As the year is coming closer to an end, the now annual World MMA Awards, which is hosted by Fighters Only Magazine, has recently announced their finalists for the December 1st event, which will take place once again in Las Vegas, Nev., which has become a hot bed for all things fighting related. 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. ...

When one goes to the buffet at the Mandalay Bay Las Vegas on a Sunday morning, you look forward to tasting a range of great offerings, from the French Toast and Filet Mignon to endless dessert options.  The diner is attracted to the diversity of possibilities and chance to execute on those options.  If all that was offered were toast and potatoes, the allure would not be the same. Now, what does this have to do with MMA?  Well, it serves as a metaphor of sorts.  When UFC matchmaker Joe Silva and President Dana White are contemplating a match-up, I can imagine all the possibilities they might envision the two different fighters will bring to the Octagon and the array of skills that could be on display for fans to consume.   On paper, I am sure they thought George St. Pierre vs. Dan Hardy would thrill with Hardy throwing bombs and St. Pierre working his diverse tool kit of stand-up and ground skills.  On paper, I am sure they thought Jon Fitch and Thiago Alves would excite with Alves' dangerous hands vs. the ground game of Fitch. On paper, I am sure Silva and White even thought the range of talents between Andre Winner and Nick Lentz at UFC 118 would offer a national Spike-TV audience lots to consume across the spectrum from wrestling to head kicks. As it turned out, all those fights gave fans was a great big serving of toast and potatoes. ...

Saturday we watched UFC 114 and the main event billed as "the biggest grudge match in UFC history." "Sugar" Rashad Evans (15-1-1) used his wrestling to beat "Rampage" Quinton Jackson (28-8) in what believe was a major let down. ...

Fighters.com top-ranked lightweight "The Prodigy" BJ Penn (15-6-1) was interviewed on 106.7 The Fan in Washington D.C. and said the UFC had contacted him about a rematch in the next three to four months. ...

It was announced today that Bellator just inked 6-foot, 3-inch "The Beast" Bryan Baker (11-1) for the season two middleweight tournament. The constant announcements of signed fighters for the up-coming season means we will see plenty of exciting fights. Bellator is doing exactly what they need to in order to build the organization but will the fans show their support and buy tickets? ...

UFC 107 takes place in Memphis Saturday headlined by Fighters.com and UFC Lightweight Champion “Prodigy” BJ Penn (12-4-1) versus tenth-ranked “Nightmare” Diego Sanchez (19-2-0).  A fight we are not scheduled to see is undefeated Johny Hendricks (6-0) versus UFC newcomer Ricardo Funch (7-0) as it is slated for the prelims. This is robbery at it's finest.

...