First, we head to MMA Junkie for the UFC’s side of the story. UFC President Dana White recently said the following in regards to the situation: “…Machida accepted the fight. Then… Machida’s people came back and said, ‘We’ll tell you what. You pay us what you pay Anderson Silva, and we’ll take the fight.’ …I said, ‘Are you [expletive] kidding me? I’ll tell you what. You tell Machida (if) he achieves what [expletive] Anderson Silva has achieved, then maybe he’ll make Anderson Silva money.”

The Machida side of the story, however, can be best seen over at the one and only Sherdog. Lyoto Machida’s wife of all people recently said the following: “After a conference, Lyoto, his managers and the UFC representatives decided it wouldn’t be a good decision for him to fight… His professionalism made him turn down the fight. No one is playing anymore [in professional MMA], everyone is very focused and serious, so it would be silliness to accept.”

Well, this is quite an interesting story. On one hand, I agree with the UFC. On the other hand, part of me also agrees with Machida’s people. A high-profile fighter turning down a high-profile fight can always cause a lot of controversy, and I think it’ll be tough to figure out the real truth of who said what to whom and who did what for what reason. Here’s what I think, though.

I don’t think Lyoto Machida is scared of rematching Rashad Evans, he has no reason to be. Machida gave Evans an incredibly humbling loss, one that Evans cynics still use to make fun of him to this day. The problem here is that Machida didn’t want to prepare for any fight, especially a high-level fight, on such short notice.

If the story about wanting “Anderson Silva” money is true, then I can admit that I did lose a little respect for Machida and his camp. If you agree to take a fight, you shouldn’t then threaten to back out of the fight in order to try and increase your paycheck. Not only is that an under-handed thing to do, it puts you on the “crap list” of the promoter you’re working with, and with a promoter as volatile as Dana White, it’ll be hard to get off that list. So while I won’t say that this “Anderson Silva money” thing means that I’ve stopped supporting Lyoto, it does mean this: if this story is true and Machida did try to pull out of the fight at the last moment for more money, then Machida deserves to endure the wrath of Dana White and jump through whatever hoops White places in front of him.

But in the end, I think Machida made the smart choice. He chose his career over one opportunity, and as debatable as that is, I can at least respect Machida for not wanting to go into a fight unprepared.

Head Kick Legend is reporting that Machida will rematch Rashad Evans with only a few weeks’ notice. It should be noted, however, that several other sites are reporting that the UFC is still actively searching for an opponent for Evans. That’s not saying that HKL’s story is false, just that Machida/Evans is merely a popular rumor at this point. The fact that it’s a fight that makes a lot of sense also helps its believability.

Rashad Evans hasn’t fought since May 2009, back when he defeated Quinton Jackson. The former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion has quite a history with Lyoto Machida.

Machida was Rashad’s first opponent after winning the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship, and many fans were actually betting on the challenger to win. Evans set out to prove that he was a worthy champion… and it didn’t work out that way at all. In the first loss of his professional career, Evans was dominated, dismantled, and viciously knocked out. An online picture of Rashad Evans falling in mid-knockout dubbed “KO Face” spawned literally thousands of mockingly hilarious Photoshop pictures. When he coached against Quinton Jackson on “The Ultimate Fighter”, Jackson even went as far as to imitate Evans getting KO’d by Machida in order to anger him.

The win was so dominant that it led UFC commentator Joe Rogan to claim that we would be entering the “Machida Era”. Unfortunately, Machida would win a very controversial decision over Mauricio Rua and then lose by first-round KO in the immediate rematch. A tough decision loss to Quinton Jackson put Machida in “do or die” mode, and he responded with a brilliant flying front kick that KO’d MMA legend Randy Couture at the fantastic UFC 129 event.

This rematch definitely interests me, so I hope that this rumor ends up being true. I think Lyoto Machida could use a really big win now, his comeback is off to a great start but it needs longevity. I honestly don’t think a lot has changed since the first Evans/Machida bout, so I think Machida has a good chance of knocking Evans out again.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that I have a problem with Rashad Evans, in fact I’ve mostly supported him through many of his recent troubles including his beef with Jon Jones. I’m just a much larger fan of Lyoto Machida, and I want “The Dragon” to get back to being a championship contender. I still get a little riled up when the Machida cynics laugh at the phrase “Machida Era”, and I think that with enough time and hard work, Lyoto Machida could become UFC Light Heavyweight Champion again. And even if Rashad Evans beats Lyoto Machida, this sounds like a really good fight on paper.

So not only do I hope this fight happens, I’m honestly more excited for this fight than I was for the originally-intended Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis showdown.

5. Rashad Evans

Coming off of a loss to Chuck Liddell in December 2006, Ortiz looked to rebound in 2007 with a win over a hungry young upstart by the name of Rashad Evans. The fight would end up being ruled a draw, with Ortiz being penalized one point for holding onto the fence. Since then, Evans has become a star in his own right and a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. Currently, Evans will be fighting Phil Davis. Win or lose, I think both Evans and Ortiz would prove quite a lot by fighting each other again.

4. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira

For the most part, Ortiz has fought nothing but hungry young fighters in his recent fights. I say it’s time for a veteran fighter that has the experience and skill to be a threat in all major areas of the game. And although his career is winding down, “Little Nog” can still go. Personally, I think this would be an awesome fight between one of the best, most experienced, most versatile ground wizards in the division and the man that became synonymous with vicious Ground and Pound.

3. Quinton Jackson

Jackson ranks higher because of his status as a former champion and for his one-hit KO power. He also ranks higher than “Little Nog” because I think this fight would mostly stay on the feet, and to be honest, a stand-up fight between Jackson and Ortiz simply interests me more than a ground war between Ortiz and Little Nog. Ortiz displayed some good striking at UFC 132… can he hang with a striker like Jackson? If he wants to get this fight on the floor, can he deal with the great takedown defense of Jackson? Those are two questions I’d definitely pay to see answered.

2. Lyoto Machida

When you think about it, Machida’s big victory over Tito Ortiz is what got most people to finally start paying attention to Machida. Machida would be the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion only two fights removed from his decision win over Ortiz. But in the here and now, Machida has recently gotten over a two-fight (some say it should be three) losing-streak with a fantastic KO win over aging legend Randy Couture. That’s not exactly the same thing as winning what many felt would be the final fight of your career by dramatic stoppage, but it’s in the same ballpark. This is another rematch that simply makes a lot of sense right now, and I’d love to see it happen.

And the number-one next opponent for Tito Ortiz is…

1. Forrest Griffin

If Tito Ortiz really wants to prove that he’s “back”, he needs to beat the man that spoiled his heavily-hyped UFC return in 2009. Following that fight, Griffin was out of action for over a year and then took Rich Franklin to a boring decision. Whereas Ortiz found that old flame at UFC 132, Griffin looked like he was only focused on winning and not giving fans a good show when he defeated Rich Franklin. This is a rivalry with a very rich history: Ortiz has won one, Griffin has won one, and both wins were by Split Decision. I think it’s time we end this rivalry once and for all, and I really can’t think of a better way for Ortiz to prove that he’s back.

5. Forrest Griffin

There are two ways this fight could go. In Option A, Griffin shows up with the same guts and determination that led him to win the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship, grinding away at Machida and making it an all-out war of attrition. In Option B, Machida pulls an Anderson Silva and dominates Griffin so badly that it haunts him for the next several years. Either way, this fight has a lot of potential, and Griffin needs opponents like Machida now that he’s back in the win column.

4. Rashad Evans

Rashad Evans has been sitting on the sidelines for a long, long time, but I think this is one fight that Evans would take with almost zero hesitation. Without a doubt, Rashad’s KO loss to Machida was the most humiliating loss of his entire career: his “KO Face” alone spawned hundreds if not thousands of spoofs. If Evans ever wants to recapture the hype he had before Machida beat him, he needs to try and beat Machida. And I think it’s been long enough and both men have changed enough, so a second fight could be wholly different than their first.

3. Quinton Jackson

Lyoto Machida both needs and deserves a rematch with Quinton Jackson. He deserves it because the fight was incredibly close, and many people still think that Machida was robbed. He needs it because Machida displayed the same hesitation that cost him the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship in at least one (maybe even two) of the rounds of his three-round fight with “Rampage”. So long as Machida abandons his inhibitions and “Rampage” doesn’t take another long hiatus before accepting this fight, it should be an amazing second encounter.

2. Jon Jones

Who better to challenge Jon Jones than Machida? Stylistically, these two match up perfectly. Machida is unorthodox in everything he does, from his strikes to his much-discussed elusiveness. Meanwhile, Jon Jones is as unorthodox as they come: taking people down by slamming and throwing them, throwing spinning back elbows constantly, etc. And even better, Jon Jones is currently riding the same kind of hype Machida was when he won the championship. Not only would this be an amazing fight, it’s got some pretty awesome backstory to go alongside it.

So, who could possibly take my number-one spot if it’s not the current Light Heavyweight Champion? The choice is actually quite easy. The number-one opponent I’d like Lyoto Machida to fight is…

1. Mauricio Rua

More than anyone else on this list, more than any other person Lyoto Machida has ever fought, Machida needs to fight Mauricio Rua again. There’s no way to put this mildly: Mauricio Rua was the chief engineer in the destruction of “The Machida Enigma”, he was the one that killed “The Machida Era” before it ever got a chance to get started. It’s still a very sore subject for Machida fans, including myself, and I can’t imagine Machida having a better or more meaningful victory than by beating Mauricio Rua one more time, and this time by definitively knocking him out. This is one fight I’d give almost anything to see.

And what about you, fans and friends? Who do you think Lyoto Machida should fight?

5. Daniel Straus vs. Kenny Foster at Bellator 41.

Starting this list off is a three-round war at Bellator 41 that saw the young and dangerous Kenny Foster take on the soft-spoken “dark horse” of Bellator’s current Featherweight tournament, Daniel Straus. It was clear from the moment the fight started that Kenny Foster had more tenacity and exuberance, but Straus utilized a grinding style and several well-timed blows to take the fire out of Foster. In the end, Straus would win it with a little over a minute left in the fight, submitting the hot prospect and cementing his status as the “dark horse favorite”. As someone who entered Bellator’s tournament with almost no fanfare or hype, Straus rocketed past two very tough, young competitors and sealed his fate with a big stoppage to earn his shot in the finals.

4. Gegard Mousasi vs. Keith Jardine at Strikeforce: “Diaz vs. Daley”

Everyone knew how tough Keith Jardine was going into this fight, that was never in doubt. What was in doubt, though, was his ability to remain competitive against top-flight competition. And in Strikeforce, it doesn’t get much better than a former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion. But Jardine persevered through three tough rounds of action, taking down Mousasi frequently while absorbing all of Mousasi’s best shots. The fight would end in a controversial draw, with many thinking Mousasi should have won. Nevertheless, this was a very tough test for Keith Jardine, and he responded by putting on a very heartfelt display of guts and fortitude, taking a former champion to the limit.

3. Lyoto Machida vs. Randy Couture at UFC 129: “St. Pierre vs. Shields”

It may have ended quickly, but I can’t think of a better finish in April 2011 in terms of pure brilliance and awesomeness. I’ve called it the Jumping Front Face Kick of Death, mostly out of humor, but that’s exactly what it was. No matter what the technical name of that kick is called, it was a beautiful, expertly-timed knockout blow from former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Lyoto Machida. Plus, before that kick, Machida managed to neutralize the clinch game of one of the best pure wrestlers in MMA history. With the way the fight ended, and with Randy Couture going out on his shield and finishing his stellar career by taking on a former champion, there’s no doubt in my mind that this fight belongs on here.

2. Jose Aldo vs. Mark Hominick at UFC 129: “St. Pierre vs. Shields”

For five straight rounds, Jose Aldo and Mark Hominick pushed each other to their limits. Seeing Aldo struggle against Hominick was the first time I’ve ever seen Jose Aldo have problems dealing with a fighter. Seeing Hominick battle on while having a giant lump on his head was just plain astounding. It was a five-round all-out war of attrition, and it was closer than I ever thought it would be. This could be a “Fight of the Year” candidate before all is said and done.

And the number-one best fight of April 2011 is…

1. Nick Diaz vs. Paul Daley at Strikeforce: “Diaz vs. Daley”

It may have only lasted one round, but what a round it was. I honestly think you could make an argument that Diaz vs. Daley was one of the best one-round fights of the last several years. People were afraid that Diaz wouldn’t want to strike with Daley and turn it into a boring ground battle… and then Diaz started taunting Daley and brawling with him. It was an incredibly back-and-forth fight, with Daley nearly stopping Diaz several times before Nick’s “punches in bunches” style finally cracked Daley’s near-impenetrable chin. Even if it ended at 4:57, I was on the edge of my seat for every single second. And that’s why this fight earns “Best Fight of April 2011”.

And what about you, fans and friends? What were some of your favorite fights of the month?

The One And Only Award: Randy Couture, for finishing his UFC career by winning three of his last four and going out against a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. I predicted that I would get a little misty-eyed if Couture lost, and I honestly did. To see someone I’ve followed, respected, and appreciated for so long finally end his career… it was one of the most emotional moments of the night. For all the things he’s done, for all the things he’s given to this sport of ours, Randy Couture will go down as one of the greatest MMA fighters ever. This is only one Randy Couture.

The Unlikely Hero Award: This one goes to Steven Seagal of all people. Yes, that Steven Seagal. Based on their post-fight interviews, both Anderson Silva and Lyoto Machida credit Seagal for helping them hone a basic attack into a very, very deadly weapon. I don’t want to get into how much credit Seagal should really be given, there’s already a pretty great discussion about that going on in this fine site. All I know is that when Steven Seagal shows up in your corner, somebody is getting their face kicked in. And that’s just something I’ve got to highlight.

The “Haters Gonna Hate” Award: I’m giving this award to Georges St. Pierre’s cynics. I really don’t know what more you want from this man, GSP doubters. You can complain about GSP not stopping Shields, but do you know when was the last time that anybody stopped Jake Shields? Because I do: March 2000, the only time anyone has ever stopped Jake Shields. GSP took a guy on a fifteen-fight win-streak and completely outclassed him for three out of five rounds, bare minimum. He could barely see out of one eye due to an inadvertent eye poke and GSP still managed to win at least one of the championship rounds. I’m all for criticizing a fighter when he fails to produce, just look at how my feelings on Miguel Torres changed after his snooze-fest of a UFC debut. But I just don’t see how you can be disappointed in Georges St. Pierre after another great display of just how good he is.

The Under-appreciated Undercard Award: The complete and full “UFC Prelims LIVE” broadcast, which was composed of five free fights on Facebook and an additional two free fights on Spike TV. It was like getting an entire second event for free, and what an event that was. During the course of those seven fights, we saw a spinning backfist, a flying triangle, and much more. All told, five out of those seven fights ended by stoppage, all of them dramatic, and none of them were preceded by boring fights. It was a stellar “UFC Prelims LIVE” broadcast, and it just about sealed the deal and made this sub-series my new “dark horse favorite”.

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?

Let’s begin this latest entry in the series as we always do: let’s put this fight into context.

In a world where the term “legend” is thrown about a little too much nowadays, Randy Couture lives up to every definition of that term. His heart and determination has led to him beating the odds time and time again, and he’s beloved around the world as the UFC’s ageless wonder. He’s “Captain America”. He’s “The Natural”. And heading into UFC 129, he was on a three-fight win-streak that included two stoppages.

His opponent, Lyoto Machida, was supposed to be the man that would lead the UFC’s Light Heavyweight division into the next era. Few can forget UFC announcer Joe Rogan loudly proclaiming “Welcome to the Machida Era” after Machida won the Light Heavyweight Championship. Instead, Machida would fall to the same curse that has possessed every 205 champion since Chuck Liddell and lose his belt in his first few fights after winning it. Machida would then sink further and lose to fellow former champion Quinton Jackson by a pretty controversial decision. After starting his career with a fantastic 16-0 unbeaten streak, Machida was on a two-fight losing-streak headed into UFC 129.

Then the fight began, and Lyoto Machida proved once and for all that he is here to stay.

So many people talk about Randy Couture’s wrestling and how great it is. And make no mistake, it’s some of the best wrestling in the business, even to this day. But Lyoto Machida completely neutralized it. In fact, not only did he neutralize it… he made it look easy. Randy Couture would attempt to initiate a clinch one second, and the next second… Machida just wouldn’t be there.

By the time the first round ended, it was clear that Couture was baffled. It became apparent that parts of the “Machida Enigma” are still unsolved, despite Machida’s recent losses. And then the finish came: a strike right out of an action movie, a blow that rivaled Anderson Silva’s dramatic KO kick that stopped Vitor Belfort. After jumping into the air, Machida feinted with one leg before striking Couture flush on the face with his other leg. It was fluid, it was beautiful, and it was devastating. Couture immediately crumpled to the mat, and the referee halted the fight before Machida could do any more damage.

In the post-fight interview, Lyoto Machida was overcome with emotion and on the verge of tears. Without the aid of a translator, Machida thanked the fans in attendance and gave Randy Couture the respect he deserves, even raising his arm at one point.

Other than the time when he KO’d Rashad Evans to claim the championship, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Machida so good. This was the fighter so many people didn’t know how to defeat, this was the fighter that so many people thought would end “the curse”. Not only is Lyoto Machida back, he may be better than ever.

And as a Machida fan that’s followed him and supported him throughout all his ups and downs… who’s taken his side throughout all the accusations of being a boring fighter or a fighter who’s afraid to strike or a fighter that was all hype… as a Machida fan, seeing him win brilliantly and yet be so humble in victory was easily my favorite moment of UFC 129. It was an amazing event as a whole, but there’s not a doubt in my mind that Lyoto Machida deserves “Best Performance of the Night” for his stellar fight at UFC 129.

And what about you, fans and friends? Who took home your unofficial end-of-night accolades?

5. John Makdessi knocking out Kyle Watson with a Spinning Backfist.

For the most part, John Makdessi was never in any trouble against Kyle Watson. But Watson deserves at least some credit for hanging with Makdessi as long as he did, considering that Watson’s standup game  had some pretty significant flaws in it. Even with Makdessi controlling the fight, I had no idea this fight would end with a surprise spinning backfist, a very rare move that’s seldom used because it’s so difficult to pull off. Makdessi’s awesome knockout was one of the highlights of the first portion of this show, and it definitely deserves to be featured here.

4. Pablo Garza’s Flying Triangle Choke on Yves Jabouin.

Until Pablo Garza caught Yves Jabouin, Jabouin seemed to be in control and asserting himself at will. But as the saying goes, anything can happen in MMA. And just like a spinning backfist, a Flying Triangle is something so risky with such a low chance of reward that practically no one uses it in MMA. I think that may have been the first win by Flying Triangle in UFC history, even. It was definitely something right out of a BJJ highlight reel, except in a cage and against a very tough competitor.

3. Georges St. Pierre outclassing Jake Shields in virtually every way imaginable.

Another GSP fight, another crop of cynics emerge to criticize his killer instinct and inability to finish fights. But although I love a good knockout, I can appreciate a five-round thrashing. And that’s pretty much what GSP gave Shields. Like so many of his other opponents, GSP made Shields look like he didn’t belong. He took someone that was on an incredible win-streak, who had held titles in multiple promotions and even at multiple weight classes… and he made him look amateurish. Jake Shields is one of the best fighters in the world, but if this was the first time you ever saw him fight, you’d wonder why he was challenging for the championship. That level of domination is something only GSP and Anderson Silva can pull off on a regular basis, so of course that deserves a spot on this list.

2. Jose Aldo and Mark Hominick’s five-round all-out war.

Who would have thought that Jose Aldo’s toughest test to date would be Mark Hominick? I admit, Aldo had a lot of hype surrounding him when he debuted. But Mark Hominick took him to his limits, even while competing with a lump on his head so big that the announcers said it was like he was sporting a second head. Aldo would ultimately pass Hominick’s test, and even had Hominick in serious danger several times throughout the fight. It was a five-round all-out war of attrition, and possibly one of the best fights of the year.

And my personal pick for the best moment of UFC 129 is…

1. Lyoto Machida outdoing Anderson Silva’s Front Face Kick of Death by doing a Jumping Front Face Kick of Death.

I was honestly too shocked to scream when Lyoto Machida nailed this strike on Randy Couture. I’ve been known to do my fair amount of shouting when watching a UFC event, but nothing came out when Machida did a leaping kick and KO’d Randy Couture. It was such an amazing strike that part of me didn’t want to believe what I had just seen. But it happened, it was amazing, and it was the highlight of the night. There’s no question that this kick deserves the top spot.

So there you have it, fans and friends: those are the moments I’ll be remembering from UFC 129. But what about you? What do you think everyone will be talking about in the days/weeks to come?

Next for Ben Henderson: It’ll be only the best for “Smooth” from here on out. Henderson’s tenacity, cardio, and punching power all looked very impressive in his UFC debut, as did his trademark flexibility. Henderson may fight John Makdessi next, who is undefeated and scored a dramatic spinning backfist KO at UFC 129. Other potential fighters for this year and beyond include Dennis Siver, George Sotiropoulos, and Clay Guida. The Lightweight division is still getting itself sorted out right now, so it’s hard to nail down an exact opponent, but I do think that Henderson will get a pretty big name for his next challenge.

Next for Vladimir Matyushenko: I think it’s time that Matyushenko met Antonio Rogerio Nogueira again. The two fought at an Affliction card back in 2009, with “Little Nog” winning by TKO in Round 2. But things have changed since then: Nogueira appears to be struggling to stay afloat in the super-competitive Light Heavyweight division, while “The Janitor” just got done with one of the fastest victories of his career. I think it’s time to see if “Little Nog” should still be considered amongst the 205 elite, or if it’s time for Vladimir to ascend to such a status.

Next for Randy Couture: Have we seen the last of Randy Couture? The world may never know. It would only moderately shock me if Couture waited a few years and then announced that he’d fight at 50 years old, just to prove that he could. In the near future, though, expect Couture to get offered up some kind of deal, kind of (but not exactly) similar to the deal Chuck Liddell took, which Couture may or may not take due to his film career. If nothing else, I think Couture will put the headset back on and be a guest announcer for at least a handful of UFC shows.

Next for Lyoto Machida: If Matt Hamill beats Quinton Jackson, then it’s time for the Rampage/Machida rematch so many wanted after Jackson won a controversial decision. If Jackson does beat Hamill, Machida could end up facing someone like Ryan Bader, Forrest Griffin, or Rich Franklin. I think Machida proved a lot in this fight with Couture, and I think the UFC is going to put Machida right back in the shark tank for his next bout.

Next for Jose Aldo: It’s currently rumored that Aldo’s next opponent will be Chad Mendes at UFC 133 in August. Mendes is an undefeated 10-0 fighter with two (T)KO’s and two submissions. I think it’s likely that Jose Aldo will beat Chad Mendes, and if he does, Aldo will then most likely face Kenny Florian in a bout that I think shows clear favoritism for Florian. Nonetheless, I think Aldo will beat both Mendes and Florian.

Next for Georges St. Pierre: I certainly know what I want to be next for GSP: either a super-fight with Anderson Silva or a “title vs. title” match with Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz. But I know that there’s a mountain of red tape preventing both of those fights from happening. So here’s what I think is most likely for GSP: Carlos Condit. Condit will steamroll Dong Hyun Kim, and with the rumors and speculation all coming to naught once again, GSP will fight Condit near the end of the year.

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 129?

How do these Black House guys do it?

Theory 1- Steven Seagal: It’s widely known that the high level Aikido black belt and martial arts movie actor is very good friends with both Machida and Silva, and has been working with them in camp. Speaking to that, Seagal told MMAFighting.com’s Ariel Helwani that “we worked very hard on that kick for a long, long time,” following Machida’s UFC 129 victory. “I really, really worked hard on that kick and I wanted him to do that kick; and he wanted to do it and he knew he could and he did.”

Of course, there was recently some talk of Seagal taking credit for inventing the front kick to the face (following Silva’s victory over Belfort), a kick that has been taught in traditional martial arts schools for years. Seagal, however, answered the critics.

“I didn’t invent anything,” he said. “I modified them in such a way that I can think I can make my students and myself in a real fight land them and hurt people.”

Regardless, it’s hard to ignore the fact that both Machida and Silva have given Seagal credit for helping them.

Theory 2- Machida and Silva’s Traditional Background: Let’s face it, there are a lot of fighters, trainers, and fans traveling in MMA circles that believe the traditional martial arts styles hold no worth in an MMA cage (or in the street, for that matter). Of course, Machida is the embodiment of the opposite of that philosophy, with his Shotokan karate background. What’s more, Silva, albeit on a lesser scale, started his martial arts training in Tae Kwon Do and Capoeira. Thus, their ability to hit home with more traditional kicks, etc., might simply be due to their training backgrounds.

But in the end, it’s probably not either one of these things in isolation. Seagal by himself probably couldn’t help the majority of MMA fighters in any way. After all, you have to be open to hearing things from a traditional stylist, which the far majority of MMA people aren’t. Of course, the fact that Machida (especially) and Silva have a background in the traditional styles already makes the types of strikes and kicks they’re hitting home with in matches possible. But their mindset in training is what allows them to open themselves up to someone like Seagal.

These Black House guys do it because they’ve been doing it and are open to doing it. Can’t wait to see what happens next- maybe Chuck Norris will get involved.

Pablo Garza defeats Yves Jabouin by Submission (Flying Triangle) at 4:31 of Round 1. John Makdessi defeats Kyle Watson by KO (Spinning Backfist) at 1:27 of Round 3. Jason MacDonald defeats Ryan Jensen by Submission (Triangle Choke) at 1:37 of Round 1. Ivan Menjivar defeats Charlie Valencia by TKO (Strikes) at 1:30 of Round 1. Claude Patrick defeats Daniel Roberts by Unanimous Decision.

Jake Ellenberger defeats Sean Pierson by KO (Strikes) at 2:42 of Round 1. Rory MacDonald defeats Nate Diaz by Unanimous Decision. Ben Henderson defeats Mark Bocek by Unanimous Decision. Vladimir Matyushenko defeats Jason Brilz by KO (Strikes) at 0:20 of Round 1. Lyoto Machida defeats Randy Couture by KO (Front Kick) at 1:05 of Round 2. Jose Aldo defeats Mark Hominick by Unanimous Decision. Georges St. Pierre defeats Jake Shields by Unanimous Decision.

When it comes to the “UFC on Prelims LIVE” specials, both on Facebook and Spike TV, all I can really say is “Wow”. From the moment the first fight aired on Facebook (about five minutes late, mind you), we had non-stop fireworks and several amazing finishes. You know you’re in for something special when the first fight is a non-stop war that ends with a Flying Triangle submission.

From there, things got even better. John Makdessi nailed a fantastic spinning backfist to KO Kyle Watson after three very intense rounds of action. Then, Jason MacDonald triumphantly returned to the UFC after a serious injury and proceeded to put on a ground clinic before choking out Ryan Jensen. But that was only three of the four finishes we got to see on the Facebook stream of “UFC Prelims LIVE”. To top it all off, Ivan Menjivar heinously broke Charlie Valencia’s nose with a brutal elbow before finishing him.

And in the main event of the Facebook broadcast, Claude Patrick and Daniel Roberts had a pretty entertaining three-round scrap. As if that wasn’t good enough, we had a great finish from Jake Ellenberger and a landmark performance from Sean Pierson, who completely outclassed and outright schooled Nate Diaz. Pierson is definitely one of the can’t-miss prospects of the division.

Overall, this was by far the best “UFC Prelims LIVE” special I’ve ever seen. It’ll take me a few days to come to an official conclusion, but right now I can say that “Prelims LIVE” blasted ahead of the competition in the race to crown my next “dark horse favorite” and replacement to the WEC. I think I’ll be tied up with UFC 129 post-event coverage for the next several days, but sometime next week I may just officially declare “UFC Prelims LIVE” my new dark horse favorite. Stay tuned.

I was very, very, very happy that Ben Henderson defeated Mark Bocek. I think Henderson did more than enough to win all three rounds, and to be honest, I was very displeased with Mark Bocek utilizing lay and pray tactics. Henderson was clearly the better striker, by miles, and his flexibility and ever-improving ground game all but neutralized Mark Bocek. Part of me was worried that Bocek would have been gifted a decision, and that part of me was already planning a mini-tirade, but all is well now that “Smooth” has picked up his first win in the UFC.

Sometimes it’s true that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks… but Vladimir Matyushenko’s old bag of tricks seems to be doing him just fine. Matyushenko has arguably never looked more impressive in the UFC, and I think this is the start of a pretty interesting comeback. With this win, “The Janitor” has now won five out of his last six, and is currently riding high with back-to-back stoppages. So where does he go from here? I don’t know for sure, but I do know that Matyushenko just put a whole lot of Light Heavyweight fighters on notice with his fantastic KO’ing of Jason Brilz.

Does it really get any better than a leaping Front Face Kick KO? That was Lyoto Machida at his best, and I think this fight set up the comeback I’ve been waiting for. Lyoto Machida is back, ladies and gentlemen, and I can’t wait to see what’s next for him. When it comes to Randy Couture, there’s not too much I could say that I haven’t already said before. Randy is one of the most humble, most genuine, most amazing persons in the history of the UFC, as well as one of the greatest fighters in MMA history. I hate to see him go, but I completely understand his decision to do so. Randy Couture… I’m going to miss watching you fight. I’m going to miss you a whole hell of a lot.

What a fantastic co-main event, a fight that truly displayed the tremendous heart and skill of both Jose Aldo and Mark Hominick. To be completely and bluntly honest, I would have only been slightly upset if Mark Hominick had pulled off the surprise upset. Hominick has now asserted himself as one of the best Featherweight fighters in the world, and Jose Aldo now has a giant target on his back since his aura of invincibility has taken a big hit. I can’t wait to see what’s next for Jose Aldo, and I wish nothing but the best for Mark Hominick.

And in the main event, Georges St. Pierre once again proved why he’s the Pound-for-Pound best fighter in the world. Jake Shields is arguably the toughest test GSP has ever faced, and if he’s not, he’s definitely one of the toughest. But just like so many of his other fights, GSP spent the majority of this fight utterly outclassing his opponent. There’s nothing left for GSP at Welterweight… it’s time for a super-fight with Anderson Silva.

Overall, I honestly can’t think of a better UFC event. I can’t think of an event that had more outstanding matches, more dramatic finishes, more amazing submissions, more highlight-reel KO’s. From the absolute bottom to the tip of the top, just about every fight not only lived up to my expectations, but exceeded them. This was a night I don’t think I’ll be forgetting for a long, long, long time. Perhaps it’s just the adrenaline talking right now, but I honestly think UFC 129 could go down as the greatest UFC event of all time.

But that’s just what I thought, fans and friends. What about you? Any thoughts on this card?

Prior to his recent stint at UFC 129 earlier tonight, Machida was riding a two-fight losing streak heading into the cage when he took on former champions Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, respectively, and another loss here could have certainly laid question as to whether or not the UFC would keep the Brazilian around, despite his accomplishments within the organization.

Thankfully, Machida left the cage without pondering those same stifling questions as he pulled out the proverbial “Karate Kid” crane kick and capped off the evening with a fantastic knockout which earned him a bonus for his efforts.

After a first round which saw Couture, a former Olympic Greco Roman wrestler, attempt to drive Machida into the clinch, the Karate specialist remained patient in the early goings by picking his shots on the feet and continuing to use his elusive style which initially earned him his 16 career victories. Eventually in the second-round, Lyoto found Randy standing right in front of him without little to no movement and at that point, Machida saw his opportunity.

I’m not really sure what you call it–a switch kick front head kick? The LaRusso bomber? The Crane? Regardless of the minor details, Lyoto displayed amazing accuracy by landing said kick to the chin of a flatly plotted Couture, which immediately sent him crashing to the canvas. Machida followed, though the additional blows were academic to a clearly finished Couture.

The fight ending sequence would seem virtually unreal, that is if UFC middleweight champion and fellow teammate Anderson Silva had not replicated more-or-less the same move earlier this year, when “The Spider” used his own front kick to knockdown Vitor Belfort during their championship match at UFC 126 this past February.

Both Silva and Machida have given praise and thanks to not only their trainers, but one man in particular that has been making waves in the mixed martial arts industry as of late: Steven Seagal. Long gone are his days of box-office supremacy, though his legacy is living on now in the world of MMA. It’s both an interesting and awkward proposition that the members of the Blackhouse umbrella have now found themselves in.

Now back on the winning track, Machida can look to build on the ultra-impressive performance which earned him the evenings “Knockout of the Night”, and additionally $129,000 in bonus earnings for the highlight reel finish.

Those that have followed me for any prolonged length of time know that I’ve struggled to find a proper replacement to the WEC as my “dark horse favorite”. That’s the show/series/promotion I constantly advocate and cover in hopes that people will tune in and see what all the fuss is about, and then consequently turn into fans that start supporting the promotion in earnest. Currently, three shows are battling it out for that spot: the “UFC Prelims LIVE” events, the Bellator events on MTV2, and Strikeforce’s “Challengers” series of shows.

With seven free preliminary fights scheduled for UFC 129, all of which sound great on paper, this could be the event that finally crowns a new “dark horse favorite”. But I have to wonder: is it fair to give that sort of accolade to this sort of show? It’s still the UFC, after all… it’s just the preliminary fights.

That’s one side of the argument, here’s the other: if “Prelims LIVE” is exempt because it’s just a different aspect of the same product, “Challengers” should be exempt as well, since it’s still Strikeforce. That would leave only Bellator, and I have to wonder: is that fair, given that both “Prelims LIVE” and “Challengers” are only beginning to come out of their bubbles as the “B-shows”? And don’t forget, Bellator is struggling to emerge out of that very same bubble.

So I’m going to throw it to you, fans and friends, to let me know what you think I should do. I’ll consider every option and give honest thought to any and all responses. The question is: in the hunt to crown my next “dark horse favorite”, is it fair that shows like “UFC Prelims LIVE” and “Strikeforce Challengers” are in the running? Because with seven free fights on Spike TV and Facebook, that question is more important to me now than ever, since UFC 129’s preliminary fights may finally tip the scales in that series’ favor.

In regards to the rest of the card, I’m really excited to see Ben Henderson debut in the UFC. He’s coming off of a loss, sure, but that fight just so happened to be one of the best fights I’ve ever seen. I think Ben Henderson can go very far in the UFC. Mark Bocek will be a tough test and a real proving point for Henderson, and I look forward to seeing him bring his incredibly effective mix of cardio, speed, power, and flexibility into the Octagon.

I think I may get a little misty-eyed if Randy Couture makes good on the rumors and retires if he loses to Lyoto Machida. I know it’s very selfish of me, but part of me just doesn’t want Randy Couture to stop fighting. I just like watching him so much, and he still puts so much into his fights even at his age. He may not have had the best record in the UFC, nor was he the most dominant fighter of his time, but Randy Couture is a legend nonetheless.

When it comes to the two title fights, I’ve said so much about both of them that I’m honestly out of words. I think they’re going to be excellent fights, and I can guarantee I’ll be on the edge of my seat for both of those fights. I think the following is a pretty fitting last thing to say about these fights, so here it is: I’m just glad the wait is almost over.

And there you have it, fans and friends: my final thoughts on UFC 129. And what about you? Any last thoughts before this historic event?

Mark Bocek vs. Ben Henderson: Although Bocek has fought eight times in the UFC, he’s lost to some of the UFC’s top-division stars. And Ben Henderson was one of the last WEC Lightweight Champions. By the time the WEC folded, I think you could make a serious argument that their best matched the UFC’s best, in particular, I’m talking about Anthony Pettis and Ben Henderson. “Bendo” is one of the best Lightweight fighters in the world, and I think he’s going to prove that at UFC 129. Ben Henderson wins by submission in Round 1.

Vladimir Matyushenko vs. Jason Brilz: “The Janitor” has lost one fight in his latest return to the UFC, and that was to eventual Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones. Matyushenko has won four of his last five, and I think he’s ready for a fighter like Jason Brilz. Brilz is very tough and has some good submissions on his record, but Matyushenko has fought his entire career without ever getting submitted. It’ll be a long, hard-fought war, but Vladimir Matyushenko will win by Unanimous Decision.

Randy Couture vs. Lyoto Machida: Part of me really, really wants the UFC’s ageless wonder to put together another legendary performance and defeat a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. But I just don’t think that’s going to happen. With his back against the wall, Lyoto Machida will come out with his best, and leagues better than he’s recently been. He’s had time to reflect and reconnect with what made him a champion, and I think this will be the start of Machida’s big comeback. As much as I hate to pick against Couture, I believe that Machida will win by KO in the first round.

Jose Aldo vs. Mark Hominick: I just can’t pick against Jose Aldo. It just strikes me as impossible. I truly think we’ve only begun to see the best Jose Aldo. With Aldo healthy and anxious to make his UFC debut, I think Mark Hominick is going to get destroyed. I don’t say that out of disrespect for Hominick, but out of the respect I have for Aldo’s killer instinct, smart technique, and ridiculous striking power. It’ll take him a round or two to find his flow and get into his groove, but sooner or later Mark Hominick will be just another victim laying on the canvas thanks to the hands and feet of Jose Aldo. Jose Aldo wins by (T)KO either in Round 2 or Round 3.

Georges St. Pierre vs. Jake Shields: Much like Couture/Machida, part of me really wants to see the underdog go all the way and shock everyone. I like Jake Shields, I really do. I’ve defended him from accusations of being a boring fighter, and I’ve followed him for quite some time. But there’s good, and then there’s great. And then there’s great and greater. Jake Shields is greater than most of the great Welterweights in the world… but George St. Pierre is the greatest. By far. GSP has just been too good for too long, and he’ll have over 55,000 screaming Canadians all on his side. It will probably stand out as one of the best fights of the year, and in the end, Georges St. Pierre will win by Unanimous Decision.

And that’s what I think, fans and friends. But what about you? Who do you see winning, and why, at UFC 129: “St. Pierre vs. Shields”?

5. Seven free fights. Seven. That’s two more than the Pay-Per-View broadcast.

A certain section of fans love to complain about how they’re not getting their money’s worth when they purchase some of the UFC’s less-than-stellar Pay-Per-View shows. To counteract that, or at least to soften the blow somewhat, the UFC routinely offers up free preliminary fights from most major cards, whether it be through Facebook, Spike TV, or even ION Television. And this one event will see all seven preliminary fights broadcast, two on Spike TV and a whopping five on Facebook. If you’re a fan of free fights (and how could you not be?), UFC 129 is a can’t-miss event.

4. Randy Couture could be fighting for the very last time at UFC 129.

There is only one Randy Couture, and there will always be only one Randy Couture. Couture is a legend, a multi-division champion, one of the best Octagon warriors to ever call the UFC home. And his dramatic comeback that started all the way back when he won the UFC Heavyweight Championship may finally be at an end. Faced with former Light Heavyweight Champion Lyoto Machida, Couture may finally hang up the gloves following the bout. If only for what should be an amazing post-fight speech, this fight shouldn’t be missed.

3. Jose Aldo debuts in the UFC against feared striker Mark Hominick.

It’s time for the UFC faithful to see what all the fuss was about. It’s hard to justify hype like “the best Featherweight fighter in the world” and “currently one of the best pound-for-pound fighters”. But not only does Aldo justify that hype, he makes you feel foolish for even doubting him in the first place. But Mark Hominick won’t be going down without a fight. It’s going to be an all-out war between one of the best fighters competing today and the unlikely challenger that will try his hardest to do the impossible.

2. Georges St. Pierre defends his championship against Jake Shields.

Can anyone beat Georges St. Pierre? A lot of people say “no” to that question. But Jake Shields doesn’t think so. Jake Shields knows he can beat Georges St. Pierre, and even GSP himself knows that he’s not unstoppable. GSP will walk into UFC 129 with the odds overwhelmingly stacked in his favor, but when has that ever held back Jake Shields? There are so many things that could happen in this fight, and both men are at such a high skill level, that this fight has all the makings of an instant classic.

And the number-one reason to watch UFC 129 is…

1. It’s UFC 129. ‘Nuff said.

I’ve had a lot of time to think over this card, and I’ve spent a lot of time covering it in detail. And with every new fight covered, with all my research done, I can now say one thing for sure: this event is going to be the most important MMA event of 2011. It’s a major victory for the UFC, and in my opinion, it’s way bigger than the victory they scored when they booked an event in Abu Dhabi for the first time. This could go down as a defining moment in the UFC’s history. It absolutely should not be missed.

So there you have it, fans and friends: five great reasons to tune in and see UFC 129. What about you? As the date draws ever-closer, what are you most looking forward to for this event?

The Event: UFC 129 “St. Pierre vs. Shields”, currently scheduled for April 30, 2011 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Five preliminary fights will be shown on the UFC’s Facebook page starting at 6:00 PM ET. Two additional preliminary fights will be shown on Spike TV starting at 8:00 PM ET. The five-fight main card will be shown live on Pay-Per-View starting at 9:00 PM ET.

Why You Should Care: This is the UFC’s debut in Toronto after a long, long period of legal strife. It is also the first UFC event ever to be held inside of a stadium. It will also set the record for the largest North American MMA crowd in history, with over 55,000 fans expected to fill the Rogers Centre. And to top it all off, the event features two championship bouts with two dominant champions defending against two tough challengers, in addition to what could be the last fight of MMA legend Randy Couture’s career.

What to Look Forward to in the Main Event: Georges St. Pierre is considered the greatest fighter in the world, in the eyes of many. He’s practically revered in Canada. And as good as he’s been, Georges St. Pierre just keeps improving. We think his ground game has peaked, then he just comes out and dominates like never before. We think his striking isn’t good anymore, then he jabs Josh Koscheck at will for five rounds and breaks his orbital bone. GSP is one of the toughest tests any MMA fighter at any weight class could ever face. And in his path is Jake Shields, a multi-promotion champion with great wrestling, great submissions, good hand speed and power, and impressive cardio. Shields may be the underdog, but if there was a world out there where Georges St. Pierre didn’t exist, Jake Shields would probably be the one wearing UFC gold right now.

What to Look Forward to in the Co-Main Event: Jose Aldo was so dominant inside the WEC’s famous blue cage that he looked almost inhuman. He finished so many people, and the one man he couldn’t finish in the WEC just so happened to be one of the greatest Featherweight fighters of all time. Aldo is a wrecking machine disguised as a man, and he’s facing a very tough test in Mark Hominick. Hominick is fast, packs a powerful punch, and is a very cerebral striker. This is going to be a very violent fight, but it should also be a great one.

Why You Should Watch This Card: There’s not a lot more I could say about this card other than “go watch it”. It’s really getting to that point. I’m such a big fan of this card. You want free fights? You get seven. You want a good PPV card? You get five fights, two title fights, Randy Couture, and more. There’s very, very, very little not to like about this card.

Why You Shouldn’t Watch This Card: I honestly can’t think of one. Some of the fights may not look all that close on paper, but anything can happen in MMA and 2010 taught us that that’s a saying that’s more true now than ever. It’s a ridiculously stacked card and you should watch it. Period.

Closing Thoughts: I can’t wait to see this card. I’ve been building it up for the past several weeks and days, but I have complete faith that it’s going to live up to its potential. This is going to be an awesome, awesome event.

And what about you, fans and friends? Anybody out there looking forward to UFC 129?

In case you’re a late arrival to the series or have simply forgotten, I’m ordering these fights in accordance with the UFC’s official listing of the UFC 129 card, which can be viewed here. So just in case any of you are wondering why this fight was placed lower on the card than the fight between Vladimir Matyushenko and Jason Brilz… make no mistake, I’m wondering the same exact thing. But here we are and there it is.

As always, I’ll start off each entry into the series by putting the highlighted fight into context.

How would I describe Randy Couture? It would be easier to list the things he hasn’t done. I’ve said this before, but heading into what could be his last fight, I believe this now more than ever: Randy Couture represents the heart and soul of MMA. He loves this sport and respects all who compete in it. He’s held numerous championships in multiple weight divisions. He was there when the UFC was being decried as “human cockfighting”. He was there when the UFC gambled everything on a concept called “The Ultimate Fighter”. He was there when MMA evolved into something bigger than anyone who followed the sport throughout its darkest days could have ever imagined.

Let’s not sugar-coat things, though: Randy Couture hasn’t always had the best relationship with the UFC’s top brass. He’s also lost more than one high-profile fight by dramatic stoppage. But all of that is overshadowed by what he’s accomplished in the Octagon, to the point where his struggles are virtually meaningless in the grand scheme of things. He’s “Captain America”. He’s “The Natural”. He broke new ground the moment he stepped into the Octagon all those years ago, and he continues to break new ground by competing at such a high level while being far past a point where most fighters assume their bodies will break down. There is only one Randy Couture.

Lyoto Machida was supposed to be the “chosen one”, the one who would break the “curse” of UFC Light Heavyweight Champions losing their belts in their first few defenses. It was a rather dubious streak that stretched all the way back to when Quinton Jackson knocked out Chuck Liddell, and “The Dragon” was supposed to be the one to break it. But such was not the case, and Machida is currently on a two-fight losing-streak. But still, Machida is a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, and that division is perhaps the most stacked, most competitive division in the entire UFC. However brief his reign may have been, Lyoto Machida was once thought of as one of the greatest fighters in the world. And he can reach that pinnacle again, no matter what the doubters or cynics say.

It’s hard, really hard, for me to pick a winner in this fight. I’m a huge fan of both men, and this is one of those rare fights where I honestly, wholeheartedly wished that neither man has to lose. I don’t want Randy Couture to lose and then retire. I don’t want Lyoto Machida to lose three fights in a row and be put on the chopping block. But I know this is going to be an excellent fight, and at least for right now… that’s enough.

So that’s what I think about that fight, fans and friends. Stay tuned, “Complete Collection” will soon be entering the double digits. And what about you? Any thoughts on this match-up?

What do the fighters think about the biggest night of their professional life … just seven days away? From GSP to Randy Couture to Jose Aldo to Pablo Garza – here are some fighter comments from the UFC press conference earlier this week.

GEORGES ST-PIERRE on facing the most dangerous threat to his title and the significance of this pivotal event in UFC history:

“He’s the toughest guy that I’ve fought. He’s a specialist with submissions, but I’m gonna beat him because I’m more well-rounded.

“It’s an honor for me to be headlining this card because it’s a historical event, but don’t blink. There’s gonna be a lot of action. My ultimate goal in this sport is being the greatest and also being the one who made the difference and brought the sport of mixed martial arts to another level.”

JAKE SHIELDS on fighting in front of 55,000 GSP fans:

“They are going to be booing me like crazy. There’s no way to prepare for 55,000 people booing you, but I know what’s going to happen and that’s beat GSP.

“The Canadians will go home pretty miserable, but hopefully they will at least appreciate that they saw something special in the title changing hands in a huge upset.”

JOSE ALDO on being UFC champion and keeping his dream alive against a tough opponent:

“Being UFC champion and defending the UFC belt is a real dream come true. I literally dreamed as a kid of being a UFC champion, I wanted to grow up and be like the great Brazilian fighters I always heard about.

“Hominick is a great fighter; he is the number one contender. I know this is his dream too – but his dream must come to an end for my dream to go on. And I have come too far, worked too hard and want to take care of my family too much to let anyone take this UFC belt from me.”

MARK HOMINICK on what drives him and the emotions of co-headlining an event of this magnitude:

“I’ve always thought MMA is about winning and that’s what drives me. I don’t need something to motivate me to train or to win; the win is what drives me and the win is still what it’s about.”

This whole event has been such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and it’s just been crazy and I’m really trying to enjoy the ride. I’m just trying to take it all in. This is an experience that I’ll look back on and say ‘wow, that was a crazy time.’”

RANDY COUTURE on possibly fighting his last match in front of a record crowd:

“I kind of want to go out on my own terms and decide when enough is enough and I think that time has come.  I realize I’ve pushed it a lot further than anybody is going to push it. I just feel like I want to go out on my terms, and not after one or two or three losses, and have everybody else telling you should be retiring. I kind of want to do it when I want to do it. I think now is the time.

“It’s certainly exciting to be involved in a card like this and have it be before a crowd of 55,000 or more and set a new attendance record.  It’s certainly fun for me to be a part of that whole thing and part of that historical event.”

LYOTO MACHIDA on fighting a UFC legend in what may be his last fight of his career and what he expects from “The Natural”:

“I have so much respect for Randy Couture; I am honored to match up my skills with a legend, especially in front of the biggest crowd in UFC history. If this truly is Randy’s final fight, it is truly an honor, because people always remember the final fight of a legend.

“Randy is known for always having a plan, for being able to figure out any style and always coming up with a battle plan. I look forward to matching my skills and tactics against his, but regardless of the result, Randy will be leaving the Octagon as a champion and legend.”

VLADIMIR MATYUSHENKO on his quiet, but dangerous opponent Jason Brilz:

“He has good wrestling and grappling, and dangerous striking, but I’m coming in there looking to do what I always do, and that’s power my way to the victory.”

JASON BRILZ on fighting in front of the passionate Canadian fans:

“I’m glad I’m not fighting a Canadian because it’s going to be pretty loud in there!”

Canadian MARK BOCEK on competing at this historic event:

“It’s an honor to fight at home at the biggest UFC in history, I will remember it forever.”

BEN HENDERSON on fighting respected Canadian grappler Bocek on his home turf:

“I don’t care.  I have to go into his backyard, but my last fight, (Anthony) Pettis had to fight me in my backyard (Glendale, Ariz.), so it’s OK.  I fought in Edmonton twice before.  I love the Canadian fans.  They appreciate wrestling and jiu-jitsu and really know what’s going on.  They’re very knowledgeable fans.”

NATE DIAZ on fighting UFC up-and-comer Rory MacDonald:

“He seems like a tough guy. He trains with a good bunch of fighters, but the guys I train with are better, so I’m gonna put it on him.”

RORY MACDONALD on his MMA dreams becoming a reality:

“I’m happy I get to show the world what I can do.  This is a very big opportunity for me on a major card for the UFC.  I dreamed I would be a part of something like this when I was younger.”

Sean Pierson, a St-Pierre training partner and native Ontarian, on carrying the pride of a nation:

“To be a part of history, on the first UFC card ever in Toronto, is an honor for me.  It’s an honor to represent my fellow Canadians.  Being Canadian means I have to carry more on my back.  I’m going out there to represent Canadians, my family, and my friends the best that I can.”

JAKE ELLENBERGER on the outcome of his fight with Sean Pierson:

“This is an important fight for me and I’m going to leave with my hand raised.”

CLAUDE PATRICK on fighting Daniel Roberts, who trains at the famed Cesar Gracie Academy:

“His record in the UFC speaks for itself, and coming from Cesar Gracie’s Academy, you know he will be prepared, so it’s making for great training motivation for me to get the win.”

DANIEL ROBERTS on representing the U.S. in front of a pro-Canadian crowd:

“I’m definitely going to represent the U.S. and bring back a win. I plan on fighting my fight and quieting that crowd. I know that the Canadian fans are passionate but they’re going to be disappointed on fight night.

“It’s not even a contest. Canada has some good fighters, but we have the best.”

IVAN MENJIVAR, originally from El Salvador but now living in Montreal, on representing his adopted home country:

“I fight for me, for my family and my team, but I feel happy to have Canada, Quebec and El Salvador behind me for this fight.  I am the pride of El Salvador, the pride of Quebec, the pride of Canada.  It is fun to see the popularity of the sport in Canada.”

CHARLIE VALENCIA, a long-time WEC veteran, on debuting at this event:

“As long as you put your heart on the line and fight with passion, I’m sure I can win a whole bunch of fans over.”

JASON MACDONALD on his emotional return to the Octagon:

“I’m excited to fight in front of 55,000 Canadians – hopefully they’ll be cheering for me.  It will make the victory celebration that much better.  I’ve fought in front of 20,000 people and that was amazing.  So I can only imagine what it’s going to be like to make my return in front of 55,000 people.”

RYAN JENSEN on fighting in hostile territory:

“I don’t mind being the bad guy.  I’m just out to give fans what they want, which is a knockout.”

JOHN MAKDESSI on what kind of fight he expects from his opponent, Kyle Watson:

“It should be a good fight. He is an experienced fighter and I’m expecting a war.”

KYLE WATSON on fighting a former training partner in Makdessi:

“We both had the unique opportunity to train with each other briefly before this match was made, so we have an idea of what each other will bring to the table.  That being said, I definitely anticipate a tough fight.  However, I feel that I am more well-rounded, and therefore will be able to pressure him in all areas.”

YVES JABOUIN on getting past the event hype and thinking about the job at hand:

“At the end of the day, it’s a fight in a cage and I focus on what I need to do.”

PABLO GARZA, a former college basketball player, on keeping his winning ways:

“Like all of my fights, a good game plan will be implemented in order to get the ‘W.’”

—-

What are your thougths on UFC 129?  I can’t wait to see Aldo/Hominick and Diaz/McDonald!

If the fight ends in a Draw or a close Split Decision, Couture will probably stick around for a rematch.

Although many of Couture’s recent interviews talk of him retiring after this fight, when has that ever really stuck? Couture says he doesn’t want to be Brett Favre, but I think that old fire will stay alight just a little longer if Couture wins controversially or the fight goes to a Draw. Couture has also said that he wants to end his career on his own terms, and after all he’s accomplished, I honestly think Couture would rather go out on his shield rather than leave the Octagon on the heels of a controversial decision or draw. If this fight goes the distance and Couture wins but isn’t fully satisfied with his performance, we probably will be getting a rematch.

If the fight ends in a (T)KO or submission and Couture wants a shot at the Light Heavyweight Championship, they’ll give it to him.

I know this would pretty much break protocol and the established chain of worthwhile contenders, but the UFC has rocketed guys to “championship contender” status in the past, with their only explanation being some form of “get over it”. And they would certainly do just that if Couture wins by a dramatic stoppage. Thing is, Couture would have to want to fight for the championship. But if he does, and if he wins in such a way, the UFC will be more than happy to make this fight happen and ensure that Couture’s last fight is for a championship.

If the fight ends in a Unanimous Decision, Couture will probably retire unless Dana White breaks protocol and gives him a shot at the championship.

I really can’t imagine a better way to end such a stellar career than with a four-fight win-streak inside the UFC. I think Randy Couture knows this as well, and he may pack in the gloves one final time and call it a career if he wins by Unanimous Decision. It’ll be a hell of a retirement speech and I can’t promise that I won’t get a little misty-eyed, but I think if Couture wants to hang around for one more fight, the UFC will give him a shot at the title if he wins, period. It’ll just make more sense if Couture wins by stoppage.

If Randy Couture retires after beating Lyoto Machida, he will retire as the greatest UFC fighter of all time.

I know I’m getting in a lot of hot water here and opening this piece up for a firestorm of debate, but this is something I firmly believe. There have been more dominant fighters, there have been better win-streaks, there may be more “complete” fighters out there. But if you asked me, right now, what one fighter I thought personified the heart and soul of MMA, I’d answer in an instant: Randy Couture. You could ask me that question five years from now, ten years from now even, and I don’t think that answer would change. Agree, disagree, like it or loathe it, but there it is: if Couture ends his career on a four-fight win-streak that included a fight where he defended the sport of MMA against a former boxing champion and then defeated a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, he will retire as the greatest UFC fighter of all time.

And what about you, fans and friends? Any thoughts on what happens if Couture wins?

5. Lyoto Machida will never quit.

When faced with the fact that his stock was rapidly falling and that many fans and even insiders considered him yesterday’s news following a controversial decision loss to Quinton Jackson, Lyoto Machida responded by saying the following: “the dream continues, the journey continues”. Machida has a warrior’s spirit. He knows that nothing is for certain and that all you can do is your absolute best. And love him or hate him, that’s what Machida gives each and every single time he fights.

4. “Do or die” situations tend to bring out the best in champions.

I referenced this in the first part of today’s two-parter, and now I get to do this reason justice. As the old saying goes, sometimes it’s always darkest before the dawn. The history of MMA is littered with epic comebacks. It’s filled with fighters returning to glory and dominance to such a degree that it almost makes their original run at the top pale in comparison. Lyoto Machida’s back is against the wall, and it’s time to find out what he’s really made of. And I truly believe that Machida is made out of what all champions are made of: undeniable skill and an unrelenting spirit.

3. Machida has dealt with wrestler/striker hybrids before.

Two of Lyoto Machida’s most high-profile victories have come against Rashad Evans and Tito Ortiz. And much like Randy Couture, both of those fighters love to trade leather before getting the takedown and then serving up some Ground and Pound. Randy Couture’s style may be all his own, but it does have some similarities to the fighters Machida has faced before. So long as Machida can adapt to Couture’s subtle difference on the fly, that prior knowledge should be an invaluable tool.

2. Who has Couture beat recently, really?

As a Couture fan, I don’t like to ask this question. But I feel as though I must. Randy Couture may have won three straight fights, but let’s consider who he beat. First was Brandon Vera, who never lived up to his potential and probably never will, and that was a close fight that some felt Vera should have won. Then there was Mark Coleman, who was well past his prime and showed up so nervous that he was practically a beaten man the second he stepped into the cage. And finally we had James Toney, the former pro boxer with less than zero takedown defense. Randy Couture’s level of competition just doesn’t measure up when compared to Machida’s.

And the number-one reason I think Lyoto Machida could beat Randy Couture is…

1. “Father Time” will eventually catch up to Randy Couture.

Time and time again we hear about Randy Couture thinking about retirement and tossing that idea back and forth. It had been a constant guessing game of “will he, won’t he” up until the fight with Machida was announced. And honestly, who can blame him? Randy Couture is 47 years old. The man is over half a decade past the normal age where it’s assumed that a fighter is better off calling it a career. Couture can only be the “Ageless Wonder” for so long, and that clock may finally run out against the former Light Heavyweight Champion.

And there you have it, fans and friends. So, once again I’ll ask: Randy Couture. Lyoto Machida. Who’ve you got winning and why?

5. Randy Couture knows how to deal with dangerous and unorthodox strikers.

Randy Couture really has done it all in MMA, and that means that he’s faced virtually every form of opponent out there. While Couture does have several (T)KO losses on his record, he’s got plenty of wins by (T)KO too, and some of those wins were against some of the most dangerous strikers in the game, at the time. He definitely has all the tools necessary to both plan for and defeat Lyoto Machida.

4. The “Machida Enigma” has been solved.

Until Machida fought Mauricio Rua, many people loved to both talk about and debate Lyoto Machida’s elusiveness. Why was it so tricky? Could anyone combat it? But then Rua answered that question not once, but twice. The mystery is over, the mystique is gone. Lyoto Machida’s style is just like any other style: it can make you a champion if you are good enough with it, but it is not without its flaws. And Couture is masterful when it comes to exploiting flaws in his opponent’s gameplan.

3. Couture is still evolving even after all this time.

It’s hard to classify Randy Couture as a fighter. Sure, he’s a world-class wrestler, but he’s so much more. He’s still got some of that old knockout power in his hands, he’s a master of clinching, he practically pioneered dirty boxing in MMA. And yet after all this time, I still notice subtle tweaks in his gameplan, slight changes that keep his style both relevant and imposing. One of the main reasons Couture is MMA’s “Ageless Wonder” is because of his uncanny ability to adapt his style over time. And that’s also one of the main reasons he could beat Lyoto Machida.

2. Randy Couture is on a three-fight win-streak.

It’s been almost two years since Randy Couture lost in the UFC. Since then, he’s competed three times, twice at Light Heavyweight and once at Heavyweight, and has won all three bouts. Even better, Couture is currently riding high on the heels of two back-to-back submissions. Meanwhile, Lyoto Machida is coming off of two very, very deflating losses.

And the number one reason why I think Randy Couture could beat Lyoto Machida is…

1. Lyoto Machida’s legacy and UFC career may be at stake, but Randy Couture will retire a legend no matter what.

I’m one of the biggest Machida fans out there, but this is definitely the major reason why Couture can beat Machida. Sometimes a “do or die” situation brings out the best in a champion (more on that later), but sometimes it doesn’t. Machida is running on the razor’s edge, only a select few remain UFC employees after losing three straight fights. Meanwhile, Couture could retire tomorrow and everyone would consider him one of the best ever, even if I’m sure everyone would be upset about him pulling out of this fight. With no pressure and nothing left to prove, Couture can simply go out and do what he loves to do: not just fighting, but winning.

And that’s what I think, fans and friends. Stay tuned for part 2, it’ll be up soon. But for now: why do you think Randy Couture could beat Lyoto Machida?

5. Gilbert Melendez vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri at Strikeforce: “Diaz vs. Daley”.

Much like Bellator’s Eddie Alvarez, I consider Gilbert Melendez one of the most under-rated Lightweights on the planet. Melendez is a very worthy Strikeforce champion, and I think he’s going to hold his belt for some time. For those of you who may not know, “Crusher” Kawajiri loves to knock people out and will be a very worthy test for “El Nino”. This has all the makings of a fantastic brawl.

4. Jose Aldo vs. Mark Hominick at UFC 129: “St. Pierre vs. Shields”.

Speaking of fantastic brawls… seeing Jose Aldo debut in the UFC is going to be amazing. Aldo was arguably the WEC’s brightest star and biggest asset before it was merged with the UFC. Aldo simply ran through everybody, he dominated and demolished every single fighter in his path and even made it look easy on many occasions. Aldo is one of the best and most dynamic strikers in the business, and now UFC fans finally get to see first-hand what all the fuss is about.

3. Randy Couture vs. Lyoto Machida UFC 129: “St. Pierre vs. Shields”.

If I could pick one fight from all the fights on this list and have it end with neither man losing, it would be this one. I just don’t want to think about what another loss will do to these two: if Couture gets TKO’d or KO’d he may hang it up again, if Machida loses again he may be cut from the UFC. This should be an excellent match, but I think the end will be tough for me to sit through. This is a fight that puts one of the greatest of all time and one of my favorite fighters (Couture) against another favorite of mine, someone I’ve continued to proudly support throughout all his ups and downs (Machida). It’ll be a great fight no matter who wins.

2. Nick Diaz vs. Paul Daley at Strikeforce: “Diaz vs. Daley”.

Who is Paul Daley? He’s the man that exited the UFC on the heels of an embarrassing loss to Josh Koscheck and received a permanent exile for attacking Koscheck after the fight. He’s the man that continually has problems with his weight. But he’s also the most dangerous striker Nick Diaz has ever faced. Despite all his flaws, there is no coming back from a Paul Daley punch: if he hits you good, you’re as good as done. In one way, Diaz has the ability to mop the floor with Daley. But in another way, this is one of the biggest challenges Diaz will ever face. And there’s only one way to see which way this fight goes.

And my number-one most-anticipated fight of April 2011 is…

1. Georges St. Pierre vs. Jake Shields UFC 129: “St. Pierre vs. Shields”.

If you thought GSP got a big reaction in Canada before, picture what the crowd will be like when they number over 55,000. In Jake Shields, GSP faces a very different threat than any of the fighters he’s faced in a long, long, long time: not only does Shields have good standup, not only does he have impressive takedown ability, he’s also a wizard on the ground. GSP is just too good at everything, though. Or is he? Anything is possible in MMA, especially when you’re talking about a multiple promotion, multiple weight class champion like Jake Shields. I have no doubt that this will go down as one of the biggest fights of the year.

And there you have it, fans and friends! But what about you? What bouts are you most looking forward to for April 2011?

Courtesy of MMA Weekly, the UFC recently made official two bouts that many were already expecting to be added to this card. First up is a major Featherweight showdown between UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo and fantastic striker Mark Hominick, with Aldo’s championship on the line. The fight will take co-main event duties behind Georges St. Pierre and his UFC Welterweight Championship defense against high-profile Strikeforce defector and former Strikeforce champion Jake Shields.

The other confirmed bout is a battle between a legend and a legend-in-the-making, as it’s now been confirmed that Lyoto Machida will face Randy Couture. Machida is coming off of a somewhat-controversial loss to Quinton Jackson, and needs a win badly or else he’ll be on a three-fight losing-streak. It was widely rumored that Randy Couture was unofficially retired, but the UFC appears to have made him a fight and given him an opponent he simply couldn’t refuse. Both men are former UFC champions.

With the addition of these two bouts, the UFC 129 card is now complete, pending any unforeseen injuries that necessitate changes. So long as everyone remains healthy, the official fight card is as follows: Georges St-Pierre (c) vs. Jake Shields for the UFC Welterweight Championship, José Aldo (c) vs Mark Hominick for the UFC Featherweight Championship, Matt Hamill vs.  Phil Davis, Randy Couture vs. Lyoto Machida, Mark Bocek vs. Ben Henderson, Rory MacDonald vs.  Nate Diaz, Sean Pierson vs.  Brian Foster, Yves Jabouin vs.  Pablo Garza, Claude Patrick vs.  Daniel Roberts, Ivan Menjivar vs.  Charlie Valencia, Jason MacDonald vs. Ryan Jensen, and John Makdessi vs. Kyle Watson.

At least on paper, this looks to be the best card of the year. It simply doesn’t get much better than this. The UFC is bringing everything to the table for this show, it’s a pivotal moment and the UFC fully knows this. I can’t wait to see GSP defend his belt against Jake Shields, even though I think St. Pierre will once again put on a flawless performance, I know Jake Shields will make it a fight. We’re certainly in for a great battle no matter where this fight goes.

Then you have Jose Aldo vs. Mark Hominick, which should be a fantastic clash of high-level strikers that should fully and triumphantly introduce Jose Aldo to UFC fans and help mold him into the superstar every former WEC fan knows he could one day become. And to top it all off, you’ve even got Randy Couture taking on Lyoto Machida in a fight that should be awesome even though I’d hate to see either man lose, since I’m a big Couture fan as well as a huge Machida fan. Finally, we’ve even got entertaining stars like Ben Henderson, Nate Diaz, and more. UFC 129 should be an excellent event, and set the standard for the year.

And what about you, fans and friends? What do you make of this finalized UFC 129 card?

With credit going to MMA Fighting, White recently said the following at a Q&A session: “[Machida’s] had two losses in a row… Now he’s fighting Randy Couture in Toronto – and this is a must-win for him… Tito’s got to win this fight to stay in the UFC. If he loses this fight, he’ll probably retire.”

As a semi-converted kinda-sorta Tito Ortiz fan, I have to admit that I do feel bad that Ortiz’s promised comeback has never remotely gotten a chance to materialize. Was it really so long ago that Ortiz was the feared “Huntington Beach Bad Boy” that was known around the world as the most dominant, most popular, and most controversial star in the entire UFC? Because it certainly feels like it’s been an eternity since the last time Ortiz was relevant.

I honestly think Ortiz should indeed cut his losses and call it a career if he loses his next fight, which is scheduled to be against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira in the headlining bout of UFC “Fight Night 24”, also known as “Fight Night: Ortiz vs. Nogueira“. Ortiz hasn’t won an MMA fight since 2006, and his last two wins were both against a past-his-prime Ken Shamrock (and yes, Shamrock was well past his prime even in 2006). And unless Ortiz wants to become his old arch-rival, ruining a once-great career and turning it into a joke, it may be time to hang up the gloves once and for all.

As a huge Lyoto Machida fan, I’m very conflicted when it comes to his impending showdown with Randy Couture. On one hand, I’ll follow Machida no matter where he goes. On the other, I know Machida has another championship run in him and that he’ll shine brightest facing and overcoming the UFC’s best. On one hand, I’d love to see Machida KO Couture and take a huge step back on the comeback trail. On the other, I’m also a massive Couture fan and I really hate it when Couture loses, especially when you consider that he’s quickly approaching the tail-end of his stellar career.

At the end of the day, I think both Ortiz and Machida could conceivably remain employed in the UFC. Ortiz is facing near-insurmountable odds, but as we so often say nowadays, anything is possible in MMA. Machida seems far more likely to remain in the Octagon, and as always, I wish “The Dragon” nothing but the best and can’t wait to see what’s in store for the former champ. So while I agree with Dana White that both men should approach their next fight as if they’re fighting for their jobs (and there’s a pretty good chance they will be, let’s be honest), I’m also very optimistic and hope that these two turn it all around.

And what about you, fans and friends? What do you think of Dana White’s comments?

10. Antonio McKee – The GameBattles Wannabe

This is the type of player that does have some skill, but suffers from a horrendously inflated ego and thinks that they own the lobby and that all other play styles are inferior. The GB Wannabe is best recognized by its constant use of the dropshot and its uncanny ability to use his team as meatshields. Antonio McKee, who has gone as far as to call himself the Muhammed Ali of MMA, would be right at home with this holier-than-thou bunch.

9. Lyoto Machida – The Camper

Often misunderstood and always controversial, the camper is the type of player who hides in a strategic location, waits for enemies to come to them, and then mows them down thanks to the element of surprise. Some live and die by this strategy, others hate it immensely. Much is the same for Lyoto Machida, who usually relies on his counter-striking and superior strategy to win fights even while some cynics deride him as boring and afraid to engage. And just like Machida, when a camper is caught unprepared he’s usually soundly defeated in humiliating fashion.

8. Paul Daley – The Knifer

This is the type of player that literally brings a knife to a gun fight. They run around and use a combination of stealth and rushing tactics in order to knife their enemies before their foe has a chance to shoot them down. Paul Daley is much the same, he’s a one-dimensional striker fighting in a sport that prides itself on its multi-dimensionality. But since he knows how to use the tools he has, he generally wins fights, and sometimes posts up dominating victories. Much of the same can also be said when describing the experienced knife-only player.

7. Chris Leben – The Rusher

In both COD and Mixed Martial Arts, the rusher can always be depended on for making the next few minutes exciting. This player recklessly charges forward and practically spends the entire game holding down the sprint button. Much like Chris Leben, the rusher just can’t sit still and shines brightest in rapid-fire, extremely-close, usually-brief altercations.  Also like Chris Leben, the rusher’s win/loss percentage can vary wildly depending on the type of opponent he’s facing and their skill level.

6. Tank Abbott – The Nube Toob Jerk

This is the kind of player that is almost universally loathed, but every once in a while they’ll own the lobby. The “Nube Toob” is gamer slang for any sort of incendiary launcher, be it missiles or grenades. It is generally accepted that this is a “cheap” way to win since it requires virtually no skill and even less precision. The same holds true for Tank Abbott: his style of emptying his tank in the first twenty seconds and praying that something lands takes almost no skill and no focus. Like Tank, the Nube Toob Jerk blasts as quickly as possible, prays that something hits, and then has absolutely nothing else to give after their initial onslaught.

And so ends part one of this groundbreaking series! Stay tuned for Part 2!

And on a serious note, remember that this is just a joke and I’m only poking light fun at both the gamer types and the MMA fighters. I hold both COD and MMA close to my heart, and I’m quite proud of what that says about me and my nerdish habits. So while any and all comments are appreciated, remember that this is all in good fun.

The one and only Sherdog brings us the latest on the possible match-up. According to their sources, the bout is being talked about but nothing is concrete. However, the bout is looking more and more promising, thanks in no small part to a recent Twitter post by Couture himself. MMA Mania brings us the scoop, as Couture recently tweeted the following: “Looks good for Toronto and machida April 30. 2011 is looking fantastic already.”

Randy Couture needs no introduction: at 19-10, he’s one of the greatest Octagon athletes to have ever fought for the UFC. Couture is a multiple-time, multi-division champion and is most recently on a three-fight win-streak, his most recent win being over aging boxer James Toney in a “Boxing vs. MMA” bout that took the internet and the popular press at large by storm. Couture would go on to dominate Toney and submit the pudgy pugilist without breaking a sweat.

For the first time in his career, Lyoto Machida is on a two-fight losing-streak. It seems almost unimaginable when you consider that only a year ago Machida was an unbeaten 16-0 UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, with many fans and insiders boldly proclaiming that “The Machida Era” had begun and showed no signs of stopping, even after a controversial win over Mauricio Rua. After getting KO’d by Rua in their second encounter, Machida then went on to experience the opposite end of a controversial judge’s decision, losing to Quinton Jackson.

I think this is a great fight for both men, and it’s really hard for me to pick against either one because I’m such a huge fan of both fighters. There’s simply no way you can dislike Randy Couture, the man is a consummate professional, an incredible class act, and sets the golden benchmark for veteran fighters. I’m also a huge Machida fan, I supported him way back when the first talks of him being “boring” and “scared to fight” surfaced, and I haven’t abandoned him even though he hasn’t won a fight in over a year.

I think there are a lot of variables that will go into figuring out who wins this fight, and with that and my fandom of both men in mind, I’m not going to pick an early favorite. I will say this, though: if both men show up in good shape and looking to win, this is going to be an amazing fight. I’m really looking forward to this one, and I do hope it gets figured out and confirmed as official. Even though I hate to see either fighter lose, seeing them compete against each other is going to be a real treat.

And what about you, fans and friends? What do you think of a possible Randy Couture vs. Lyoto Machida fight?

Here’s a couple of quotes from “The Dragon” courtesy of MMA Mania: “After the fight Quinton came up to me and said ‘no, you won the fight’, I thanked him and told him he’s a great champion too… I think the journey continues, it’s not a defeat nor an obstacle that is going to get in the way of our dream, my dream continues, the journey continues. We have to take advantage of this opportunity to improve even more.”

Make no mistake, fans and friends, I’m still a proud and adamant fan of Lyoto Machida. Despite not coming out the winner at UFC 123, I think that Machida did enough in that fight to convince me that he can one day be a champion again. His performance against Jackson was very spirited, and he fought his heart out. I don’t think Machida should be making any excuses for the way he fought at UFC 123. He fought his style, his way, and he nearly won. And many felt that he should have won.

But looking forward, I can admit that things need to change. It seems that more and more people have begun to figure out Machida’s elusive style. Closing the distance seems to be the quickest route to success against “The Dragon”. It leaves you open for counter-striking, sure, but you do get several hits in. In the Jackson fight in particular, I noticed how Quinton was consistently able to close the gap and force Machida to use angles to avoid Jackson’s punches, which opened Machida up to strikes that didn’t do much damage but did eventually land. Machida’s style hasn’t outright failed him, and this is something that I don’t like saying considering how adamantly I’ve supported him in the past, but I think a change is in order.

Machida has the power and precision to seriously damage an opponent if he throws caution to the wind and goes for broke. He did it to Rashad Evans, he did it to Thiago Silva, and he very nearly did it to Quinton Jackson. If people are beginning to figure out Machida’s vaunted style, it stops being vaunted. I think the future lies in Machida adapting his style to be less reactionary and more offensive. As huge of a fan of the man as I am, I don’t like how his style hasn’t changed much. Machida still has the raw talent necessary to reach the top of the mountain in the UFC, but not changing anything has led to the downfall of fighters equally as talented as Machida.

But the future is far from hopeless. Whether he won or lost is going to be up for debate for quite some time, but I personally think that Machida’s performance at UFC 123 was a firm step in the right direction. It proved that he still has a huge amount of fight left in him, and that he still has the kind of drive necessary to ascend to the top of the division. Despite the fact that it feels like more and more fans are leaping off of his bandwagon in droves, I don’t think I’ll ever stop being a fan of Lyoto Machida. I wish him all the best.

And what about you, fans and friends? Where do you think Lyoto Machida goes from here, and what changes should be made to better improve his chances of getting another shot at the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship?

Next for Karo Parisyan: I’m not unsympathetic to Karo Parisyan, I’m just very skeptical. And his one-sided loss at UFC 123 pretty much proved me right. Parisyan was a shadow of a shadow of his former self, and I don’t think Karo Parisyan belongs in the UFC. He’ll be back to fighting overseas or in mid-tier promotions in the US before he inevitably calls it a career and closes the book on one of the most interesting “what could have been” stories in Mixed Martial Arts.

Next for George Sotiropolous: I know this next statement is going to come off as incredibly bold, but, hey, I’m in the mood to be incredibly bold. So here it is: I’m predicting that George Sotiropolous will be the UFC Lightweight Champion before the end of 2011. Everything he’s done up to this point leads me in that direction. His victory over Joe Lauzon was yet another example of how well-rounded he is, how he’s able to remain cool under pressure, and how he has the killer instinct necessary to become a champion. Big, big, big things are in store for George Sotiropolous.

Next for Maiquel Falcao: Something tells me that the UFC is going to do whatever they can to get rid of Maiquel Falcao. For one, he ruined the hotstreak of Gerald Harris, and the UFC had been building him up as the next big monster athlete. Secondly, Falcao earned himself no fans when he coasted in the third round and basically stopped fighting once he realized that he had won the first two rounds and didn’t really have to do anything if he didn’t want to. Falcao is going to be facing some incredibly stiff competition in the coming months, and if he loses more than once I think the UFC will wash their hands of him.

Next for Matt Hughes: What a trip it’s been for Matt Hughes. And no matter what anyone else says, I personally don’t think the trip is over. Hughes is going to come back, he’s certainly not going to end his career on perhaps the biggest loss he’s ever had to endure. He’ll face a lower level of competition when he returns, but he will return. There aren’t many steps left on the comeback trail for Matt Hughes, but this loss to Penn is a temporary roadblock and not a permanent impasse. Sooner rather than later we’ll see Hughes back in the Octagon and winning again.

Next for BJ Penn: It’s been announced that Penn will face Jon Fitch at UFC 127 in Australia, and I for one can’t wait to see that fight. I’ll have more to say about this in the coming days, but for now, I’ll say this: love him or hate him, I think Jon Fitch is the perfect fighter to beat BJ Penn. Stay tuned.

Next for Quinton Jackson: With a big (albeit controversial) win over a great opponent, the UFC will officially begin building “Rampage” back up towards a title shot. Jackson will be facing some big threats very soon, look for him to remain on a steady diet of top-level competition. Before 2011 is through I think we’ll see another major rematch for Rampage, whether it be against Rashad Evans or Mauricio Rua.

Next for Lyoto Machida: The man who once won sixteen straight fights has now lost two straight. It’s a tough time to be Lyoto Machida. I personally think Machida may be the next man to test out Jon Jones, or possibly Ryan Bader. As much as it pains me to admit it, I think the UFC will soon be testing out Machida as a gatekeeper and seeing how he does. But if it happens, I also predict that Machida will blast the competition and firmly put himself back “into the mix”. It’s always darkest before the dawn, and Lyoto Machida isn’t going anywhere.

So 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 UFC 123?

At the UFC 123 post-fight press conference, Dana White said the following, courtesy of MMA Weekly: “No. No. As far as I’m concerned, and apparently, as far as the judges are concerned, Rampage won that fight… (Rampage) won two rounds. It’s a three-round fight. You won two of them, he won one of them. You’re the winner… Those two guys fighting tonight, they’re at the top of the heap of the 205-pound division and Rampage came out the winner tonight.”

I can’t say I support this decision, both as a Machida fan and a fan of big fights. I think White is painting this fight with a very, very broad brush when he boils it down to Jackson winning two rounds and Machida winning one. It’s by no means as simple as that. The question on everyone’s mind is: did Rampage really win those two rounds? They were incredibly close rounds, you’ve simply got to give that to Machida. The proof lies in Rampage Jackson’s stunned expression immediately after being announced the winner. Even the man himself didn’t think he did enough to win.

This is the perfect fight to see an immediate rematch. In most cases I’m not a fan of them, and I think that a fighter needs to work his way back up and a significant amount of time needs to pass before a rematch occurs. But this is different than most cases: this was a super-close fight that went to a panel of judges that are increasingly criticized on a per-event basis. Everyone, from journalists to fans to promoters to the fighters themselves, have been willing to admit that the judging system in MMA is flawed. Some (those who have been robbed of victories thanks to the judges) even go so far as to claim that the system is broken.

I won’t go that far for several reasons. First and foremost, I’m setting myself up for some typical fanboy flame wars if I start a “Machida won that, judges are stupid” debate. But more importantly, this was a very close fight and I can see how it could have gone either way. I personally wanted Machida to win, and I thought he did enough to win, but I can and will put my fandom aside and see things from the opposing perspective. Perhaps Rampage did do enough in the first two rounds to win it all.

But that’s the perfect reason to have an immediate rematch. If the first fight was so close that it could have gone either way, let them fight it out a second time and hopefully we’ll get a decisive winner. The UFC has done this in the past, in fact, they did it several times in 2010 alone. Rampage/Machida 2 would be another great fight that would most likely be viewed by millions and make the UFC a considerable amount of coin.

This is a fight that deserves to happen. Lyoto Machida deserves this fight because many people felt he was robbed. Quinton Jackson deserves this fight so he can get a chance to silence the critics and beat Machida decisively… which he can, of that I never had any doubts or raised any notions to the contrary. And we, the fight fans, deserve this fight because it has the potential to be just as good and even better than the first encounter. And it’s very, very unfortunate that this rematch likely won’t see the light of day for quite awhile.

And what about you, fans and friends? Where do you stand on the issue of an immediate Rampage/Machida rematch?

Quinton Jackson defeats Lyoto Machida via Split Decision. BJ Penn defeats Matt Hughes via KO (strikes) at 0:21 of Round 1. Maiquel Falcao defeats Gerald Harris via Unanimous Decision. Phil Davis defeats Tim Boetsch via Submission (Kimura) at 2:55 of Round 2. George Sotiropoulos defeats Joe Lauzon via Submission (Kimura) at 2:43 of Round 2. Brian Foster defeats Matt Brown via Submission (Guillotine Choke) at 2:11 of Round 2. Mark Munoz defeats Aaron Simpson via Unanimous Decision. Dennis Hallman defeats Karo Parisyan via TKO (strikes) at 1:47 in Round 1. Edson Barboza defeats Mike Lullo via TKO at 0:26 of Round 3. Paul Kelly defeats T.J. O’Brien via TKO (strikes) at 3:16 of Round 2. Nik Lentz defeats Tyson Griffin via split decision.

I have very, very mixed feelings in regards to the main event. I consider myself a fan of both men, but a bigger Machida fan. I think this is a fight that’s going to be debated at length for the next several weeks, at the very least. I think it was a very close fight with the third round unquestionably going to Machida. However, with or without controversy this match managed to live up to most of its potential. I’m excited for a rematch, and I think we’re going to get one sooner rather than later.

I guess this is what I get for doubting BJ Penn. It’s unquestionable and undeniable: BJ Penn is back on the comeback trail and perhaps better than ever. He looked amazing against Matt Hughes, who I and many other people thought had more than a passing shot at beating “Baby Jay”. BJ needed a big and dominant win in about the worst way possible, and he got just that at UFC 123. No matter what the future holds for BJ Penn in either the Welterweight or the Lightweight division, one important question was answered at UFC 123: BJ Penn is not done. Not by a long shot.

I also noticed that the “UFC 123 Prelims Live” special delivered a solid hour of action to lead into the official Pay-Per-View telecast. Mark Munoz and Aaron Simpson gave us three good action-packed rounds, while Brian Foster and Matt Brown fought to a very entertaining submission finish. Add in a showing of the Parisyan/Hallman fight that took place earlier in the evening, and you had ample reason to tune in and watch some free MMA on TV.

Overall, UFC 123 was a very strong event with several noteworthy fights. I think we’ll be feeling the repercussions of this event for quite some time, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for some of the night’s big winners and losers.

And what about you, fans and friends? What did you think of UFC 123?

The nights headliner between former champions Quinton Jackson and Lyoto Machida quickly became heated when the two met for the stare down, after both had came in at 205-pounds on the nose.

Machida squared off with Jackson with the traditional fist to face motion, which Quinton apparently didn’t take kindly, and before it was all said and done, a scuffle was quickly averted when UFC head honcho Dana White interjected between the two strikers.

After the awkward tension alleviated, cooler heads prevailed and the two shook hands out of respect and went their separate ways.

For the most part, all fighters came in at the exact weight limit with all but one fighter not needing the extra pound allowance. Aaron Simpson, who is featured as one of the two bouts in the Spike TV portion of the special “UFC Prelims”, came in at 185.5.

Also interesting to note, both former welterweight champions Matt Hughes and BJ Penn, who serve as the co-main event of the evening and will meet for the third time in an epic trilogy, came in at a svelte 169 pounds; a pound under the maximum weight requirement.

Here are the weigh in results in their entirety, thanks to MMAJunkie.com for the format.

MAIN CARD

* Quinton “Rampage” Jackson (205) vs. Lyoto Machida (205)
* Matt Hughes (169) vs. B.J. Penn (169)
* Tim Boetsch (205) vs. Phil Davis (205)
* Joe Lauzon (155) vs. George Sotiropoulos (155)
* Maiquel Falcao (185) vs. Gerald Harris (185)

PRELIMINARY CARD (Spike TV)

* Matt Brown (170) vs. Brian Foster (170)
* Mark Munoz (185) vs. Aaron Simpson (185.5)

PRELIMINARY CARD (un-aired)

* Dennis Hallman (170) vs. Karo Parisyan (170)
* Edson Barboza (155) vs. Mike Lullo (155)
* Paul Kelly (155) vs. T.J. O’Brien (155)
* Nik Lentz (155) vs. Tyson Griffin (155)

George Sotiropoulos vs. Joe Lauzon: This could end up being a great fight…depending on which George Sotiropolous shows up. But I don’t think there’s any doubt that George will win this one. At least, I’d be incredibly surprised if Lauzon pulled out the victory. For all intents and purposes, Sotiropolous is being groomed as the next big threat at Lightweight while living up to that mantle. Look for him to take the submission win during Round 2.

Phil Davis vs. Tim Boetsch: I have to admit, I’m not too familiar with either fighter. To me, it seems as if Boetsch has more experience in the UFC while Davis has more potential as a young and undefeated UFC newcomer. We might just have a very entertaining war on our hands. Based on his undefeated track record and his penchant for toughing it out, I’m thinking that Phil Davis takes a hard-earned Unanimous Decision at the end of three good rounds of action.

Gerald Harris vs. Maiquel Falcao: There seems to be no stopping Gerald Harris. The man is on a ten-fight win-streak, a five-fight TKO streak, and has stopped each and every single one of his opponents since August 2008, when he last recorded a Decision win. But Maiquel Falcao is also on a very high win-streak (seven) with a huge amount of finishes. This fight doesn’t just have sneaky “Fight of the Night” potential, it may be good enough to land on some people’s “Fight of the Year” lists. Look for Gerald Harris to win by KO in Round 2 after an amazing Round 1.

Matt Hughes vs. BJ Penn: If you had asked me about this match back when Penn still had the UFC Lightweight Championship, I would have answered without a moment’s delay: this is BJ’s fight to win. Now I’m honestly not so sure. I look at where Penn is right now compared to where Hughes is, and I’ve got to say: Hughes seems to have the better mentality going into this fight. Now that Hughes is fighting just for the fun of it, he’s able to take a lot of risks that end up paying off more often than not. I hate to pick against someone I’ve been such a big fan of for such a long while, but both my heart and my head tell me that Matt Hughes is going to fight his way towards a Unanimous Decision win.

Lyoto Machida vs. Quinton Jackson: I’ve said a whole lot about this fight in the days and weeks leading up to it, so I’ll keep my predictions short and sweet. We’re going to witness the rebirth of “The Dragon”. He’s going to come on strong and finish stronger. “Rampage” will put forth a solid effort, but he’ll crumble underneath a resurgent and resurrected Machida. Lyoto Machida KO’s Rampage Jackson by Round 2 at the very latest.

So that’s what I think is going to go down, fans and friends. What about you? What does your inner Nostradamus have to say regarding the big match-ups at UFC 123: “Rampage vs. Machida”?

Here’s what “The Dragon” had to say in a new interview with MMA Weekly: “Everyone has their own opinion. But my style made me a champion… I knew one day I could lose like everyone else. Now, I feel like I’ve learned a lot from that loss and it’s taken a lot of pressure off my back… Part of this game is that you win some and you lose some.”

I’ve said it before, but it does bear repeating since so many fans have hopped off the Machida bandwagon and gone right back to criticizing him: I’ve been a supporter since day one. The first time I ever saw Lyoto Machida, I knew big things were in store for “The Dragon”. People would try to strike him, to hurt him, and he simply wouldn’t be there by the time they had completed their strike. I wholeheartedly believe that a true sign of dominance is to inflict maximum damage on your opponent while taking minimum damage to yourself. I can appreciate a wild brawl where both guys land big and swing for the fences, many fights like that even end up on my “Fight of the Year” lists. But when I look at Lyoto Machida, I see one of the smartest Octagon generals ever.

I get that Mauricio Rua gave Machida a lot of trouble and caused him plenty of setbacks. But all great champions lose. It’s the ones that come back from defeat, better and deadlier than ever, that are the true champions. And Machida has done quite a lot to make me firmly believe that he’ll fully be able to live up to that higher standard. Machida was gracious in defeat, honest in admitting his mistakes, and seems to be incredibly focused on becoming the best fighter possible. That’s a champion with or without a belt, and that’s the chief reason why I think Machida will take it to Quinton Jackson and ultimately knock him out.

But I’ve said this several times as well: Machida is going to have his hands full. I think “Rampage” will play into Machida’s counter-striking style and ultimately get KO’d for his efforts, but there’s always a possibility that Rampage could score a big punch. Even while gassed out and dealing with a huge amount of ring rust, Jackson still found a way to put Rashad Evans in a heap of trouble at one point in their recent, much-hyped encounter. “Sugar” could even be criticized of playing it safe and grinding out a decision in order to avoid Rampage’s strikes.  No matter what problems he has going into a fight, you can never fully count out Quinton Jackson.

But we all know where my allegiance lies, fans and friends. Lyoto Machida isn’t boring, he’s elusive. He fights smart, he hits hard, and he’s an incredibly humble fighter that’s fully dedicated to proving that he’s the best fighter in the world. “The Dragon” isn’t done yet, not by a long shot. And I can’t wait to see him return to form.

And what about you, fans and friends? As we get closer and closer to the pivotal showdown, which former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion are you siding with and why?

This Saturday night, at the Palace of Auburn Hills, in Detroit, Mich., former champions Quinton Jackson and Lyoto Machida will compete, serving as the main event of the nights festivities at UFC 123.

While fans and the media alike have been somewhat split as far as an anticipated outcome for the nights headliner, “Shogun” asserts that it will in fact be his countryman in Machida that will reign victorious.

“They are two top athletes”, began Rua while speaking with GracieMag.com.

“Lyoto is really good and it’s hard to pick up on his game. Rampage is really strong, has a dangerous hook. But I feel Lyoto will win this one. Either way, it’s a fight I want to watch.”

It may be the bravado of Mauricio speaking, picking for his Brazilian, but if he had it his way, I don’t think “Shogun” could care less who wins.

The current light heavyweight kingpin holds victories over both opponents, albeit the win over Quinton was some years ago during their PRIDE days, but there would certainly be some nostalgia and big numbers between these two heavy hitters, should the fight ever come to fruition once again.

At the moment, Rua is on the tail end of his rehab, and began light training. He will come into full fledge fight mode in the coming months, if he returns by March as scheduled.

So, MMA peeps, do you agree with Mauricio’s assessment? Do you think Lyoto will walk away the winner, or will Jackson pull it out with his patented boxing prowess? Sound off in the comment section below.

The event takes place in the Detroit suburbs in Michigan, at the Palace of Auburn Hills, and will feature one of the best lineups of the year.

In the main event of the evening, former UFC light heavyweight champions Quinton Jackson and Lyoto Machida will battle it out for top contender billing in one the busiest divisions inside the promotion.

While many loyal fans are pulling for the charismatic “Rampage” to prove successful in this tough match up, one more supporter has voiced his opinion. Someone whom Jackson is all too familiar with.

“Honestly, I think Rampage has a lot better chance than what appears before your eyes,” said Evans, whom spoke with MMAWeekly.com. The most ironic part of it all, aside from the fact that Rashad has fought both Jackson and Machida with mixed results (a win and a loss, respectively) is the disdain that Evans and Quinton share for one another.

Former coaches on season 10 of “The Ultimate Fighter” their rivalry really cooked up their, and eventually the two squared off at UFC 114 in one of the most anticipated grudge matches in the company’s history. Evans won by unanimous decision.

Where most people are picking “The Dragon” based on his unique style of blended Karate skills coupled with sumo as well, Rashad is anticipating the A-Team movie star to pull of the upset, if the right Jackson shows up.

“It all depends if Rampage is going to come for this camp. If Rampage is really taking it serious, and he starts training how he needs to train, I think he has a really good chance of beating Machida”, began the Greg Jackson product, whom is rumored to face Mauricio Rua in March for the 205-pound title.

“One of his strengths is one of Machida’s weaknesses, which is he always pulls back in combinations, he goes in and he pulls back,” Evans commented about Machida’s style. “Rampage has always been good at reaction punches, so if he moves forward, he’s going to charge him and catch him like how he caught Chuck Liddell and how he caught Wanderlei Silva. That’s one of his strengths, if you pull back on Rampage, you’ll get caught all day”.

Beyond the intricacies of the fight, Rashad has delved much more than just simple thought. The former light heavyweight champion has even been visioning Jackson knocking out Lyoto in his dreams, which is something he’s not all that happy about.

“I had a dream that Rampage knocked out Machida,” said Evans. “I had a dream about four nights ago that Rampage knocked him out. I don’t know why I was dreaming about Rampage’s ugly ass in the beginning, but I woke up and it felt like he knocked out Machida, it felt like it was real.”

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of Evans’ thoughts? I think the popular frame of thought for everyone is to WANT Jackson to win, but generally think that Machida will steal the victory. Or am I wrong? What do you think? Sound off in the comment section below.

Here are some of the highlights of the interview: “This fight right here is all about honor and respect. Since I’ve been in the UFC, I have been all about money because quite honestly, I’ve made more money in the UFC than I ever did in other shows… I want to go back to my old Pride days when I used to fight to put on a show… This time, I’m just going to go out there and give it my 100 percent, give it my best. If I win this time, I’m going to be really proud of myself. If I don’t pull it off this time, I’m not going to be as disappointed in myself as I was the last time… I’m going to fight my fight. I don’t care what Machida does or what he thinks he’s going to do. It’s all about what I’m going to do.”

This new interview feels like a breath of fresh air for “Rampage”, who has done everything from dry-humping to bullying to outright walking away from his interviewers in the past. Sometimes it’s nice to see Quinton Jackson, the man, and not “Rampage”, the character. It’s also great to see him so motivated, with no mitigating circumstances holding him back from fully unleashing the beast the next time he steps into the Octagon.

But don’t get me wrong, I still think the man is going to lose. I’m still a firm Machida believer, I just have no problem giving Rampage a lot of respect and admitting that Machida is most likely in for a very tough fight. I just think that Rampage will fall into the same trap that almost all of Machida’s recent opponents (the obvious exception to the rule being Mauricio Rua) have fallen into: he’ll try to bring the fight to Machida in order to force him to engage, and then he’ll get countered into oblivion. It’ll be a great fight for sure, but Rampage has been KO’d quite viciously in the past, and I firmly believe we’ll see the start of a rebirth for Lyoto Machida as he gets back to his winning ways in a huge way with a massive KO over “Rampage”.

But no matter what happens, this should be an excellent fight. It even has the potential to end up being a late “Fight of the Year” candidate. No matter whose side you’re on, this fight features two former UFC Light Heavyweight Champions taking an important step back on the comeback trail by most likely viciously finishing their opponent. This is going to be a massive, massive showdown, and the great thing about it is that it’s only a few days away.

And what about you, fans and friends? As we get closer and closer to UFC 123, the question bears repeating: who you got? Who takes Rampage/Machida, how, and why?

The Event: UFC 123 “Rampage vs. Machida”, which airs live on Pay-Per-View Saturday, November 20 from the Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

Why You Should Care: The main event features two former UFC Light Heavyweight Champions, both of whom are very popular and have very powerful strikes. The co-main event also features two former UFC Welterweight Champions that are widely regarded as two of the best Mixed Martial Artists of all time, and they’ll be fighting each other for a third time.

What to Look Forward to in the Main Event: Quinton Jackson is known for his street-tough personality that bleeds into his fighting style. The man known as “Rampage” is heavy on the brawling and the striking, so he very rarely has a boring fight. Lyoto Machida is also a very versatile and cunning fighter, with very good counter-punching and sneaky one-hit KO power. If this becomes a brawl, look for someone to get viciously KO’d and for both men to add several moments to their highlight reel during the course of this bout.

What to Look Forward to in the Co-Main Event: Matt Hughes and BJ Penn have a long and historic rivalry. BJ Penn put an end to the long championship reign of Matt Hughes in their first fight, and in their second fight Hughes became the first man to ever finish BJ Penn (Hughes won by TKO, until that point Penn had only ever lost by decision). Both men are at a crossroads in their career: Hughes is fighting for a legacy while Penn is fighting to recapture his relevancy. These two always bring out the best in each other, and since they’re so good to begin with, this has all the makings of an incredible fight.

Why to Buy This Card: The main event and co-main event puts most other MMA cards to shame. Hughes/Penn 3 could headline its own card, having it as the co-main only sweetens the pot. Rampage vs. Machida is better than most championship matches.

Why Not to Buy This Card: Besides the co-main and main event, the rest of the card seems decidedly average, maybe even a bit underwhelming. Anything is possible when the Octagon closes, but on paper, the top two matches clearly anchor this show and everything else feels a little flat.

Closing Thoughts: Having two great fights doesn’t make your card a “super-card”, but it does make your event well worth watching. If you go in expecting greatness from Rampage/Machida and Hughes/Penn 3, I sincerely doubt you’ll be disappointed. If you go in expecting greatness from the start of the show until the show’s end, you may be a little bit disappointed. But, all in all, the strength of the two marquee matches easily propel this card into “definitely buy it” territory.

And that’s it, fans and friends! Look for more “Crash Courses” in the near future. Until then, please let me know: what do you think of this new series? What areas did you like or dislike, what would you add or subtract? Comments and opinions are welcome. Also, what’s your take on “Rampage vs. Machida”?

5. Ben Henderson vs. Anthony Pettis

The WEC would be hard-pressed to find a better fight to go out on than this headlining attraction at WEC 53, the final WEC event before the entire promotion is folded into the UFC. In one corner you have the unlikely champion Ben Henderson, who established himself as a worthy champion with several incredible performances against the WEC’s best and now stands poised as possibly one of the best Lightweights in the game. Then in the other corner you have Anthony Pettis, an incredibly dynamic and wildly entertaining fighter. This fight as a whole sums up the WEC’s long history of solid matchmaking, and I can’t wait to see it happen.

4. Dan Henderson vs. Renato Sobral

This is one for the old-school fans, let’s get that straight right off the bat. But if you do consider yourself a diehard or simply a fan of the old-school, this fight has quite a lot to offer. It features two aging fighters that still seem to have a lot left to give, trying to recapture the old magic that made them champions in the past. It’s also the classic “styles clash” match-up pitting the heavy-handed striker versus the grappler, and also the wrestler versus the Brazilian Jui Jitsu practitioner. It has all the makings of a good fight between two big names from the past, so it definitely deserves a watch.

3. BJ Penn vs. Matt Hughes

Like Hendo/”Babalu” but bigger. This fight happens at a critical moment in both men’s careers. Now that he knows his legacy is intact, Matt Hughes has been fighting for the fun of it without the added pressure of wanting a title shot. If he beats Penn, he might just get one. Conversely, the added pressure of having to constantly defend his Lightweight Championship ultimately spelled doom for “The Prodigy”, and he looks to a Welterweight return to reestablish and reinvigorate himself. Whoever wins this one takes a massive step forward, but Penn has a lot more to lose if Hughes gets the better of him. It’s the end of a rivalry that has spanned several eras in Mixed Martial Arts, so you should definitely watch it.

2. Josh Koscheck vs. Georges St. Pierre

I never would have believed that you could still have an incredibly bitter rivalry where one side does all the talking, but here we are and there it is. This fight is going to be insane for a number of reasons. The reaction GSP will get will be monumental, as will the boos Koscheck will receive. The fight itself should be wildly entertaining as GSP lets loose months of pent-up rage while Koscheck sets out to prove that he’s an entirely different fighter compared to when he lost to GSP the first time. It’s an epic main event and the culmination of a very bitter rivalry, so of course it takes the #2 spot.

But my top spot simply has got to go to…

1. Lyoto Machida vs. Quinton Jackson

This non-title fight could put just about any other promotion’s championship fights to shame. This is a massive match between two phenomenal athletes with two clearly divided fanbases. I’ve vocally supported Machida from the get-go, and I can’t wait to see him rise from the ashes and prove once and for all that “The Machida Era” has been postponed, not cancelled. He can do just that if he beats “Rampage”, one of the most well-known and feared strikers in the history of the business. It’s a colossal showdown that you absolutely must not miss.

So that’s where I stand, fans and friends. What about you? What matches do you think should absolutely not be missed as 2010 draws to a close?

After a rough patch with PRIDE in which the fighter has pin pointed several instances where the now defunct promotion mistreated him, Quinton made his way to the UFC in 2007, only to encounter more problems.

Though Jackson would eventually work his way through the UFC ranks quickly, earning the title with a swift knockout victory over Chuck Liddell in just his second appearance within the organization at UFC 71, things were all down hill from there. Quinton though is still optimistic about his future, and hopes to deliver another fashionable KO victory with a win over Machida, but regardless, still sees his opponent as “boring as hell”.

“Why would it change because I’m matched up with him? Why would I change how I like his fighting style just because I’m fighting him?… I’m prepared for a fight. I’d rather fight someone who’s going to put on a show like me and stand and bang”, said Jackson, the former UFC light heavyweight champion, while speaking with the media promoting next week’s festivities.

What Quinton says he has true respect for, is those who are fighting in the co-main event slot: Matt Hughes and BJ Penn. In his eyes, those are the one’s whom are true fighters. It will be the third time both men will compete against one another, which is essentially what Jackson finds admirable. He can relate with his own three battles against former PRIDE champion Wanderlei Silva, where after an 0-2 stretch against “The Axe Murderer”, Quinton scored a first-round knockout in their third meeting at UFC 92.

“Those people are true warriors, true fighters like the way BJ Penn fights and Matt [Hughes] fights. I like watching guys like that fight”, began Quinton.

“Other guys I’m not a fan of at all… I feel like I have a fighting spirit, a true warrior spirit. When you get in the octagon, you fight. It’s not like boxing where guys are trying to outpoint each other and go for a decision. We’re MMA fighters, we’re the best athletes in the world. I just hate to see our sport change into boxing where people aren’t even fighting anymore. I can’t even watch a boxing match anymore.”

So, MMA peeps, what do you make of Jackson’s comments? I find them valid, though I would say Machida is a far cry from the fighter he was when he initially stepped foot inside the octagon, though stylistically, both men pose problems for one another, so it’ll be interesting to see where it goes from here. Sound off in the comment section below.

Thanks to MMAFighting.com for the transcribe.

Here’s what “Sugar” had to say in an interview with MMA Weekly: “…Ever since Shogun’s been out there’s been talk when he’s coming back… They said he won’t be ready until like the first of the year… Then they go he won’t be ready until March. Then Dana went on MMA Live and said he won’t be ready until May… Then I heard just the other day he’s not even at the doctor’s yet. He probably won’t be better until like after June…. I was just really frustrated because I didn’t understand is he not going to fight? …If I could just get an idea of when he might be coming back, it’s all good… But when it’s all these different dates thrown around it was just kind of confusing, like what the (expletive) is it going to be? …I was just frustrated because I didn’t have any idea of when I should start getting ready for the fight.”

Like I said in my previous article, I can certainly empathize with Rashad Evans. Evans is basically stuck on the sidelines until current champion Mauricio Rua rehabs fully from a knee injury that happened during his brief 3:35 thrashing of Lyoto Machida at the “Machida vs. Shogun 2” event back in May. And there honestly have been a lot of dates tossed around for Shogun’s return.

In the interview with MMA Weekly, Rashad also states that he turned down a fight with Antonio Rogerio Nogueira that would have been a co-main event at the upcoming UFC 123: “Rampage vs. Machida” event. Rashad’s logic was pretty sound: if he’s the #1 contender, why is he fighting lower on the card than two Light Heavyweight fighters that aren’t in his position? It just wouldn’t have made sense, and it certainly would have hurt Rashad’s credibility if he lost to Nogueira.

I’ve said multiple times that I’m generally not a fan of fighters turning down fights, but honestly, what incentive did Evans have for agreeing to fight Nogueira? He would have stayed active, but he also could have lost his chance at the championship if Nogueira beat him. And what if he developed an injury training for the Nogueira fight, or during the fight itself? In a Light Heavyweight division ridiculously stacked with best-in-the-world talent, Evans chose to wait it out, bide his time, and get the shot he deserves. At the end of the day, it’s a smart move.

Ultimately, I’m siding with Rashad Evans on this one even though I think he shouldn’t be so quick to criticize the UFC for not keeping him active when he himself was the one that made the call to stay on the sidelines and wait for Shogun. I think it frustrates Evans that he’s waiting longer than he had planned to, but if he’s not willing to risk his credibility on another fight in the meantime, ultimately he’s got nobody to blame but himself.

And what about you, fans and friends? What’s your opinion on this situation?

The 11-bout card has been made official by the promotion today, including two-televised Spike TV bouts serving as the lead in for what is shaping up to be a good night of fights.

Along with the highly anticipated light heavyweight match up, a pair of former welterweight champion’s are set to face one another for a third time in order to put to rest a rivalry that has lasted for over 7 years, when BJ Penn meets UFC Hall of Famer, Matt Hughes in the co-main event of the evening.

In addition the 170-pound fight, a pivotal match up in the lightweight division has been arranged, with two “The Ultimate Fighter” veterans squaring off on the pay-per-view event. Joe Luazon will meet George Sotiropoulos, who is currently riding a 6-fight win streak inside the octagon, with his last victory coming over the likes of perennial contender Kurt Pellegrino at UFC 116. For Lauzon, a win could vaunt him back into the title mix.

Here is the full card in it’s entirety. Thanks to MMAJunkie.com for the lovely format.

MAIN CARD

* Quinton “Rampage” Jackson vs. Lyoto Machida
* Matt Hughes vs. B.J. Penn
* Joe Lauzon vs. George Sotiropoulos
* Tim Boetsch vs. Phil Davis
* Maiquel Falcao vs. Gerald Harris

PRELIMINARY CARD (Spike TV)

* Matt Brown vs. Brian Foster
* Mark Munoz vs. Aaron Simpson

PRELIMINARY CARD (un-aired)

* Dennis Hallman vs. Karo Parisyan
* Darren Elkins vs. Edson Barboza
* Paul Kelly vs. T.J. O’Brien
* Nik Lentz vs. Tyson Griffin

5. Rampage Jackson v. Lyoto Machida (UFC 123)

This fight is all about the questions at hand.  Is Rampage mentally still excited about MMA. In several interviews he has not seemed to be his old wacky, trash talking self.  My view is that he is just clocking in to get his paycheck. Does he still burn to fight?  Will Lyoto be the old dominating Lyoto before Shogun knocked him out?

My concern is that both these guys like to counter.  Each needs the other to engage first.  This scenario can lead to a tentative, less exciting fight, as neither wants to commit first.

4. Matt Brown v. Brian Foster (UFC 123 Spike TV)

Matt Brown came into the UFC via the Ultimate Fighter show as a tough guy who came forward always looking to brawl and bully.  This led to winning 4 out of his first 5 fights.  His last two fights have ended badly, getting finished by Ricardo Almeida and Chris Lytle on the ground.  Can he return to his tough-guy standup strengths?  He will have to, to win and keep his job in the UFC.

3. Joseph Benavidez v. Wagnney Fabianno  (WEC 52)

One of the great things about the WEC joining under the UFC banner is the world will be exposed to some great fighters which have never received big media.  Wagnney Fabianno is one of these names.  A world class third degree Jiu Jitsu black belt with heavy hands.  Google the Fabianno / Lierley video from the IFL to see his knockout power.  At 35, Fabianno has been in the game a long time but should now have the stage to really shine.  However, he will have his hands full against Benavidez, who recently lost his title shot vs. Jose Aldo.

2. Nate Marquardt v. Yushin Okami (UFC 122)

Nate the Great is coming off an ackward win over Rosuimar Palhares and should lock up a title bout if he beats Okami.  With Chael Sonnen out of the picture, this is the time and chance for Marquardt.  Okami is coming off a solid win over Mark Munoz and also is back in title contention talk.  Both are warriors and this could be a classic, if one or both decide to come forward and not onlu wait to counter.

1.  Joe Lauzon v. George Sotiropoulos (UFC 123)

Lauzon and Sotiropoulos will not be the fight to headline UFC 123 commercials or brand the Times Square billboard, but these two are each peaking and the winner is primed for a title shot in the near future.  Sotiropoulos is simply beating people up across the board. 6-0 in the UFC, he is looking unstoppable on the ground.  Lauzon was a beast in easily dispatching Gabe Reudiger at UFC 118.  Since both have stellar ground games, this one may stay standing longer than most think.  This fight may showcase the highest level of skill on the entire UFC 123 card.

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Which fights are you most looking forward to this month?

According to the Graciemag article, the UFC is looking at a possible November event in Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro. The HSBC Arena is currently the rumored venue of choice for an event that is supposedly going to be called “Ultimate Brazil”. The first “Ultimate Brazil”, also known as “UFC Brazil” and UFC 17.5, took place over twelve years ago in a Brazilian gymnasium. The event featured such notable fights as Vitor Belfort TKO’ing Wanderlei Silva and Pedro Rizzo KO’ing David Abbott.

I think Brazil could easily become a major player in the UFC’s international excursions in the very near future. The UFC has left Brazil untapped for over a decade, and it’s high time that they test the waters once again. No matter what card they put together, I think the UFC will be very successful in their first UFC show.

But if you want my opinion? I say stop making “Brazil vs. USA” cards in principal and start putting them into practice. What I mean is that the UFC has made several notable Pay-Per-View events in recent history that have been filled with Brazilian fighters taking on American fighters, but they’ve never come out and directly marketed the “country vs. country” dynamic. For the UFC’s first show in Brazil, I’m calling for a “Brazil vs. USA” card so blatant that I’d even want it to be called “Brazil vs. USA”.

Not only that, but just imagine the type of fights that the UFC could put together if they truly want to make this foray into Brazil a resounding success. We could see the third encounter between Lyoto Machida and Mauricio Rua. We could get Wanderlei Silva facing off against Vitor Belfort once again, after all this time. How about a rematch between Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Frank Mir? And if the UFC really wanted to ensure a sell-out, they could book the match that practically everyone in the world wants to see: Chael Sonnen vs. Anderson Silva 2. If the card really does take place in November, Chael’s one-year suspension (if he does end up serving the entire length of the suspension) would have ended with more than enough time to prepare for this rematch.

I know I could be accused of getting my hopes up, and rightly so, but it’s hard not to when I think of all the great Brazilian stars competing in the UFC and how the UFC always tries to fill the first card in a new market with talent that’s native to that region. Depending on how big of a statement the UFC wants to make when they return to Brazil, we could end up getting one of the best events of the past several years. It may be a year away, but I can’t wait to see this card come to fruition and I look forward to seeing what big-name athletes the UFC brings to the table when they return to Brazil.

And what about you, fans and friends? How excited are you about the UFC returning to Brazil, and what fights would you like to see?

When asked to comment on how he sees the fight going down, Rampage responded with the following: “Hell if I know, I’m not psychic. Who knows? The thing is, I come to fight. Some people don’t always show up to fight, they want to be ‘tricky’ and do angles. I come to fight. You guys can figure out how that fight’s going to go. I come to fight… I don’t even worry about MMA Math.”

At that point, Jackson cut the interview short and simply walked away. For those unfamiliar with the term, “MMA Math” looks to a fighter’s past accomplishments to predict future successes or failures. Generally, it’s expressed as the following: “If Fighter X beat Fighter Y, and Fighter Z lost to Fighter Y, Fighter X beats Fighter Z every time.” For Jackson, this applies to Rashad Evans beating him while Evans was famously KO’d by Lyoto Machida. Due to this, many are thinking that Machida will make quick work of his opponent in this clash of former UFC Light Heavyweight Champions.

To be honest, I’ve never bought into the whole “MMA Math” train of thought. Every fight is different, and every fighter has the potential to reinvent himself again and again. It sure sounds like a sound judgment call in theory, but there are simply far too many examples to list of this principal failing in practice. Just like I believe there is no such thing as luck in MMA, I also believe that “MMA Math” fails just as often as it’s proven correct, if not more.

What we should really be focusing on is Rampage Jackson vs. Lyoto Machida, not Lyoto Machida vs. Rashad Evans when compared to Rashad Evans vs. Rampage Jackson. Now that he’s got a budding movie career, now that his relationship with the UFC continues to be on shaky ground, it remains to be seen whether or not Jackson’s loss to Evans was due to the sizable amount of ring rust he had to deal with heading into that fight…or if Jackson simply doesn’t have his heart in it anymore. A primed and ready Quinton Jackson has an excellent shot of beating Lyoto Machida. But Quinton Jackson hasn’t looked primed and ready since his last win in March 2009.

Overall, I think this will be a great match between two very talented performers. I’m still picking Machida to win, not just because I’m a Machida fan but because I think he’ll come back better and deadlier than ever when he steps into the Octagon against Jackson. But unlike some, I’m not going to quickly criticize or even ostracize Jackson simply because he’s made a few mistakes in the past. Quinton Jackson can still be a major force to be reckoned with in the UFC, but quite a lot hinges on how he performs against Machida. However, I’ll reserve judgment until then and wish him all the best as he heads into what will probably be one of the most important fights of his career.

And what do you think, fans and friends? As we get closer and closer to this key Light Heavyweight showdown, who are you picking to win and why?

It all went down over at Sherdog, and here are the highlights straight from the man himself: “Everything is going very well. I went to Los Angeles to meet with the doctor who operated on me, and everything is great… The doctor wanted to see how my surgery went, and I was told that it’s OK. The surgery was actually a success. I’m very happy… I will continue my rehabilitation, which has changed a bit now. I already do most of the leg, swimming, running. After a month, I think I’ll be back to train… I must return at the beginning of next year, but I still don’t know who it’s going to be against. Let’s see how my rehab goes. Hopefully, I’ll be back early next year.”

Let’s make one thing clear right off the bat: I’m not a fan of Mauricio Rua. I think he’s a good fighter, but I consider him pretty over-rated. Much like his fellow PRIDE FC knockout artist Mirko Filipovic, I see a lot of people proclaiming over and over how great he is while constantly trashing whoever his next opponent is. That type of blatant fanboyism always rubs me the wrong way, especially when it concerns a fighter that doesn’t deserve that type of praise and is only getting it due to the nostalgia factor. I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again: the dilapidated Shogun that got choked out by Forrest Griffin hasn’t vanished. It’s still inside of him. It’s just hidden. And someone is soon going to bring it back out.

This does not mean that I don’t want to see him back inside the Octagon, though. I just can’t wrap my brain around why people are so quick to make like he’s the second coming. Rua has gone 3-2 in the UFC. By most standards, it’s a decidedly average record, especially when you consider that he beat two past-their-prime fighters before getting his first really big win in the rematch with Machida. Rua is an old dog that’s doing his best to learn some new tricks, but sooner or later one of the young guns is going to take him out.

And I’m looking forward to seeing it happen. That’s why I want Shogun back in the Octagon as soon as possible. Whether it’s Rashad Evans, Lyoto Machida, or even Jon Jones, I still haven’t budged an inch: Shogun will still fall. His days are still numbered. He won’t be the one to break the long string of Light Heavyweight Champions losing the championship in their first few fights. It’s just not happening.

And if I’m wrong? It’s not like I haven’t been wrong before. I’ll eat my humble pie again if I have to. But I’m simply tired of sitting back and watching as Shogun’s future as champion continues to be blown ridiculously out of proportion while any and all challengers are continuously belitted and counted out. So that’s my opinion and I’m sticking to it, fans and friends. Now it’s time to fire when ready: what do you think will happen when Shogun makes his return to the UFC?

Headlining the nights festivities will be former light heavyweight champions Quinton Jackson and Lyoto Machida in a non-title bout, with a trilogy between former welterweight champions Matt Hughes and BJ Penn being completed that night, serving as the co-main event of the evening.

Prior to these bouts, a pair of middleweights and 170-pound fighters will be in action as part of the Spike TV special, which will have the potential to reach 96.1 million people at home in these United States.

MMAJunkie.com has indicated that match ups between middleweights Mark Munoz vs Aaron Simpson, and Matt Brown vs Rory MacDonald, will serve as the two bouts selected for the Spike broadcast.

Munoz, a heavy handed wrestler is coming off the sting of his first defeat in the middleweight division, where he lost a close split-decision to top contender Yushin Okami. The Japanese star brought it to the former NCAA champion early and often, dropping Munoz on one occasion and stuffing all of his take down attempts. Mark hung tough, and even managed to wobble Okami to the ground and pressured him with his improved stand up arsenal. In the end it wasn’t enough, and Munoz saw a three-fight win streak snapped with the loss.

Aaron, meanwhile, is coming off a loss as well, his first as a professional mixed martial artist. A two-time NCAA champion in 96′ and 98′, became an assistant wrestling coach for Arizona State, where he initially compiled 110 victories for the university.

There, he coached the likes of UFC standouts CB Dollaway, Ryan Bader, and current UFC heavyweight number one contender, Cain Velasquez. Being bit by the biting bug, Aaron opened up to the idea of fighting as a living in 2007, and compiled a perfect 4-0 before joining the UFC. Going on to garner a three-fight win streak within the promotion, his run was snapped when Simpson met with Chris Leben at “The Ultimate Fighter” season 11 finale, losing by TKO in the second round.

Both Rory MacDonald and Matt Brown are coming off losses as well. The Canadian shined though, in his bout against former WEC welterweight champion Carlos Condit, last June at UFC 115. Arguably ahead on the score cards going into the third round after getting the better of the stand up against Condit, Rory was notably fatigued in the final round. Carlos was eventually able to work the fight to the floor, eventually mounting the former King of the Cage lightweight and welterweight champion, pounding him out for a TKO victory in waning moments of the fight. Prior to the loss, MacDonald made a successful debut into the organization with a first-round arm bar over fellow KOTC veteran Mike Guymon at “UFC Fight Night 20″ in January of this year.

Brown, however is feeling the sting of defeat well and hard. The former contender is coming on the heels of two consecutive losses, submissions at that, to standouts Ricardo Almedia and most recently current top contender Chris Lytle.

In the bout with Lytle at UFC 116, which was the second in the series, the two traded blows early, Brown effective on the feet, the welterweight battle found its way to the floor in the early stages of the second round. Both fighters were jockeying for position, and Lytle was eventually able to secure an arm, and completed the bout ends with an arm bar victory over Brown.

Prior to the losses to Ricardo and Chris, Brown was riding a three-fight win streak in the organization and four of his last five overall. However now on the cusp of his UFC career, this is a must-win situation for both Brown and MacDonald. A loss for either could spell pink slips, which can also be said of Munoz and Simpson.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of the UFC 123 prelims? Worthy? Do you have any other bouts in mind as far as what you would rather see in place of said matches? Sound off in the comments section below.

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.

The UFC just made official today the fight card, which will include a headlining bout pitting former light heavyweight champions Quinton Jackson versus Lyoto Machida, in a contenders bout.

Also on the card, BJ Penn and Matt Hughes try to settle the score once again when the two competitors meet for the third time. Both men have split victories, BJ Penn getting the better of the “farm boy” at UFC 46, where he was able to slip in a rear naked choke and claim the welterweight title from then champion Hughes. Matt, meanwhile, got a little bit of a taste of revenge when he was able to pound out the former lightweight star (at the time) inside of three rounds.

While no animosity exists, according to the two competitors, there is a healthy rivalry that has carried over the last 6 years of their lives, and this will give them the chance to settle the score once and for all. Hughes is riding a 3 fight win streak inside the crowded 170-pound division where he is slowly sneaking ahead of. Most recently, he continued the streak when he put to sleep Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, Ricardo Almeida, with a modified guillotine win over. The victory at UFC 117 las August, was perhaps one of Hughes’ most impressive in recent years.

BJ, mean while has been on a slope, dropping his last two contests in the lightweight division, with decision losses to current champion Frankie Edgar.

Here is the card as follows: formatted by MMAJunkie.oom

MAIN CARD

* Quinton “Rampage” Jackson vs. Lyoto Machida
* Matt Hughes vs. B.J. Penn
* Maiquel Falcao vs. Gerald Harris
* Tim Boetsch vs. Phil Davis
* Joe Lauzon vs. George Sotiropoulos

PRELIMINARY CARD

* Mark Munoz vs. Aaron Simpson
* Matt Brown vs. Rory MacDonald
* Dennis Hallman vs. Karo Parisyan
* Darren Elkins vs. Edson Barboza
* Paul Kelly vs. Gabe Ruediger
* Nik Lentz vs. Tyson Griffin

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of the card? If you are in the Detroit/Auburn Hills area, I highly suggest you make an effort to catch the event live. Who do you think will take which bout? Sound off in the comments section below.

Some of the highlights include the following: “I think the Light Heavyweight Division is very deep in the UFC, so I think [Antonio Rogerio Nogueira] will definitely be ‘in the mix’ [if he beats Ryan Bader]…[Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira] has had surgery on his knee and we’re waiting on when he’s going to do his hip surgery, probably within the next couple of weeks. I think he’ll realistically be out six months…[Lyoto Machida] is very excited to get back in there [against Quinton Jackson] and fight. He feels like a better, more complete fighter now, and I guarantee you he’s going to have that Light Heavyweight belt around his waist again, and soon… This year’s been great for us.”

You know what I think, fans and friends? I honestly don’t understand why everyone is so quick to judge Ed Soares. I’ve heard him called a coward, a cheat, a clown, a swindler, all manner of negative comments. And I honestly see nothing to base that negativity on. Soares almost always comes off very humble, and he’s basically never gotten a big head despite the fact that he’s in charge of some of the biggest names in the UFC. Soares actually seems like a pretty stand-up guy, and I don’t see any reason to vilify him. He may be “famous by association”, but so are guys like Greg Jackson and John Hackleman. I just don’t understand why so many people dislike the man.

I’m very interested in the things he has to say, and I think he gave us a lot of great information in this short interview. If you forced me to, I’d list Black House as my favorite camp in MMA, with the American Kickboxing Academy and Jackson’s Submission Fighting closely tied for second. So of course I’m very interested in their developments. I agree with Soares that a big win over Bader will put “Little Nog” into prime championship contention. It’s already been announced that the winner of Bader/Nogueira will more than likely face the surging Jon Jones, and if that fight ends dramatically, I can see the winner getting an immediate title shot.

I’m really pulling for “Big Nog” and hope that his surgeries are a success. I still think that he can have a good run in the UFC’s Heavyweight division, and I look forward to seeing him step inside the Octagon once again. I’m looking forward to the return of Lyoto Machida even more, since I’ve been a fan of “The Dragon” ever since he debuted. Long before he KO’d Thiago Silva and Rashad Evans, back when the war over whether Machida was elusive or afraid seemed to rage without end, I was one of the ones that vehemently stood by him and predicted that he’d hold a championship one day. And believe me, he’ll hold one again. Machida is down but definitely not out.

I think the sky’s the limit for those at Black House, and that we’ll continue to see some amazing fighters coming out of this elite camp. But what about you, fans and friends? What do you think of Black House, and more specifically, what’s your taken on this recent Ed Soares interview?

Here’s what Jackson had to say via UFC.com: “I started this camp very early. I stayed in shape from the last fight and the weight hasn’t been an issue this time. Every single minute of this camp will be focused on technique, not getting back in shape or shaking the ring rust after a long time off. If Machida decides to fight me, it will be an exciting fight for one round before he goes to sleep. I am expecting him to run from me, though. He’d wear sneakers into the Octagon if he could! But don’t worry, I will hunt him down and get him anyway.”

I think Rampage still has a lot of ground left to cover if he plans to back up what he says. He showed a significant amount of ring rust against Rashad Evans, and it remains to be seen if Rampage really is back to his old self. Even Rampage’s famous KO power was called into question in the fight with “Sugar”, since a Hail Mary flurry that could have ended the fight ultimately resulted in Evans recuperating and some would say surviving long enough to get the decision nod.

I also think that Jackson is painting Machida with a very broad brush. Saying that all Machida does is run away would be like saying that all Jackson does is look for the KO. There’s an incredible amount of nuance involved that’s regrettably lost on a lot of people. Machida’s confusing, elusive style has worked wonders for him in the past, and even if the loss to Mauricio Rua put a significant dent in his armor, I honestly think Rampage will have to overcome more obstacles in this match than “The Dragon”.

But if anyone can make Machida 0 for his last 2, it’s Rampage. Rampage is a brawler with good KO power and very solid wrestling. He’ll probably leave himself wide open for Machida’s dreaded counter-punching several times throughout the fight, but there’s always the chance that he could land that one big bomb that puts Machida down and out.

But in the end, I’m still giving this fight to Machida. Rampage has simply had too much on his plate for the last several years, whether it’s the infamous “Rampage’s Rampage” scandal or his brief excursion to pursue a film career. Meanwhile, Machida’s focus has never wavered, he’s never lost sight of his ultimate goal. It will likely be a very close, very heated fight, but I honestly believe that Machida is hungrier and more determined to win this fight. In most of his recent interviews I get the feeling that Quinton Jackson could take or leave the UFC nowadays, and that’s a terrible mindset to have when you’re going up against the best competition in the world, which Machida undoubtedly is.

And what do you think, fans and friends? Who’s winning the war of words so far, and who do you see winning the fight once the octagon door closes?