But first, MMA Mania (via MMA Diehards) reports that Tyler Toner has been released. Toner was on a two-fight losing-streak, both of which came by Unanimous Decision, although he did win his WEC debut by TKO. Toner is a five-year veteran of the sport with ten wins, three losses, and one no contest.

I think the UFC is setting an interesting, bordering-on-dangerous precedent with all the firings that have been going down lately. We all knew that not every WEC star would be able to make the transition, there’s just no way you can fully cram an entire promotion into another promotion even if you add two new weight classes. Furthermore, the UFC is perceived as the most prestigious MMA organization on the planet, so only the best should compete in the Octagon. I get that, make no mistake.

But Jamie Varner, Chris Horodecki, and Tyler Toner? I think you could make a case for all three of them to get at least one shot in the UFC. I admit that it’s not much of a case, but still, it can be made. Jamie Varner is a former WEC champion and, for a long while, was one of the WEC’s biggest stars. He’ll probably go down as one half as the bitterest rivalry in WEC history. And Chris Horodecki? He was on a two-fight win-streak and lost to Donald Cerrone, one of the WEC’s best fighters.

I think what bothers me the most about these releases is the precedent it’s setting and what it says about how the UFC is going to handle the incoming WEC stars, rather than the actual releases themselves. UFC President Dana White has gone on and on about how excited he is to sign Jose Aldo, but the WEC is not a one-man show and the world does not revolve around Jose Aldo. That’s said with absolutely no disrespect towards the man, I’m a major fan and I’ll probably never stop being one. But, at least to me, the heart and soul of the WEC, one of the key ingredients that made it all work and made the WEC so entertaining… were the tough fighters that won a few and lost a few but always put on fantastic fights.

I still look forward to seeing men like Jose Aldo, Ben Henderson, Donald Cerrone, and Anthony Pettis compete in the Octagon. I think the memory of the WEC will live on in them and I think the sky is the limit for all of them, even in the UFC. But now more than ever I realize that the promotion that I loved is no more. With this recent spat of releases, I’m once again reminded that only the best of the best of the absolute best ever get into the UFC. And the WEC was never about that, that ultra-competitive mindset, and yet they still produced some of the best fighters in the world and some of the most entertaining shows in recent memory.

But what about you, fans and friends? Is this just a bit of sour grapes on my part, or do you agree with me?

The former WEC lightweight champion recently suffered another loss when he was pitted against former top contender Shane Roller at WEC 53, the promotion’s final show which was to signal the assimilation of the lightweight, featherweight, and bantamweight into the the organization’s sister promotion, the UFC which are both under the Zuffa LLC banner.

Along with Jamie, former IFL star Chris Horodecki has also been released from his contract following a loss at the same show earlier this month, which took place at the Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, Ariz.

Horodecki was last in action against three-time WEC title challenger Donald Cerrone. “Cowboy” used his superior grappling skills to work Chris to the mat in the second round, eventually locking up a tight triangle choke. The recent defeat marked the first time that the Team Tompkins fighter has been submitted in his entire mixed martial arts career.

The recent releases of the two lightweights should come as no surprise, considering the huge influx of fighters that are now beginning to co-mingle with the preexisting UFC fighters, especially in the lightweight division. While both the bantamweight and featherweight divisions have room to grow in the UFC since the organization only recently opened up the divisions following the merger, the 155-pound weight class was already well established, so all fighters knew very well that if your a lightweight, your fighting for your job come WEC 53.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of the news? Should both men have been released by the worlds largest mixed martial arts promotion? Could either men have fared well in the UFC’s lightweight class? Varner has gone winless since a controversial split-decision win over Cerrone in Jan. of 2009, going 0-3-1 in his last 4 outings. Horodecki went 2-2 inside the cage, with losses to notables Anthony Njokuani and the aforementioned Cerrone. So what do you guys think? Sound off in the comment section below.

Courtesy of an interview Cerrone recently had with MMA Junkie: “I wanted to beat him at his own game. I got the win, so I can’t complain … (but) a couple of things I did wrong I need to go back and look at… In the gym, I have no problem getting going and putting combinations together. In the fight, I just can’t seem to put them together. That’s something I need to work on… I guess I need to go back and start working on my striking again… Cole Miller is the guy I’m chasing down… It’s a fight I’ve wanted since as long as I can remember.”

According to the report, Cerrone has been hunting for a fight with Miller for years, ever since Miller fought and beat his friend and teammate Leonard Garcia back in 2007. Most recently, Miller is on a two-fight win-streak of his own, with impressive submission victories over both Ross Pearson and Dan Lauzon. Both submissions earned him “Submission of the Night” awards.

Personally, I think Donald Cerrone’s striking is just fine. It’s certainly come a long way, that’s for sure. In the end, I think what held him back in the Horodecki fight is the simple fact that Horodecki is the better striker. Cerrone’s best asset has always been his ground game, that’s why he ultimately made his opponent tap out. Horodecki’s strength has always been striking, he’s got seven (T)KO wins on his record. It’s true that Cerrone’s striking could always stand to improve, but every fighter’s everything could always stand to improve.

I think a fight with Cole Miller would be a fantastic first fight for Donald Cerrone in the UFC. Both men are submission experts with wicked ground games: combined, they have over twenty wins via submission. They’ve shown an incredible amount of resiliency in the past, so I think it’s very possible that both men would rather be choked out than tapped out. And they’d be fighting to get out of it every step of the way, up to and including the moment when they inevitably lose consciousness.

All in all, I’m really excited to see Donald Cerrone debut in the UFC, and I hope that the UFC finds him a good opponent sooner rather than later, even if it’s not Cole Miller. Cerrone ended his WEC career by once again proving why he was one of the WEC’s biggest stars, so I think he has an incredible amount of potential as he heads into the Octagon and into the shark-tank that is the UFC’s Lightweight division.

And what about you, fans and friends? How do you feel about Donald “The Cowboy” Cerrone in regards to both his most recent performance and his chances in the UFC?

5. Donald Cerrone’s Hunt for the Triangle.

Donald Cerrone has always had an expert ground game, it’s one of the things he’s most well-known for. I along with many others thought that it would only be a matter of time before he locked something in on his WEC 53 opponent, Chris Horodecki. What I didn’t expect was for Horodecki to fight so hard not to get submitted. Cerrone hunted for and ultimately got his submission, a Triangle Choke, but he had to adjust position countless times and stay active off his back in order to finally get Horodecki to tap out. It was a prolonged, hard-fought submission battle that really displayed Horodecki’s heart and Cerrone’s vaunted ground game.

4. Dominick Cruz’s 5^th Round Performance.

Cruz’s entire performance at WEC 53 was memorable, but the fifth round in particular honestly had me thinking “What the hell does it take to get this guy tired?” Cruz set a brisk and frenetic pace, and his opponent Scott Jorgensen met him every step of the way. But while Jorgensen seemed to slow down just a tad (which is still remarkable) in the later rounds, Cruz continued to practically dance around the cage up until the final bell (which is even more remarkable). Dominick Cruz once again proved how well-rounded he is and how ridiculous his cardio is at WEC 53, and his performance in the fifth round was the clearest indication of both.

3. The Fourth Round Submission War Between Anthony Pettis and Ben Henderson.

It’s hard to describe how fast these two moved in the fourth round when they both struggled to get top position and lock in some type of fight-ending submission. To best summarize: it was a long series of “blink and you’ll miss it” moments. First Henderson gets the takedown, then he gets back mount. Then Pettis rolls out, gets into Ben’s guard, and then he has back mount. They stand back up, Henderson shoots for a takedown, Pettis tries a guillotine. Henderson moves to side control, and just when you think Henderson is in the clear, Pettis regains guard and nearly secures the choke. It was one of those moments where you were out of breath just watching it, and it was far and away one of the best moments of the night.

2. The “History of the WEC” Tribute Video.

This was something for WEC fans new and old: a wonderful highlight video that beautifully chronicled the decade-long history of “the little promotion that could”. From humble beginnings all the way up to a shockingly successful Pay-Per-View event, the WEC delighted fans across the country and permanently changed perceptions around the world. The WEC’s influence on modern-day MMA cannot be understated, and this tribute video really showed just how great this promotion was. I hope it appears online, because I’d love to watch it again and again.

But of course, as if there was any doubt, the best moment of WEC 53 was…

1. The Ninja Kick from Hell.

Everyone’s debating what to call this, but I think one word sums it up perfectly: insanity. This move was pure insanity. I practically leaped out of my chair the moment I saw it happen. There’s really no way to accurately describe seeing a grown man wall-walk a cage, kick another man right in his face, and nearly KO a man many thought simply couldn’t be knocked out or even come anywhere close to being knocked out. You simply have to see this move to believe it, and trust me: you won’t regret it for a second. Far and away it’s one of the best strikes that’s ever landed in a professional MMA fight.

So there you go, fans and friends: five big reasons to watch and even re-watch what was a night filled with many memorable moments. And what about you, fans and friends? Any thoughts on the new series or WEC 53 in general?

Next for Kamal Shalorus: Look for Kamal to be given a slow start in the UFC. His WEC 53 fight was by no means his best fight or the clearest indication of his skills. Kamal actually might have to work a preliminary card or two before he gets a shot at the main stage. I think Kamal will be tested out as a gatekeeper in the UFC, but if he shirks off that label quickly, we’ll begin to see him on TV and PPV more and more often.

Next for Donald Cerrone: I think this latest win proved once and for all that Cerrone is ready, willing, and able to fight the best in the UFC. In particular, I’d love to see Cerrone tackle someone like Kenny Florian. Those two just match up so well: Florian has good hands and an under-rated ground game (most of the time), while Cerrone has a good submission game and under-rated stand-up (again, most of the time).

Next for Chris Horodecki: Another slow starter here, but I do think Horodecki will be invited into the UFC. Right now I think a drop down to Featherweight would be the best thing for Chris Horodecki to do. If he insists on fighting at Lightweight, I think he will get one or two good matches with some of the UFC’s best… but only to be served up as cannon fodder. Someone’s got to play the role of “sacrificial lamb”, and Horodecki’s entertaining style suits that role perfectly. Like Shalorus, it’ll be up to him to quickly throw off that shackle, and proving that he can will be one of Horodecki’s earliest and toughest tests in the UFC.

Next for Dominick Cruz: The man wants Urijah Faber. He’s been calling him out all the time, the second he beat Scott Jorgensen he stormed across the cage and tried to get in Faber’s face. I say: give this man the fight he wants. I think Urijah Faber vs. Dominick Cruz is an amazing fight on paper, and would sell a lot of tickets if booked in Faber’s backyard. And it’s not like Faber hasn’t been thrust back into title contention after only one win in the past.

Next for Ben Henderson: I think “Smooth” is ready for the top of the top and the best of the best. I actually think Henderson’s next opponent will be the loser of the upcoming Frank Edgar vs. Gray Maynard match-up. While ultimately it was “Showtime” that ended WEC 53 by carrying the gold, Ben Henderson once again proved why everyone should be taking him seriously as a top-division Lightweight. I fully believe that last night was just a temporary bump in the road. Ben Henderson is going to do great things in the UFC.

Next for Anthony Pettis: I hate to say this so soon, but I feel so strongly about it that I just have to: I think Anthony Pettis will become the UFC Lightweight Champion. Regardless of if it’s Edgar or Maynard, I think Pettis is going to unify the belts and emerge as the best Lightweight in the world. The man just mixes it all so well, his style is so entertaining and yet he’s also immensely skilled. He sets an incredible pace, has ridiculous cardio, and pulls out amazing moves on a per-fight basis. I’m a firm believer, and I’ve got both feet planted squarely in his bandwagon. Anthony Pettis is going to rule the UFC.

And that’s what I think, fans and friends. What about you? What do you think the future holds for the big winners and losers of WEC 53?

Anthony Pettis defeats Ben Henderson via Unanimous Decision to become the new and final WEC Lightweight Champion. Dominick Cruz defeats Scott Jorgensen via Unanimous Decision, retains his WEC Bantamweight Championship, and is crowned the first UFC Bantamweight Champion. Donald Cerrone defeats Chris Horodecki via Submission (Triangle Choke) at 2:43 of Round 2. Kamal Shalorus defeats Bart Palaszewski via Split Decision. Shane Roller defeats Jamie Varner via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 3:55 of Round 1. Brad Pickett defeats Ivan Menjivar via Unanimous Decision. Eddie Wineland defeats Ken Stone via KO (Slam) at 2:11 of Round 1. Yuri Alcantara defeats Ricardo Lamas via KO (Strikes) at 3:26 of Round 1. Danny Downes defeats Tiequan Zhang via Unanimous Decision. Danny Castillo defeats Will Kerr via KO (Strikes) at 1:25 of Round 1. Renan Barao defeats Chris Cariaso via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 3:47 of Round 1.

I think this event got off to a bit of a slow start, but my oh my did it all end up paying off in the end. I think a combination of factors led to the opening Palaszewski/Shalorus fight not living up to all of its expectations. For one, I think Kamal’s vicious leg kicks really hampered Bart’s style of starting out slow but getting into a great groove in the later rounds. Secondly, Kamal’s efforts to end the fight in the first ended up gassing him out. And finally, I think the pressure to secure a win in order to secure a position in the UFC also contributed to these two mostly playing it safe. But that’s not to say this was a bad fight. It was certainly underwhelming, but I remained more or less entertained throughout a majority of the fight.

Things quickly picked up when Cerrone and Horodecki had their entertaining and wild two-round scrap. As I predicted, Chris Horodecki is a good fighter, but he’s just not ready for a top-division star like Cerrone. And speaking of top-divisions stars, Dominick Cruz continues to put on amazing performances showcasing his utterly ridiculous cardio. I thought that the fact that he was fighting with a bum hand would’ve played a factor, however small, in this fight, but it appears that I was dead wrong. After this fight, I don’t think I’ll be picking against Dominick Cruz again for quite some time.

And in the main event, I honestly think we as MMA fans were treated to one of the best MMA fights of all time. The first three rounds saw all kinds of excitement, close calls, near misses, and almost-finishes, but the fourth and fifth rounds are practically without compare. Without a shadow of a doubt in my mind, and absolutely without hyperbole, I think the late-round wall-walk kick Anthony Pettis somehow miraculously managed to pull off, a move that seemed to be pulled right out of “The Matrix”, will go down as one of the most amazing strikes ever successfully pulled off in Mixed Martial Arts. I have absolutely, positively no earthly idea how that strike did not KO Ben Henderson. Both men seemed to have steel in their chins and a fire in their hearts that is virtually unequaled.

Is it too soon to call Henderson/Pettis one of the best fights of all time? Maybe. But, hell, right now I don’t care. I’m calling it: Henderson/Pettis is one of the best MMA fights of all time. Note to any and all future promotions: this is how you end a show. I can’t wait to see what’s next for the WEC’s best and brightest, and make no mistake, the WEC name is going to live on for a long, long time.

And that’s my opinion, fans and friends. Now that all is said and done, what did you think about WEC 53?

Bart Palaszewski vs. Kamal Shalorus: As a fan of the short-lived, briefly-televised, and surprisingly-impactful (considering how many of its top stars have gone on to sign with major promotions) International Fight League promotion, I’m a fan of Bart Palaszewski. I think “Bartimus” has finally found some stable ground in the WEC after an up-and-down start, and I look forward to seeing him ratcheting up a fifth straight win. Based on experience and the quality of opponents beaten, I’m predicting Bart Palaszewski wins by TKO in Round 2.

Donald Cerrone vs. Chris Horodecki: As harsh as this sounds, I don’t think Chris Horodecki will ever fully emerge out of the shadow of his humiliating TKO loss to Anthony Njokuani. There’s a chance that Horodecki could beat Cerrone, but any fighter has a chance in any bout no matter what anyone says. But I just have to go with the favorite here, Donald Cerrone just got done putting on a brilliant performance and he’s proven in the past that only the best of the best can ever hope to put him away. Donald Cerrone wins by submission in Round 1.

Dominick Cruz vs. Scott Jorgensen: I have a feeling that this is going to be a benchmark-setting brawl. Both men have big punching power and the chins necessary to land shots at will without too much fear of reprisal. I think it’s very, very likely that this fight will go all five rounds. And despite the fact that Cruz swears that it won’t change anything, I think the fact that he’s fighting with a bum hand will end up costing him as the fight drags on. For those unaware, Cruz is out for four to six months after this fight, regardless of whether or not he retains his championship, in order to get surgery for a lingering hand injury. Based on his impressive skills and the fact that his opponent may end up fighting with only one arm before the night is through, I’m predicting that Scott Jorgensen takes a Split Decision.

Ben Henderson vs. Anthony Pettis: Of all the fights of WEC 53, this one is the hardest one to call. Both men are just so versatile, tough, and exciting. No matter who wins, I think this fight will be a surefire entry into the “Fight of the Year” competition. My head favors the champion, but my heart and my gut tells me that “Showtime” will find a way to win. And what fun would it be if I just went with the most logical choice all the time? I’ve got tons of respect for both men, but I’m picking Anthony Pettis to take a Unanimous Decision.

So that’s what I think, fans and friends. What about you? Who do you think will win at WEC 53, and why?

The Event: WEC 53: “Henderson vs. Pettis”, scheduled for December 16 at the Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, Arizona. The main card will be broadcast live in the Versus network starting at 6 PM PT / 9 PM ET.

Why You Should Care: This is the last chance to get in on the “WEC craze” before all the good fighters wind up in the UFC. I’ve supported the WEC for quite some time, I’ve basically taken up the role of town crier because of their penchant for putting on amazing shows featuring the top lighter-weight fighters in the world. The final WEC show looks to continue the trend with two amazing title fights and an undercard filled with talent.

What to Look Forward to in the Main Event: Constant, blistering action. WEC Lightweight Champion Ben Henderson has proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that he’s the best Lightweight in the WEC, but challenger Anthony Pettis is a close second. Both men have shown a penchant for setting a ridiculously fast pace and having the cardio to keep it going for a long, long while. Plus, both men are so well-rounded that this fight could conceivably end anywhere at any time. It’s going to be an amazing fight.

What to Look Forward to in the Co- Main Event: Five rounds of two talented men duking it out and trying to crumble each other’s granite chins. Both WEC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz and his opponent Scott Jorgensen are good in all the areas of the game, but far and away they’re known as good strikers with impressive cardio that know how to dominate their opponents. Considering how resilient both men have proven, this one could go all five rounds and nobody would be complaining, because both men would be looking for the KO in every round. If WEC 53 was not the WEC’s last hurrah, this could easily be headlining a show of its own.

Why You Should Watch This Card: Normally I give an entire paragraph as to why fight fans should watch this card, but for “Henderson vs. Pettis”, I only need two sentences. So here they are. One, this is the WEC’s final show. Two, this is one of the best cards the WEC has put together in a year filled with the WEC putting on amazing, fantastic shows. That’s really all you need to know. Tune in or miss out.

Why You Shouldn’t Watch This Card: This will happen very rarely in “Crash Course”, but for today’s edition I’m taking the road far less traveled: I’m not going to give any reason to not watch this card. There may be a few reasons, sure, but ultimately I think they pale in comparison to how important this card is and how much it means to all involved. The WEC deserves a fond farewell and one last big ratings bump before all is said and through, and it’s up to us as MMA fans to give it to them. Point blank: watch this card.

Closing Thoughts: I hate to see the WEC go, but I know I’m going to love its final show. I only wish I had become a fan of the WEC sooner. That’s literally my only regret in the many months I’ve spent avidly following and practically preaching about this company. I’ll be watching this one with my eyes glued to the screen, and no matter what your preferences are as an MMA fan, you should be doing the same on December 16.

And what about you, fans and friends? Any final thoughts on the WEC’s final show?

According to Sherdog, the officially confirmed, finalized lineup stands as such: Benson Henderson (C) vs. Anthony Pettis for the WEC Lightweight Championship, Dominick Cruz (C) vs. Scott Jorgensen for the WEC Bantamweight Championship, Donald Cerrone vs. Chris Horodecki, Bart Palaszewski vs. Kamal Shalorus, Tie Quan Zhang vs. Daniel Downes, Jamie Varner vs. Shane Roller, Brad Pickett vs. Ivan Menjivar, Eddie Wineland vs. Ken Stone, Danny Castillo vs. Will Kerr, Ricardo Lamas vs. Yuri Alcantara, Renan do Nascimento Mota Pegado vs. Chris Cariaso.

The closer and closer we get to this card, the more and more I find my feelings grow conflicted. Make no mistake, I really want to see this show. I think it’s going to be another amazing event in a long line of great WEC shows. The undercard is stacked, the main card is stacked, both the main event and co-main event have serious “Fight of the Year” potential. On paper, this looks to be a late entry into the “Event of the Year” competition.

But this is the WEC’s final event. It’s one thing to talk about how many of the main WEC stars will benefit from the UFC’s increased exposure, it’s another thing entirely to definitively close the book and lay to rest an awesome promotion that pretty much changed the way I viewed Mixed Martial Arts. I’ve said this before, but it does bear repeating: one of the main reasons I have so much respect for lighter-weight fighters is because I was once one of the uninformed cynics that thought that they were just a bunch of little kids going around pretend-fighting each other. The WEC forced me to permanently get rid of my stereotype that lighter-weight fighters weren’t entertaining, and for that I’m extremely grateful.

So, yeah, I kinda do and kinda don’t want to see the WEC come to a close. I think they’re going to have an awesome final event, and I can’t wait to see my favorite WEC stars steal the show on the main stage. But I’ll miss the WEC itself: the atmosphere, the attitude, everything. It was my “little-promotion-that-could”. It was the promotion that broke ground not by shunning its cynics and catering to a small niche audience by adopting an “us versus them” mentality, but rather by putting on so many great events with great fighters that your perceptions had no choice but to change.

Looking towards the future, I think the memory of the WEC will live on for quite some time. Once the UFC fans get a taste of how entertaining and dominant the former WEC fighters are, no doubt they’ll begin to wonder where they got their start. And of course that’ll lead them right to the WEC, and with a little bit of luck, they’ll become a WEC fan. Because rest assured, I think the WEC fighters will take the UFC by storm. And while I’ll bid a fond farewell to the WEC at WEC 53, I know with certainty that the best is yet to come.

And what about you, fans and friends? As we come closer and closer to that pivotal date, what fights are you looking forward to and how will you be saying goodbye to the promotion?

Courtesy of Sherdog, the official WEC 53 event now stands as such: Benson Henderson (c) vs. Anthony Pettis for the WEC Lightweight Championship. Dominick Cruz (c) vs. Scott Jorgensen for the WEC Bantamweight Championship. Donald Cerrone vs. Chris Horodecki. Bart Palaszewski vs. Kamal Shalorus. Tie Quan Zhang vs. Daniel Downes. Jamie Varner vs. Shane Roller. Brad Pickett vs. Ivan Menjivar. Eddie Wineland vs. Ken Stone. Danny Castillo vs. Will Kerr. Ricardo Lamas vs. Yuri Alcantara. Renan do Nascimento Mota Pegado vs. Chris Cariaso.

I’m looking forward to this event for a number of reasons. First and foremost, it follows the great chain of smartly-booked WEC shows that have given fight fans some of the best Mixed Martial Arts entertainment in recent history. All the main card and even a big number of the preliminary card bouts feature name talent against worthy opponents.

The double-championship main and co-main event only sweetens the pot and both bouts are further enhanced by how well the champions match up with their opponents. Benson Henderson is wildly exciting, Anthony Pettis is wildly exciting. Henderson can pull out a win from anywhere, Pettis can pull out a win from anymore. Dominick Cruz punches hard and can take a punch, so can Scott Jorgensen. Cruz has the cardio to brawl for five straight rounds and consistently remain a threat, Jorgensen also has very impressive cardio. This isn’t a pair of symbolic title defenses against opponents that are out of their league and in deep trouble. WEC 53 will feature two awesome champions defending their belts against two of the biggest threats the WEC has to offer them.

The other matches are positively jam-packed with goodness as well. Donald Cerrone vs. Chris Horodecki? Fists will be flying in that one, and someone is getting KO’d. I prefer to remember Horodecki from his killer run in the short-lived IFL promotion rather than the man who occupies the biggest piece of Anthony Njokuani’s highlight reel, so I’m very excited for this match. Palaszewski vs. Shalorus also features one of the IFL’s brightest standouts, and “Bartimus” has done pretty well in the WEC, so this is another exciting match-up. You’ve even got Jamie Varner, Eddie Wineland, Brad Pickett, Tie Quan Zhang, and so many others.

It’s tough to say whether or not the WEC’s final event will also be its best event. But it certainly has the potential to come close. And as we creep closer and closer to the day where the WEC is no more, now more and more I’ve come to realize just how much I’ll miss this promotion. Even with fewer events on a yearly basis than the UFC, fewer by far, I honestly felt that the WEC was beginning to catch up to the UFC in terms of quality. There may not have been a lot of WEC shows in 2010, but none of them should have been missed. And I enjoyed each and every single one of them. And nothing’s going to prevent me from tuning in and bidding a fond farewell to my “little promotion that could”.

And what about you, fans and friends? What are you looking forward to when it comes to WEC 53?

The 2009 event opened up to a large audience, and has become a propellant in the mixed martial arts world, opening up the eyes to a mainstream audience, by the community taking leaps and bounds in order to legitimize itself as not only a legitimate sport, but one that deserves that same sort of recognition that most others receive, here in these United States.

While some categories have changed, in order to be politically correct, must stay the same. Voting continues until November 26, where till then you can cast your votes online at All winners are determined by a fan vote, and ballots can be cast through Nov. 26 at www.worldmmaawards.com.

The full list, which was formatted by MMAJunkie.com, of finalists includes:

CHARLES “MASK” LEWIS FIGHTER OF THE YEAR

* Anderson Silva
* Brock Lesnar
* Frankie Edgar
* Jose Aldo
* Mauricio “Shogun” Rua

FIGHT OF THE YEAR

* Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen at UFC 117
* Brock Lesnar vs. Shane Carwin at UFC 116
* Leonard Garcia vs. Chan Sung Jung at WEC 48
* Chris Leben vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 116
* Jorge Santiago vs. Kazuo Misaki at Sengoku 14

KO OF THE YEAR

* Anthony Njokuani vs. Chris Horodecki at WEC 45
* Cain Velasquez vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 110
* Mauricio “Shogun” Rua vs. Lyoto Machida at UFC 113
* Mike Russow vs. Todd Duffee at UFC 114
* Rich Franklin vs. Chuck Liddell at UFC 115

SUBMISSION OF THE YEAR

* Matt Hughes vs. Ricardo Almeida at UFC 117
* Chris Leben vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 116
* Cole Miller vs. Dan Lauzon at UFC 108
* Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen at UFC 118
* Fabricio Werdum vs. Fedor Emelianenko at “Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Werdum”

BEST PROMOTION

* Bellator
* DREAM
* Strikeforce
* UFC
* WEC

LEADING MAN OF THE YEAR

* Bjorn Rebney, Bellator founder and CEO
* Dana White, UFC president
* Joe Silva, UFC VP of talent relations
* Michael Schiavello, HDNet broadcaster
* Scott Coker, Strikeforce founder and CEO

INTERNATIONAL FIGHTER OF THE YEAR

* Alistair Overeem
* Dan Hardy
* George Sotiropoulos
* John Hathaway
* Shinya Aoki

BREAKTHROUGH FIGHTER OF THE YEAR

* Charles Oliveira
* Evan Dunham
* George Sotiropoulos
* John Hathaway
* Jon Jones

FEMALE FIGHTER OF THE YEAR

* Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos
* Megumi “Mega Megu” Fujii
* Miesha Tate
* Sarah Kaufman
* Zoila Frausto

COACH OF THE YEAR

* Cesar Gracie
* Firas Zahabi
* Greg Jackson
* Rafael Cordeiro
* Shawn Tompkins

GYM OF THE YEAR

* American Kickboxing Academy
* American Top Team
* Black House MMA
* Greg Jackson’s Submission Fighting
* Wand Fight Team

RING GIRL OF THE YEAR

* Arianny Celeste
* Brittney Palmer
* Chandella Powell
* Natalie Skyy
* Rachelle Leah

BEST LIFESTYLE CLOTHING BRAND

* Affliction
* Fight Chix
* RVCA
* Silverstar
* TapouT

REFEREE OF THE YEAR

* “Big” John McCarthy
* Dan Miragliotta
* Herb Dean
* Josh Rosenthal
* Mario Yamasaki

MOST MEMORABLE RING ENTRANCE

* Anderson Silva
* Clay Guida
* Jason “Mayhem” Miller
* Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal
* Tom Lawlor

BEST TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT BRAND

* Everlast MMA
* Fairtex
* Hayabusa
* TapouT
* Venum

BEST TECHNICAL CLOTHING BRAND

* Bad Boy
* Hayabusa
* Jaco
* TapouT
* Venum

MEDIA SOURCE OF THE YEAR

* “Inside MMA” on HDNet
* MMAjunkie.com
* MMAWeekly.com
* MMAFighting.com
* Sherdog.com

MMA JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR

* Aaron “Tru” Teweles, Freelance
* Ariel Helwani, MMAFighting.com/Versus.com
* Conner Cordova, MMAReligion.com
* Gareth A. Davies, Telegraph.com
* John Morgan, MMAjunkie.com

So, MMA peeps, any surprises here? Anyone you would have liked to seen in some of these categories? Who do you think will take home some of the honors of the night? Sound off in the comments section below.

Next for Leonard Garcia/Chan Sung Jung: Each other, which is why they’re grouped together. Both men had to endure the agony of defeat at WEC 51, so the time is right for a rematch to what many are calling Fight of the Year 2010. Garcia/Zombie 2 should be just as amazing as the first fight, and should give a huge rebound to whoever wins it. It makes sense and the fans love it, so look for the WEC to make it happen sooner rather than later.

Next for Miguel Torres : Urijah Faber, plain and simple. This is the kind of fight that has both dollar signs and “Fight of the Year” written all over it. Unless Torres doesn’t want to wait, I think “The California Kid” makes the most sense and would generate the most money now that Torres has broken his losing streak. Even if Faber loses his debut at 135, a fight with Torres simply has too much appeal to pass up. And if Faber wins his Bantamweight debut against Takeya Mizugaki, it only sweetens the pot. The optimal time to have made this fight happen (when both men were WEC champions) may have passed, but it’s still one epic dream-match.

Next for Donald Cerrone: Another one or two fights against decent-to-good competition, and then it’s right back to another showdown with the current WEC Lightweight Champion. Make no mistake, I still firmly believe that Cerrone will wear the gold one day. Properly motivated, he’s an absolute monster. Look for Cerrone to get a couple of big wins under his belt and then finally capture an actual belt. I have a strong feeling that we’ll see Cerrone at the top before 2011 is through.

Next for Jamie Varner: Nothing less than a complete overhaul will do. Whatever Varner is doing simply isn’t working. I don’t know if he’s coasting in his training or just doesn’t have the heart for it all anymore, but Varner’s credibility as a top-division athlete took a real hit at WEC 51. He scored a few good shots, but ultimately he left the fight bruised, battered, bloody, and on the wrong side of a supremely lopsided Unanimous Decision. There’s still a future for Jamie Varner in the WEC, but unless he make some big changes, it won’t be a pretty one.

Next for Jose Aldo: Defending his WEC Featherweight Championship against any and all opponents brave (some would say “foolish”) enough to step inside the blue cage against him. As dominant as Aldo has been, as amazing as I think he is, we’ve got to give credit where credit is due. The WEC Featherweight division is far from dead, Aldo has far from conquered it. He conquered Manvel Gamburyan, of that there is no doubt, but his conquest of the entire division has only just begun. Aldo will face a steady stream of contenders and will more than likely beat them all. Now more than ever there can be no doubt: we’ve entered the “Era of Aldo”.

And those are my thoughts, fans and friends. What about you? What do you think the future holds for the big winners and losers of WEC 51: “Aldo vs. Gamburyan”?

Jose Aldo defeats Manvel Gamburyan by KO (Punches) at 1:33 of Round 2 to retain the WEC Featherweight Championship. Donald Cerrone defeats Jamie Varner by Unanimous Decision. Miguel Torres defeats Charlie Valencia by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 2:25 of Round 2. George Roop defeats Chan Sung Jung by KO (High Kick) at 1:30 of Round 2. Mark Hominick defeats Leonard Garcia by Split Decision .Tiequan Zhang defeats Pablo Garza by Submission (Guillotine Choke) at 2:26 of Round 1. Mike Brown defeats Cole Province by TKO (Punches) at 1:18 of Round 1. Chris Horodecki defeats Ed Ratcliff by Split Decision. Diego Nunes defeats Tyler Toner by Unanimous Decision. Antonio Banuelos defeats Chad George by Unanimous Decision. Demetrious Johnson defeats Nick Pace by Unanimous Decision.

I’m always disappointed when Leonard Garcia loses, but I’ve never been disappointed in Leonard Garcia’s performances. Like he always does, he left his heart and every ounce of his energy inside the cage against Hominick, but Hominick definitely deserved the win. It was a great way to start the show, and it would only get better when “The Korean Zombie” was finished for the first time in his career. I never would have guessed that George Roop of all people would put a screeching halt to what had up until then been a very productive hype train. My hat is off to Roop, but I’m not going to abandon Chan Sung Jung just yet. I’m still a fan despite the tough loss.

I breathed a sigh of relief when Miguel Torres beat Charlie Valencia. I knew, I just knew, that the Miguel Torres of old was still buried inside the formerly top-ranked pound-for-pound fighter. Valencia may have been a glorified sacrificial lamb, but a win is a win and I’ll take it when I get it. There’s still hope for a Miguel Torres resurgence, and a potential dream fight with Urijah Faber took one more step towards becoming a reality. So I’m definitely glad that Torres is back in the win column.

Varner/Cerrone 2 went almost exactly as I thought it would, although I did expect Varner to put up more of a fight than he did. This fight proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that Varner hasn’t been the same since returning to the WEC and needs to go back to the drawing board to figure out a way to remain relevant in his division. Donald Cerrone put on one of the best performances of his career, and I thank both him and Varner for giving us a Fight of the Night fight and a dark horse candidate for Fight of the Year.

The main event did go exactly as I thought it would, although Jose Aldo did seem a bit tentative in Round 1. However, once the feeling-out process was over, Aldo won the match with authority. I really can’t say enough about Jose Aldo, and I’ve said so much already. No one is going to beat him anytime soon. He’s too complete of an athlete, he’s too great of a fighter. Point blank: fear this man.

All in all, the WEC gave us another amazing show, and honestly, I expected nothing less. I can’t wait to see what’s next in store for my “little promotion that could”. Events like these make me proud to be an MMA fan in general, not just a WEC fan. This is the kind of event that anybody can like, the kind that all can enjoy. If the WEC continues to put on events of this caliber, I may even begin suggesting that they’ll have actually surpassed the UFC in terms of their ratio of bad-to-good-to-great events, instead of just my usual assertion that the WEC would be the best promotion in the world if the UFC did not exist.

And what about you, fans and friends? What did you think of “Aldo vs. Gamburyan”?

Leonard Garcia vs. Mark Hominick: On paper, it looks like Hominick can beat Garcia in more ways than Garcia can beat Hominick. Both men are within shouting distance of each other’s win/loss ratios, so it should be a very competitive fight. My pick just has to go to Garcia, since I’ve been a fan of his for a long while and I always love it when he wins. Garcia has a huge amount of heart and not an ounce of quit in him, but Hominick is also a very gifted performer. It’s going to be a rough night, and one of the judges won’t give the fight to him, but I’m picking that Garcia takes a very close but very justified Split Decision win.

Chan Sung Jung vs. George Roop: Look for this fight to be the one where “The Korean Zombie” takes an emphatic step into the win column. George Roop has been incredibly up-and-down in his time in the big leagues, he’s 1-2 in the UFC and 0-1-1 in the WEC. Meanwhile, Chan Sung Jung put on one of the best performances of the last several years in his first WEC fight, a fight that many seem to think he should have won. As talented as George Roop is, he’ll be playing the role of “sacrificial lamb” when he’s put up against the Zombie’s uncanny ability to keep moving forward and keep throwing punches. Either Jung wins by first-round submission or he takes a lopsided Unanimous Decision.

Miguel Torres vs. Charlie Valencia: I really want Torres to win this fight, because I don’t want to think about where this leaves him if he doesn’t. Some might say that Valencia is basically a softball pitch thrown by the WEC to get Torres back to his winning ways, but I frankly disagree. Valencia is 5-3 in the promotion while Torres is 5-2. It’s true that Torres has faced (and beat) the better competition by far, but Charlie Valencia is no joke. It’s going to be a tough night unless we see the full-on rebirth of the Miguel Torres of old. I’m picking Torres by Unanimous Decision, with him scoring a first-round submission or TKO being an unlikely but possible second pick.

Jamie Varner vs. Donald Cerrone: Now this is a fight I can really sink my teeth into. In fact, I’ve done just that several times in the past. So, to spare a glorified re-post of my original thoughts, I’ll just say that those thoughts haven’t changed. It’s going to be brutal, high-octane, mile-a-minute goodness from two of the WEC’s best. Cerrone will take a Split Decision in a Fight of the Night performance.

Jose Aldo vs. Manvel Gamburyan: I’ll have to eat a whole heaping helping of humble pie if I’m proven wrong, but I truly believe that Jose Aldo, as he is right now, is unstoppable. There will always be an Achilles Heel, there will always be a Fabricio Werdum to a fighter’s Fedor Emelianenko…but Manny Gamburyan is not that fighter. Aldo will eat Gamburyan alive on the feet and won’t get taken down easily, if at all. I’m predicting that Aldo wins by KO by the third round at the very latest.

So those are my picks, fans and friends. What about you? How do you see WEC 51 going down?

The main event of the evening, a featherweight match up against two of the best in the class, will feature Jose Aldo putting his belt on the line against season five finalist of “The Ultimate Fighter” Manny Gamburyan, and taking on co-headlining duties will be a grudge match for the ages when former WEC lightweight champion Jamie Varner steps back into the cage for the second time this year when he faces nemesis and crowd favorite Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone, who is coming off of a loss to current champion Ben Henderson in an attempt to vie for the title.

Cerrone and Varner definitely delivered the most intense staredown that has been witnessed in some time, when both competitors were both at a head with one another, with the obvious tension in the air so thick, it could have been cut with a knife. Nothing further transgressed and Cerrone addressed the fans, saying “You guys win”, when asked if a win over Varner will settle the score between the two once and for all.

The following excerpt was taken from MMAJunkie.com, who was on seen for the weigh-ins and will be providing round-by-round updates as the fight airs lives on the Versus network, tomorrow night.

MAIN CARD

* Champ Jose Aldo (145) vs. Manny Gamburyan (145)
* Donald Cerrone (155.5) vs. Jamie Varner (156)
* Miguel Torres (136) vs. Charlie Valencia (136)
* Chan Sung Jung (146) vs. George Roop (145)
* Leonard Garcia (146) vs. Mark Hominick (145)

PRELIMINARY CARD

* Pablo Garza (154) vs. Tiequan Zhang (154)
* Mike Brown (145) vs. Cole Province (146)
* Chris Horodecki (155) vs. Ed Ratcliff (155)
* Diego Nunes (145) vs. Tyler Toner (145)
* Antonio Banuelos (136) vs. Chad George (135)
* Demetrious Johnson (135) vs. Nick Pace (135)

So, MMA peeps, which match up are you most excited about? Any upsets in mind for tomorrow night? Who will leave Broomfield as the best featherweight in the world? Sound off in the comments section below.

The “little” big promotion has made many strides in the last few years, improving their fundamentals and becoming a leading competitor to any organization that embodies the lighter weight classes. Currently, of the WEC’s bantamweight and featherweight classes, most if not all of the top-10 competitors exist within the promotion. And while the WEC has consistently put together solid shows, time after time–WEC 51 will be no exception. In fact, it may be on their better cards to date.

In an interview with MMAWeekly, WEC General Manager Reed Harris discussed the upcoming card in addition to the final lineup that completes this 11-fight deep event which takes place in Broomfield, Colorado at the 1st Bank Center on September 30th.

“The UFC has put on some very successful events in Broomfield and we are hoping to duplicate their success,” said the GM while speaking with MMAWeekly. “This card is absolutely loaded with tremendous fights. In addition to the main card bouts, fans are in store for the return of former featherweight champ Mike Brown and the debut of our first Chinese fighter, Tiequan Zhang. Plus, hometown fighter Tyler Toner competes in his own backyard against a very dangerous Diego Nunes. We are extremely excited to bring this event to Colorado.”

Now with the addition, though previously rumored, of China import Tiequan Zhang, who takes on UFC veteran Jason Reinhardt on the preliminary portion of the nights festivities.

The nights final lineup, which is headlined by a featherweight title fight pitting pound-for-pound great Jose Aldo against number one contender and “The Ultimate Fighter” season 5 finalist Manny Gamburyan, is listed below in it’s entirety.

Main card

* Featherweight Championship bout: Jose Aldo (c) vs. Manvel Gamburyan
* Lightweight bout: Jamie Varner vs. Donald Cerrone
* Bantamweight bout: Miguel Torres vs. Charlie Valencia
* Featherweight bout: Chan Sung Jung vs. George Roop
* Featherweight bout: Leonard Garcia vs. Mark Hominick

Preliminary Card

* Featherweight bout: Mike Brown vs Cole Province
* Lightweight bout: Ed Ratcliff vs. Chris Horodecki
* Featherweight bout: Diego Nunes vs. Tyler Toner
* Bantamweight bout: Antonio Banuelos vs. Chad George
* Bantamweight bout: Demetrious Johnson vs. Nick Pace
* Lightweight bout: Jason Reinhardt vs. Zhang Tie Quan

So, MMA peeps, are you excited for the match ups? Any ONE bout stick out to you? How do you think everyone will fair come September 30th? Sound off in the comments section below.

In the main event of WEC 51, WEC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo will take on the runner-up to the fifth season of the popular UFC reality TV show “The Ultimate Fighter” Manny Gamburyan with the championship on the line. Aldo has been a man possessed in his run to the top of the Featherweight division, having lost only one fight in his six-year career, with eleven of his seventeen career wins coming by way of (T)KO. Most recently, Aldo put on a near-shutout performance against former long-reigning WEC Featherweight Champion and WEC posterboy Urijah Faber in the main event of the WEC’s first-ever Pay-Per-View. Manvel Gamburyan has earned his nickname “The Anvil” with his spirited performances both in the UFC and the WEC, and since dropping down to Featherweight in 2009, Gamburyan is on a three-fight win-streak.

The next chapter in the war between Jamie Varner and Donald Cerrone will be written at WEC 51, as the two men are set to lock horns for a second time. Both Cerrone and Varner are no stranger to the WEC Lightweight Championship, with Varner being a former Lightweight Champion and both men having competed for the championship in their recent fights. Both men need a win in a big way, with Varner coming off of a split-draw with Kamal Shalorus while Donald Cerrone is coming off of a loss to Ben Henderson. With the desire to get back into the W column as well as the already-fierce hostility these two have shown towards each other, this should be one of the best fights of the night.

Miguel Torres will also be making his return at WEC 51 against Charlie Valencia. For the first time in his career, the former long-reigning WEC Bantamweight Champion and Pound-for-Pound darling is on the wrong side of a two-fight losing streak, with many beginning to seriously question whether or not the Bantamweight division has finally caught up with him, and maybe even passed him by. Charlie Valencia is going to be a tough test and should be a good win, as he’s coming off a three-fight win-streak.

And there’s still more action to come, with big name, former champions, and incredible athletes. Here are the other announced match-ups that have been officially signed for WEC 51: Leonard Garcia vs. Mark Hominick, Mike Thomas Brown vs. Cole Province, Chris Horodecki vs. Ed Ratcliff, Chan Sung Jung vs. George Roop, Diego Nunes vs. Tyler Toner, and Antonio Banuelos vs. Chad George.

This event is so star-studded that I honestly think it may even top WEC 48 as the best WEC event of the year, possibly the best MMA event in 2010 period. I can’t wait to see people like Leonard Garcia, Mike Thomas Brown, Chris Horodecki, and “The Korean Zombie”, Chan Sung Jung. Add to that a huge championship fight, a huge grudge-match, and the do-or-die scenario of Torres desperately needing to get back in the win column, and you’ve got the makings for a stellar event.

But what do you think, fans and friends? How excited are you for WEC 51?

A veteran at just 22-years old, former IFL title challenger Horodecki will debut in the WEC.  He submitted “Bull” William Sriyapai (8-5) in a rear naked choke at FFI in Biloxi June 27.

Njokuani TKO’d Muhsin Corbbrey (6-4) at WEC 43 in San Antonio October 10.

Shootboxing is like MMA without the ground game.  Strikes, throws, and standing submissions are permitted, but fighters don’t fight on the mat.

Horodecki is scheduled to fight “The Upgrade” Dan Lauzon (10-2) at Affliction’s Day of Reckoning in Anaheim, east of Los Angeles, 24 January.

Lauzon will also fight “Sledge” Justin Hammerstrom (7-7) at World Championship Fighting before he and Horodecki stand across the ring from each other in Anaheim.

Emelianenko versus Arlovski had been reported previously, as well as the date of the event, but Affliction Vice President Tom Atencio last week would confirm neither the main event, the date, nor the venue for their second show.

Other fighters on the card are sixth-ranked heavyweight “Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (23-5), “Minotoro” Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (14-3), “Janitor” Vladimir Matyushenko (21-3), “Babalu” Renato Sobral (30-7), “Phenom” Vitor Belfort (17-8), “The Law” Matt Lindland (21-5), and the IFL’s Jay Hieron (16-4) and Chris Horodecki (12-1).

The match-ups have not yet been announced.

Horodecki’s management team confirmed the lightweight bout with Lauzon, who was his original opponent for Day of Reckoning on 11 October before the event was postponed.

Strikeforce executive Mike Afromowitz confirmed that Horodecki will not be on the Destruction card on 21 November.

Horodecki said, “I’d like to fight Thomson, but now I’m thinking about November and Affliction.”

Horodecki is also considering a November fight in Japan’s Shoot Boxing organization.

According to Fighters.com’s source, Strikeforce has narrowed their list of opponents to up-and-coming Chris Horodecki (12-1) and veteran “Uno Shoten” Caol Uno (25-11-4).

Twenty-one-year old Horodecki won a UD over Nate Lamotte (6-3) in East Rutherford, west of New York City, 4 April, then signed with Affliction and agreed to fight on Affliction’s 11 October event before it was rescheduled.

A veteran of Shooto, UFC, K-1 Hero’s, and DREAM, Uno lost a UD to Fighters.com’s ninth-ranked lightweight “Tobikan Judan” Shinya Aoki (18-3) in the semi-finals of DREAM’s Lightweight Grand Prix in Osaka 21 July.

North American fans may be more familiar with Horodecki because of his nine-fight stint in the now-defunct International Fight League.  His only loss was by TKO in a rematch versus “Lion” Ryan Schultz (20-11-1) for the IFL lightweight title.

Uno fought seven times in the UFC between 2001 and 2003 going 3-3-1.  The last time Uno was stopped was in September 2005, before Horodecki even began his professional MMA career.

The two fighters present different challenges to Thomson, but both would be significant challenges.

Thomson TKO’d “Archer” Ashe Bowman (9-5) in Beverly Hills, north of Los Angeles, 20 September in a non-title fight.  He has been campaigning for a big-name fight since beating “El Nino” Gilbert Melendez (14-2) in San Jose 27 June for the Strikeforce belt.

Belfort must first be cleared to fight by a doctor.  He is currently serving a 180-day medical suspension.

Buentello won a unanimous decision over “Big Daddy” Gary Goodridge (23-18-1) at Affliction: Banned in July.

Nelson, the IFL Heavyweight Champion, most recently won via first-round TKO over “Hillbilly Heartthrob” Brad Imes (11-5) in May.

The Buentello-Nelson match is part of the preliminary card which will air on HDNet before switching to the main card on pay-per-view, according to MMA Junkie.

Affliction also announced that IFL lightweight Chris Horodecki (12-1) has signed a three-fight deal with them and will make his Affliction debut at the October event.

No opponent has yet been named for Horodecki.

Not participating in the event is Fighters.com’s tenth-ranked heavyweight Aleksander Emelianenko (13-3), who is still dealing with licensing issues.

He was denied a license by the California State Athletic Commission for his scheduled fight in July.

Couture graciously confronted and answered questions about his beef with the Zuffa, LLC and UFC President Dana White and third-ranked “Maine-iac” Tim Sylvia‘s (24-4) and his own prospective fight with sixth-ranked “Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (27-1), shared opinions about fifth-ranked welterweight Matt Hughes (42-7), “Kimbo Slice” Kevin Ferguson (3-0), and Brock Lesnar (1-1), and made picks on future fights.

Fighters.com: You’ve said you’ve accepted that you might get a bad court ruling and not fight again. Have you lost some competitiveness from being inactive for so long?

The Natural: I still want to compete. I’m still in training as much as I can be with all this other stuff going on. I still seem to be able to hold my own, even with the lack of serious, hardcore training, with all the top guys that I have in the gym. I’m having fun being in the gym learning new tools, new skills and being there with a lot of the other guys that have been there for me, so I’m not too worried about that. The courts are going to do what the courts are going to do. We’ll deal with it when it comes in.

Fighters.com: Not many fighters have wives who also train. Does that give you both a different perspective and more understanding?

The Natural: I think it’s pretty cool! Not many guys can actually go and punch their wife in the head. No…she’s training hard, she’s doing a great job and having fun. It’s been good for her physically and, I think, emotionally to get a lot of her frustrations and have something of her own to work with. It’s been a lot of pressure too because she’s dragging around my last name. It puts a lot more pressure on her and she’s been able to take that all in stride and deal with that very well as well. I’m excited for her, looking forward to her next fight on June 20th at the Thomas & Mack. It’s going to be great.

Fighters.com: At home, do you two ever move the furniture out of the way and have a training session?

The Natural: We end up wrestling on that damn bed all the time!

Fighters.com:At the Xtreme Couture website there’s a video center that is streaming the pro sessions daily. What are viewers likely to see?

The Natural: Well, they’ll can tune in and watch me in a class that’s on main mat and, certainly between 4:00 and 6:00 PM Pacific Time, is when our pros train and a lot of the top guys from Forrest Griffin and Mike Powell and Jay Hieron, Gray Maynard, and Tyson Griffin, Wanderlei Silva and the list just goes on and on of the top guys in the Vegas area who train on our mat. If you want to see technically what the pros are working on and what our MMA workouts are like, and get idea of what to do, it’s a great place to go.

Fighters.com: Do you think Fighters.com Light Heavyweight Champion “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (28-6) and “Maximus” Marcus Aurelio (16-5) have already bought their subscriptions?

The Natural: I don’t know! Maybe… I think Forrest and Tyson (future opponents of Jackson and Aurelio respectively) do the majority of their hardcore technical training in the cage, not on the camera. So, at least right now, you probably won’t see a lot of them on the mat.

Fighters.com: Did you watch Hughes lose to sixth-ranked “Pitbull” Thiago Alves (15-3) Saturday?

The Natural:I missed the fight Saturday. I was traveling. I was very happy to hear [Xtreme Couture middleweight] Martin Kampmann won his fight against Jorge [Rivera]. That was a big fight for him coming back off the knee reconstruction. I did hear about the Hughes fight and the flying knee; but, Alves is a tough cat. I kind of picked him to win that fight.

Fighters.com: Hughes isn’t that old, but is his age or the number of fights catching up with him? Or, is he just in a funk he’ll shake out of?

The Natural:Well, I think that’s on Matt. I think Matt is now running his own school. He’s kind of become the big fish in that little pond, where, I think, before, when he was training with Miletich he had a bunch of guys in there who were stepping up and challenging him when he was there training and making him better. I think that’s the environment that he needs to progress as a fighter. I just don’t know that he’s continuing to progress. Everybody else is. These guys are all getting better. They’re younger, they’re stronger, bigger, and they’re figuring it out. I think Matt is capable of doing whatever he wants to do. It’s just a function of applying himself.

Fighters.com: UFC President Dana White told Sports Illustrated that he spoke to you at UFC 84. Is that awkward? What do you two talk about? Is there any genuine friendliness left in the relationship?

The Natural:It’s not personal on my part and I don’t think it is on his part either. I think he’s an emotional guy who sometimes says things that he wishes he could take back or wishes he didn’t say and he’s made stupid comments. And, you know, yeah it’s a little weird going to the UFC shows. I feel like a leper. They work pretty hard to keep me off camera when I corner my guys and they don’t show any of the clips they could of me. They don’t let Goldie or Joe mention my name at all or where my guys are training. So, you know, those are conscious things that Dana has tried to do. I think they’re silly; but, he’s going to do what he’s going to do. I don’t have any control over that. So, I don’t take it personal. I talked to him, Lorenzo [Fertitta, Zuff, LLC co-owner], and Frank [Fertitta, Zuffa, LLC co-owner] at the last UFC. It was a great card. You know? It is what it is.

Fighters.com: White has also said that he’s ready to put you back in the Octagon at any time; but, you just don’t see yourself going back to the UFC?

The Natural:You never say never, but there’s a lot of things that’ve got to change. I’m in a position now that if the courts rule in my favor I can control my own destiny and make one of the biggest fights to ever happen on my own. And, get all of the benefits of being in a position to do that. It just doesn’t make a lot of sense for me to go back and give it all back to the UFC and let them walk away with 90-plus percent of everything that comes from those fights.

Fighters.com: You’re starring in The Scorpion King 2, soon to be released to DVD? Is that in the can?

The Natural:It’s done. It’s in the can. I filmed it in October and November of last year. I just saw a pre-screening of the movie last week and was very excited about the way it came out.

Fighters.com: I worry with you, Tito, Rampage, and others getting into acting. Do you think the higher pay for less pain of Hollywood is going to start stealing fighters from MMA?

The Natural: I don’t know. I think most of the fighters have a passion and love for what they do as fighters; and, if you were to achieve some goals and open those doors to the acting realm and have the opportunity to try that, it better work. I don’t think everyone is going to have the opportunity to crossover. You know, I know that Tito has made a foray with The Crow: Wicked Prayer and some of the other stuff he’s done when given the opportunity. Chuck’s been in a few things now. And, Rampage, you know, obviously, he definitely has the persona. And, I think the camera would be pretty friendly to him.

Fighters.com: Have you picked a winner of Sylvia versus Emelianenko in your own mind?

The Natural:Most people expect Fedor to find a way to take Tim out, and I can see that too. With his submission skills and the dynamic style of fighter that he is, I can see that happening. Tim poses some interesting problems and is certainly going to have something to say about that. He’s not going to be an easy fight. It’ll be interesting to see how it goes.

Fighters.com:Do you fault Emelianenko for not fighting top guys the last two years while you and Sylvia and other heavyweights were fighting each other?

The Natural:I think he’d have rather been fighting top guys. Bodog kind of going the way it went and PRIDE getting crushed by Zuffa, I don’t think he’s really had the opportunity to fight any top guys. I think if he’d have had his druthers, he’d have fought top guys. I’m sure he’s excited about the opportunity to fight Tim and certainly expressed a lot of interest in being able to fight me at some point. I don’t think it changes the fighter that he is or the guys that he’s beat. He’s beat Nogueira twice and Cro Cop and right on down the line. He’s beat a lot of top guys, just nobody recently.

Fighters.com:You just opened Xtreme Couture Toronto. Is that your first Canadian gym?

The Natural: It’s our first Canadian gym. We’re talking to some folks in Montreal who’re interested in franchising a gym there; but, we’ll see what happens. We’re very excited. The Toronto gym looks terrific! A huge facility! Thirty-thousand square feet. So, it’s a great big gym.

Fighters.com: Will there be any fighters training in Toronto?

The Natural: Chris Horodecki, and Mark Bocek, and Mark Hominick are all going to be training and teaching there. There’s a newer Russian kid coming up who lives in Canada who looks to be a very physical, and have the potential as a fighter as well, to be teaching there. So, I think a lot of the top fighters in the area of Toronto are going to end up there.

Fighters.com:You’re an elder in the sport. What do you think of “Kimbo Slice” Kevin Ferguson (3-0)?

The Natural:I like Kimbo! I think Kimbo has a great attitude. You know, he’s trying to do all the right things to be a well-rounded mixed martial artist; and, I think he’d be the first to admit that he’s not there yet, as James Thompson pointed out on CBS two weekends ago. He’s got some holes in his game still; but, I think his popularity has a lot to do with EliteXC marketing him as a street fighter and the Internet kind of street fights, YouTube phenomenon, if you will, that he is. I don’t think the two really cross over. If EliteXC wants to market him that way, I just don’t think it really crosses over. They need to be careful what they do with that because it could potentially harm the sport. But, that’s not Kimbo’s fault, that’s EliteXC’s fault.

Fighters.com:How about Lesnar in the UFC?

The Natural:Well, the similarities…Brock is a big name because of WWE. He’s still a good athlete, just like Kimbo, who’s being marketed because of his celebrity with the World Wrestling Entertainment. But, just like Kimbo, he’s got a lot of holes in his game and it was silly to kind of put him out there with Frank Mir. You know, I think Mir was underestimated. Everybody thought he was going to fold under the pressure and not take the shots that Lesnar was going to dish out too well. Mir showed why he’s an excellent submission guy, a great fighter, and a former world champion. I think, given the time, both Lesnar and Kimbo will be very, very good fighters in the heavyweight division. They both have the right attitude. You know, Lesnar is taking this seriously. He wants to be a real fighter and he’s taking that terrific wrestlers base that he has and trying to learn all the other pieces.

Fighters.com:Where’s the future of this sport? Is the current buzz going to level off? Does it have the potential to be a long-term nationally-broadcast sport?

The Natural: I think if the CBS ratings are any indication, it absolutely has the potential to be that long-term broadcast sport. I think it’s a function of who’s going to step-up and do it right. I think there’s some work that needs to be done with how the fighters are treated and paid; and, the person who kind of gets that combination and all that sorted out can take it to the next level. Obviously I think a lot of the fighters, at least the ones in a position to voice their opinion, aren’t too pleased with kind of being owned, being taken advantage of. I don’t know. We’ll see what happens; but, this is definitely the combative sport for this generation.

Fighters.com: Your response brings up another question. At the post-UFC 84 press conference, ninth-ranked light heavyweight “Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Tito Ortiz (15-6-1) was voicing a lot of the same concerns you’ve spoken out about concerning fighter pay as a percentage of total revenue. A reported asked Ortiz, “If you’re not happy with your pay, what is an acceptable amount?” And, Tito balked, saying, “I don’t know. You’d have to ask my lawyers.” Is that irresponsible to complain about your pay, but not have an idea of what your pay should be?

The Natural: You know…probably. Maybe Tito didn’t have a handle on all the numbers; but, it appears to be that on any given UFC, just on the pay-per-views alone, the UFC makes in the neighborhood of $40 or $50 million. And, Tito and I are two of the very, very few athletes that get a little piece of that pay-per-view and we’re lucky if we make $1.2 or $1.3 million. So, percentage-wise, it’s a very, very small percent of the total revenue. Now, Dana’s argument that the UFC is different than boxing, I think that held water before. You know, the UFC was having to pay site fees, do all their own marketing, all their own promotion, and spend money to keep a staff of 100 people; but, that climate has changed now. People are clamoring to get the UFC into their venues to sell out the arenas. I think there are TV outlets who’ll take the risk, do the marketing, and see the wisdom, just like boxing. The fighters could be getting paid a lot better! If I were getting $5 or $10 million dollars to fight out of that $40 million, I’d certainly feel a lot happier. It’s frustrating for me to see a guy like Floyd Mayweather. You know, I feel like we’re just as dedicated and work just as hard and have everything going for us other than not being in boxing and we’re in MMA. Floyd makes $20 or $30 million from one fight. That’s frustrating. We’re both combative sports and can be promoted in the same way, shape, and form. Now, I understand the UFC is still trying to spend money with Marc Ratner to get this sport sanctioned in every state and province on the continent, and all the other things that they’re doing. And, I think those are admirable things that are going to continue to grow the sport and have established this foundation that you, me, and EliteXC, and everybody else who wants to put on a show is standing on. I see that picture clearly, but I think the timing is right for someone to set the change for bigger shares of the purses that are derived from a fight from DVD sales all the way down, the ancillary rights, and all the other stuff that gets controlled and taken by the UFC and given back to the fighters, the guys who put it on the line, whose careers span five years if they’re lucky.

Fighters.com: Affliction’s payout has reportedly reached six or seven million dollars for the Banned card. We’ve seen this business model and it’s failed. Are you optimistic Affliction can build a financially sustainable promotion while paying fighters so much?

The Natural:Well, I’m certainly skeptical. Obviously I have a strong relationship with Todd [Beard, Affliction co-owner] through my partnership with Xtreme Couture clothing. And, I sat with Todd and told him, “Look, I’ve seen people do this before and I’m worried you’re going to lose this money. You know? The marketing piece, the brand piece is the big component. You need to generate interest in these fighters so people have a vested interest. That’s why the 24/7 with Golden Boy was so successful, because people wanted to tune in and see these guys fight. You know, get Fedor Emelianenko some exposure and get people to like Tim Sylvia…or hate him! One of the other if you want people to buy this pay-per-view.” Todd is a great marketing and sales mind. Obviously, Affliction is a very successful clothing line. This whole thing started because Dana thought he was hurting me and banned the Affliction clothing line. That got the hackles up on Todd’s neck and he decided, “OK, to hell with him then. we’ll do our own show if he wants to play that way.” The ban didn’t hurt me any. All those clothes and all those shirts, and denim, and all that stuff is in all the major market retail outlets across the country. The only person [Dana] hurt was the fighters Affliction was sponsoring in MMA. Took the money right out of their pockets. So, now [Dana] has a potentially formidable opponent that he created because he pissed [Todd] off and made him want to spend the money and throw a show. He signed a lot of the top heavyweights that were free agents and some of the other free agents out there that are going to put on a good card. I think [Todd's] marketing sense and ability to sell things is remarkable. Teaming up with FOX and streaming the undercard on the Internet on FOX is something new nobody’s tried yet and has the potential to be something huge. Yeah, I think we’re all anxiously waiting to see how successful Todd is with his show in July and how big the pay-per-view is. Now Trump is buying in and buying a piece of the MMA company. Obviously he brings a lot of juice and a lot of things to the table that could potentially put it over the hump. So, like you, I’ll be anxiously watching for a couple of reasons July 19th.

Fighters.com: Do you want to make some picks on upcoming fights?

The Natural: OK.

Fighters.com: Evan Tanner (32-7) versus “Spider” Kendall Grove (8-5)?

The Natural: I’m going to go with Kendall Grove. I think he’s long and rangy and will use his range well. I think his moving back to Hawaii was probably a good thing for him, I hope. I think Tanner, although I have a lot respect for Evan and his abilities, I think he has not put himself in a great position or a great environment to thrive and be in top shape as an athlete. So, I’m going to go with Kendall Grove.

Fighters.com:“Gumby” Jeremy Horn (79-17-5) versus “Boogieman” Dean Lister (10-5)?

The Natural: Wow! Tough fight! Both guys are great submission guys. I’m going to go with Dean Lister. I think he’s got naturally heavy hands. Both guys’ submission skills are great; but, I think Dean’s are a little better and that tends to be Jeremy Horn‘s strength, so I’m going to lean towards Dean Lister.

Fighters.com:Third-ranked welterweight “Kos” Josh Koscheck (10-2) versus “Lights Out” Chris Lytle (25-15-5)?

The Natural:Tough fight, but I’m going to have to go with Koscheck. I think he’s shown remarkable improvement, even in the face of losing a couple of times. I’m sure that losing to Georges lit a fire under him. As much as I like to see Chris Lytle come out and lay it all on the line, he’s going to have trouble with Koscheck’s wrestling ability and I think Koscheck is going to end up putting him on the ground and establishing that good, solid top position and wearing Chris down.

Fighters.com:A couple of your old nemesi, fifth-ranked heavyweight “Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (21-5) versus “The Rock” Pedro Rizzo (16-7)?

The Natural: Yeah, that’s a tough call. It kind of depends on Josh Barnett. If he tries to go in there and stand with Pedro, it’s going to end like it ended last time, [Barnett knocked out]. Pedro is nobody to mess around with in the striking exchanges. Josh has the ability to transition and take Pedro to the ground, out of his game. I think, if that’s what Josh does, Josh will win that fight. Having not seen Pedro in awhile…actually, quite a while, it’s harder for me to pick that fight.

Fighters.com: Fourth-ranked heavyweight “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (12-5) versus Ben Rothwell (29-5)?

The Natural: I like Andrei. Ben is a big strong kid, but he’s still pretty green. I think Andrei’s on a mission. I think mentally he’s still a little held back by the results of the two Tim fights and he’s not pulling the trigger and really getting after it like he was. As far as pure boxing, he’s one of the best pure boxers we have in our sport. I’ll be excited to see him back out there. I think, overall, he’s got to be ready to go. He’s got to be in great shape. Rothwell is going to be in great shape and ready to bring the fight; but, Andrei has the tools to pull this off.

“The Janitor” Vladimir Matyushenko (21-3), Wagnney Fabiano (10-1), and Jay Hieron (15-4) all defended their respective titles with knockouts.

Lightweight standout Chris Horodecki (12-1) picked up a unanimous decision, while one-time top 155-pounder “Bartimus” Bart Palaszewski (28-11) continued his slide with a loss by unanimous decision.

Featherweight Fabiano set-up a right slobber-knocker to Shad Lierley (2-2) with just his reputation as a submission specialist.

“People think I’m just a jiu-jitsu fighter,” Fabiano explained after the fight.  “Today I knew he would expect me shooting, so I changed my game plan.”

The KO came after just 37 seconds.

Hieron, an Xtreme Couture 170-pounder, dispatched Mark Miller (8-3) in just 2:10.

“It went quicker than I thought, but man it was not easy,” said Hieron after his right hook set-up a single-leg takedown leading to a G’n'P finish.

“The Janitor” had the toughest time of the IFL’s three defending champions.

Hometown Jamal Patterson (4-2), who’s won exclusively by submission, cranked up striking flurries in the first round causing Matyushenko to duck-and-cover.

But, Matyushenko handed Patterson his ass in the second with a ground’n'pound barrage the required the ref to wave the fight finished at 3:35.

IFL newcomer Jim Miller (11-1) ran “Bartimus” ragged for three rounds, dumping the winless-in-three lightweight at will and filing through submission attempts like he had an extra limb.  Palaszewski fought back valiantly with several crafty escapes, but Miller took all of the cards in his IFL debut.

Horodecki had a handfull named Nate Lamotte (6-3) to contend with in Horodecki’s return from his first loss to “The Lion” Ryan Schultz (19-9-1) in IFL’s Lightweight Grand Prix final.

Lamotte delivered some vicious G’n'P when he was able to catch Horodecki, but the IFL vet kept Lamotte at bay with a snapping jab and pin-pointed punches to take a UD by 29-28 times three.

And the rest of the story saw light heavyweight “Shark” Emyr Bussade (11-5) win his IFL debut with a kneebar of Jesse Lennox (6-1) at 1:25 of round two.

“Bad” Brad Blackburn (12-9-1) TKO’d “Pe de Chumbo” Delson Heleno (13-5) at 1:50 of the third round of a welterweight matchup.

Featherweight LC Davis (10-1) kicked Rafael Dias (10-4-1) in the head for the KO “W” at 3:56 of round three.

Xtreme Couture middleweight Alex Schoenauer (13-9) eeked out a split decision over Brendan Barrett (3-3).

Finally, heavyweight Miletich fighter Mike Ciesnolevicz (13-3) cut Kongo-conqueror “The Fury” Carmelo Marrero (7-2) with an unintentional headbutt in a fight declared a No Contest after 1:37.

The IFL returns 16 May in at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville.