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?

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?

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?

Mark Bocek is one of many Canadian fighters that will be fighting in the UFC’s debut in Toronto, Ontario. Bocek entered the UFC back in 2007 and with a 4-0 record, with all four wins by stoppage: one TKO due to injury and three submissions. Unfortunately, Bocek lost his UFC debut to eventual UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar. In one of the first fights that would one day lead many to refer to Edgar as “The Answer”, Edgar TKO’d Bocek in the first round with only five seconds to spare.

Since that loss, Bocek has assembled a respectable record in the UFC, going 5-3. His losses were to the aforementioned Edgar as well as to Mac Danzig and Jim Miller. Jim Miller is currently one of the best and (dare I say it) most under-appreciated Lightweights in the UFC, while Mac Danzig was the winner of the sixth season of the popular UFC reality TV show “The Ultimate Fighter”. Bocek is currently riding high on the heels of a submission victory over Dustin Hazelett that earned him “Submission of the Night”.

His opponent, Ben Henderson, stormed into the WEC with a record of 7-1 and immediately established his presence. With a near-unlimited gas tank combined with a high level of both speed and power, as well as a flexibility that led many to compare him to Gumby, Henderson would challenge for the Interim WEC Lightweight Championship after only two wins inside the famed blue cage.

At that time, it was widely believed that Jamie Varner and Donald Cerrone were by far the two best Lightweights in the WEC. Henderson promptly took that notion and turned it right on its head by outlasting and ultimately besting Donald Cerrone in a fight that won “Fight of the Night” and was a serious contender for Fight of the Year. Henderson then unified the WEC Interim Lightweight and Lightweight Championships with a third-round submission win over the returning Jamie Varner.

Ben Henderson then capitalized on that momentum by beating Donald Cerrone yet again, this time shocking everyone and submitting Cerrone in the first round during the WEC’s first and only Pay-Per-View event. But Henderson’s defining moment would come when he fought Anthony Pettis at WEC 53, the final event the WEC would ever run. For five straight rounds, both men put on a performance that led me to call their fight one of the best of all time. Henderson would end up losing a close fight, with Pettis finally tipping both the scales and the judges in his favor after hitting one of the most dramatic strikes of all time: a wall-walk headkick.

If you couldn’t already tell by my glowing praise, I’ve got high hopes for Ben Henderson in the UFC. I can admit that about a quarter of that reaction comes from the WEC super-fan in me, but the other three-fourths are based solely on Henderson’s brilliant performances inside the blue cage. Mark Bocek will be a tough test for him, and I have no doubt that it will be an all-out war. But I have a lot of faith in Ben Henderson, and I can’t wait to see him make his UFC debut.

And that’s that, fans and friends! Day two of “UFC 129 Complete Collection” is now over and done with. I hope you’ve enjoyed the series so far, and please stay tuned for the third and final day of this series, which takes place tomorrow and will feature big match-ups like Jose Aldo vs. Mark Hominick, Randy Couture vs. Lyoto Machida, and the main event, Georges St. Pierre vs. Jake Shields.

And what about you, fans and friends? Any thoughts on this fight?

Rain, rain, rain.  Something about rain that is conducive for writing.  Creates a pensive mood here on Broadway and 77^th in the Big Apple.

*My first MMA interview was with Kalib Starnes at UFC 71 in Las Vegas.  Starnes beat Chris Leben at that event, the under card of Chuck Liddell v. Quinton “Rampage” Jackson.  Oh how Starnes and Leben’s careers have gone in different directions.  Starnes recently lost to Patrick Cote at RingSide MMA 10 in Montreal.  Leben will be in a featured fight against Wanderlei Silva at UFC 132.

*Will we ever see a long shot outside of the top six in a division get a title shot, a la Matt Serra upset of George St. Pierre at UFC 69.  With each division so stacked (more-so with the Strikeforce acquisition), it is hard to envision. Watching VCU make a tremendous run in the NCAA basketball tournament and golfer Charl Schwartzel surprise most us at the Masters this past weekend, reminded me how fun it is for the underdog to come from nowhere to challenge for a big title.  Unfortunately, as the UFC grows and so much money is on the line with every event, I fear we will never again see a long shot get a title shot, unless a large tournament format is adopted.  Not likely.

*Frankie Edgar has a new website and branded T-Shirt.  Looks good.  I am intrigued and curious just how much money these top fighters make aside from their formal fight paychecks.  Understandably, careers are short, and they have to cash-in while their name is hot.  I suspect most make strong five figures just for the signage on their shorts.  Most now have signature T-Shirts for each fight … more $.  Then, many do seminars for a nice payday and more and more own MMA gyms.  If they play their cards right – with a solid 2-3 years on UFC PPV shows, many guys can set themselves up for a long time, as they should, this is a dangerous game.

*Mark Bocek has a fun promo video for his fight in Toronto at UFC 129.  Check it out here.

*Foo Fighters have a new album.  Very Good.

*I first met UFC fighter Matt Brown in 2007, when he was a trainer at Crunch Fitness on 83^rd St between Amsterdam and Columbus. One day, I saw him shadow boxing around the heavy bag and asked if he was a fighter. He was living in NY for a short time and soon to try out for the Ultimate Fighter show on Spike TV.  He had a very average pro record and was almost signed to the IFL, which would have prevented him from going the reality TV show route. My goodness, he turned out to be far from a typical NYC gym trainer.  Hope he picks up a win next time out.

*On the case of first encounters …  I first met Frankie Edgar in Neptune, NJ, also in 2007.  He was wielding a blowtorch installing urinals at the local high school that day.  We were doing a feature on him for NBCSports.com.  After eight hours working as a plumber he logged four hours in the gym.  I learned that day Frankie Edgar is a hard worker, to put it mildly.

*Ricardo Almeida will soon be judging MMA fights in New Jersey.  Ex fighters becoming judges is a huge plus for this sport.  Hopefully, in the future, all judges will be required to be ex fighters.

*I hope George St. Pierre watched Nick Diaz fight last Saturday.  Unfortunately, I don’t think it will change his ways any time soon.  Meaning: his preference for safety over going for it!

*I have stopped following two people today on Twitter.  Too much noise.

*Fights at UFC 129 I am excited about:

-Jose Aldo v. Mark Hominick

-Nate Diaz v. Rory McDonald

-Jason McDonald v. Ryan Jensen

-Randy Couture v. Lyoto Machida

*Charlie Sheen played Radio City Music Hall last night.  As a media strategy – he would have done better just continuing to offer himself out in short bursts, on Ustream, Twitter, Blog video.  I think we like him in short bursts of crazy talk, not sitting for two hours, 100$ poorer.

*I am glad Chael Sonnen is back on the scene.  I love his honesty, bravado, machismo, salesmanship, huge ego, and carnival barker ways … all wrapped in one.

Time to face the rain.  Cheers.

Following a devastating loss to Anthony Pettis a little over two weeks ago at WEC 53, Henderson relinquished his title to the Duke Roufus product along with a promised number contender’s spot pending the winner of Frankie Edgar vs Gray Maynard III for the UFC lightweight title.

However, despite the setback Ben will move on to the worlds largest mixed martial arts organization (which has since been assimilated with the WEC promotion following the organization’s last event; both promotion’s fall under the Zuffa LLC banner) and look to reassert himself as one of the best in his weigh class.

MMAJunkie.com reports that the former champion will now meet with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu whiz, Mark Bocek. The Canadian will return to the octagon to face Henderson at UFC 129, which is expected to take place at the Rogers Centre on April 30 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. For Bocek, it will mark the first time that he has competed in Canada for back-to-back events under the UFC banner.

He was last seen in action in November for UFC 124 which took place in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, when Bocek took on the slick submission expert, Dustin Hazelett. Despite his success in the organization’s 170-pound division, Hazelett met his match when Bocek was able to spoil the lightweight return for Dustin when he submitted the Jorge Gurgel pupil with a triangle choke midway through the first-round. With the win, Bocek has now won 4 of his last 5 fights inside the UFC, with his lone loss in that stretch coming to top contender Jim Miller.

A win here is especially important for Henderson if he ever hopes to re-stake his claim as one of the best 155-pound fighters in the world, a moniker he was slowly gathering with his impressive stint in the now defunct WEC promotion, where he defeated the likes of Shane Roller, Donald Cerrone (twice) and former champ Jamie Varner.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of the new match up? If you give the edge in submissions to Bocek, Henderson’s underrated wrestling ability cannot come into question. Who do you think will walk away the victor come April? Sound off in the comment section below.

Champion GSP will look to make his fifth successful title defense against foe Koscheck. The two had met previously at UFC 74, where the American Kickboxing Academy product was riding a 5-fight win streak inside the cage coming into the bout, meanwhile, “Rush” was coming off of a disappointing and shocking knockout loss to the unheralded Matt Serra at UFC 69.

While competitive in spots, St. Pierre was able to dominate the wrestling department against the former NCAA champion, en route to a unanimous decision victory.

UFC officials made the fight-card official yesterday, with GSP vs Koscheck serving as the headliner. While the card is filling up quickly, no co-main event has been announced as of yet.

The rematch is 3 years in the making, and both competitors have improved leaps and bounds. While GSP has gone undefeated since then, eventually reclaiming his welterweight title against Matt Serra in a rematch at UFC 83 in his native Montreal Josh has faltered against some of the top competition in his division. With losses to Brazilians Thiago Alves and Paulo Thiago inside of a three-fight stretch, Josh was able to bounce back with three-straight wins over Frank Trigg, Anthony Johnson, and most recently UFC castoff Paul Daley (UFC 113), have enabled the brash and cocky fighter his shot at the title.

No other bouts have become official as of yet, however the following bouts are rumored for the fight card as well.

Thiago Alves vs. John Howard
Mark Bocek vs. Dustin Hazelett
Sean McCorkle vs. Stefan Struve

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of the fight card so far? With the bout officially official, who do you think takes the rematch? Sound off in the comment section below.

After dropping back-to-back fights to notables Paul Daley and Rick Story–which was his most recent fight at UFC 117, where the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist was eventually TKO’d in the second round by the surging welterweight contender–Dustin has decided to try his hand once again in the lightweight decision.

Initially beginning his career as a lightweight, the drain on his body is what ultimately led the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt who trains under UFC and Strikeforce veteran Jorge Gurgel.

A tall, lanky, and thin fighter, additional weight to be lost is what he calls resulted in some of his sluggish performances, especially in his UFC-155 pound debut against Deigo Saraiva some years ago–though he won the bout by unanimous decision.

After winning several “Submission of the Night” awards over the likes of veterans Josh Burkman and Jonathon Goulet, it seemed like Dustin was on the fast track towards a title shot, before his most recent mishaps. He hopes that UFC 124 against fellow lightweight grappler Mark Bocek may get him back on track.

Bocek is no slouch on the ground either. While recently riding a three-fight win streak inside the UFC, all by way of submission, Bocek hit a roadblock at UFC 111 when he met division standout and now budding contender Jim Miller, losing by unanimous decision.

Both men, especially Hazelett, need a win to stay alive in the ultra-competitive 155-pound division.

UFC 124 is taking place in Montreal, Quebec, Canada at the Bell Centre and will be headlined by champion Georges St. Pierre defending his title against Josh Koscheck. Bocek, a fellow Canadian, will be welcomed to a warm reception come December 11.

MMAJunkie was able to confirm the bout with sources close to the event.

So, MMA peeps, who do you think takes this match up? Is it loser leaves home? And do you think either man can return to top form like we’re used to seeing? Sound off.

Also confirmed is a previously reported welterweight fight between “Superman” Dennis Hallman (41-12-1) and “Doomsday” John Howard (12-3) and a lightweight matchup between Mark Bocek (7-2) and Matt Veach (8-0).

Fighters.com broke the news of the UFC’s signing of Wallace and followed him as he prepared for Vendetta FC’s eight-man tournament and eventual victory in Aruba September 5 when he tapped out “Juggernaut” Antwain Britt (11-3) in an armbar in the tournament’s finale after disposing of Gregory Milliard (1-2) by decision in the first round and Team Quest’s Aaron Stark (9-5) by decision in the semi-final.

Former WEC champion Stann won a unanimous decision over “Robot” Steve Cantwell (7-2) at UFC Fight Night 19 in Oklahoma City September 16 in the third iteration of a trilogy that began in the WEC in 2007.

Hallman returns to the Octagon four years after losing a UD to “El Conquistador” Jorge Rivera (16-7) at UFC 55 in Uncasville. He tapped Justin Davis (11-10) in a rear naked choke in just 27 seconds at Strikeforce Challengers in Seattle 19 June.

Howard won a split decision over “Barncat” Tamdan McCrory (11-3) at UFC 101 in Philadelphia 8 August, his second Octagon win in as many outings.

Heavyweight “Kimbo Slice” Kevin Ferguson (3-1) is all but confirmed to make his UFC debut at the event, but his opponent remains a mystery.

The two finalists from the current season of SpikeTV’s The Ultimate Fighter 10 will also fight for a six-figure UFC contract.

In round one, Robinson began with a couple strong kicks only to be taken down eventually and controlled during the remaining pace.  Bocek executed good transitions with strong elbow strikes to land a choke that was stopped by the end of the opening round.

By the second, Bocek looked to have control of the fight.  Almost executing an omaplata late in the round, Robison escaped only to find Bocek scrambling upon his every move.  The second round ended with Robison pulling guard and Bocek in top position.

Bocek looked clearly ahead on the score cards by the beginning of the third.  Almost immediately, Bocek pinned Robison to the cage with Robison pulling a guillotine only to be slammed hard on his back.  Under a swarm of punches, Robison rolled over numerous times to escape.

Bocek finally got a body triangle capturing a rear naked choke.  Under pressure, Robison tapped out.

Fighters.com: Mark, you’re a very experienced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter recently competing at the ADCC submission grappling world championships in 2007 where you quickly defeated Drew Fickett (35-6).  Your next opponent,”Kid” Alvin Robinson (10-6), is a jiu-jitsu brown belt.  Do you think experience will favor you in the upcoming fight at UFC 91?

Mark Bocek: Well, Alvin has had more professional fights than I have.  However, I feel that I’m better in every aspect of mixed martial arts.

Fighters.com: Certainly most analysts forecast your approaching fight with Robison as a potential jiu-jitsu chess match.  Have you placed any focus on stand-up or wrestling to make things more complicated for your opponent?

Mark Bocek: I’m training to be as complete as possible and I’m ready to go wherever the fight goes.

Fighters.com: You lost to Mac Danzig (17-5-1) via rear naked choke at UFC 83 in Montreal 19 April while Robison lost to Nathan Diaz (10-2) via triangle choke at Fight Night 12 in Las Vegas 23 January.  Some critics have said the approaching fight is a must-win scenario for both you and Robison.  Do you agree with this assessment? 

Mark Bocek: Yes, we are both hungry to win.  But, I don’t think about it.  This way I don’t put pressure on myself.  I know I will fight great.

Fighters.com: I read that you previously defeated “Batman” Kurt Pellegrino (12-4) as well as “Cabbage” Wesley Correira (19-15).  What’s the story behind these victories?

Mark Bocek: They were in grappling competitions.  I’m 1-1 with Kurt and I submitted “Cabbage” a long time ago at the Hawaii State BJJ Championships, when I was a blue belt in the absolute division.

Fighters.com: You are now a member of American Top Team out of Coconut Creek, north of Miami.  I believe you are the only Canadian member of the team.  How and when did you become affiliated with ATT?

Mark Bocek: Well, Denis Kang is also a member.  I needed to join a high level team with top guys in my weight class.  Marcelo Garcia is a good friend of mine and he put in a good word for me to [Ricardo] Liborio; and, they accepted me with open arms.  Everyone there is super cool and they are helping me so much.

Fighters.com: You now operate a gym as well in Canada.  Is the entire Mark Bocek Jiu-Jitsu-Team affiliated with American Top Team as well?

Mark Bocek: I coach Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at Xtreme Couture in Toronto.  My students train there and represent that gym.  Only I represent American Top Team.

Fighters.com: Who are some of your current training partners?

Mark Bocek: I currently train with Thiago Alves, Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante, Marcus Aurelio, Gleison Tibau, Mike Thomas Brown, Yves Edwards, Jorge Santiago, Carmelo Marrero, and Thiago Tavares.  It’s a very elite crew.

Fighters.com: You originally studied under both Renzo Gracie (13-6-1) and Rickson Gracie (11-0) before moving on to Nova Uniao to finish your black belt under Joao Roque (8-2-4).  Do you ever feel pressure to win fights via submission by having lineage to the legendary Gracie family?

Mark Bocek: There’s no pressure.  I do my best to train hard and then the best will always happen.

Fighters.com: Many people have cited UFC 91 as one of the biggest UFC fight cards to date.  Some industry insiders have predicted record pay-per-view sales for the event.  This could mean bigger exposure for you.  What are thoughts on being part of this card?

Mark Bocek: It’s a great honor and I’m ready.

Fighters.com: What’s next for Mark Bocek should you prove victorious at UFC 91?

Mark Bocek: Well, that’s up to the UFC but I will be ready to fight again.

Hazelett, a member of Team Jorge Gurgel, submitted Josh Burkman (18-7) via second-round armbar in June.

McCrory won a unanimous decision over Luke Cummo (6-6) in August.

Robinson’s last fight was a loss to Nathan Diaz (10-2) via third-round triangle choke in January.  He reportedly took time off this year to deal with injuries.

Bocek, of Toronto, was submitted by Mac Danzig (18-5-1) in April via third-round rear naked choke.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fighters.com:How about Lesnar in the UFC?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Natural: OK.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fighters.com: Are you the type of guy who watches tapes and have brushed-up your jiu-jitsu to fight Mark Bocek; or, do you just train to fight your game?

Mac Danzig: A little bit of both.  I watch as much tape on a guy as I can; but, I train to fight my fight. A guy like Bocek, with only six fights, is still evolving.  He’s not the guy you see in the fight with Frankie Edgar.  He’s susceptible to an uppercut or a knee; and, I’ve been training for that; but, Bocek is the type of guy who, if you miss, will take advantage of it.

Fighters.com: I’ve talked to Bisping and Evans about their TUF championships and both agree it’s a major career accomplishment.  You were an established fighter prior to TUF.  Do you agree it’s an important fighting accomplishment for you or more of a career move to gain exposure?

Mac Danzig: Yeah, it’s an accomplishment; but, mostly it’s been a vehicle to get exposure.  I was at a point where I was trying to find my place in the sport.  It was after PRIDE had fallen and I didn’t know if I was going to be able to get another fight in a big organization.  Not that I was thinking about retiring; but, I wasn’t able to support myself fighting.  Now, I’m able to support myself and focus on fighting.

Fighters.com: Do you think your serious attitude on TUF against the backdrop of some the knuckleheads illustrated the difference between professional fighters and tough athletes?

Mac Danzig: I wasn’t 100% with how the producers edited the show; but, on that point, yeah, I think it came across.  A lot fans tell me they liked the show because it showed who was serious.  Only about five or six of us were serious about fighting on the show and the rest were there just to get on TV.

Fighters.com: Tell me about your move to Xtreme Couture.

Mac Danzig: There’s no egos here.  Everyone is here to help each other.  It’s like a big family.  If anyone did show up to start problems, it wouldn’t be tolerated.

Fighters.com: At your photography site: www.macdanzigphotography.com, there are a lot of desert landscapes.  Why do you like the desert?  Have you been able to get out into the Nevada desert since moving to Las Vegas?

Mac Danzig: It’s just desolate; but, there’s so much going on that’s not human.  So much nature.  There are all these old ghost towns.  I’ve got some things planned after my fight in Montreal.

Fighters.com: Are you a serious hobbyist or could you see yourself paying the bills on photography one day?

Mac Danzig: I’d love to make a living as a photographer after fighting; but, it’s hard for someone like me because I want to stay on the artistic side.  Most working photographers have to take assignments.  I want to continue photographing what I like and if people want to buy it or use it, that’s great.

Fighters.com: I just read a piece about Kenny Florian being “not your average” fighter because he’s a smart guy.  Noguiera was in law school, Liddell has a college degree,  Rich Franklin and Jeff Monson have masters degrees.  How much does intellect play in the field of fighting?

Mac Danzig: You have to be intelligent to stay focused and control your emotions.