matchup.

As reported by Fighters.com, third-ranked Frank Mir (12-4) will fight Cheick Kongo (14-5-1) at UFC 107 in Memphis 12 December. Mir will have to remaine focused as he forays outside of the top ten.

Seventh-ranked “Cigano” Junior dos Santos (8-1) will try to legitimize his spot in the top ten versus former top tenner “Cro Cop” Mirko Filipoic (25-7-2) at UFC 103 in Dallas 19 September.

After testing positive for 2a-methyl-5a-androstan-3a-ol-17-one, an anabolic steroid, and causing the cancellation of Affliction M-1 Global’s Trilogy, eighth-ranked “Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (20-5) will probably return to Sengoku in Japan. Barnett was never enthusiastic about fighting Emelianenko, whom he considers a friend, at Trilogy; and, Fighters.com wonders if testing positive isn’t some kind of subconcious self-fulfilled will of Barnett’s. For the record, Barnett denies using steroids, the the California State Athletic Commission confirmed Barnett’s B sample also tested positive.

Finally, tenth-ranked “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (14-7) is a man without a promotion since Affliction cut him and UFC President Dana White recently remarked that he has no interest in signing Arlovski. Arlovski has stated he plans to make his professional boxing debut at the end of September or early October, but Fighters.com couldn’t get a firm answer from Arlovski’s manager concerning his first boxing bout.

Fighters.com’s September 2009 Heavyweight Rankings

1. “Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (30-1)

After two years fighting freak shows, Emelianenko has stopped consecutive top tenners: Arlovski and then-ranked Tim Sylvia to establish legitimacy as Fighters.com’s Heavyweight Champ. He’ll keep it elite when he faces Rogers in the autumn.

2. Brock Lesnar (4-1)

Lesnar’s dominance over Mir in their rematch demonstrated how far the UFC champ has come since his Octagon debut, earning him the top contender slot. He’ll fight a game opponent very similar to himself in Carwin in November.

3. Frank Mir (12-4)

Mir’s second wind after a career-threatening motorcycle crash has earned him two distinctons: the only man to beat UFC champ Lesnar and the only man to knockout former PRIDE champ Nogueira. He’ll try to maintain focus versus Cheick Kongo in December.

4. “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (32-5-1)

Though unable to stop Couture, Nog’ clearly whooped the legend to add his name with Barnett and then-ranked Tim Sylvia as former UFC champs he has slain in the last two years.

5. “Grim” Brett Rogers (10-0)

Rogers’s 22 second knockout of Arlovski welcomed him into the top ten, but no one could imagine then that it’d also be a ticket to a matchup versus Emelianenko. We’ll see what Rogers is really made of this autumn.

6. Shane Carwin (10-0)

Carwin has never been out of the first round, but the 1:09 knockout of Gabriel Gonzaga has earned him a five-round title fight versus Lesnar in November. Can Carwin neutralize the force of nature that is Lesnar?

7. “Cigano” Junior dos Santos (8-1)

Nog’s pupil came out of nowhere, like his uppercut that KO’d Fabricio Werdum. Not much is known about “Cigano” and his record reveals a 2007 tap out to another Brazilian unknown, but he’ll be tested versus Mirko Cro Cop in September.

8. “Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (20-5)

“Babyface Assassin” is on a tear with a KO of Pedro Rizzo, UD over Jeff Monson, and submission of Hidehiko Yoshida, but no recent work at the top of the division. Unfortunately he flubbed the biggest fight at heavyweight: Emelianenko.

9. “The Natural” Randy Couture (16-10)

Is Fighters.com going to have to be the first to say Couture is starting to look his age? There’s no shame in being overpowered by Lesnar, nor coming up short versus Nog’, but it might be time for the final retirement.

10. “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (14-7)

“Pitbull” got his bite back versus Ben Rothwell and Roy Nelson, but was a chew toy for Emelianenko and Rogers. The free agent is going to throw his hat into the boxing ring in late September.

Leben, an original The Ultimate Fighter contestant, is required to have a CT scan of possible facial fractures before his suspension is lifted.

Heavyweight Chris Tuchscherer (15-2) has been suspended 45 days with a facial laceration after his first-round TKO loss to “Napao” Gabriel Gonzaga (11-4).

Middleweight “Short Fuse” Ed Herman (15-8) was TKO’d with a left knee injury in his fight versus Aaron Simpson (5-0) and has been suspended indefinitely until cleared by a physician.

Middleweight “Phillipine Wrecking Machine” Mark Munoz (4-1) suffered a right elbow injury in his split decision over Nick Catone (7-2) and has been suspended 30 days.

Heavyweight “Nsane 1″ Justin McCully (9-5-2) has been suspended 30 days with a possible left eye injury following his UD loss to Michael Russow (12-1).

All UFC 102 fighters were suspended a minimum of seven days. Headliners Fighters.com’s fifth-ranked heavyweight “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (32-5-1) and eighth-ranked “Natural” Randy Couture (16-10) have both been suspended 30 days. Besides Herman’s indefinite suspension, Canadian “Thrashing Machine” Tim Hague (8-2) received the longest suspension, 60 days after being KO’d in seven seconds by American Top Team’s Todd Duffee (5-0).

“It feels great to fight against a legend,” said Nogueira, an MMA legend himself.

Nog’ dropped Couture with a short left-right hook combo in the first round and again with a right cross in the third and followed the first-round knock down with a D’Arce choke that would’ve tranquilized a bull elephant.

“Today I know my boxing skills worked,” proclaimed Nogueira after the fight. “I knock him down twice and I won this fight mostly standing up.”

Couture maintained consciousness and composure inside Nog’s grip on the mat, forcing the Brazilian grappler to abandon the D’Arce choke in the first round and slipping from an arm triangle while Nogueira struggled to pass from half-mount after sweeping Couture in the second round.

Couture scored primarily with a short left elbow while inside Nog’s guard at the end of the third round and a few times after Nogueira pulled guard in the second round. The American MMA legend also scored a right uppercut and dominated the clinch until Nogueira pulled guard to escape.

“I know his plan could be like stand and box with me. He saw my last fight,” explained Nogueira, who was knocked cold by third-ranked Frank Mir (12-4) at UFC 92 Las Vegas last December. “But, my last fight was the worst fight of my life. Bad knee, staff infection. This fight I was hungry. That loss make me hungry.”

Nogueira’s knockdowns and near submissions determined the outcome of UFC 102′s “Fight of the Night”. Fighters.com scored it 30-27 for the Brazilian, who likely earned a title shot versus the winner between second-ranked UFC champion Brock Lesnar (4-1) and sixth-ranked Shane Carwin (10-0) at UFC 106 in Las Vegas 21 November.

Rua will fight Nogueira’s intended opponent, “Brazilian Killa” Alex Stiebling (19-10-1), in what becomes a more evenly matched fight. Rua lost a two-round UD to Riki Fukuda (12-4) at DREAM 8 in Nagoya 5 April.

Stiebling lost by second round TKO to “Chteki” Moise Rimbon (12-8-2) at Bodog Fight 3 in Costa Rica in February 2007.

Rogerio’s twin brother, fifth-ranked heavyweight and former PRIDE and UFC heavyweight champion “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-5-1), had announced on a Tuesday media conference call that “Li’l Nog’” was negotiating with the UFC and would be dropping off the Bitetti card, later confirmed to MMA Weekly by the Nogueira brothers’ manager Ed Soares.

However, Fighters.com reported how “Minotoro” had made a personal commitment to promoter Amaury Bitetti (5-2) the very day of his brother’s announcement, hedging in case a deal couldn’t be worked with the UFC. The organizers of Bitetti Combat become wary of the likelihood Rogerio would eventually break his promise and contacted Rua to replace him.

Though Fighters.com’s sources couldn’t confirm the status of negotiations between Rogerio and the UFC, his official absence from Bitetti hints that negotiations have concluded successfully and the Nogueira brothers will reunite in the UFC. Fighters.com expects an official announcement from the UFC toot sweet.

Bitetti Combat will be broadcast 12 September on RedeTV! in Brazil and Fighters.com’s sources indicate a deal broadcasting the card to North America on HDNet is nigh.

Rogerio’s big bro’, Fighters.com’s fifth-ranked heavyweight “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-5-1), announced on a media conference call Tuesday afternoon that Rogerio was close to a deal with the UFC.

MMA Junkie subsequently reported that Rogerio was scratched from his fight at Bitetti Combat. MMA Weekly later confirmed Rogerio has been scratched with Ed Soares, Rogerio’s American manager.

However, Fighters.com’s source said after the media conference call, “Rogerio confirmed to Amaury [Bitetti, promoter of Bitetti Combat] today his commitment to fight in the show.”

Bitetti knows about Rogerio’s negotiations with the UFC. Fighters.com’s source confided that organizers of the 12 September event in Rio are now nervous Rogerio could eventually renege on his commitment, but that as of this moment Rogerio is scheduled to fight Stiebling.

The truth is that both Ed Soares and Fighters.com’s source are legit. Soares is negotiating with the UFC in the US and saying what has to be said to secure a deal. But, Soares isn’t Rogerio’s only manager. Rogerio’s manager in Brazil is named Joinho. In Brazil, Rogerio is leaving open the option of fighting for Bitetti Combat in case a deal with the UFC isn’t reached. There’s a game being played.

The MMA Junkie headline included the phrase: “Sept. 12 Bitetti Combat fight canceled”, which Bitetti Combat organizers worry might confuse fans that the entire event is cancelled. Whether Li’l Nog’ fights 12 September or not, Fighters.com’s sources asked me to emphasize that the event is certainly on either way.

Fighters.com will update you as the story unfolds.

“Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (29-1) retains the Fighters.com heavyweight championship, which he’s set to defend from ninth-ranked “Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (20-5) at Affliction M-1 Global’s Trilogy in Anaheim 1 August.

But, with Affliction’s run thought to be at its end, Fighters.com worries that whomever wins will return to Japan to fight freaks and middleweights.

Up I-15 in Las Vegas 11 July, UFC 100 features a fight for the soul of MMA’s top promotion when second-ranked Frank Mir (12-3) and third-ranked Brock Lesnar (3-1) rematch for the UFC title.

Mir represents the martial artists of MMA’s origins, while uber-athlete Lesnar proudly proclaims he fights for a paycheck and is likely the future of the sport whether he wins Saturday or not.

Fourth-ranked “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-5-1) is set for a showdown with fellow legend and eighth-ranked “The Natural” Randy Couture (16-9) at UFC 102 in Portland 29 August, but only after the fight has lost the significance it would’ve had just a year ago.

On the undercard, seventh-ranked “Cigano” Junior dos Santos (8-1) will fight overmatched “Insane 1″ Justin McCully (9-4-2).

Fifth-ranked “Grim” Brett Rogers (8-0) is gunning for Strikeforce champ “Demolition Man” Alistair Overeem (27-10) after knocking out tenth-ranked “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (14-7) in 22 seconds 6 June in St. Louis.

Finally, sixth-ranked Shane Carwin (10-0) is rumoured to be mulling a match-up versus fellow UFC up-and-comer Cain Velasquez (6-0).

The light heavyweights will vie for the title of “The Ultimate Fighter” at the live finale 13 December in Las Vegas.

Fighters.com’s top heavyweight contender “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-4-1) and Frank Mir (11-3) served as coaches for the season.

Fighters.com:  Is the Ryan Bader we saw on The Ultimate Fighter the real Ryan Bader?  Do you feel you were portrayed accurately?

Ryan Bader:  Most definitely, I thought they did a great job portraying the fighters’ true personalities, at least, if the fighters were actually being themselves.  But I have no qualms whatsoever about how they portrayed me on the show.

Fighters.com:  Do you think any of the cast was misrepresented because of the editing?

Ryan Bader:  In the end I feel that everybody got their true personalities out.  Some things were over hyped.  Vinny [Magalhaes] really isn’t that much of a dick, and Eliot [Marshall (4-1)] is actually very respectful.  Junie [Allen Browning (2-0)] is a nut just as he was portrayed.

Fighters.com:  Are there any scenes you would have added or taken out if you’d been in charge of the show?  Would you have given anyone more or less airtime?

Ryan Bader:  Probably have given Junie less airtime with his antics but they got the ratings that they wanted from that.  The sushi incident could have gone without making the show, which was pretty disgusting.  I also would have liked to have seen more footage of the training, but the people at Spike are professionals and know how to get the ratings.

Fighters.com:  Who did you get along with the best at the house?

Ryan Bader:  I was closest to Kyle Kingsbury (8-1) and Efrain Escudero (6-0). Both are from Arizona and both were on my team.  I knew Kyle from ASU before the show, so we already had that relationship.  So it was very interesting when we got called to fight each other to get into the house.  Efrain and I knew each other from the wrestling world and just clicked.  I got along with everybody in the house though.  All were pretty good guys.

Fighters.com:  Your team was very close-knit and like a family, while Team Mir did not have the same dynamic.  How much of your success on the show do you attribute to being on Team Nogueira?  Would you have done as well had you been chosen by Mir?

Ryan Bader:  I think that I would have done just as well.  In the end, this is an individual thing and you have to keep that in mind and work towards your goal, which should be to win the tournament.  That being said, I loved being on Nogueira’s team, I had a great time, we all got along great, and I learned so much from the coaching staff and fighters themselves.  I have made life long friends and have made great contacts.

Fighters.com:  I understand that you’ve been getting serious about Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and have even purchased a gi.  How much of this interest is from working with Nogueira and how much is preparation for your upcoming fight with Vinny?

Ryan Bader:  Those two factors didn’t really push me towards working with the GI, I just wanted to immerse myself in the game and that is the best way.  I am trying to do each and every thing I can do to elevate my game and make me a more well-rounded fighter.  I am enjoying it and will continue to work BJJ as well as all the other aspects.

Fighters.com:  Vinny’s strength is obviously his jiu-jitsu, whereas you are the better striker.  How do you plan on keeping the fight standing?

Ryan Bader:  If I want to keep the fight standing I will use my wrestling. That’s what I love about having a strong wrestling background; I can dictate where the fight goes. Wrestling also gave me a great base for defending submissions.  Also, Vinny is able to pull guard when he is close to the fence, so keeping away from the cage will help a lot.

Fighters.com:  You wrote in your blog about the semi-final fight between Krzysztof Soszynski (16-8-1) and Vinny that once Vinny took Krzysztof down it was only a matter of time before Vinny submitted him.  How will you avoid the same fate if Vinny manages to take the fight to the mat?

Ryan Bader:  I believe that my jiu-jitsu and submission defense is at a much higher level than Kyzysztof.  I believe that if it goes to the ground I can use that with heavy ground and pound to keep myself safe and out of his submissions.

Fighters.com:  Who has been working with you on your standup and your submission defense?

Ryan Bader:  I work with a bunch of different people on the ground.  Gustavo Dantes (1-0) is the main jiu-jitsu instructor and is a high level black belt.  I have also been doing a lot of work with Jacob McClintock (2-0) who has a similar style with rubber guard, flying triangles, etc.

Fighters.com:  What are your thoughts leading up to this fight?  How do you feel about fighting in front of thousands of live, screaming fans, and do you think it will affect your focus?

Ryan Bader:  I feel great; it’s been a while since I have fought since we were unable to do so because of the show.  The crowd does not bother me at all, if anything it gets me going.  I have had fights in front of thousands before and I have also wrestled in front of twenty thousand people at nationals so I have been there before.  I am looking forward to the fight and looking forward to giving the fans a great show!

Fighters.com:  We now know that both finalists are likely to earn contracts in the UFC, which wasn’t apparent in the finals of the original TUF seasons.  How does that affect your mindset about the fight?  Does it take pressure off knowing that win or lose, you’ll most likely get a shot in the UFC?

Ryan Bader:  That is not always the case and I will go into this fight with the mindset that it is a “must win” situation.  I don’t ever think like that, in the aspect of, ‘If I lose it is ok because I will still get a contract.’  First and foremost I need to win and then we will go from there.

Fighters.com:  How important is the title “The Ultimate Fighter” these days, with so many contestants getting the opportunity to fight in the UFC?  And how important is that title to you?

Ryan Bader:  It is extremely important to me.  I have put a lot of time and effort to be where I am at right now.  My goal for the last eight months was to win The Ultimate Fighter.  So until I obtain that goal I will not be happy.  That title also comes with its perks such as sponsorships, TV time, etc.

Fighters.com:  You said in TUF that you don’t want to fall back on your degree and go back to a desk job.  Will you do anything with your marketing degree, or is it strictly a back-up plan?

Ryan Bader:  I love fighting and I love being an athlete.  I will pursue this for however long that I can.  I have my degree and that is a backup plan.  I don’t want to look back and say that I could have done this; I should have done that, etc.  I am doing that now so there are no regrets later on in life.  Later on, yes, I may do something with my degree, but as of now I am enjoying what I am doing.

Fighters.com:  You recently returned from a trip to Miami to (try to) visit Nogueira.  When do you plan on visiting him again?

Ryan Bader:  I am not sure, that was my first time to Miami and I had a great time.  I talk to him occasionally.  A couple of us from the show are looking to go to Brazil sometime in February.  Maybe we can get together with him then.  He is a great guy, and always welcomes us.

Fighters.com:  Dana White told you all at the end of taping that the show will change your lives.  How has your life changed since the show aired, in terms of recognition, opportunities, and otherwise?  Has it been what you expected?

Ryan Bader:  The exposure has been awesome; more sponsors are looking at us, which in turn means more money.  Obviously recognition has gone way up and everybody has been very cool.  It has gone above and beyond what I expected and after I win this contract, it will only get better!

Fighters.com’s second-ranked light heavyweight

Also headlining the event is an interim heavyweight title match between Fighters.com’s Heavyweight Champion “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-4-1) and Frank Mir (11-3).

Jackson and Silva previously fought twice before in PRIDE, with Silva coming out the victor both times.

Jackson last fought in July when he lost his title to Griffin in a unanimous decision.

Silva is coming of a 36-second KO of “Dean of Mean” Keith Jardine (13-4-1) in May.

Griffin will be defending his title for the first time against Evans.

Evans most recently upset fourth-ranked “Iceman” Chuck Liddell (21-6) in September by second-round KO.

Nogueira and Mir are coaches in the current season of The Ultimate Fighter.

UFC President Dana White proclaimed the same thing to this season’s 32 contestants to be coached by Nog’ and Mir for the TUF 8 championship at lightweight and light heavyweight; but, before he could finish his sentence, Phillipe Nover (5-0-1) hit the deck in a fainting spell.

“Fainting Phillipe” White called him; and, Nover had a tough opening challenge versus Joe Duarte (3-0).

“I’m going to have to make him faint again,” Duarte said before the fight.

But, it was Duarte who had to tap in a Nover rear naked choke in the second round to keep from fainting.

Nover opened the first round with a head kick, followed by a body kick.

“He hits like a heavyweight,” Nog’ said.

But, Duarte countered a Nover leg kick with a straight left that dropped Nover. Duarte pounced; and, Nover gave up his back and ate an elbow.  But, Nover actually pounded Duarte while Duarte had his back and attempted a rear naked choke.

In the second round, Nover tripped Duarte into half mount.  Duarte gave up his back; and, Nover slipped in the rear naked choke.

Mike Stewart (1-1) made the field of 32 when Jason Guida (17-17), brother of lightweight “Carpenter” Clay Guida (24-9), couldn’t make the 205-pound weight limit.

As quickly as he stepped-in, he stepped out after a straight left from Krzysztof Soszynski (15-8-1).

“Machete” Fernando Bernstein (0-0) “was more like the butter knife,” said White after Bernstein was quickly tapped out in a rear naked choke by Dave Kaplan (0-0).

“Sugar” Rashad Evans‘s (12-0-1) brother, Lance Evans (2-2), quit with a rib injury after one round versus “Pezao” Vinicius Magalhaes (0-1).

Built like a brickhouse Antwain Britt (3-1) won a light heavyweight spot in the TUF house in a majority decision slugfest versus “Big Deal” Ryan Jimmo (6-1).

Light heavyweight Jules Bruchez (0-0) was very confident after Eric Magee (1-1) in a rear naked choke.

Lightweight Brian McLaughlin (0-0) took it to Brandon Garner (4-1) in the first round before Garner zapped McLaughlin with an illegal knee and the fight was declared a No Contest.

White decided McLaughlin had earned a bed before the fight was stopped without a winner.

This season’s Jeremy May (5-5), Jose Aguilar (0-0), talked a lot before one round with Junie Allen Browning (1-0).

Browning rolled out of two Aguilar ankle locks on the road to an otherwise dominating striking and G’n'P display.

Aguilar quit in his corner, saying “I’m pretty.  That’s all that matters, dog.”

Browning was clearly Mir’s favorite fighter.  He coached Browning through his domination of Aguilar and told Nog’, “Don’t pick him.  He told me he hates Brazilians.”

The difference in personalities between Mir and Nog’ were immediately noticeable.  Mir talked a lot while Nog’ watched and said little.  Nog’ also revealed little about the fighters he’s eyeing for his team while Mir let slip who his early favorites were.

Next week, the final sixteen fighters will fight their way into the remaining eight beds.

Fighters.com’s fifth-ranked heavyweight

Lesnar has two fights in the UFC with a 1-1 record in the Octagon.

Werdum TKO’d “The Truth” Brandon Vera (9-2) in the first round in London 7 June after TKOing eighth-ranked “Napao” Gabriel Gonzaga (9-3) in the second round in Newcastle 19 January; but, the UFC skipped over him twice to match Frank Mir (11-3) versus interim UFC titlist second-ranked “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-4-1) and Brock Lesnar (2-1) versus returning UFC Heavyweight Champion sixth-ranked “The Natural” Randy Couture (16-8).

“Ultimate thinks about business, and Lesnar is more famous in United States,” explained Werdum of the Couture versus Lesnar match-up announced just last week.

UFC President Dana White also announced last week that the winners of the two match-ups will fight each other for the title.  And, to further complicate the possibilities, White is pursuing a match-up between Couture and Fighters.com’s Heavyweight Champion “Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (28-1).

But, “Vai Cavalo” had his title shot put in writing.

Werdum claimed, “I don’t know how they’ll do it, because my new contract guarantees a title shot with a victory against “Cigano”.”

Fighters.com hopes there’s a time frame specified in Werdum’s contract or he might start planning his vacation while the UFC overlooks him, possibly through next summer, while the four better-marketed fighters contend for the UFC belt and Emelianenko is wooed into the Octagon.

Werdum thinks Couture and Nog’ will eventually settle the UFC title mess.

He said, “Nogueira will certainly defeat Frank Mir and Couture will beat Lesnar.  The “big” Lesnar won’t make it.  Couture will use a good strategy to get him tired and will win on the last round.  I can’t see him winning.  Couture has a lot more experience and Lesnar is like a white-belt there.”

Werdum’s next challenge, dos Santos, TKO’d Geronimo Mondragon (1-5) in Salvador 24 May, but tapped in an armbar to “Mamute” Joaquim Ferreira (6-2) in São Paulo 10 November.

Fighters.com’s sixth-ranked heavyweight

“As you all know, we’ve had problems with Randy over the last few months, but we’ve got them all worked out now,” said UFC President Dana White.

Couture added, “I think a lot of compromises were made on both sides, but we’re both ready to try and move forward.”

Couture retired…er, resigned from the UFC (depending on who you believe) in October 2007 and was sued by the promotion for breach of contract.

“Sitting last year in legal fights was not something I’ve enjoyed,” Couture related.

White also promised to pursue Couture’s dream fight versus Fighters.com Heavyweight Champion “Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (28-1).

White said, “Emelianenko’s under another contract right now to another promotion; and, if we can work it out with the other promotion, we will, but we’re not going to screw around with another contract.”

White also stated that the UFC isn’t open to a co-promotion with rival promotions Affliction or M-1 Global, who promote Emelianenko.

Couture last TKO’d eighth-ranked “Napao” Gabriel Gonzaga (9-3) in August 2007.

Lesnar won a unanimous decision over “Texas Crazy Horse” Heath Herring (28-14) in Minneapolis 9 August.

The scheduled interim UFC title fight between second-ranked “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-4-1) and Frank Mir (11-3) will determine the UFC champ’s next challenger.

Kharitonov TKO’d “Demolition Man” Alistair Overeem (28-11) in Yokohama in September 2007; but, has been more active on the rumor mill than in the ring since.

He was floated as “Cro Cop” Mirko Filipovic‘s (23-6-2) opponent at DREAM.4 in June and lately was mentioned as a challenger for the EliteXC Heavyweight Championship versus “Bigfoot” Antonio Silva (11-1).

Kharitonov found his way into neither fight and may have a short stint as a top ten big boy as fighters beneath him line-up legit matches.

A spot opened for Kharitonov when “Texas Crazy Horse” Heath Herring (28-14) was mauled by physical phenom Brock Lesnar (2-1) in Minneapolis 9 August, shoveling Herring out of the eighth rank.

Eighth-ranked “Napao” Gabriel Gonzaga (9-3) and ninth-ranked Aleksander Emelianenko (13-3) each moved up a spot respectively on Herring’s loss.

“Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (28-1) retained the Fighters.com Heavyweight Championship during a slow month that saw no changes in the top seven spots.

Emelianenko pulled out of Affliction’s second event in Las Vegas 11 October in which he was matched versus fourth-ranked “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (13-5) with a hand injury sustained in his 36-second destruction of seventh-ranked “Maine-iac” Tim Sylvia (24-5).

Emelianenko was replaced by third-ranked “Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (22-5) in the main event.

Top contender “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira‘s (31-4-1) title challenge versus Frank Mir (11-3) got slightly more interesting when Lesnar, who got tapped by Mir in February, dominated Herring…but only slightly.

The UFC’s top heavyweight contender, fifth-ranked “Vai Cavalo” Fabricio Werdum (11-3-1) will probably draw either Lesnar or Cheick Kongo (12-4-1) in his next fight.

Sixth-ranked “The Natural” Randy Couture (16-8) is rumored to be considering a return to the UFC; but, Fighters.com has not confirmed that.

Sylvia (24-5) licks his wounds and awaits a match-up at Affliction’s return.

September Heavyweight Rankings

1. “Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (28-1)

Emelianenko took his right-left combo and used it to erase “doubt” from Fighters.com’s rankings when he dismantled Sylvia.  The depth of his recent opposition remains shallow; but, taking Sylvia apart quicker than anyone else earns him the Fighters.com Heavyweight Championship.

2. “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-4-1)

It ain’t pretty! Nogueira has turned “blocking punches with your face” into a winning strategy versus top teners Sylvia, Barnett, and Werdum in the last two years, earning him the Fighters.com’s top contender spot.

3. “Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (23-5)

“Babyface Assassin” is on a tear with a KO of Pedro Rizzo, UD over Jeff Monson, and submission of Hidehiko Yoshida, but no recent work at the top of the division.  Arlovski will be his toughest fight since losing a decisiong to Nog’in 2006.

4. “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (13-5)

“Pitbull” got his bite back versus Ben Rothwell, adding the KO to a UD over Werdum and a pair or wins over lesser competition.  Arlovski will need all the bite he has versus Barnett in October.

5. “Vai Cavalo” Fabricio Werdum (11-3-1)

“Vai Cavalo” spanked Gonzaga like a bad monkey in January, then played a samba on Brandon Vera‘s head in June.  Werdum is streaking into a rematch with Noguiera for the UFC and maybe Fighters.com title.

6. “The Natural” Randy Couture (16-8)

The best strategist in a weight class of brutes returned to solve the 6’8″ riddle of Sylvia over five grueling rounds to reclaim UFC’s title, then forced Cro Cop-slayer Gonzaga to wish MMA had timeouts in a bloody three-round TKO.  Does he have a winning strategy to return to MMA?

7. “Maine-iac” Tim Sylvia (24-5)

The oft maligned “Maine-iac” has meshed his stature with world-class striking, championship cardio, and a Jeff Monson-tested ground game. His losses are only to legends Emelianenko, Nogueira, and Couture.

8. “Napao” Gabriel Gonzaga (9-3)

After mauling Mirko Filipovic in Manchester, “Napao” risks becoming a footnote in MMA history with consecutive stoppage losses to Couture and Werdum.  The big man has the tools to remain top ten for years to come, but does he have the heart?

9. Aleksander Emelianenko (13-3)

Fedor’s li’l bro’ isn’t lost in the shadow of “The Last Emporer”. In the last two years, the man with the coldest stare down in MMA has outclassed his brother in competition, losing only to top ten heavies while TKOing fellow Russian Kharitonov.

10. Sergei Kharitonov (15-3)

Kharitonov followed a TKO loss to Aleksander Emelianenko with consecutive first-round stoppages of Michael Russow and Alistair Overeem; but, has been laid up in Russia for the last year. His return would give a the division a needed dose of excitement.

His dismantling of “Big” Tim in 36 seconds earned him the Fighters.com Heavyweight Championship, jumping from sixth and dumping Sylvia from third to seventh.

The “W” strips naked UFC President Dana White’s proclamation that all other promotions are the minor leagues, at least at north of 205-pounds.

In fact, Emelianenko’s victory makes clear that the Octagon hasn’t been the proving grounds for the world’s top heavyweights for quite some time.

The UFC Champ, second-ranked “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-4-1), took a thrashing from Sylvia in February before tapping the two-time UFC titlist in a guillotine.

Nogueira loses his Fighters.com Heavyweight Championship, falling into the top contender spot, but a top contender whose register already records two UD losses to the new champ four years ago.

Nog’ is set to clash with un-ranked former UFC Champ Frank Mir (11-3) after Mir tapped rook’ Brock Lesnar (1-1), which tells you all you need to know about the UFC heavyweight class.

But, Emelianenko’s new promoter, Affliction, is playing the name game too.

Emelianenko will fight fourth-ranked “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (13-5) in October after Arlovski knocked out up-and-comer “Big” Ben Rothwell (29-6) on the same Affliction debut card.

Fighters.com considers “The Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett(23-5) Affliction’s top contender after MMA’s otoko viciously knocked “Rock” Pedro Rizzo(16-8) cold and leap-frogged Arlovski to place third in August’s rankings.

Rizzo may not be the fighter of UFC highlight reels; but, Barnett stood with the still-dangerous striker to earn the KO.

But, Affliction opted for the highly recognizable and heavily hirsute mug of Arlovski over Barnett, whom, though legendary across the Pacific, is only just re-acquainting his babyface with the mainstream North American audience.

Fighters.com considers fifth-ranked “Vai Cavalo” Fabricio Werdum (11-3-1) the top contender to the UFC title; but, the Brazilian lingers as Nogueira v Mir remains an unscheduled inevitability.

Sixth-ranked “The Natural” Randy Couture (16-8) drops four spots in August due to inactivity.

Fighters.com quizzed sources at Xtreme Couture about why the originally intended October Emelianenko v Couture match-up was so quickly brushed aside by Affliction and got responses reflecting the increasingly pessimistic outlook from Couture’s camp, “There is no sense waiting for something that’s not guaranteed to ever happen.”

Eighth-ranked “Texas Crazy Horse” Heath Herring (28-13) fights Brock Lesnar (1-1) next weekend in Minneapolis in the face of odds-makers’ slights.

“Napao” Gabriel Gonzaga (9-3) found a bit of his old mojo last month with gimme’ “W” over Justin McCully (8-4-2), propelling him into the ninth ranking.

Tenth-ranked Aleksander Emelianenko (13-3) failed to meet California State Athletic Commission Standards to fight “Headhunter” Paul Buentello (26-10) in Anaheim 19 July, but no one is confirming why.

Fighters.com heard the Hepatitis rumor the day after Affliction’s premier, but hasn’t reported it because no one will confirm it.

August Heavyweight Rankings

1. “Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (28-1)

Emelianenko took his right-left combo and used it to erase “doubt” from Fighters.com’s rankings when he dismantled Sylvia.  The depth of his recent opposition remains shallow; but, taking Sylvia apart quicker than anyone else earns him the Fighters.com Heavyweight Championship to defend from Arlovski in October.

2. “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-4-1)

It ain’t pretty! Nogueira has turned “blocking punches with your face” into a winning strategy versus top teners Sylvia, Herring, Barnett, and Werdum in the last two years, earning him the Fighters.com’s top contender spot.

3. “Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (23-5)

“Babyface Assassin” is on a tear with a KO of Pedro Rizzo, UD over Jeff Monson, and submission of Hidehiko Yoshida, but no recent work at the top of the division.  Arlovski got the October nod versus Emelianenko, but Barnett should get a top ten test too.

4. “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (13-5)

“Pitbull” got his bite back versus Ben Rothwell, adding the KO to a UD over Werdum and a pair or wins over lesser competition.  Arlovski will need all the bite he has left versus Emelianenko in October.

5. “Vai Cavalo” Fabricio Werdum (11-3-1)

“Vai Cavalo” spanked Gonzaga like a bad monkey in January, then played a samba on Brandon Vera‘s head in June.  Werdum is streaking into a rematch with Noguiera for the UFC and probably Fighters.com title.

6. “The Natural” Randy Couture (16-8)

The best strategist in a weight class of brutes returned to solve the 6’8″ riddle of Sylvia over five grueling rounds to reclaim UFC’s title, then forced Cro Cop-slayer Gonzaga to wish MMA had timeouts in a bloody three-round TKO.

7. “Maine-iac” Tim Sylvia (24-5)

The oft maligned “Maine-iac” has meshed his stature with world-class striking, championship cardio, and a Jeff Monson-tested ground game. His losses are only to legends Emelianenko, Nogueira, and Couture.

8. “Texas Crazy Horse” Heath Herring (28-13)

Herring’s bungle versus Nogueira was beefed-up with a strong decision over Cheick Kongo in March.   Three losses to Nogueira stop-gaps a potential UFC title challenge, but the “Texas Crazy Horse” will fight an even bigger name in Brock Lesnar.

9. “Napao” Gabriel Gonzaga (9-3)

After mauling Mirko Filipovic in Manchester, “Napao” risks becoming a footnote in MMA history with consecutive stoppage losses to Couture and Werdum.  The big man has the tools to remain top ten for years to come, but does he have the heart?

10. Aleksander Emelianenko (13-3)

Fedor’s li’l bro’ isn’t lost in the shadow of “The Last Emporer”. In the last two years, the man with the coldest stare down in MMA has outclassed his brother in competition, losing only to top ten heavies while TKOing fellow Russian Sergei Kharitonov.

Frank Mir (11-3), the other TUF 8 coach, has brought in Abu Dhabi Absolute Weight Champion Robert Drysdale and strength and conditioning coach Rafael Alejarra, of tenth-ranked light heavyweight “Axe Murderer” Wanderlei Silva‘s (32-8-1) snorkel training fame, according to MMA Weekly.

The eighth season of SpikeTV and Zuffa’s popular reality TV contest is shooting now in Las Vegas.

Through no fault of his own of course, Fighters.com’s Heavyweight Champion “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-4-1) won’t meet either threshold when he defends his UFC title versus Frank Mir (11-3).

So, what’s Fighters.com to do?  Second-ranked “The Natural” Randy Couture (16-8) admitted this week to Canada’s Globe and Mail, “I’m also OK with the idea that [I may not fight again].  I may get a bad [court] ruling and I can’t really see myself at this point going back and fighting two more times for the UFC if that’s what the state says I have to do.”

Should 19 July’s more competitive match-up between third-ranked “Maine-iac” Tim Sylvia (24-4) and sixth-ranked “The Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (27-1) be for Fighters.com’s Heavyweight Championship?

Both Sylvia and fourth-ranked “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (12-5) climbed two spots on fifth-ranked “The Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett‘s (22-5) inability to put away “The Snowman” Jeff Monson in Tokyo last month coupled with Barnett’s submission of ninth-ranked Aleksander Emelianenko (13-3) falling off his two-year record.

Of course, Arlovski officially announced today that he’ll fight top heavyweight prospect Ben Rothwell (29-5) 19 July.  Rothwell steps-in well-hyped from the IFL and Arlovski looks to shake out of his funk.

Barnett returns on the same undercard to seek revenge from a 2001 KO loss versus now largely irrelevant “The Rock” Pedro Rizzo (16-7) and Aleksander Emelianenko fights “The Headhunter” Paul Buentello (25-10) in my pick for fight of the night in Anaheim, outside of Los Angeles.

This weekend in London, seventh-ranked “Vai Cavalo” Fabricio Werdum (10-3-1) and returning prospect “The Truth” Brandon Vera (8-1) will battle for the UFC’s top contender spot.

Eighth-ranked “Texas Crazy Horse” Heath Herring (28-13) will fill-in for injured “Hammer” Mark Coleman (15-9) versus the UFC’s version of market-friendly “Kimbo Slice” Kevin Ferguson (3-0), former pro-wrestler Brock Lesnar (1-1), in a fight that shouldn’t even be sanctioned, but only a big lug like Herring could find a way to lose.

In July, tenth-ranked “Napao” Gabriel Gonzaga (8-3) has a lot to prove versus Justin McCully (8-3-2); and, McCully might be thinking the same thing.

June Heavyweight Rankings

1. “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-4-1)

It ain’t pretty! Nogueira has turned “blocking punches with your face” into a winning strategy versus top teners Sylvia, Herring, Barnett, and Werdum in the last two years, earning him the Fighters.com Heavyweight Championship.

2. “The Natural” Randy Couture (16-8)

The best strategist in a weight class of brutes returned to solve the 6’8″ riddle of Sylvia over five grueling rounds to reclaim UFC’s title, then forced Cro Cop-slayer Gonzaga to wish MMA had timeouts in a bloody three-round TKO.

3. “Maine-iac” Tim Sylvia (24-4)

The oft maligned “Maine-iac” has meshed his stature with world-class striking, championship cardio, and a Jeff Monson-tested ground game. His losses are to legends Nogueira and Couture, but he’s failed to lay out ripe KO candidates Arlovski and Monson.

4. “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (12-5)

“Pitbull” has fought like a poodle since getting neutered by Sylvia in an ‘06 KO loss, but was able to steal a decision from Werdum in the most disappointing fight of ’07.  Perhaps free agency will reignite the once explosive fighter’s fire.

5. “The Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (22-5)

“The Babyface Assassin” returned to tap Hidehiko Yoshida and UD Jeff Monson and is the last man to beat Noguiera. He also holds a submission of hard-headed Mark Hunt in the last two years.

6. “The Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (27-1)

Rankings reflect what has happened in fights with a predilection towards the most recent and Emelianenko hasn’t fought another top ten heavyweight in 33 months.   He’ll take sixth and like it or take first by defeating Sylvia in July.

7. “Vai Cavalo” Fabricio Werdum (10-3-1)

“Vai Cavalo” spanked Gonzaga like a bad monkey in January, his fourth consecutive top ten matchup, going 2-2 with two stoppage wins.  He’s matched versus fellow UFC title contender Brandon Vera 7 June.

8. “Texas Crazy Horse” Heath Herring (28-13)

Herring’s bungle versus Nogueira was beefed-up with a strong decision over Cheick Kongo in March.   Three losses to Nogueira stop-gaps a potential UFC title challenge, but the “Texas Crazy Horse” will fight an even bigger name in Brock Lesnar.

9. Aleksander Emelianenko (13-3)

Fedor’s li’l bro’ isn’t lost in the shadow of “The Last Emperor”. In the last two years, the man with the coldest stare down in MMA has outclassed his brother in competition, losing only to top ten heavies while TKOing fellow Russian Sergei Kharitonov.

10. “Napao” Gabriel Gonzaga (8-3)

After mauling Mirko Filipovic in Manchester, “Napao” risks becoming a footnote in MMA history with consecutive stoppage losses to Couture and Werdum.  The big man has the tools to remain top ten for years to come, but does he have the heart?

The next season will begin production at the end of May and will premier 17 September.

Nogueira and Mir will battle for Nogueira’s share of the UFC title on a PPV card after the 13-episode season concludes.

Nogueira won his half of the championship in February by submitting fourth-ranked “Maine-iac” Tim Sylvia (24-4) in a guillotine choke.

The other UFC co-titlist is second-ranked “The Natural” Randy Couture (16-8).

In what was considered his last chance in the UFC, Mir spoiled Brock Lesnar‘s (1-1) UFC debut in February by submitting him in a kneebar in the first round.

Former UFC champ Mir is 3-2 since defending his title from Sylvia in June 2004, after which he suffered severe injuries in a motorcycle accident and was forced to vacate the title.

The only April action was a first round TKO of Silvao Santos (1-1) by tenth-ranked Aleksander Emelianenko (13-3).  It might as well have been a Monday morning sparring session.

So, why did “Maine-iac” Tim Sylvia (24-4) and “The Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (27-1) sink a spot respectively?  Sylvia’s stoppage of “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (12-5) in 2006 fell off their two-year records, which is the time span Fighters.com considers when ranking fighters.

The division’s future is just as bleak as the recent past.

Adrenaline MMA still insists Emelianenko’s claim of an official fight with Sylvia in June is false.  To boot, the promotion that promotes Sylvia and rising heavyweight Ben Rothwell (29-5) claims Emelianenko’s delinquent repayment of a $500,000 signing bonus left over from the M-1 Global era is also holding up a fight for Rothwell on the same card.  Though Rothwell insists it ain’t happenin’, he’s been rumored to have been matched versus Arlovski.

All four fighters and the entire division need those two fights.

Unfortunately, third-ranked “Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett‘s (21-5) rise will be short-lived because his submission of tenth-ranked Aleksander Emelianenko (13-3) will fall off his two-year record next month.  He’s scheduled to grapple with always competitive “The Snowman” Jeff Monson (24-7) at Sengoku this month; but, even the expected “W” can’t replace the submission of Emelianenko.

The UFC has scheduled a contender match-up between seventh-ranked “Vai Cavalo” Fabricio Werdum (10-3-1) and “The Truth” Brandon Vera (8-1) for London in June.  A win for Vera will launch him into the division’s top ten; a win for “Vai Cavalo” will prove that he belongs.

First-ranked “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-4-1) is rumored to be mauling a UFC title defense against Frank Mir (11-3).  For the love of God!  Mir is a gentleman, a technician on the mat, and a fine fighter.  He is not the top heavyweight contender in the UFC.

So goes a division where “Kimbo Slice” Kevin Ferguson (2-0) and Brock Lesnar (1-1) make bank at the box office.

May Heavyweight Rankings

1. “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-4-1)

It ain’t pretty! Nogueira has turned “blocking punches with your face” into a winning strategy versus top teners Sylvia, Herring, Barnett, and Werdum in the last two years, earning him Fighters.com’s first ranking at heavyweight.

2. “The Natural” Randy Couture (16-8)

The best strategist in a weight class of brutes returned to solve the 6’8″ riddle of Sylvia over five grueling rounds to reclaim UFC’s title, then forced Cro Cop-slayer Gonzaga to wish MMA had timeouts in a bloody three-round TKO.

3. “The Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (21-5)

“The Babyface Assassin” returned to tap Hidehiko Yoshida and is the last man to beat Noguiera. Even with an involuntary 14-month layoff, he holds submissions over tenth-ranked Aleksander Emelianenko and hard-headed Mark Hunt in the last two years.

4. “Maine-iac” Tim Sylvia (24-4)

The oft maligned “Maine-iac” has meshed his stature with world-class striking, championship cardio, and a Jeff Monson-tested ground game. His losses are to legends Nogueira and Couture, but he’s failed to lay out ripe KO candidates Arlovski and Monson.

5. “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (12-5)

“Pitbull” has fought like a poodle since getting neutered by Sylvia in an ‘06 KO loss, but was able to steal a decision from Werdum in the most disappointing fight of ’07.  Perhaps free agency will reignite the once explosive fighter’s fire.

6. “The Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (27-1)

Rankings reflect what has happened in fights with a predilection towards the most recent and Emelianenko hasn’t fought another top ten heavyweight in 32 months.   He’ll take sixth and like it, or take first in a real fight.  It’s his decision.

7. “Vai Cavalo” Fabricio Werdum (10-3-1)

“Vai Cavalo” spanked Gonzaga like a bad monkey in January, his fourth consecutive top ten matchup, going 2-2 with two stoppage wins.  He’s likely Nogueira’s first UFC title challenge in a rematch that ended in a close decision for Nogueira in PRIDE.

8. “Texas Crazy Horse” Heath Herring (28-13)

Herring’s bungle versus Nogueira was beefed-up with a strong decision over Cheick Kongo in March.   Three losses to Nogueira stop-gaps a potential UFC title challenge, but the “Texas Crazy Horse” will valiantly defend the gate to the UFC’s gold.

9. “Napao” Gabriel Gonzaga (8-3)

After mauling Mirko Filipovic in Manchester, “Napao” risks becoming a footnote in MMA history with consecutive stoppage losses to Couture and Werdum.  The big man has the tools to remain top ten for years to come, but does he have the heart?

10. Aleksander Emelianenko (13-3)

Fedor’s li’l bro’ isn’t lost in the shadow of “The Last Emporer”. In the last two years, the man with the coldest stare down in MMA has outclassed his brother in competition, losing only to top ten heavies while TKOing fellow Russian Sergei Kharitonov.

1. “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-4-1)

It ain’t pretty! Nogueira has turned “blocking punches with your face” into a winning strategy versus top teners Sylvia, Herring, Barnett, and Werdum in the last two years, earning him Fighters.com’s first ranking at heavyweight.

2. “The Natural” Randy Couture (16-8)

The best strategist in a weight class of brutes returned to solve the 6’8″ riddle of Sylvia over five grueling rounds to reclaim UFC’s title, then forced Cro Cop-slayer Gonzaga to wish MMA had timeouts in a bloody three-round TKO.

3. “Maine-iac” Tim Sylvia (24-4)

The oft maligned “Maine-iac” has meshed his stature with world-class striking, championship cardio, and a Jeff Monson-tested ground game. His losses are to legends Nogueira and Couture, but he’s failed to lay out ripe KO candidates Arlovski and Monson.

4. “The Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (21-5)

“The Babyface Assassin” returned to tap Hidehiko Yoshida and is the last man to beat Noguiera. Even with an involuntary 14-month layoff, he holds submissions over tenth-ranked Aleksander Emelianenko and hard-headed Mark Hunt in the last two years.

5. “The Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (27-1)

Rankings reflect what has happened in fights with a predilection towards the most recent and Emelianenko hasn’t fought another top ten heavyweight in 32 months. He’ll take fifth and like it, or take first in a real fight. It’s his decision.

6. “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (12-5)

“Pitbull” has fought like a poodle since getting neutered by Sylvia in an ‘06 KO loss, but was able to steal a decision from Werdum in the most disappointing fight of ’07. Perhaps free agency will reignite the once explosive fighter’s fire.

7. “Vai Cavalo” Fabricio Werdum (10-3-1)

“Vai Cavalo” spanked Gonzaga like a bad monkey in January, his fourth consecutive top ten matchup, going 2-2 with two stoppage wins. He’s likely Nogueira’s first UFC title challenge in a rematch that ended in a close decision for Nogueira in PRIDE.

8. “Texas Crazy Horse” Heath Herring (28-13)

Herring’s bungle versus Nogueira was beefed-up with a strong decision over Cheick Kongo in March. Three losses to Nogueira stop-gaps a potential UFC title challenge, but the “Texas Crazy Horse” will valiantly defend the gate to the UFC’s gold.

9. “Napao” Gabriel Gonzaga (8-3)

After mauling Mirko Filipovic in Manchester, “Napao” risks becoming a footnote in MMA history with consecutive stoppage losses to Couture and Werdum. The big man has the tools to remain top ten for years to come, but does he have the heart?

10. Aleksander Emelianenko (13-3)

Fedor’s li’l bro’ isn’t lost in the shadow of “The Last Emporer”. In the last two years, the man with the coldest stare down in MMA has outclassed his brother in competition, losing only to top ten heavies while TKOing fellow Russian Sergei Kharitonov.

“Let my fight with Randy [Couture] happen or let me face the reigning UFC champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira,” Emelianenko challenges.

Emelianenko was responding to White’s frequent accusations that the widely-regarded top-ranked heavyweight in the world is overrated.

“Fedor isn’t even a top-five heavyweight,” White stated in October 2007.

“Allowing yourself to say those things is not a sign of a gentleman or a grown man at all,” the Russian samboist responded in his letter.

The UFC and Emelianenko’s management led by Vadim Finklestein failed to agree to terms to bring Emelianenko into the organization in October 2007.

Emelianenko eventually signed with the newly created M-1 Global promotion.  UFC Heavyweight Champion Randy Couture ”resigned” shortly thereafter to pursue a fight with Emelianenko.

Couture was sued in January by Zuffa, LLC, parent company of the UFC, for breach of contract.

Since signing with M-1 Global, Emelianenko, 27-1, tapped out K-1 kickboxer Hong Man Choi on New Years Eve while his former PRIDE foe, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, picked up the interim UFC heavyweight strap after tapping Tim Sylvia at UFC 81 February 2.

At the UFC 81 post-fight press conference, Noguiera called on Couture to fight to legitimize the UFC Heavyweight Championship completing the disappointing triangle atop the heavyweight class.

KO of the Night: Chris Lytle

Submission of the Night: Frank Mir

Fight of the Night: Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Tim Sylvia

 In addition, the following fighters in the co-main events were paid:

 Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira = $200,000

Tim Sylvia = $100,000

Frank Mir = $80,000

Brock Lesnar = $250,000

“Today I got the belt, with a very hard fight, but if Couture can give me the chance to fight against him, I will be ready,” a bruised Minotauro promised.

Nogueira, 31-4-1, submitted another former UFC Heavyweight Champion, Tim Sylvia, by guillotine choke at 1:28 of the third round Saturday night, but after enduring torturous punishment from his bigger opponent.

“We’d like to see Nogueira defend his title against Randy Couture,” agreed UFC President Dana White.  “We want to find out who the real champion is.  So, I expect ‘Captain America’ to step up to the plate and give Nogueira the chance.”

Couture, 16-8, “resigned” from the UFC, vacating his title, in October 2007 and has since pursued a fight with with former PRIDE Heavyweight Champion Fedor Emelianenko amidst a legal battle with the UFC.

White explained, “I gave him the opportunity to fight for the heavyweight title, to fight Tim Sylvia.  So I expect him to honor his contract.  I don’t think I’m asking anything outrageous or ridiculous.  He signed a contract a year ago and got a signing bonus.”

Couture has remained adamantly against returning to the UFC.  Last week he told Columbus, Ohio radio station QFM 96.3 that he is on his way to China in the next few weeks to begin work on the big screen version of “Mandrake the Magician”.