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?

While most of the attention has been made toward the new light heavyweight champion, Jon “Bones” Jones, he was not a fighter that earned an additional bonus when it came to the “Fight Night” awards.

In fact, three preliminary fighters were the large talk of the show, and even Brendan Schaub snuck a peak at bonus infamy after he did work on the main-card opposite of legend and his idol, Mikro “Cro Cop”.

Erik Koch entered into the UFC with a bang, when he knocked out perennial contender and former top-10 featherweight Raphael Assuncao, whom has fought and defeated some of the best in the sport, including Jorge Masvidal, Joe Lauzon, and L.C. Davis. However experience was not a factor come last Saturday as Koch, a product of the infamous Duke Roufus, was able to connect on a right hook that sent the Brazilian crashing to the mat inside of the first-round. The win helped Erik nab the evening’s “Knockout of the Night” award, in addition to $70k.

Schaub had the benefit of no fighter submitting anyone on the pay-per-view event, so when he stepped into the cage with the aforementioned Mirko “Cro Cop”, he too had the opportunity to pocket his “Knockout of the Night”, which he did. After a back-and-forth battle over the course of two-rounds of action, Brendan finally connected on a right-hand which sent the former PRIDE GP Champion crashing to the mat. Another right hand sealed the deal, and though bloody and bruised, he managed to secure his signature win over a legend in the sport.

Anthony Njokuani, one of the top lightweight stars coming out of the WEC, made a statement upon his inception into the UFC against prospect Edson Barboza on the Spike TV televised bout. Both men engaged in a contentious stand up battle where both men had their moments on the feet. The action was fast and very methodical, and where it seemed Edson stole the first-round, Njokuani came back strong in the second, however Edson may have stolen the third on the judges score cards when he connected on a beautiful spinning back kick to the dome, rocking Njokuani momentarily before the bell sounded. Though Barboza took the decision, both men earned the evenings “Fight of the Night” bonus, and justifiably so.

The Friending Spike TV, Spiking Facebook Award: Spike TV, for presenting a far better “UFC Prelims LIVE!” outing than the Facebook stream of free UFC 128 preliminary fights. The Facebook stream boasted bigger-name talent, but completely fell flat of my expectations. Meanwhile, I didn’t have too much to look forward to on the Spike TV special, but I found myself enjoying it quite a lot. This just goes to show that “UFC Prelims LIVE” continues to defy my expectations, which is a good thing for the most part.

The Unnecessary Roughness Award: Brendan Schaub, for the shot he landed on Mirko Filipovic directly after he landed the shot that KO’d Cro Cop. I’ve seen some people come to Schaub’s defense already, but I think “in the heat of the moment” is really the only excuse, since it takes into account that an error was made. Unless you were on an adrenaline high, I just don’t see how you punch a guy again after the punch you just threw caused the guy to crumple lifelessly to the mat. I don’t think Schaub is a dirty fighter, and I’ve never been a Cro Cop super-fan, but I do think Brendan made a mistake.

The Woodsman Award: Nate Marquardt, for his tough but not super-impressive victory over Dan Miller. This award has to do with the phrase “out of the woods”, and in particular, “the woods” for Marquardt is the assumption that he chokes in big fights. Marquardt isn’t out of the woods yet, he’s still exploring. He got a decent victory, but there are still many unanswered questions. Marquardt earned a little breathing room at UFC 128 but not much else.

The “Dark Horse” Award: Jim Miller, for his great performance against Kamal Shalorus. With this victory Miller is becoming the Lightweight equivalent of Jon Fitch: it seems like the only people talking about him are the ones insisting he deserves a title shot. I think Miller became a “dark horse” at UFC 128 because he demonstrated once again that he can fight any type of fighter and beat them at their own game.

The “Brand New Day” Award: Jon Jones, for more than likely ushering in a new era in the UFC’s Light Heavyweight division. Since Quinton Jackson dethroned Chuck Liddell, no UFC Light Heavyweight Champion has managed to hold the championship for more than one defense. Consider that, and consider that no one, and I do mean no one, has been able to come anywhere close to hurting Jon Jones. All signs point to Jones ushering in a new era, and I can’t wait to see that era commence.

So that’s what I think, fans and friends. And remember, it’s all in good fun… mostly. What about you? Any thoughts/opinions ready to be shared?

5. The Anthony Njokuani and Edson Barboza fight.

There’s one simple reason why this fight received “Fight of the Night”: it was an absolute blast to watch. Both men were high-level strikers, and that can always backfire if one or both of them is afraid to engage. But neither Barboza nor Njokuani displayed any kind of fear, and proceeded to tear into each other throughout the course of their fifteen-minute war of attrition. It’s a fight that saw both men add several things to their highlight reel.

4. Brendan Schaub KO’ing Mirko Filipovic.

If you’ve followed me for any prolonged period of time, you may know that I don’t have too high of an opinion on Mirko Cro Cop. I’ll never try to take away or demean in any way his glory days in PRIDE, but in the UFC, he’s simply never truly impressed me. But I wasn’t jumping for joy when Schaub KO’d him. I was honestly a bit shocked, because Schaub turned out the lights in one single punch and was dominating the fight up to that point. This was one of the best performances of Schaub’s brief UFC career, and that KO is going and staying on his highlight reel for a long, long time.

3. Jim Miller dropping and stopping Kamal Shalorus.

I always get butterflies when I go out on a limb for a fighter for days/weeks and then have nothing left to do or say other than to watch him fight and hopefully live up to that hype. I didn’t think Jim Miller would lose, but as I so often say, anything can happen in MMA. However, Miller proved himself beyond a shadow of a doubt and I think those butterflies are going to be quite smaller the next time he fights. Miller is a great striker with an under-rated ground game, he’s got a tough chin, and he knows how to put together beautiful, fluid combinations that stop fights. Jim Miller is the real deal, and seeing him prove it at UFC 128 was one of the biggest highlights of the night for me.

2. Urijah Faber beating Eddie Wineland and not changing who he is to do it.

When I saw Urijah Faber lose the first round of his fight to Eddie Wineland, my heart went into my stomach. It was the same Faber I had come to admire, but those old mistakes with his style reared their ugly heads. But then something else happened: Faber’s famous heart and drive took hold, and he turned it all around. By the end of the second round, it was clear that “The California Kid” had gotten comfortable and was going to work. It was another great performance from a fighter that, for so long, was one of the best lighter-weight fighters on the planet.

But there’s just no contest, my best moment of UFC 128 was…

1. Jon Jones demolishing Mauricio Rua.

I said Mauricio Rua would have nothing for Jon Jones. I said it, few believed it. But I said it, and guess what? Mauricio Rua had nothing for Jon Jones. Jones was never in any trouble: he was the one with the killer leg kicks, he was the one controlling the ground, he was the one that pummeled and battered his opponent. Submissions? Jones was so unafraid of Rua’s submissions that he himself tried several submissions, including Rua’s own favorite, the kneebar. This was by far Rua’s biggest loss in the UFC, even bigger than his loss to Forrest Griffin. And while I personally have nothing against him, the sweet vindication I felt at UFC 128 was far and away the best moment of the night for me.

So there you have it, fans and friends: those are the moments I’ll be remembering from UFC 128. But what about you? What do you think everyone will be talking about in the days/weeks to come?

Next for Mirko Filipovic: Retirement, if he knows what’s good for him. I’ve had my wars with Filipovic’s legion of fans in the past, but a strange thing happened to me at UFC 128. I found myself quite sad when I saw Cro Cop lifeless on the mat for the second time in a row. I don’t know what’s wrong with him, and I won’t speculate because I’ve never followed him that closely. But the evidence is staggering: Cro Cop is on the decline, and it may be better to hang it up now or else he risks becoming a Heavyweight version of Chuck Liddell.

Next for Brendan Schaub: With this win, Schaub took a crucial step forward on his quest for top-division status. I think the time has come for Schaub to rematch Roy Nelson, but that’s only if Nelson loses to his upcoming opponent, Frank Mir. Likewise, I’d love to see Schaub take on Cheick Kongo if Kongo loses his upcoming fight to Pay Barry. Also, Stefan Struve would be a good fit for Schaub, that’s a fight that’s been discussed and I think it’d be very entertaining. Schaub may not be a championship contender just yet, but he’s really beginning to find himself in the UFC’s Heavyweight division. Big things are in store for Brendan Schaub in 2011.

Next for Jim Miller: I’ll be watching very closely to see how the UFC approaches Jim Miller now that he’s beaten another tough competitor. Miller may not deserve a title shot, but he’s very close. He’s on the short-list. Unfortunately he’ll have to wait awhile, because Frank Edgar and Gray Maynard have to fight again, then Anthony Pettis and Clay Guida have to fight, and then, on top of all that, the winners of those two matches have to fight. It’s a crowded Lightweight scene, but Miller is fast-rising to the top of it. He deserves a top-level opponent for his next fight.

Next for Urijah Faber: I think the man that many consider the WEC’s best asset and biggest star will have a very bright future in the UFC. Faber came off as a class act during his post-fight interview, and when he fought Eddie Wineland he fought with the style that made him a well-respected and a very entertaining champion. The WEC was always quick to put Faber into title contention, and the positives and negatives of that are best left for another day, but in the here and now I think the UFC will continue that trend. Faber is only one or two fights away from challenging for the championship.

Next for Mauricio Rua: A certain section of the “Shogun” contingent are already calling for him to drop down to Middleweight, and I honestly think that would be very interesting and I’d like to see it happen. My gut reaction is that it won’t, but if it does it wouldn’t surprise me too much, and I think Rua has a lot of interesting match-ups at 185. If he stays at 205, I think Rua should face Lyoto Machida for a third and final time, or perhaps Quinton Jackson. Rua needs to battle an established veteran, both for the sake of nostalgia and to keep him alive in the UFC’s ever-crowded Light Heavyweight scene.

Next for Jon Jones: Rashad Evans, and another dominating victory. I once swore I’d never again bet against Jon Jones, and Rashad Evans won’t be the fighter that makes me break that promise. I don’t even know who that fighter is, since I don’t see anyone beating Jon Jones at Light Heavyweight. It may be the hype getting to me, and I may be getting my hopes up too high, especially given the “Light Heavyweight curse”. But I said it was “The Era of Bones”, and I truly believe that.

And that’s what I think, fans and friends. But what about you? What do you see happening in the near and not-so-near future of the big winners and losers of UFC 128?

Jon Jones defeats Mauricio Rua at 2:37 of Round 3 to become the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. Urijah Faber defeats Eddie Wineland by Unanimous Decision. Jim Miller defeats Kamal Shalorus by TKO (strikes) at 2:15 of Round 3. Nate Marquardt defeats Dan Miller by Unanimous Decision. Brendan Schaub defeats Mirko Filipovic by TKO (strikes) at 3:44 of Round 3. Luis Cane defeats Eliot Marshall by TKO (strikes) at 2:15 of Round 1. Edson Barboza defeats Anthony Njokuani by Unanimous Decision. Mike Pyle defeats Ricardo Almeida by Unanimous Decision. Gleison Tibau defeats Kurt Pellegrino by Split Decision. Joseph Benavidez defeats Ian Loveland by Unanimous Decision. Nick Catone defeats Constantinos Phillippou by Unanimous Decision . Erik Koch defeats Raphael Assuncao by KO at 2:32 of Round 1.

Although I once again enjoyed the four free fights the UFC gave us as part of their ongoing “UFC Prelims LIVE” series of shows, I have to admit that my expectations were completely backwards.

I was looking forward to the Facebook stream a lot more, because it boasted bigger names and veteran talents. However, I thought Almeida, Tibau, Pellegrino, and Pyle all put on rather pedestrian affairs. They weren’t bad fights, but they definitely fell short of my expectations. I was pleasantly surprised by the Spike TV broadcast, which featured a great TKO win by Luis Cane and a very, very entertaining striking war between Edson Barboza and Anthony Njokuani.

I rarely dislike being right, but I’m not without a heart. I don’t like seeing Mirko Cro Cop lifeless on the mat. This is the second time in a row that Cro Cop has lost by KO, and I think it may be time for him to call it a career. I could possibly see Cro Cop moving down to Light Heavyweight, but I think Cro Cop’s days of being relevant as a Heavyweight are now firmly and finally over and done with, and not even the staunchest Cro Cop supporter can argue against that.

I’m glad Nate Marquardt beat Dan Miller, but I have a new appreciation for how tough Dan Miller is. I didn’t think he would be able to deal with Nate Marquardt’s power for three rounds without going down, and he proved me dead wrong. So here’s some credit where it’s rightfully due: his performance coupled with the fact that he took this fight on ultra-short notice means that Dan Miller far exceeded my expectations at UFC 128, even in losing.

With his win at UFC 128, I think Jim Miller has firmly staked his claim near the top of the UFC Lightweight division. Miller has got to be only a few fights away from a title shot, there’s just no way he’s not unless the UFC doesn’t realize what they have in him. In Jim Miller you’ve got a fighter that will fight anyone anywhere, he’ll strike with strikers and he’ll try to submit high-level Brazilian Jui Jitsu fighters. Miller has the raw talent to go very far in the UFC’s Lightweight division, and his performance at UFC 128 proves that he’s living up to his potential. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for Jim Miller.

Eddie Wineland is one tough fighter, but Urijah Faber proved that he still has it at UFC 128. I was happy enough knowing that Faber finally debuted in the UFC, but seeing him win and win big while still retaining his very entertaining style was one of my favorite moments of the night. I think this was a very important, very big step on the comeback trail for Urijah Faber, and I think 2012 could be the year where Faber becomes a champion again. Depending on how things shake out, we may even enter 2012 with Faber as champion.

I called it, fans and friends. I gave Rua his due, I said he could beat Jon Jones, now give me my due. This is the new era, now. Jon Jones is “the chosen one”. Like some mythical fairy-tale, the young champion has now ascended to the throne and will be the one to break “the curse”. It’s a whole new ballgame now, and Jon Jones is the best Light Heavyweight fighter in the world.

And that’s what I thought about UFC 128, fans and friends. What about you? What’s your opinion on “Shogun vs. Jones” now that it’s all said and done?

For many years, Mirko was considered one of the top-3 fighters in the heavyweight division, being the only man to defeat Josh Barnett three times throughout his illustrious career, the Croation will once again have the chance to prove himself and before all of his fans this weekend when he takes on another hungry young up-and-comer in Brendan Schaub, who with a convincing win over Mirko could be poised for a title shot in the immediate future.

“Cro Cop” made his career with his obvious striking acumen, which dates back to his early days as a high level K-1 kickboxer. While he never won the heralded world grand-prix title, he came close on many occasions.

After there was no future left in competing in the kickboxing realm for the Croation, he took his talents elsewhere and began his career as a mixed martial artist for the PRIDE organization. There, he became an instant classic and fan favorite with his decaptiting head kick knockouts, which includes a specific victory over perennial top-10 talent Aleksander Emelianenko, brother to the legendary Fedor.

Be left the organization in 2006 and has since mediocre success in the UFC. In his last outing, Mirko was knocked out by a knee that landed flush to his jaw when he stepped inside the cage opposite of the resurgent Frank Mir, a former UFC heavyweight champion. Mirko did take the fight on just six-weeks notice, and did it make it to the third-round with Mir, however most of the action was dim. Next up for the former PRIDE star will be Brendan Schaub, perhaps not as equally adept a striker as Mirko, however he does throw with power behind those punches.

Schaub was a contestant on the ultra-popular “The Ultimate Fighter” series, where he made it to the finals opposite of former IFL champion Roy Nelson. Although Schaub suffered an embarassing knockout loss, he has since rallied back with a three-fight win streak, which includes consecutive knockout wins over Chase Gormley and Chris Tuscherer. In his last bout at UFC 121 last October, Schaub soundly defeated former title challenger Gabriel Gonzaga by unanimous decision, dropping the hard nosed Brazilian early in the first-round.

The edge in experience clearly goes to Filipovic, who has fought and defeated some of the best in his class. However, Brendan has more momentum behind him and will likely gun for the weak-chinned Mirko early, and search for the knockout win, which I suspect he will get.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think? Agree or disagree? Sound off in the comment section below.

Here’s what “The Hybrid” had to say over at Fighters Only: “I think guys get so caught up in respecting Mirko so much they don’t approach him with a killer instinct… They go out there and show him too much respect. I respect the guy just as much as those guys do if not more… I respect these guys so much that I give them the best fight I can on the night. That’s my way of showing respect to these guys – I go in there and try and take their heads off.”

In all honesty, I think this is the perfect strategy for Schaub as he heads towards this fight. There was a time where Schaub would have gotten laughed out of the room for daring to say that he’d like to strike with Mirko Cro Cop, and there would probably even be a section of the fanbase questioning Schaub’s sanity.

That time passed quite a while ago.

There are conflicting theories on why Mirko Cro Cop never stormed through the UFC the same way he stormed through PRIDE. Some say it was the difference in rules, others say it was Mirko’s inability to adapt to a cage versus a ring. Some say Mirko’s various injuries are to blame, others think that Mirko’s one-dimensionality has finally caught up to him in a world where MMA fighters are dangerous and deadly in all areas of the fight game.

But no matter what your opinion is on the “how” of it, the fact of the matter remains the same: Mirko Crop Cop hasn’t beaten a legitimate top-ranked fighter since the PRIDE days, and his UFC tenure continues to be defined by his KO loss to Gabriel Gonzaga, who was in fact recently released by the UFC.

I think Mirko Cro Cop is standing on the precipice, and Brendan Schaub is about to shove him off. Schaub rebounded from one bad performance with three virtually flawless outings, and I think Schaub has all the tools necessary to become a big star in the UFC. The days of Mirko Cro Cop kicking people’s heads off are long gone, and his punching power was never all that spectacular to begin with. If Schaub makes good on his word and forces Mirko Cro Cop to engage in a competitive fight, I think Cro Cop will more than likely crumble. His chin isn’t what it used to be, his striking power isn’t what it used to be… nothing is what it used to be.

Putting it plainly, Brendan Schaub is the absolute worst kind of opponent for Mirko Cro Cop right now. He’s young, he’s energetic, he’s a finisher, and he’s brave enough to venture into Cro Cop’s realm and see if he can get the better of the man that was once regarded as the deadliest striker in the game. If this was back in Cro Cop’s heyday, Schaub would be in for a colossal beating. But in the present day, I think Schaub is going to win this fight by KO’ing Cro Cop in the first round.

And what about you, fans and friends? Who do you have winning this fight, and how?

The fight has been rumored for nearly a week now, though UFC officials have since solidified the match up earlier today for the March pay-per-view event.

Filipovic, the 2006 Pride Open-Weight Grand Prix Champion, was last inside the octagon when he was pitted against former champion Frank Mir. Though a Jiu-Jitsu specialist, Mir was unable to work the fight to the mat, and after an uninspired two-plus rounds turned in, Frank eventually connected on a hard knee to the head, knocking out the Croatian in the waning moments of the September fight.

The loss to Mir snapped a two-fight win streak inside the cage, with victories over Anthony Perosh and Pat Barry–during the fight with the two K-1 veterans, Filipovic was able to knockdown Barry with a late barrage in the third-round, staggering the kickboxer to the ground before locking up a fight ending rear-naked choke which earned him “Submission of the Night” for his efforts.

Schaub, however, has been faring better then the MMA legend, as the Greg Jackson fighter has been able to rattle off a three-fight win streak inside the octagon. After working his way to the finals of “The Ultimate Fighter” in season ten, Schaub was knocked out by Roy Nelson in the live finale, however rather then sulk he was able to rebound in impressive fashion. Brendan notched two-quick back-to-back knockout wins over Chase Gormley and Chris Tuchscherer–both fights recorded under two-minutes of ring time combined.

“The Hybrid” picked up the biggest win of his career when he bested former title challenger and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Gabriel Gonzaga at UFC 121 last October, knocking down “Napao” in the first-round with a strong hook. Schaub was unable to capitalize on the opportunity and instead settled for a decision win after fifteen-minutes of action.

UFC 128 takes place at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. on March 19 where a championship headliner pitting titleholder Mauricio “Shogun” Rua will meet with former champ Rashad Evans with the belt on the line.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of the heavyweight fight? Will Mirko be able to reinvigorate his career here with a win over Schaub, or is the younger Brendan too much for the Croatian to handle? Sound off in the comment section below.

The Croatian heavyweight recently spoke with a local television program where he discussed his next plans in his mixed martial arts career, even claiming that 2011 will be his year, and will be much better than 2006 where he defeated the likes of Hidehiko Yoshida, Wanderlei Silva, and Josh Barnett all in a three-month span.

However coming off of a loss to former heavyweight champion Frank Mir at UFC 119 last September, a knockout at that, did little to help people from believing that Mirko’s best years are behind him and prospect Brendan Schaub will be there to remind ‘Cro Cop’ as such.

Both Schaub and Filipovic are expected to meet at UFC 128 on March 19 which is rumored for the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, and will most likely grace the main-card for the pay-per-view event.

Over his last four fights, Mirko has gone 2-2 inside the cage with consecutive wins over Anthony Perosh and Pat Barry sandwiched between losses against future title challenger Junior dos Santos and the aforementioned Mir.

Schaub debuted in the UFC in disappointing fashion, with the knockout artist succumbing to an equally impressive knockout loss. Brendan battled his way to the finals on the tenth season of “The Ultimate Fighter” and met with former IFL champ Roy Nelson in the finals which took place in Las Vegas in December of 2009.

Nelson knocked out Schaub inside of the first round, and where most people would crumble, Brendan didn’t let the highly publicized loss effect him, as he would go on to record a three-fight win streak inside the octagon. His first-two wins beginning his streak came with swift knockout victories over the likes of Chase Gormley and Chris Tuchscherer, both inside the first round.

His most notable win to date has become a unanimous decision victory over former title challenger Gabriel Gonzaga in his last apperance at UFC 121. Schaub dominated the Brazilian round after round, even dropping the Jiu-Jitsu specialist in the first round.

Both Schaub and Mirko need a victory here in order to stay relevant in the heavyweight picture, in order to breakthrough and become a contender.

So, MMA peeps, what do you make of the new heavyweight tilt? Who do you favor? Sound off in the comment section below.

We head to the one and only Sherdog for a report that states that Schaub vs. Struve is going down in March, with one rumor putting the bout on the televised portion of the upcoming “UFC on Versus 3” event. No official date has been confirmed, but the UFC has plenty of outings in March, so it’s very likely that the two big Heavyweights will find a spot somewhere, given how both recently competed in high-profile matches.

But will Schaub/Struve even happen? Maybe not, according to a new report just barely released by Fighters Only. The report indicates that a “source very close to the situation” has given word that Schaub’s next opponent will be PRIDE FC legend Mirko Cro Cop, who ironically recently found himself on the wrong end of a KO courtesy of Frank Mir, Scuab’s originally-intended opponent. This bout, if it were to materialize, would take place at the upcoming UFC 128 event, currently scheduled for March 19.

Part of me wishes that Brendan Schaub would find himself an opponent already, but the realist in me knows that MMA lives in a world of rumors and anything juicy just has to get reported. And I find both Schaub/Struve and Schaub/Cro Cop particularly succulent. I think both bouts sound great on paper, and would pretty much prove where all involved are at in their careers.

If we get Schaub/Struve, we’ve basically got a fight where both men are guaranteed a position as a top-division athlete if they finish the fight and win dramatically. Schaub has been on a three-fight win-streak with two (T)KO’s and has only lost once in his career, while Struve is on a two-fight win-streak with back-to-back (T)KO’s and most recently competed in the co-main event of a major UFC Pay-Per-View.

Schaub vs. Cro Cop also has some interesting possibilities, given Schaub’s eagerness to engage and Cro Cop’s dwindling career. After an utterly atrocious fight was capped off with Cro Cop eating a sloppy knee and getting knocked unconscious, many fans and insiders are once again turning to talks of Cro Cop’s retirement. A big win over Schaub would give Mirko Cro Cop’s career the shot in the arm that it so desperately needs, while adding a victory over an MMA legend would certainly be a big feather in Brendan Schaub’s cap.

The only thing I don’t like about these two fights is that neither one of them has been officially confirmed. Schaub/Struve sounds like it would be a great stand-up war, while Schaub vs. Cro Cop holds a very interesting “rookie vs. veteran” dynamic. I think Schaub/Struve at “UFC on Versus 3” would be icing on an already-delicious cake, but Schaub/Cro Cop at UFC 128 would provide a big boost to a card that’s still very much in-the-works. So, all in all, I really don’t have too much of a problem with either match-up and I’d like to see both of them happen, to be honest.

And what about you, fans and friends? Who do you want to see Schaub fight, and why?

According to MMA Weekly, both Frank Mir and Brendan Schaub have verbally agreed to fight each other sometime in early 2011, although nothing has been signed and an exact date is still to be determined. After a convincing Unanimous Decision over former UFC Heavyweight Championship contender Gabriel Gonzaga (who has since been released by the UFC), former “Ultimate Fighter” Season 10 cast member Brendan Schaub vocally called for higher-level competition. In fact, “The Hybrid” called out Frank Mir in particular. Schaub is on a three-fight win-streak with two finishes, and has only lost once in the UFC.

As stated earlier, Frank Mir was tentatively scheduled to fight Brock Lesnar for a third time following Lesnar’s recent loss to newly-crowned UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez at UFC 121. The two men have a sordid and storied history: in their first fight, not only did Frank Mir spoil Lesnar’s debut, he handed him his first-ever loss. In their second fight, Lesnar resoundingly trounced Mir and left his face a bloody, bruised mess. To this day, the two men remain arch-rivals. Despite all of this, early reactions towards Mir/Lesnar 3 were so negative that Dana White basically called off his plans to make it happen. It appears that Mir has found his next opponent.

I like this fight for several reasons, and I think both men have it in them to put on an entertaining performance. First and foremost, I don’t think Brendan Schaub is afraid of Frank Mir or his ground game. The biggest problem I saw with the Mir/Filipovic fight was that Frank Mir was afraid to strike with Mirko Cro Cop and Mirko Cro Cop was afraid to grapple with Frank Mir. In his four fights in the UFC, Schaub has shown no fear of facing anyone in any facet of the MMA game.

If push comes to shove, Schaub will push the pace and force Mir to engage with him. And that’s an entertaining fight for several reasons. It always feels like Frank Mir’s best has to be dragged kicking and screaming out of him, but when it does emerge, Mir is an amazing performer. His striking has gotten a lot better, and his submission skills have always been at the top of the division.

Brendan Schaub is also no joke, and I think he’s proven once and for all that he’s ready for top-division competition. His loss to Roy Nelson is basically a distant memory now that he’s gotten some convincing wins under his belt. This fight will be the biggest test of Schaub’s career so far, and that includes the Nelson fight. If Schaub beats Mir, he’ll have all the base he needs to campaign for and ultimately receive a rematch with “Big Country” Roy Nelson, if he chooses to do so. And if Schaub wins that rematch, or any other match against a top-division athlete, I think we’ll have finally seen Schaub emerge as a legitimate championship contender.

So big, big things are in store for either man if one of them is able to finish and finish convincingly. Regardless of who wins, a boring performance is the last thing both fighters need right now, so expect this fight to be one to remember. And what about you, fans and friends? What’s your early opinion on this planned fight?

Coupled with his world-class Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills and punch prowess, it looked like the sky was the limit for the 31 year old. But after suffering back-to-back losses to Junior dos Santos and Brendan Schaub in his most recent outings, the UFC decided to cut their losses and sent the Brazilian packing.

After vying for the promotion’s heavyweight strap in 2007 against then champion Randy Couture (unsuccessfully, Gonzaga suffered a third-round TKO loss) Gabriel would go on to compile an overall record of 3-4 over his next seven fights.

Following a lackluster performance against heavyweight rising contender Brendan Schaub last Saturday at UFC 121, it looked like it be inevitable that Gonzaga would be released from the promotion, though it came as a surprise to most, understandably since delivering some highlight reel memories that fans still talk about, namely, his head kick knockout of former PRIDE champion, Mirko Cro Cop.

Gonzaga released the news himself, tweeting the news to his near five-thousand strong followers.

“Official now – Out of UFC – Thanks for all your support – back to normal life and BJJ forever”, tweeted the heavyweight.

A free agent for the first time in 5 years, his name will likely carry him to a reputable promotion, possibly Strikeforce as they continue to bolster their ever expanding roster.

So, MMA peeps, are you surprised by the news? Sound off in the comment section below.

Speaking with Fighters Only, here’s what Mirko Cro Cop had to say on the situation: “I know nothing about it, this is the first I heard of it. But it would be an interesting fight for sure. I think Roy’s style matches very well with mine, we could have a good fight. I didn’t hear anything from the UFC yet, but let’s see if they call me.”

Both men have lost one and won one in their most-recent fights. Roy Nelson recently became the only man to ever survive all three rounds against Junior dos Santos, losing to the heavy-handed and heavily-feared striker via Unanimous Decision. Mirko Filipovic was last seen eating a late-round and fight-ending knee by former champion Frank Mir in a fight that some have called one of the worst UFC main events in recent history.

Now, if you’ll recall, I was one of the most adamant nay-sayers when it came to Cro Cop vs. Mir. I’ve been saying for quite a while now that Cro Cop is not relevant and will never be relevant in the UFC. And despite the negativity I know it’s going to inspire, I still firmly believe that, and that’s why I don’t want to see this fight happen.

Mirko Cro Cop does not deserve another top-card fight against another top-level UFC star. Roy Nelson has to endure an incredible amount of mud-slinging due to his unusual physique, but at the end of the day, the man is a great fighter and deserves his spot at or near the top of the card. Mirko Cro Cop hasn’t done anything lately to make me believe that he should get one last “last chance”.

In regards to who I think should face Roy Nelson, I honestly think Frank Mir would be a great choice, or perhaps a rematch with Brendan Schaub. I think both fights would be very entertaining for several different reasons: Mir vs. Nelson would be an incredibly competitive ground war, while Nelson vs. Schaub would be an epic stand-up battle especially when you consider how much of a tear Schaub has been on since losing to Nelson.

So while I’m willing to admit that a Cro Cop vs. Nelson fight does have potential, ultimately I’m siding against this one. If Mirko Cro Cop is given one last “last chance”, it needs to be lower on the cards and against someone who’s an up-and-comer looking to make a name for himself. It may seem harsh, but being a gatekeeper is the only viable option Cro Cop has left if he wants to remain in the UFC.

But what do you think, fans and friends? How interested would you be if Shane Carwin vs. Roy Nelson became Mirko Cro Cop vs. Roy Nelson?

As if you couldn’t guess, UFC mega-star Brock Lesnar earned the most money at UFC 121. In fact, he earned double that of his opponent, despite losing to Velasquez in very humbling fashion. Lesnar’s situation is mirrored by Tito Ortiz, who pocketed a cool quarter million despite Matt Hamill making easy work of him. Here’s how everyone’s pay scale broke down, courtesy of MMA Weekly.

Cain Velasquez: $200,000 (includes $100,000 win bonus) defeated Brock Lesnar: $400,000. Jake Shields: $150,000 (includes $75,000 win bonus) defeated Martin Kampmann: $27,000. Diego Sanchez: $100,000 (includes $50,000 win bonus) defeated Paulo Thiago: $18,000. Matt Hamill: $58,000 (includes $29,000 win bonus) defeated Tito Ortiz: $250,000. Brendan Schaub: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win. Court McGee: $30,000 (includes $15,000 win bonus) defeated Ryan Jensen: $10,000. Tom Lawlor: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus) defeated Patrick Cote: $21,000. Daniel Roberts: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus) defeated Mike Guymon: $8,000. Sam Stout: $32,000 (includes $16,000 win bonus) defeated Paul Taylor: $16,000. Chris Camozzi: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus) defeated Dongi Yang: $8,000. Jon Madsen: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus) defeated Gilbert Yvel: $30,000.

Ironically, Lesnar finds himself the most well-paid fighter of UFC 121 but also the fighter that may be out the longest due to injuries sustained during the fight. Unless Lesnar is medically cleared, he’s looking at a six-month layoff thanks to Cain Velasquez’s barrage of fists. Jake Shields could also be sitting on the sidelines for 180 days unless he too is cleared by a doctor. Courtesy of MMA Mania, here are the full list of medical suspensions for UFC 121.

Brock Lesnar, Jake Shields, Diego Sanchez, and Court McGee are all suspended for 180 days unless cleared by a doctor for various injuries incurred during the course of their fights. Brendan Schaub, Tito Ortiz, Ryan Jensen, Dongi Yang, Gilbert Yvel, and Gabriel Gonzaga were all suspended for 45 days with no contact for 30 days, for precautionary reasons. Paulo Thiago and Chris Camozzi were suspended 60 days, with no contact for 60 days, due to the cuts they sustained during their fights. Both men are looking at reduced suspensions if they are cleared by a doctor.

Love him or hate him, I think Brock Lesnar earned every penny of his almost half-million salary. Everyone is still talking about UFC 121, and that’s a good thing even if you hate Lesnar. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if this Lesnar-headlined card drew another million buys, which seems to be the norm for him nowadays. And people wonder why UFC President Dana White looked so crestfallen when he had to put that big lump of gold around Cain’s waist. In regards to the fighter suspensions, they all seem par for the course.

So what do you think, fans and friends? Who earned their dollars and who got an easy paycheck at UFC 121? And anything noticeable about the suspensions from where you’re sitting?

New UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez was rightfully awarded “Knockout of the Night” for making quick work of former UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar. The fight was blissfully brief: both men traded takedowns, then Lesnar got clipped and Cain pounced on him like the monster that he is. Daniel Roberts earned himself $70,000 as well for a great Anaconda Choke on Michael Guymon that Guymon fought bravely against but ultimately tapped to. And finally, Paulo Thiago and Diego Sanchez each got their additional $70,000 as well, as the two men received the “Fight of the Night” award for their fast-paced and very exciting encounter.

I think Cain Velasquez definitely deserved “Knockout of the Night” for his amazing performance against Brock Lesnar. If you recall, I thought Cain would win it by TKO, but I had Lesnar lasting four rounds and succumbing to punches out of fatigue more than anything. Instead, Cain picked his shots, delivered huge power right onto Lesnar’s chin, opened up a massive gash on his cheek, and pounded out the man who famously survived the striking game of Shane Carwin. In an era where “bigger is better”, Velasquez proves that you don’t need to tip the scales at 265 to be a UFC Heavyweight Champion. I wish him all the best and am really looking forward to seeing him defend his championship.

As for Paulo Thiago and Diego Sanchez, I was very impressed by their fight as well. Paulo Thiago always seems to have a problem when it comes to justifying his hype, he’s never truly gotten out of the shadow of his KO win over Josh Koscheck but he’s made some admirable attempts. Diego Sanchez seemed to discover that old fire inside himself in this fight, and I think he earned himself another worthy entry into his highlight reel when he ran screaming across the cage with Paulo Thiago on his shoulders before sending the man crashing down to the mat with a massive slam.

Overall, UFC 121 was a big event and saw some big finishes that were awarded with big bonuses. I’m glad that the UFC’s “Of the Night” bonuses continue to increase, the athletes receiving them usually fully deserve them, and a huge bonus is a great incentive to keep producing entertaining and engaging fights. I think UFC 121 set up quite a lot of fights that will play out in 2011, so I look forward to seeing what the future holds.

And what about you, fans and friends? What do you think of the UFC 121 fight bonuses, and UFC 121 as a whole?

Next for Brendan Schaub: In all likelihood it’ll be a rematch with Roy Nelson once Roy Nelson loses to Shane Carwin. I love me some “Big Country”, but I just don’t see him being able to withstand Carwin’s raw punching power, which I think is the pound-for-pound best in the UFC right now. If Nelson does beat Carwin somehow, then Schaub might get another gatekeeper like Cheick Kongo.

Next for Gabriel Gonzaga: Gatekeeper status, as harsh as that sounds. Gonzaga has been hit-or-miss for a long while now, and his performance against Schaub proved that that’s not going to change anytime soon. He’ll always have the Mirko Filipovic KO to look back on, but he’s never again going to be anywhere close to a UFC championship. Even with all that said, though, he’ll probably be a pretty good gatekeeper. I still like Gonzaga, I’m just being a realist when I say that he’s going to be welcoming rookies into the upper echelon or sending them back down the pecking order for quite some time.

Next for Tito Ortiz: Retirement. No more excuses, Tito. Ortiz looked downright bad against Matt Hamill, and with absolutely no disrespect meant to the man, Matt Hamill has never been a top-division fighter. No matter how many corrective surgeries he’s had or how healthy he keeps saying he is, Tito Ortiz hasn’t gotten a good win over a relevant opponent in a long, long, long time. It’s time to pack it in and call it a career before you become your most hated adversary, Ken Shamrock.

Next for Diego Sanchez: It’ll be a trip back down to 155 as earlier reported, but now I can safely say that I think Sanchez will work his way back up to title contention when he cuts to Lightweight once again. Sanchez put on a vintage performance and rejuvenated a career that had honestly begun to stagnate. If we see the Diego Sanchez of UFC 121 show up in the UFC’s Lightweight division as it stands right now, we’re looking at a possible champion.

Next for Jake Shields: It’s already been confirmed that Dana White has made Jake Shields the top contender to the UFC Welterweight Championship. How do I think he’ll do? It depends who he’s facing. I think Jake Shields is a phenomenal fighter that simply made a few mistakes and perhaps let the pressure get to him, which is why he gassed out and barely edged out Martin Kampmann at this event. Whether it’s Georges St. Pierre or Josh Koscheck, I think Shields will once again do a lot better than virtually anyone gives him credit for and perhaps even win the title.

Next for Brock Lesnar: He’ll be back and better than ever, that’s all I can really say right now. Lesnar isn’t done, and he’s still growing by leaps and bounds as a Mixed Martial Artist. In his next fight, we’ll either see a Lesnar with an incredibly improved stand-up game or a Lesnar that does nothing but shoot for a takedown. Either way, I think Lesnar will jump right back into the title picture and may even get another shot at it by the end of 2011.

Next for Cain Velasquez: Junior Dos Santos if we’re talking specifics, getting marketed for everything he’s worth by the UFC if we’re talking in generalities. With how stacked the Heavyweight division has been lately, the UFC is going to milk Cain’s status as the first Mexican UFC Champion for all it’s worth, both because it makes sense and also because he may lose to Dos Santos.

And that’s what I see when I stare into my little crystal ball, fans and friends. What about you? What do you think is next for the winners and losers of UFC 121 “Lesnar vs. Velasquez”?

Brendan Schaub vs. Gabriel Gonzaga: I honestly believe that Schaub is overlooking Gonzaga and is beginning to believe his own hype. There’s no doubt that Schaub is talented, but the fact that he’s already talking about a title shot convinces me that he’s not nearly focused enough on “Napao”, who can still be a major threat to the right opponent. Gonzaga may be a glorified gatekeeper, but he’s got a lot of fight left in him. Expect him to catch Schaub off-guard and get the (T)KO in the second round.

Diego Sanchez vs. Paulo Thiago: I think this is a make-or-break fight for both fighters, although much more for Sanchez. Even if it’s been revealed that Sanchez is dropping back down to Lightweight win or lose, I think that another loss would put his job in serious jeopardy. For Thiago, it’s all about getting the hype train rolling again after Martin Kampmann derailed it. I simply think Sanchez has more experience and wants the win more, but it’s going to be close, so I’m picking Sanchez by Unanimous Decision with 29-28 scores across the board.

Tito Ortiz vs. Matt Hamill: Part of me hates myself for doing this again, but I truly believe Ortiz when he says that he’s back and healthy and better than ever. I think Matt is a good fighter, but he’s consistently proven that he’s just not up to top-level standards. And if Ortiz really is as healthy as he says he is, he’s still a top-level athlete. This is another do-or-die situation, with Ortiz squarely in the cross-hairs. Because he needs it badly and says that he hasn’t felt this good since he went on his historic run as UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, I’m picking Ortiz to win via Unanimous Decision. But if he loses again, and worse yet, if he makes more excuses, Tito Ortiz may as well call it a career.

Jake Shields vs. Martin Kampmann: His performance against Dan Henderson fully converted me; I now consider myself a Jake Shields fan. As such, I’m pulling for him as well as picking him to defeat Kampmann. I think Kampmann will always be a real-life example of “so close and yet so far away”, I see him hovering around the top of the division for the foreseeable future but rarely getting into true title contention. Shields is already a proven champion, so I think he’ll really impress in his UFC debut. I don’t expect him to outright dominate Kampmann, but I do think he’ll finish this fight. I’m picking Jake Shields to submit Martin Kampmann early in the third round.

Cain Velasquez vs. Brock Lesnar: I’ve been favoring Velasquez from the start, and that hasn’t changed. Cain has incredible cardio, serious power, unbreakable will, incredible heart, and trains with one of the most prestigious training camps in Mixed Martial Arts. Lesnar won’t be able to withstand the pace Cain will set and the leather he will throw for what could turn into a five-round fight. I’m still thinking Lesnar gasses out, despite the negative reaction that opinion has been getting. Trust me: Lesnar’s cardio has looked great because he’s controlled the pace for every single one of his fights, other than the Shane Carwin fight where he just absorbed punishment and survived to the end of the round. Cain will push Brock like he’s never been pushed before and tire him out. Look for Cain to nail one last barrage on a weakened and slow Lesnar and get the TKO in the fourth round.

And those are my picks, fans and friends. It’s not final call: who’ve you got for UFC 121 and why?

Carwin himself, in fact, made the news of his return on his official Twitter page (@ShaneCarwin), and since then many have speculated who the former title challenger will be facing.

In his last outing, Carwin attempted to unify his interim heavyweight title, which he earned with a first round knockout of former champion Frank Mir at UFC 111, when he tangled with the current title holder in Brock Lesnar, at UFC 116 last July. After a dominant first-round turned in, where “The Engineer” was able to drop Lesnar with a barrage of punches, eventually gassing himself when he unloaded a heavy dose of ground and pound that had left Brock on the ropes, but otherwise still in the fight.

Lesnar survived the first round scare to turn it all around in the second, eventually taking down the former Division II All-American collegiate wrestler, working to mount, before submitting the 265-pound Goliath with a an arm-triangle choke. The loss snapped an undefeated streak of 12-wins in a row for the Greg Jackson product.

Now returning to action after the disappointing loss, Carwin will tangle with former IFL heavyweight champion and “The Ultimate Fighter” season 10 winner, Roy Nelson.

“Big Country” himself, is coming off a loss of his own. After going 2-0 inside the promotion with a win over hot prospect Brendan Schaub, to claim the TUF title last December, and an additional win over up-and-comer Stef Struve (UFC Fight Night 21, in March of this year)—both by way of knockout, Nelson’s run to the top was derailed when he met Brazilian striker, Junior dos Santos.

Though competitive throughout the whole bout, unfaltering even after being knocked down twice inside of the first round, Nelson walked away from the bout the loser, when a unanimous decision went the way of the Team Nogueria product, who trains alongside the Nogueria brothers (of course) as well as champions Rafael “Feijao” of Strikeforce, and current UFC middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva.

Junior and Nelson were vying for a number one contender’s spot, against the winner of the Brock Lesnar/ Cain Velasquez showdown, which is going down at UFC 121 on October 23.

Nelson and Carwin, though not officially confirmed, will likely serve on the main card for the January pay-per-view card, which is taking place in Las Vegas, Nev. The news was first broke by MiddleEasy.com.

So, MMA peeps, what do you make of the match up? Who do you think will walk away the victor? Sound off in the comment section below.

Here’s what the man himself had to say courtesy of MMA Mania: “I don’t go in there expecting to finish [opponents] really quick – it’s just happened. Right now, they got me on that Carwin track. You know, he beat two guys, knocked them out really quick, and then he got Gabe Gonzaga. So, am I ready for it? No doubt. I can compete with, I think, anyone in the top five in the world. As far as growing and becoming a better fighter, man, everyone has their plan. I can definitely beat Gabe. If I fight to my highest ability and he fights to his highest, I beat him every time. So, that’s the plan… I’m sick of fighting these fat wrestlers, man. I gotta be honest with you. I’m ready for a challenge and I think this is the right step. I’m sure as heck not gonna argue with it or put up a fight. It’s such a great opportunity.”

If Schaub thinks he’ll have it easy in the UFC’s Heavyweight division, Gabriel Gonzaga should be more than capable of giving him a harsh lesson in humility. It’s true that “Napao” has mostly cemented himself as a Heavyweight gatekeeper, but he’s still an opponent to be feared. He’s fought over ten times in the UFC and has far more experience than Schaub when it comes to going up against top-level competition. He’s even challenged for the UFC Heavyweight Championship before. Gonzaga has good striking and an excellent ground game, so even if most of the current top-ranked Heavyweights have used him as a stepping stone, most of the time he’s still a tough stone to step over.

I also think Schaub makes an interesting parallel when he compares himself to Shane Carwin. Carwin was and remains a wrecking machine, but his flaws have already been exposed. The man simply can’t go past the first round, his cardio just isn’t there. Carwin was basically dead on his feet by the time Brock Lesnar took him down and submitted him. I still think Carwin is a good fighter, but my point is that he was built up as a monster and was incredibly humbled in his first loss. Perhaps the same is in store for Schaub if he keeps this better-than-everyone attitude.

Now, don’t get me wrong fans and friends. I love a little cockiness. But only when it’s earned. Schaub hasn’t beaten anyone of note in the UFC, Roy Nelson TKO’d him, and he still hasn’t proved himself as a top-division athlete. His fight with Gabriel Gonzaga will do the job nicely, but as it stands right now, if you asked me who would win if Schaub faced competition like Junior dos Santos or Cain Velasquez, you’d see me pick Cain and “Cigano” with relatively little forethought.

And what about you, fans and friends? Do you think Schaub’s boasting is justified? And do you think he’ll beat Gonzaga?

In the co-main event slot, former Strikeforce Middleweight Champion and Elite XC Welterweight Champion Jake Shields will make his debut in the UFC, fresh off his five-round outclassing of Dan Henderson at Strikeforce: Nashville in April of this year. Standing in his way is the tough Martin Kampmann, who rebounded from a KO loss to UFC exile Paul Daley with big wins over Jacob Volkmann and Paulo Thiago. Speaking of Paulo Thiago, the man still trying to step out of the shadow of his surprise KO over the current UFC Welterweight Championship #1 Contender Josh Koscheck will also be competing at UFC 121. Facing Thiago will be Diego Sanchez, in Sanchez’s second Welterweight fight since losing a fight for the UFC Lightweight Championship to then-champion BJ Penn.

Also announced is a fight between popular UFC Light Heavyweight Matt Hamill and his friend/coach/mentor Tito Ortiz, the former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion and one of the most controversial fighters to ever step foot in the Octagon. Ortiz will be returning from an injury that forced him to back out of a proposed third fight with Chuck Liddell. It’s been four long years since Tito Ortiz has scored a win inside the Octagon. Rounding out the main card is a fight pitting Heavyweights Brendan Schaub and Gabriel Gonzaga against each other. Gonzaga may have been cast in the role of elite-level gatekeeper in his recent fights, but should prove a very tough test for Schaub, who has looked excellent in all his UFC fights save for a KO loss to Roy Nelson.

UFC 121 is shaping up to be one of the best cards of the year, an astonishing fact considering that 2010 gave us “Aldo vs. Faber” and UFC 116. This card is loaded with potential from top to bottom, and I think every single Pay-Per-View fight could have been a headline attraction in their own right. Lesnar vs. Velasquez is a no-brainer. With the mentor vs. student appeal, Ortiz vs. Hamill could have headlined its own Pay-Per-View. Shields/Kampmann could easily have led a British PPV or a Fight Night Live, as could Paul Thiago vs. Diego Sanchez and Brendan Schaub vs. Gabriel Gonzaga. Anything can happen when the cameras go live, but on paper, the Pay-Per-View card is filed to the brim with can’t-miss fights. If all the fights live up to their potential, UFC 121 will be like a Christmas gift come early, even though it takes place near Halloween.

And what do you think, fans and friends? How excited are you for UFC 121, and which fight in particular are you looking forward to the most?

And while he claims there is no pressure going into the fight with Nelson, which serves as a number one contender bout after the Brock Lesnar-Cain Velasquez title bout takes place at UFC 121, Dos Santos acknowledges that Nelson is a formidable opponent and it will make his perform at his best, since this fight has so much riding on the line.

“I’m happy for this (opportunity to face Nelson in a number one contender bout). It brings me more confidence, because if I win the fight, and I will win, I will fight for the title. It’s very good for me and I am happy for this news”, said dos Santos, using a new and improved English-repertoire, while speaking with Danny Acosta of Fight! Magazine.

“Everybody can watch, that these guys are amazing fighter’s”, said Junior in regards to his training partners Anderson Silva and Minotauro Nogueria.

“It’s good for me to train with them, and I just want to say ‘thank you’ for them, for training with me and helping me”, said the grateful heavyweight contender.

Nelson, though he has been knocking people out as of late in the UFC, beginning with Brendan Schaub in the finale of the 10th season of “The Ultimate Fighter” and following up his performance with another first-round knockout to heavyweight prospect Stefan Struve, many people may forget of his obvious ground prowess.

Roy is a black belt under Renzo Gracie, and has legitimate skills on the ground, holding a victory over Frank Mir in a grappling exhibition some years ago, though dos Santos is unperturbed and equally unimpressed, since he thinks his brown belt and ever evolving ground game may come as a surprise to “Big Country”.

“I’m just training a lot, training my Jiu-Jitsu too, there in Bahia, Brazil. I feel very good for this fight, (with my) confidence, and I have my strategy, and I will follow my strategy.”

However, the one thing he seems to be impressed with, is his size.

“He has a big belly. I’m going to put some punches there”, said the Brazilian, with a smile.

“Watch this fight, UFC 117. Some very good fighters are participating in this event, and I feel good. I promise a good show for you guys.

From the start, Schaub looked primed to win the all-Heavyweight tenth season of “The Ultimate Fighter”, displaying impressive skill that clearly showed that he was several levels ahead of most of his teammates. But former IFL champion and longtime MMA veteran Roy Nelson surprised virtually no one when “Big Country” managed to defeat Schaub in the finals of TUF Season 10. But that one humbling TKO loss, the first loss in Schaub’s professional MMA career, lit a fire under the young Heavyweight. Schaub has looked like a man possessed since then, knocking out both Chase Gormley and Chris Tuchscherer within the first round…within the first two minutes, in fact. And despite his recent losses, Gabriel “Napao” Gonzaga should still be quite a test for Schaub. If Schaub can beat the former UFC Heavyweight Championship contender, he’ll have firmly broken through to the top of the division at a far faster pace than I ever thought he would.

But I have a feeling that “Napao” won’t make it easy for him. Gonzaga has had an up-and-down career ever since losing a championship match against UFC legend Randy Couture, but he remains one of the most dangerous Heavyweights in the division and an eleven-fight veteran of the best promotion in the world, with a 7-4 record that only seems not-quite remarkable if you completely disregard the fact that Gonzaga has faced some of the best competition the UFC has to offer. Unfortunately for Gonzaga, he’s been cast into the role of a gatekeeper as of late.

In that regard, I don’t think anyone can deny that Gonzaga was specifically booked as a gatekeeper in his fights with Shane Carwin and Junior Dos Santos, and that with their wins over “Napao”, both Carwin and “Cigano” took their place amongst the Heavyweight elite. Carwin has already gotten a shot at the title, and Dos Santos is fighting Roy Nelson soon to determine the next #1 contender once UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar faces current #1 contender Cain Velasquez. It’s unfortunate that someone as skilled as Gonzaga has been put into such a role, but Gonzaga could conceivably break free and make a claim that he’s ready to take on the best again, so long as he sends Schaub packing.

Right now, I think you simply have got to give the striking advantage to Brendan Schaub. Call me crazy, but I just can’t overlook that all six of Schaub’s wins have come by (T)KO, and that all five of Gonzaga’s professional losses have come by way of (T)KO. It remains to be seen if Schaub packs the kind of power that can stone-cold knock out Gonzaga, but I think a well-timed shot combined with a fast-paced flurry could send Gonzaga into the land of dreams.

But as we all know, Gonzaga has a penchant for pulling off some crazy finishes. His striking is nothing to take lightly, so if this fight stays on the feet, Schaub will definitely have his work cut out for him. Not only that, but on the ground, it’s all “Napao”. Gonzaga has one of the best ground games in the UFC Heavyweight division, and has remained a true mat general throughout his run in the UFC. Due to his inexperience, I can see Schaub either trying too hard of fumbling the ball once it goes to the ground, leading to a Gonzaga submission.

It’s a shot at superstardom for one and a last chance to remain relevant for another, so I think Brendan Schaub vs. Gabriel Gonzaga will be a fantastic match. But what do you think, fans and friends? Who do you see winning, and how?

White said Nelson has “the worst physique in professional sports” and complained about Nelson’s confidence throughout the competition.

But, none of the fighters on TUF 10 who actually had to step into the Octagon versus Nelson made similar critiques.  All of Nelson’s opponents dutifully promised to win, of course; and, Schaub even promised to knock Nelson out.  But, no one questioned Nelson’s confidence or called him a “fat guy.”

The difference between White and Nelson’s opponents is that White has to promote a phenomenal fat guy while Nelson’s opponents have to fight a phenomenal fat guy.  And, if you’re the king of the streets like “Kimbo Slice” Kevin Ferguson (4-1), a Greco-Roman wrestling champion like Justin Wren (8-2), a decorated kickboxer like James McSweeney (4-4), or a former NFL football player like Schaub, after Nelson etches an “L” into your record, you just got beat-up by that same fat guy you were demeaning as just a fat guy.

White has logged a lot of hours changing the image of the UFC from gritty brawler “Tank” David Abbott (10-14) to clean-cut certified überathlete Fighters.com’s second-ranked heavyweight and UFC champion Brock Lesnar (4-1).

Nelson, his buddha belly, and his curly mohawk crash White’s party.

And, in a sense, White is right. Watching the final episode of TUF 10 with a friend who is aware of MMA, but doesn’t consider it much of a sport, I realized how Nelson turns off fans of mainstream team sports where the rules are conceived to ensure the best athlete wins.  He was appalled that Nelson had reached the finals of a supposed athletic competition.

“Roy is good,” I protested.

“But, wouldn’t he be better if he were in shape,” my friend asked.

I explained, “He is in shape.  Look, he’s training with three former NFL players, doing everything everyone else is doing, and two of those NFL players have had to sit out days of training.  Roy never has.”

My friend was skeptical, even hostile towards Nelson based wholly on Nelson’s physique compared to his confidence.  My friend was rooting for the clean-cut, former professional football player Schaub after watching just one episode of TUF 10.

But, for MMA purists like you and I, Nelson’s physique and dearth of athletic genetics combined with his deep understanding of fighting, proves that MMA, at it’s heart, is a high-skilled athletic endeavor.  Unlike football and unlike action films, fighting is skill-intensive, not based on genetics or looks.  It’s a chess game that tests your will to win by ensuring painful results when you make a bad move.

Watching Nelson knockout Schaub was similar to watching third-ranked Frank Mir (12-4) tap out Lesnar at UFC 81 in Las Vegas in 2008.  As much as onlookers outside of the sport want MMA to be a bunch of thick-headed bar brawlers trading head shots until someone falls, it’s proven time-and-again that, when athletes from other sports step into MMA, they’re quickly humbled by the volume of skills that they have to study and the intensity of training day-in-and-day-out.

On TUF 10, former Tampay Bay Bucs top draft pick “Big Baby” Marcus Jones (4-2) admitted his training in the NFL was nothing close to the intensity and effort of training to fight.

Nelson has done that training for years while also picking up all of the skills necessary to compete at a high level in MMA.  Though spectators ignorant about the sport will look at Nelson and have their misconceptions about MMA confirmed, I look at Nelson and he proves that fighting is as much about skill and heart as genetics.  That’s what attracted many core fans to the sport years ago.  It’s the promise that, even if you’re not born to succeed, you can work hard, study, and overcome your limitations to become successful anyway.

Nelson wasn’t born a 6’6″, 265- pound muscle-bound giant like Jones.  Nelson was born the way you see him today and will kick Jones’s ass with the skills he’s developed through hours of hard work in the gym.

White should spend less time being annoyed with having to now promote Nelson as a certified UFC fighter and devote his effort to promoting Nelson for the symbol of what a high-skilled, heart-testing sport MMA is.  And, whenever one of these magazine cover, chiseled athletes wants to call Nelson just a fat guy, White should serve the guy to Nelson in a clamshell box and watch Nelson descend on him like a Burger King Whopper.

Expect a Burger King endorsement deal for the self-described “fat guy” who entered season eleven of The Ultimate Fighter as the heavy favorite and lived up to the hype right through the finale.

Schaub flicked a jab one time too many and Nelson went over top with a right hook to Schaub’s temple, dropping his Team Rashad teammate to the mat.

Referee Herb Dean jumped in and ended the fight.

Nelson had also scored a takedown earlier in the round; but, Schaub was able to squirm to his feet.  Schaub threw plenty of quick, powerful punches, but hit very little for having such a big target in front of him.

The finalists were determined in the two semi-final fights Wednesday night on SpikeTV.

Nelson TKO’d James McSweeney (3-4) in the first round of their exhibition fight.  Nelson slammed McSweeney in a double-leg takedown and passed to half guard where he trapped McSweeney’s right arm beneath his knee and pounded McSweeney’s head until the referee stepped in.

Schaub TKO’d “Big Baby” Marcus Jones (4-1) in the first round of their exhibition fight.  Though Jones scored an early takedown, Schaub dropped Jones with an overhand right and pounded on Jones until the referee stopped the fight.

The final episode will air for two hours and feature fights that will determine the two athletes who will fight for a six-figure UFC contract at at SpikeTV’s The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale in Las Vegas December 5.

The remaining heavyweights include James McSweeney (3-4), ex-NFL defensive tackle Matt Mitrione (0-0), “Big Baby” Marcus Jones (4-1), “Titties” Darrill Schoonover (10-1), “Big Country” Roy Nelson (13-4),  and Brendan Schaub (3-0).

Wednesday nights episode will feature matchups between McSweeney and Mitrione and Jones and Schoonover, then the winners of those fights in semi-final matchups with Nelson and Schaub.

Though a plotline forced by the show this season has been the return of “Kimbo Slice” Kevin Ferguson (3-1) after his first round loss to Nelson,  light heavyweight “Assassin” Houston Alexander (9-4) has confirmed he’ll fight Slice December 5.

Fighters.com will post live coverage of the final fights of season 10 tonight.  Return to Fighters.com tonight for discussion of the final fights and the season.

Fighters.com’s fourth-ranked light heavyweight “Sugar” Rashad Evans (13-1-1) coached both fighters into the semis, and commented after Schaub’s victory, “He put those hands together and…wow!  He put him down.”

Schaub’s straight right blasted off twice, the first punch causing Madsen to plant his feet and cover his head and the second spinning Madsen to the mat on his stomach.  Referee Josh Rosenthal stepped in immediately to stop the fight, propelling Schaub into the semi-finals.

Madsen arguably won the first round with a pair of Octagon-shaking slams and controlling Schaub from top position, causing Evans to doubt, “After the first round, I didn’t know if [Schaub] would be able to put it together.”

But, evidently that was Schaub’s gameplan.  After the fight, Schaub revealed he expected Madsen to wear himself out wrestling and leave himself open to Schaub’s boxing in the second round.

But, then why was Schaub grabbing the fence over-and-over on the mat, stuggling to free himself from Madsen’s mount?

Evans said, “[Schaub] probably should’ve got a point taken away.”

But, it wouldn’t have mattered in the end as Schaub made sure the fight didn’t get to the judges.

Is he the greatest MMA fighter ever?  No.

Has he faced and beaten the best in the game?  No.

Fedor is a great fighter, and has faced and defeated some great fighters.  He is not the greatest fighter in MMA history.  To be the greatest ever, you have to seek out the greats and take them out, over and over.  Fedor has faced “Cro Cop” Mirko Filipovic’s (23-6-2) and fourth-ranked “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (32-5-1) in what most believe were their primes.  Fedor has faced fighters larger than himself, such as “Techno Goliath” Hong Man Choi (1-1), and quicker fighters, like tenth-ranked “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (14-7), and he has always found a way to defeat them.

Each one of the fighters that Fedor has faced and defeated have been defeated by other fighters just the same, and yet those victorious fighters aren’t touted as the greatest ever. Fedor has not faced the super athletes of today and proven that he can keep up with the evolution of the sport. Fedor had the opportunity to face the greatest fighters in the world by signing with the UFC, and opted not to. Fedor isn’t building his legacy as the greatest mixed martial artist to ever live; he is building a winning career. Much like professional boxers and their promoters, Fedor isn’t seeking out the toughest opponents.  He is letting his handlers feed him fighters and taking fights he has better odds at winning.

The UFC has always been criticized that they do not have a strong heavyweight class, and until now it’s been true. With fighters entering the Octagon like second-ranked, UFC champ Brock Lesnar (4-1), sixth-ranked Shane Carwin (9-0), Cain Velasquez (6-0), and up-and-comer Todd Duffee (5-0), the tables are turning and now the UFC touts a heavyweight class rivaled by few.

Fedor knew what he was doing by signing with Strikeforce. He was cementing his legacy and ensuring no defeat. If Fedor was worried about being the best fighter in history, he would seek out the top challenges and test his mettle. The UFC has at least three fighters that could easily pick Emelianenko apart.

Big, bad, Brock Lesnar not only has the power to take Fedor down, but has the sheer size needed to nullify Fedor’s wrestling and submission game. Although it would probably turn into another Lesnar lay-and-pray special, Brock would defeat the considerably smaller Fedor. Brock is one of those freak athletes that doesn’t come around often, but when they do make a huge statement. My prediction on that fight would be Lesnar by TKO late in the second if it made it that far.

UFC top heavy weight contender Shane Carwin could possibly pose the largest knock out threat. Fedor has taken some shots before, but nothing like what Carwin can bring. Shane has a strong wrestling background, and would be able to fend off any Fedor takedown attempts. Carwin’s size and strength, along with his flexibility would be able to stuff any submission attempts. Carwin, just like Lesnar, is a freakishly huge, explosive, powerful fighter that is part of the new class of heavyweight; a class that Fedor has no answer for. My call on that fight: Carwin by KO/TKO in the third.

This is probably the pick that will be the one that creates the largest stir. Cain Velasquez, in all of his underestimated power and aggressive hunger, would be too much to Fedor to fend off. Cain is young, explosive, hungry and ridiculously strong all wrapped up in an unassuming middle of the road looking package. Cain doesn’t have the larger-than-life frame like Carwin or Lesnar, but I think we can all agree that he is strong and only getting stronger. Cain’s wrestling would top Fedor, and probably prove too much for Fedor to handle. Cain’s ability to stay on top, and impose his will would prove too much for Fedor resulting in what I’d call a three-round unanimous decision. Cain is someone to keep an eye on, if he isn’t on your radar yet.

Still think Fedor is unbeatable? How about the up and coming heavyweight class like Greg Jackson’s The Ultimate Fighter alum and favorite to win this season’s TUF, Brendan Schaub (3-0)? How about the current knock out record holder Todd Duffee? Strikeforce heavyweight champion “Demolition Man” Alistair Overeem (29-10) is so sure that he would defeat Fedor that he isn’t even concerned with fighting him. If your argument here is experience, then why was Fedor’s defeat of Brett Rogers, who less than a year ago was changing tires at his local Sam’s Club, anything to buzz about?

Fedor is a great fighter, fighting mediocre fighters in an attempt to maintain his hype and sell his name. Fedor isn’t going to seek out great challenges and fight the best. Fedor isn’t going to accept any deal the UFC offers. Fedor is going to continue to fight who he can beat, and take those victories all the way to the bank. Fedor is not the greatest fighter ever. He is a great fighter that knows his time and pay checks are limited and doesn’t want to lose his money making appeal. So for now, I’ll agree to call Fedor the greatest MMA fighter that never was.

Disagree?  Josh Turner will be fielding arguments to the contrary on MMA Gospel Radio Saturday between 6:00 and 8:00 PM.  Reverend Turk Vangel, Gary Friedman, and Drew Hall will also welcome recent Strikeforce signee “Relentless” Roger Bowling (5-0) to the broadcast.  Listen live and join us in the chat room at www.blogtalkradio.com/mmagospel Saturday between 6:00 and 8:00 PM.

The fight was recorded months ago and broadcast Wednesday.  Rogers’s loss left Team Rampage coached by now-retired fifth-ranked 205er “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (28-7) 0-4 in the tournament versus Team Rashad coached by third-ranked “Sugar” Rashad Evans (13-1-1).

Rogers controlled most the fight from top position inside Schaub’s open guard.

At the opening bell, Schaub rattled his jab at Rogers before Rogers dove beneath Schaub’s fists for double-leg shoot, but Schaub sprawled adeptly.  Schaub launched a flurry of hook punches and again Rogers shot beneath the attack, the second time scoring the takedown.

Rogers scooted Schaub to the cage and landed a pair of looping lefts and a pair of elbows before hopping into side control.  Schaub flailed in defense.  But, as Rogers attempted to pass to full mount, Schaub swept in Rogers’s guard and passed to side control.

Rogers rolled to his stomach and Schaub hooked in an anaconda choke and walked to the side to crank the choke until Rogers tapped.

As Schaub and Teamp Rashad celebrated, Rogers sat alone in his corner as his coach, Jackson, walked away from the cage in dismay.