Coming into 2011, Jon Jones’ record sat at an impressive 11-1 with his one and only loss coming by disqualification. Jones had dispatched veterans like Vladimir Matyushenko, he had beaten Brandon Vera’s face in, and he had caught the attention of the world with his dramatic strikes against Stephan Bonnar. To start out 2011, Jones was matched up against Ryan Bader.

“Darth” Bader was busy capitalizing on the success of winning a season of “The Ultimate Fighter” by tearing through the Light Heavyweight division thanks to his great wrestling and sneaky one-hit KO power. Coming into his fight with Jones, Bader was undefeated at 12-0 and had just got done beating well-respected veteran Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. Before that, he had knocked out UFC mainstay Keith Jardine.

The fight wasn’t even close, which surprised a lot of people. Bader would end up on the wrong end of a guillotine choke in the second round. Afterwards, Jon Jones got his shot at the gold in a story that took the MMA world by storm. Thanks to his then-friend and teammate Rashad Evans getting injured after sitting on the sidelines for roughly a year, Jon Jones would be given the task of welcoming Mauricio Rua back to the UFC.

After a rough start in the world’s largest MMA promotion, Mauricio Rua regained his “Shogun” status with convincing victories over Chuck Liddell, Mark Coleman, and Lyoto Machida. Most fans believe that Machida winning the first bout with Rua was a fluke, and they were mostly proven right when Machida lost by first-round KO in the rematch.

This would be Rua’s first defense of his UFC Light Heavyweight Championship, and he was coming in after a sizable absence. Nevertheless, many predicted that Jones’ run of utterly destroying people would stop with Rua. Rua was too good of a striker, he was too great of a veteran. Rua would show up with the experience to handle Jones’ unpredictability, and his striking would be better than Jones’. At least, that’s what “Shogun” fans said.

Me? I called Jon Jones destroying Mauricio Rua from the moment I first knew this fight would happen. I had to take all manner of abuse for my one-sided pick, but that’s nothing new for me. I even played nice after the fight and didn’t rub it in nearly as much as I could and probably should have.

Because, as we all know, Jon Jones went out and destroyed Mauricio Rua. He humbled him to the point where, as the referee was pulling Jones off of Rua, Rua tapped out due to strikes. For three rounds, Mauricio Rua… Mauricio Rua of all people… was at the mercy of Jon Jones. And Jon Jones fights without mercy.

Jones has already gotten his fair share of cynics, with most of them calling him too egotistical, too prideful, too unproven. But it really doesn’t get much better in MMA than what Jon Jones did in the first six months of 2011. His potential reached the breaking point, and then he finally realized it. And now I think Jones will be the first champion to break the “Light Heavyweight curse” that has beset the UFC’s 205 division since the fall of Chuck Liddell. There’s not a doubt in my mind that Jon Jones is 2011’s Fighter of the Half-Year.

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?

Don’t get me wrong, my opinion on Mauricio Rua hasn’t changed. I still think his knees are shot. I still think that he’s past his prime. I still think that all the fervor generated around him was simply due to old-school PRIDE fans finally getting to brag that one of the most dominant PRIDE fighters finally got himself some gold. My opinion on Mauricio Rua has not changed.

It’s just that my opinion on Forrest Griffin has.

Forrest Griffin is on a two-fight win-streak, but he’s fighting less and less per year. And to be bluntly honest, he hasn’t really looked all that impressive in those two fights. He beat Tito Ortiz, but it’s pretty well-documented that Tito is past his prime. He then beat Rich Franklin, who I’m a fan of and who I think can definitely still go. The only problem was that it was a pretty boring fight.

After the fight, Forrest gave an interview where he basically said “I don’t care if it was boring, I just wanted to win”. That statement immediately rubbed me the wrong way, and I think I know why.

Forrest Griffin became a UFC Light Heavyweight Champion because he didn’t care about winning or losing and just wanted to fight. That scrappy attitude helped him reach one of the pinnacles of this sport. To hear him adopt this “a win is a win” attitude flies in the face of the Forrest Griffin I’ve come to both know and respect.

Here’s what I think the problem is. I think the fact the Griffin suffered two back-to-back (T)KO losses really mellowed him out on the idea of going into every fight and trying to make it a brawl. I wouldn’t go as far as to say that Griffin is running scared, I just think that he now knows that his chin is not impenetrable and has changed his style to suit that.

But that’s the problem: by doing that, Griffin has lost a lot of what made him great.

Compare this to Mauricio Rua, who basically beat Lyoto Machida twice and then had to take a long time off. Rua was dominated by Jon Jones in his return… but Jon Jones dominates everybody. You may remember that I called for Jones’ domination. That feeling of vindication, of seeing what I said would happen actually happen, has really helped me dial down the aggression when it comes to discussing Mauricio Rua.

In the end, I like this match. I think these two could bring out the best in each other. My problem with this fight isn’t that Mauricio Rua is the same man he was when he fought Forrest Griffin the first time. I think Jon Jones proved that those old weaknesses are still there, it just takes a really great fighter to bring them out. My problem is that Forrest Griffin isn’t the same fighter that he was back when he surprised us all and submitted “Shogun”. That’s why I think this rivalry is going to go to 1-1 by the time “Rio” is over.

And what about you, fans and friends? Any opinion on this match-up?

A previously mentioned between UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva and Yushin Okami has already been speculated to be the main-event of the evening, which is also a rematch of a fight that originally took place in 2006 under the now defunct Rumble on the Rock banner in Hawaii.

However, perhaps a more intriguing rematch has been pitted between former champions Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Forrest Griffin, which could see co-main event status as it is a pivotal fight in the 205-pound division.

TATAME.com originally reported the anticipated rematch between the two light-heavyweight standouts, whom originally met in September of 2007 at UFC 76. The event first introduced “Shogun” to the masses on a card that was headlined by the newly removed 205-pound champion in Chuck Liddell, so all eyes were on the Brazilian to make an impressive debut following his stint in the PRIDE organization.

His would be impressive debut was halted by Forrest, who eventually submitted the Brazilian after a back-and-forth battle in the waning moments of the fight, with just seconds to spare. The win catapulted Griffin into the title picture where he eventually dethroned then titleholder Quinton “Rampage” Jackson.

After the loss to Griffin, Rua would go on to compile a two-fight win streak over former champions Mark Coleman and Chuck Liddell which vaunted him into the title picture. After a controversial loss to Lyoto Machida for the belt, Mauricio exacted revenge with a first-round knockout over his fellow countryman in their next meeting.

Now the two are on very different paths in their careers, with Forrest climbing back up the ranks of the division after losing his title in 2009 to Rashad Evans, he is now on a two-fight win streak, while Rua is attempting to regain his belt after he was dethroned last March by phenom Jon Jones.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of the match-up? Who do you favor? I think an obvious question here is “which Rua will show up”? We’ve seen him in the past be every bit the world beater he is billed to be, however some of his last outings have not been up to par with the legend that we are all familiar with. Sound off in the comment section below.

However, the Brazilian has fallen to 1-2 in his last three outings and has recently relinquished his light heavyweight title to the impeding and fast rising Jon “Bones” Jones.

Now, Rua’s future seems bleak due to some of his recent performances that have put the legend that was “Shogun” in serious doubt, though his former head trainer in Rafael Cordeiro will gladly like to invite Rua back under his wing and breathe life into his career once again.

After leaving Chute Boxe in 2007, “Shogun” along with Wanderlei Silva, brother Murilo Rua, and Andre “Dida” all went their separate ways, and when his top students had made the consciousness decision to improve themselves as fighters, Rafael took the opportunity to breed his own new crop of stars as he took his business over to the United States and opened up the now infamous “Kings MMA” academy in Huntington Beach, California, which now houses fighters such as the UFC’s Jake Ellenberger, Mark Munoz, and Strikeforce star Fabricio Werdum among others.

Both Anderson Silva and Wanderlei make regular stops at the school to train with their “master”, which is a sentiment the both fighters still share for their former head instructor.

Rafael for a long time has spoken of the accolades that Mauricio has reached in such a short amount of time, and for that, was very proud as his friend and mentor to be along for the ride. And now that both men are in a place in their lives where “Shogun” may need his friend’s help once again, Cordeiro is more than willing to extend a helping hand. However, he doesn’t necessarily mean that a return to his training regime will be a “quick fix”–it will take much more than that, especially after his last performance against Jones, where the Brazilian was badly dominated from start to finish.

“It just depends on (Mauricio),” said Cordeiro who spoke with Sherdog.com about one of his former prized pupils.

“It would be very easy to say that Shogun coming to train at my gym would be the solution to his problems. I think it would be the first step to solving things. I think the first step to solving your problems is for you to seek good training. That’s not to say he hasn’t done that, because he has a good team, but I’ve seen some weaknesses in Shogun that I had not seen before.”

Training with your brother in your own academy in a comfortable setting in Brazil, it would be very easy for a fighter to feel “complacent” and for that, it’s going to take “Shogun” a lot of will power to sever his ties and become the best once again. The question is, is he willing to?

Sound off in the comment section below.

Former PRIDE and UFC champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua was dominated from start to finish by the younger, bigger, and stronger Jon Jones, which eventually resulted into a third-round TKO win for the Greg Jackson product.

While Rua has had his spurts of brilliance inside the octagon in the past, he looked like a shell of his former self from his glory days in the PRIDE organization. And while the subsequent knee injury and layoff could have been a deciding factor in his performance against Jones at UFC 128, his manager and friend Eduardo Alonso pulls no punches and credit “Bones” Jones completely for his accomplishments.

Alonso posted the letter on the popular Underground forum and had this to say:

My friends,

Eduardo Alonso.

Let’s begin as we so often do: let’s give the situation some context.

If I could describe Jon Jones in only one way, it would be “unstoppable”. I know it’s easy to over-hype a fighter you like, but I also know that very few people are as deserving of that accolade as Jon Jones. No one has ever made Jon Jones look bad in the Octagon. No one has even come close. The only loss he has in the UFC is by disqualification, and that’s because he got a little too heated and started throwing some illegal elbows. And you know what? Even that couldn’t stop Jon Jones. If anything, it was a learning experience that helped mold him into the champion he became at UFC 128.

His opponent, Mauricio Rua, was returning from an extended hiatus due to injury. This was Rua’s first defense of his Light Heavyweight Championship since knocking out Lyoto Machida and ending the heavily-hyped “Machida Era” before it ever really got a chance to get started. Even despite the long layoff, many fans were calling for “Shogun” to win and took to the internet in droves to voice their displeasure of Rua being cast as the underdog in the eyes of most people. Even I can admit that Rua had several interesting tools that he could have used to take Jones down a peg: killer leg kicks, some of the best Muay Thai in the business and possibly ever, knockout power from multiple angles, and more.

But there’s a difference between having the weapons to defeat an opponent and using those weapons to defeat an opponent.

From the opening of the first round, it was clear that Jon Jones would be the one dictating the pace of this fight. Jones was the one landing at will, Jones was the one keeping his opponent at bay with leg kicks and even leg punches, Jones initiated the clinch, took the fight to the ground, and smothered “Shogun” from the first minute to the last. Rua’s attacks were nullified, his submission attempts were nullified, and in the process, he took a huge amount of damage to all areas of his body.

And in the end, Jones stopped Rua in the third round. Although the referee was the one that officially stopped the fight, new video has been released showing Rua tapping to strikes right as the referee was pulling Jones away. This above all else sends a clear message: Rua was so hurt that he no longer wanted to fight Jon Jones. Jon Jones dominated and destroyed a highly-feared veteran, to the point where a man with one of the biggest hearts in the business, with one of the toughest chins imaginable, said “please stop hurting me”.

It was simply the most dominating performance of 2011 so far, and it wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest if it earned a year-end award. Many wondered if Jon Jones was really as unstoppable as he looked. We got our answer at UFC 128. I said before this fight that I’ll never again bet against Jon Jones. This fight simply reaffirmed and even strengthened that notion. Judging by what he did to “Shogun” at UFC 128, I simply have no idea how anyone could beat Jon Jones. And that’s why his performance easily took “Best Performance of the Night”.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

5. The Anthony Njokuani and Edson Barboza fight.

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

4. Brendan Schaub KO’ing Mirko Filipovic.

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

3. Jim Miller dropping and stopping Kamal Shalorus.

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

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

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

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

1. Jon Jones demolishing Mauricio Rua.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

5. Mauricio Rua has already spent several months training for Rashad Evans.

Before Mauricio Rua ever had to think about Jon Jones, he was thinking about Rashad Evans. Evans was the fight Rua spent many months preparing for, and if he beats Jones, Rua will have even more time to study and prepare for Rashad Evans. By the time this fight finally happens, Rua will probably know Evans’ gameplan and fighting style inside and out. And that’s a massive benefit.

4. If Rashad wants to “wall and stall”, that leaves him open for the Muay Thai Clinch.

The term “Wall and Stall” is a relatively new one, but it perfectly sums up one of the key things people hold against Rashad Evans. Evans loves to throw people up against the cage and just hold them there, pressing down on them with his body in order to sap their cardio. The only problem is that that’s the kind of close-quarters contact Rua needs in order to initiate the Muay Thai Clinch. If Evans holds Rua against the cage long enough, he probably will drain Rua’s cardio. But if Evans gets lazy, Rua can and will grab hold of his head and start dishing out some vicious knees.

3. Rashad has been gone too long.

It’s a major disadvantage going into a fight against Jon Jones, and it’s a major disadvantage going into this fight as well. I’ve defended Rashad Evans for choosing to sit on the sidelines, but I’d be lying if I said that a part of me wasn’t really annoyed by the whole thing. Any ring rust Rua has will likely be shaken off if he beats “Bones”. Evans’ long layoff is a huge hindrance for him no matter who he’s facing.

2. Persistent leg kicks will severely diminish Rashad’s takedown ability.

Let’s see Rashad Evans go for takedowns every few minutes after Rua kicks his legs for a couple rounds. I’m not doubting that Evans will be able to take Rua down early on, but this is a five-round fight and you couldn’t pay me any amount of money to take the kicks of “Shogun” for up to twenty-five minutes. If Evans becomes too focused on takedowns, we may reach a point in this match where Rua counter-strikes the legs of Evans so much that Evans goes down and doesn’t stand back up. A lot of people may be predicting that Rua will win this fight by KO, but honestly? I think Rua has just as good of a chance to win by TKO due to leg kicks. That’s how harsh they are, and coupled with Evans’ ring rust, this looks more and more like a very likely outcome.

1. Rua can easily knock Rashad Evans unconscious.

Lyoto Machida had barely begun to discover his knockout power when he knocked out Rashad Evans, and to date that was one of only two KO wins on his professional MMA record. Mauricio Rua has been knocking out people since he started fighting in 2002, and despite some ups and downs Rua has always displayed impressive power. Even now, with many years in the sport giving him a host of injuries, he recently recorded the strongest strike ever thrown on ESPN’s “Sports Science”. Whether it’s a punch or a kick, Evans is going to sleep if Rua lands it and lands it consistently.

And that wraps up today’s four-part “5 Reasons Why”, fans and friends. I hope you enjoyed the series. One last time: who do you think wins this fight, and why?

5. Rashad Evans has a whole lot of aggression to work out.

The last time Rashad Evans fought was in May 2010. It would likely be the latter part of 2011 when this fight with “Shogun” takes place, perhaps even longer if Rua develops another injury. In that time, Evans has been criticized as a boring fighter, afraid to fight, a turncoat, and so much more. When he does return to the Octagon, Evans will be as fired up as he’s ever been. That raw aggression will be a key ingredient in making sure that Evans gives the best performance possible.

4. Rua has the better stand-up, but Evans has knockout power that Rua needs to be prepared for.

If Lyoto Machida can knock out Rashad Evans, Rua can certainly knock him out too, right? Sure he can… but don’t forget that Evans took a lot, and I do mean a lot of Machida’s best shots before he went out. He took the best shots of Quinton Jackson and stayed conscious. He took some of Chuck Liddell’s best shots and then knocked him out. Don’t get me wrong, Rua is the better striker. But if you sleep on Evans’ power, if you doubt it for one second, he can and will knock you out. If Rua believes that he’s such a better striker than Evans that he begins to doubt Evans’ striking ability, that’s a huge benefit to Rashad.

3. Rashad Evans will have had ample time to prepare for Mauricio Rua in particular.

Since he beat Quinton Jackson in May 2010, Rashad Evans has had one opponent on his mind: Mauricio Rua. If Rua does beat Jon Jones at UFC 128, Evans will have even more time to prepare for an opponent that he’s already spent almost a year preparing for. By the time this fight finally gets around to happening, Evans will likely have had quite a long while to watch Rua’s tapes, train against the Muay Thai style, and so much more.

2. Constant, grinding pressure.

Rashad Evans likes to put pressure on his opponents from the start of the first round. In his fight with Quinton Jackson in particular, Evans continually sapped away at Jackson’s cardio to the point where Jackson was gassed out by the end of the second round. With this being a five-round fight and with Rua already having at least two three-round fights that saw him ridiculously gassed out, Evans could end up with a dominant victory if he chooses to “embrace the grind”.

1. Constant takedowns.

Rashad Evans fights for his takedowns, and he usually gets them. And if he scores them early and often on Rua, Rua will find his vaunted kicking power severely diminished. Rua may even start to become gun-shy with his kicks if Evans keeps countering them with takedowns. Takedowns are Rashad’s key to winning this fight: they sap Rua’s cardio, the judges love them, they weaken Rua’s kicks, they hurt his surgically-repaired knees. Rashad Evans is a brilliant wrestler, and that’s the number one reason why I think he could beat Mauricio Rua.

And that’s two down and two to go, fans and friends. But what about you? What do you think about Rashad Evans possibly beating Mauricio Rua?

5. Jon Jones has an equally short amount of time to prepare for the biggest fight of his life.

Who takes a fight on little less than two months notice? Mauricio Rua has been training for his return for months, but Jon Jones had been training for Ryan Bader. Only the young take a fight the second after they’ve just won a fight, only the reckless take a fight with little more than a month to prepare for a championship bout.

4. The Achilles Heel of the unorthodox striker is the deadly counter-striker.

Let me tell you what’s going to happen if Jon Jones attempts a spinning back elbow or a jumping knee. Rua is going to dodge it and then punch “Bones” in his face, or kick his legs. The same thing is going to happen if Jones comes in charging, trying to grab “Shogun” to either throw him or take him down: Rua is going to blast a knee to the chin or a fist to the dome. The reason people always give so much praise for Jon Jones’ effective and unorthodox striking is because crazy strikes and insane throws rarely work against truly skilled opponents. And despite what you may think I think about Mauricio Rua, if nothing else I consider the man truly skilled.

3. Who has Jon Jones beat, really?

I understand that “Bones” has looked amazing many times in the Octagon, but who was he fighting when he made those amazing moments? His biggest victory is over Ryan Bader, and that was a bout clearly designed to determine which one was ready for top-division status, not who the next #1 contender was. Would Ryan Bader have been given the shot if he defeated Jon Jones? When Jon Jones steps into the Octagon against Mauricio Rua, he’ll be fighting a true best-in-the-world fighter for the first time in his life.

2. Mauricio Rua is an exceptional striker.

Mauricio Rua has won nineteen fights as a professional Mixed Martial Artist. Sixteen of those fights have been (T)KO’s. Here’s just a sample of the people Rua has separated from consciousness: Alistair Overeem, Lyoto Machida, Ricardo Arona, Quinton Jackson, Evangelista Santos… do I really need to go on? It’s a smorgasbord of strikers, grapplers, and more.  Mauricio Rua is a master at Muay Thai, he has the killer instinct of a champion and the fiery finishes of a legend-in-the-making. Jon Jones has never faced a striker in Mauricio Rua’s league. He’s never even come close.

And the number one reason why I believe Mauricio Rua could beat Jon Jones is…

1. The body is willing, the mind is weak.

Is Jon Jones ready for this fight? I don’t doubt that he’s ready physically. In fact, Jon Jones is a physical specimen. But mentally? Can Jon Jones deal with all the pressure that’s being put on him? Is he ready, truly ready, to embrace his role as the future of the division? Or is it too much, too soon? No one knows what Jon Jones fights like when he’s not in control because no one has been able to take control from Jon Jones. Mauricio Rua can, and with this being a five-round fight, he almost undoubtedly will at some point. Any small potential mental weakness will be exploited to its fullest, and that’s the biggest reason why I think Mauricio Rua could beat Jon Jones.

So there you go, fans and friends, and “Shogun” fans in particular. Don’t say I never gave ya nothin’. I firmly and wholeheartedly believe in Jon Jones, but would it surprise me if Mauricio Rua beat him? It honestly wouldn’t.

As always, let’s get some debate going. What’s your opinion?

5. Mauricio Rua has little time to prepare for a completely different fighter.

Rua is taking this fight with basically a month and a half to prepare. For so long it was assumed that Rua would be fighting Rashad Evans, but at UFC 126 on February 5 it was revealed that Evans was injured and Jon Jones would be taking his place. Both Rashad Evans and Jon Jones are incredibly talented… but Jon Jones is not Rashad Evans. Both men are two wholly different fighters that pose very different threats to Rua, and Rua’s inability to fully prepare for this fight stands out as one of the main reasons why Jones could beat him.

4. Mauricio Rua has been out too long.

The last time Mauricio Rua fought in the Octagon was May 2010. He fought for under four minutes, but in those four minutes he injured his knee so badly that it necessitated a ten-month absence. “Ring rust” is very real, and it’s already proven to effect Rua in the Octagon. The last time Rua came off such a long absence, he gassed out horribly and only beat Mark Coleman because Coleman was far past his prime and also badly gassed out. If history has told us anything, it’s that Rua is going to come into this fight with diminished abilities and rapidly-depleting cardio.

3. Jon Jones has never been submitted, never come close to being submitted, and Rua’s last submission win was over four years ago… and that was the only person he ever submitted!

I absolutely cannot understand why so many people just assume that Rua will be able to submit Jon Jones. Who has Mauricio Rua submitted? His first, last, and only submission win in MMA was in 2006 against Kevin Randleman. Randleman had been submitted five times prior to that fight, in fact, there was one stretch of time where Randleman lost three straight fights all by submission. Rua has lost by submission more times than he’s won by submission. Jon Jones has more wins by submission than Mauricio Rua. How can Rua submit Jones? It’s just not computing.

2. Jon Jones is phenomenal.

If Jones hadn’t let the heat of the moment get to him, he would be an unbeaten 13-0 fighter with a large majority of his fights ending in dramatic fashion. The last time Jon Jones went to a decision was in January 2009. Four of his last five fights have all been finishes, and all of those finishes occurred either in the first or second round. No one has been able to stop Jon Jones. No one has even came close. This reason is practically tied with number 1 as the biggest reason why Jon Jones will beat Mauricio Rua.

But my number-one reason is…

1. The mind is willing, the body is weak.

Mauricio Rua has looked truly impressive one time in the UFC. The one time he fully recaptured his amazing run as a destroyer in PRIDE FC was when he KO’d Lyoto Machida. He looked atrocious against Forrest Griffin. He looked only a step or two better against Mark Coleman. He KO’d a glass-chinned Chuck Liddell. Him and Lyoto Machida fought to a close five-round decision, so close that the judges gave Machida the nod. Then in the epic rematch, Rua wins by dominating KO but has to take off nearly a year to heal his knees while Machida is back in the Octagon six months later. Even though he’s not even thirty yet, Rua’s body is already showing clear signs of degradation. If Rua blew out his knees against Machida, Jones’ fierce takedowns will crumble them into dust. If Forrest Griffin set a pace that gassed him out, Jon Jones will have Rua breathing hard by the fourth minute. Jon Jones right now is Mauricio Rua when Mauricio Rua was at his best. It’s Jones’ time now.

And there you have it, fans and friends. My definitive thoughts on why Jon Jones could beat Mauricio Rua. Tune in shortly for the follow-up, where I list five reasons why Mauricio Rua could beat Jon Jones.

I’m honestly looking forward to the Facebook “UFC Prelims LIVE!” stream more than I am the one on Spike TV. Don’t get me wrong, I plan to watch and enjoy both and I’ll continue to harp on how good of an idea this is and how we should all watch free fights when given the opportunity to do so. But the Facebook stream just seems to have much more going for it. Ricardo Almeida is a pretty big name, and he’s facing a very tough Mike Pyle. Likewise, Kurt Pellegrino is still arguably a “name-value” star as well, and Gleison Tibau is always good for a tough and entertaining scrap. The Spike TV broadcast does boast Anthony Njokuani, who I’ve always found incredibly exciting, but in the end I think Facebook will have the better two fights.

Even if Mirko Cro Cop beats Brendan Schaub, I think we’re nearing the end of his career. A win or loss to Schaub will only speed up or slow down the process. A lot of people seem to think I don’t like Mirko Cro Cop or that I’m trying to diminish what he did in PRIDE, but honestly that’s never been the case. I just remember the warrior and destroyer he was in PRIDE, and then I remember that in the UFC I only got to see brief flashes of that man. I know some Cro Cop fans find it hard to imagine that Cro Cop ever could’ve gotten to the point he is right now, some of them even refuse to admit it entirely. But Cro Cop is on the decline, and Schaub is either going to beat him decisively or KO him outright. If he doesn’t I would be very surprised.

It’s unfortunate but completely understandable that Yoshihiro Akiyama had to be pulled from this card and replaced by Dan Miller. I don’t have anything against Dan Miller, I just think that brother Jim Miller is the better of the two and far closer to earning a title shot in his division. This probably has a lot to do with me being a Nate Marquardt fan, but I believe that Dan Miller isn’t ready for a threat like Marquardt. I’ll be the first to give credit where credit is due if he proves me wrong, though.

I don’t have much more to say about Jim Miller taking on Kamal Shalorus, so I’ll just say this: if Jim Miller beats Shalorus and doesn’t get a top-division fighter for his next fight, I will officially start making the claim that the UFC is under-utilizing Jim Miller.

Whether or not Urijah Faber wins at UFC 128, I don’t think I’ll ever forget his debut in the UFC so long as he doesn’t pull a Miguel Torres on me and fights completely unlike the fighter I grew to respect and admire. We all have at least one fighter we hope wins no matter where he’s at in his career or who he’s facing. One of the few fighters I feel that way towards is Urijah Faber. To give some context on how exclusive that group is, another fighter I feel the same way about is Anderson Silva. I want Faber to win and I sincerely hope he does.

I’ve talked about Mauricio Rua so many times and been in so many debates over the man that I’m honestly running out of things to say. So I guess I’m lucky that he’s finally going to fight and either shut me up or prove me right once and for all. For those who may have missed my many discussions, here’s a very quick rundown.

I think Mauricio Rua is old no matter what his birthday is. He was in countless wars in PRIDE, and those wars have worn his body down. The fighter that gassed horrendously and was then choked out by Forrest Griffin is still in there. It’s just hidden, and only a rare mixture of strength, speed, and stamina can bring it out. And Jon “Bones” Jones has all of that in abundance. If it’s not the unorthodox strikes, it’ll be the cardio. If it’s not the cardio, it’ll be the elusiveness. If it’s not the elusiveness, it’ll be the throws. If it’s not the throws, it’ll be the takedowns. If it’s not the takedowns, it’ll be the Ground and Pound. Jon Jones is the future of the division, and that future will be realized at UFC 128.

And that’s all I have left to say, fans and friends. But what about you? Any final thoughts on UFC 128?

Recently, the former world champion suffered a knee injury in practice, in preparation for his bout with Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, which was originally scheduled to take place this weekend. However, after the news of the knee went around, teammate Jon Jones eventually got the nod and will now be competing for the belt.

While Rashad has gone to several media forums and stated that the likelyhood of him getting his immediate title shot is grim, solely because of his rocky relationship with UFC President Dana White, nothing could be further from the truth, explained the aforementioned UFC head honcho.

“Rashad thinks I’m hating him, or whatever the deal is, I don’t. The reality is…he hasn’t known Jon Jones that long. To call him a ‘brother’, and what I really believe–Rashad didn’t tell me this, Jon Jones didn’t tell me this, this is just something that I came up with in my head, that this has to be coming from the camp”, said White (in an interview with MMAFighting.com) regarding the initial disinterest in either Rashad or Jones wanting to fight each other.

Dana later suggests that it’s the training camp of Greg Jackson’s that is insisting that neither man fight, because should one person have to leave the camp to train, that it would take away from any monetary gain that the camp could draw in.

Since then, both men have changed their tunes, and have stated that they would be willing to fight each other if necessary, and it looks like White will be putting that commitment to the test.

Should Jon Jones win against “Shogun”, he will be fighting Evans next for the belt, however regardless, Rashad will still be next in line for the title shot.

“The guy got injured, he was next in line for the fight…”, said White, affirming that Evans will in fact get a crack at the UFC title.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of the news? Should Evans be next in line, or is there someone else worthy? And how would you feel about Rashad fighting either man? Sound off in the comment section below.

Mauricio Rua (c) vs. Jon Jones for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship: I’m putting it all on the line with this fight and this prediction, but when have I ever been afraid to do so? If Rua proves me wrong and wins, it wouldn’t be the first time I’ve had to stomach a heaping helping of humble pie. But I just don’t see that happening. Jon Jones is too good at everything, and for “Shogun”, the mind is willing but the body is weak. Jones will either hit his flurry and KO Rua in Round 1, or he’ll pummel Rua’s already-damaged knees into dust with constant takedowns. I’m betting on the former: Rua will assume that he’s got the striking advantage on “Bones”, and Jonny Bones will prove him wrong. Jon Jones wins by KO in Round 1.

Urijah Faber vs. Eddie Wineland: Eddie Wineland is one tough fighter, but there’s toughness and then there’s Urijah Faber. Both men are tough and have great chins, but I think the submission game will come back to bite Wineland. He’s got five wins by submission, but he’s been submitted four times. Faber has thirteen wins by submission and has never been submitted. Still, due to the all-important toughness factor, Wineland will only succumb after Faber wears him down. Urijah Faber wins by submission in Round 3.

Jim Miller vs. Kamal Shalorus: As much as I like Kamal Shalorus, Jim Miller should be right up there with the best of them, and I think he’s going to prove it at UFC 128. I could talk more about this fight, but I’m going to wrap it up with one simple sentence: I see Jim Miller being better than Kamal in all major areas of the game. Jim Miller wins by submission in Round 2.

Nate Marquardt vs. Dan Miller: There’s two ways I look at this match, and in both of them, I see Nate Marquardt winning. The first way is to refute the claim that Nate Marquardt chokes in big fights, which means that he’s still one of the best at 185 and should be too much for Miller to handle. The second way is to allow that Nate Marquardt chokes in big fights but counter that this isn’t a big fight for him. This is much more on the level of when Nate Marquardt faced Rousimar Palhares, and we all know how that fight turned out. In fact, I’m going to be calling for the same outcome: Nate Marquardt will beat Dan Miller by (T)KO in the first round.

Mirko Filipović vs. Brendan Schaub: When it comes right down to it, this is a relatively easy pick. Mirko Cro Cop’s most recent fight was an ultra-boring three-round snooze-fest with Frank Mir that mercifully ended with a late-round Hail Mary KO… which Cro Cop was on the receiving end of. Meanwhile, Brendan Schaub has been destroying people and just got done beating Gabriel Gonzaga and booting him right out of the UFC. Schaub is ready for Cro Cop’s level of talent, and Cro Cop has been a shadow of his former self for quite some time. Brendan Schaub wins by TKO in Round 1.

And that’s what I think, fans and friends. But what about you? Who do you see winning, and why, at UFC 128?

5. Freedom. It’s a beautiful thing.

If they keep giving ‘em to me, I’ll keep watchin’ ‘em. I liked it when the UFC decided to give fans free, live preliminary fights on Spike TV. I liked it when the UFC began to use Facebook to stream free, live preliminary fights. I liked it when the UFC selected the ION Television network as another avenue to give fans free, live prelims. Take a guess at my reaction when the UFC started combining those things and giving us free fights on Facebook, then more free fights on either ION TV or Spike. We’re nearing a day where, through one avenue or another, we’ll get the chance to see every single fight the fans in attendance get to see. And that’s a great, great thing. The UFC is giving us four free fights for UFC 128, and that’s always a great reason to watch a show.

4. Both Miller brothers in action against two very different but very, very tough opponents.

While I’m a bigger fan of Jim Miller than I am of Dan Miller, I think both Miller brothers are very entertaining and very tough. Dan meets Nate Marquardt at a point where both he and Nate “The Great” need a big win over a good opponent, so this is the type of fight that both men could really make something out of, and in the process we get a pretty entertaining scrap. I firmly believe that Jim Miller is only a few fights away from a title shot, and he’ll have a chance to prove that by taking on former WEC star Kamal Shalorus. Both fights have the potential to become some of the night’s best fights, and that’s really something to say when you’ve got a card as stacked as this one.

3. Mirko Cro Cop’s last hurrah.

I think Mirko Cro Cop will be done in the UFC after Brendan Schaub knocks him out, giving Cro Cop two back-to-back KO losses. I’ve been saying that Cro Cop has been done for quite some time, but a lot of people don’t agree with me. I don’t even harbor any sort of ill will towards the man, I just think it’s clear as day that the wrecking machine he used to be in PRIDE never emerged in the UFC, for one reason or another. I won’t shove anyone’s face in it if I am proven right, but my desire to be proven right once and for all, at least when it comes to Mirko Cro Cop, is definitely a big reason I’m checking out this card.

2. Urijah Faber debuting in the UFC.

For UFC fans who never got to find out what all the fuss was about when it came to the WEC, I don’t think anyone else quite embodies the spirit of that promotion like Urijah Faber. This is a guy that’s always soft-spoken but made a legacy out of brilliantly defeating opponents. This is a guy that’s fought with two broken hands during one fight, and in another fight he fought to a five-round decision despite having his leg kicked so many times and with so much force that he could barely put weight on it from about the third round onward, maybe even the second round. Seeing “The California Kid” debut in the UFC is easily the second-biggest reason I’m going to watch this show.

But of course, the number-one spot simply has to go to…

1. Shogun. Jones. ‘Nuff said.

How long have I been talking about this match? Quite a long time, I’ll say that. And throughout all my many discussions, I’ve held fast to one core belief: Mauricio Rua will not be the one to “break the curse” of the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship. Jon Jones is going to destroy him, at least, that’s what I think will happen. And that’s really what it all boils down to, doesn’t it? After months of speculation and heated debate, we finally get a definitive answer in the form of an amazing fight. The main event of UFC 128 is easily the best and biggest reason to give this show a watch.

So there you have it, fans and friends: five great reasons to tune in and see UFC 128: “Shogun vs. Jones”. What about you? As the date draws ever-closer, what are you most looking forward to for this event?

The Event: UFC 128 “Shogun vs. Jones”, currently scheduled for March 19, 2011 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Two free preliminary fights will stream live on the UFC’s Facebook page beginning at 8 PM ET. Two additional free preliminary fights will be shown on Spike TV starting at 9 PM ET. The UFC 128 Pay-Per-View broadcast begins at 10 PM ET.

Why You Should Care: Without a shadow of a doubt in my mind and with not one extra added ounce of hyperbole, I fully believe the main event of UFC 128 will determine the course of the UFC’s tumultuous Light Heavyweight division for years to come. If Mauricio Rua becomes the first person to legitimately beat Jon Jones, he will most likely be the one to break the “curse” of 205-pound champions losing their titles in their first few defenses. If Jon “Bones” Jones wins, he’ll have fully stepped into his role as the future of the division and will likely go on a reign similar to that of Anderson Silva or Georges St. Pierre.

What to Look Forward to in the Main Event: Constant action from the second the bell rings. Mauricio Rua wants to test “Bones” like he’s never been tested before, and he also wants to make a big and dramatic comeback after healing from his injury. Likewise, Jones wants to dramatically finish “Shogun” the same way he’s dramatically finished so many other people before, in order to prove that he’s ready for the absolute best of the best. One way or another, both men will be constantly hunting for the TKO or KO or even the submission.

What to Look Forward to in the Co-Main Event: The man many believe was the heart and soul of the WEC will be making his long-awaited UFC debut at UFC 128. Better still, Urijah Faber debuts on the heels of a successful drop to Bantamweight, submitting Takeya Mizugaki in the first round. His opponent, Eddie Wineland, is on a four-fight win-streak and a two-fight (T)KO streak. It’s one of the best lighter-weight fighters of all time against a fierce opponent that wants to carve his own legacy by demolishing one of the major reasons the WEC was so successful. It’s going to be a barn-burner.

Why You Should Watch This Card: Calling this card “stacked” feels like a disservice. Don’t like Jones/Rua? Then you’ve got Faber/Wineland. You do like old-school fighters like Mauricio Rua? Mirko Cro Cop will also be in action. You do like new-school fighters like Jon Jones? Jim Miller will take on Kamal Shalorus. You want free fights? The UFC is going to give you four of them. It has all the makings of one of the best UFC events of the year.

Why You Shouldn’t Watch This Card: I’m trying to say something negative about this card, and it’s just not coming to me. There’s just too much goodness here to pass up. I love me some free fights, so I’m going to tune into both the Facebook stream and the Spike TV special. I want the new-school fighters to win and win big, so I can’t wait to see Brendan Schaub take on Mirko Cro Cop and Jon Jones destroy Mauricio Rua. This is one event with so much happening that you just honestly shouldn’t miss it.

Closing Thoughts: This event stands out as one of the most-anticipated events of the year, at least for me. So much will be decided on this night: does Jim Miller really deserve the heaps of praise I’ve been giving him? Does Nate Marquardt not deserve the stigma of choking in big fights, which is another stance I’ve taken? What about Jon Jones? Much to the chagrin of “Shogun” fans, I’ve been calling for Rua to lose ever since Rashad Evans was named his next opponent last year. In many different ways and with many different fights, UFC 128 could permanently alter the way I look at some of my favorite and least-favorite fighters. There’s no chance I’m missing this event.

And what about you, fans and friends? Anybody out there looking forward to UFC 128?

We head to MMA Mania for the scoop. During a recent press conference, the current #1 Contender had this to say regarding the situation: “I want to be clear to other reporters, that I absolutely hate when people mention Rashad Evans, especially throughout this training camp. He’s a friend of mine but I’m fighting Mauricio ‘Shogun’, one of the best… Rashad is not in my mind, he’s not in my being, he has absolutely zero to do with my heart and who I am right now… The fact that people are bringing up Rashad, it almost angers me. Rashad has nothing to do with ‘Shogun’ and I think from here on out I won’t even answer a question about Rashad.”

I can understand where Jon Jones is coming from, and I can certainly understand why he’s becoming so frustrated. I don’t like how a lot of people are clamoring for Jones vs. Evans while Jones vs. Shogun is still very uncertain. I’ve got complete faith in Jon Jones, but that’s only because I fully believe that he’s putting everything into preparing for what should be the toughest test of his career. Rashad Evans is, if I may be so blunt, just a distraction right now. And I applaud Jon Jones for trying to avoid this distraction.

I think it’s always fun to speculate and discuss some potential match-ups, but I also think that the focus right now should absolutely be on the main event of UFC 128. I think “Bones” feels like this fight may even be a bit overlooked, and if I were in his shoes, I’d probably be a bit angry too. It’s taken Jon Jones a long time and lots of hard work to get to this point, so I think we should all be focusing on how Jon Jones will beat Mauricio Rua. Because he will.

But when (not if) Jones becomes the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, this will definitely be the match to make. It’s very rare that two teammates agree to fight each other; that’s the main reason why so many people are talking about a possible Jones/Evans match-up. I personally think that this match-up could be an amazing fight, and it would definitely prove that Jones is a worthy champion if he beats “Sugar”.

At the end of the day, I think Jon Jones has a very bright future, and I even think that he’ll be the one to break the chain of UFC Light Heavyweight Champions losing the belt in their first few defenses of it, a “curse” that dates all the way back to when Quinton Jackson dethroned Chuck Liddell. Jon Jones is the future of the division… but only because he has the foresight to concentrate on the present. “Bones” is solely focused on beating Mauricio Rua, and because of that, I think he’ll beat Mauricio Rua. Rashad’s time will come when it comes.

And what about you, fans and friends? Any thoughts on the matter?

MMA Junkie brings us the full lineup of UFC 128, which has recently been finalized. In the main event, UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Mauricio Rua makes his long-awaited return after almost a year spent on the sidelines due to an injury. He’ll be defending his championship against the man many consider to be the future of the division, Jon Jones.

But in addition to that main event mega-match, the UFC is offering up four live, free MMA fights for its “Prelims Live” special. Two fights will be shown on Facebook, with two additional fights then being shown on the UFC’s TV home, Spike TV.

The “UFC on Facebook” live stream is scheduled to start at 8 PM ET and will feature the following two matches: Kurt Pellegrino vs. Gleison Tibau, and Ricardo Almeida vs. Mike Pyle.

Those two fights will then be followed by an additional two fights for the “UFC Prelims Live” special on Spike TV, which is scheduled to start at 9 PM ET. That broadcast will feature these two fights: Luiz Cane vs. Eliot Marshall, and Edson Barboza vs. Anthony Njokuani.

And then, after all that is through, the official UFC 128 Pay-Per-View event will kick off at 10 PM ET and will feature the following matches: Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (C) vs. Jon Jones for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship, Urijah Faber vs. Eddie Wineland, Jim Miller vs. Kamal Shalorus, Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Nate Marquardt, and Mirko Filipovic vs. Brendan Schaub.

From top to bottom, this is one of the most-stacked UFC cards of the year. And this is coming from someone that absolutely hates to be “that guy”, the one who thinks that every UFC event is the “biggest UFC event ever” or the one that calls the latest main event “the biggest fight in UFC history”. But honestly, there’s not a single fight here I don’t like.

For one reason or another, I’m looking forward to all of the main PPV fights. I want to see Schaub KO Mirko Cro Cop because I think he can and because I think Cro Cop is done. I want to see Marquardt win in order to cast off the notion that he chokes in big fights. I want to see Jim Miller dominate because I don’t think he gets half the credit he deserves and he should be in line for a title shot. I want to see Urijah Faber debut because I’ll always be a Faber fan and he was one of the biggest reasons I got into the WEC. And of course, I want to see Jon Jones win because I’ve been saying for months that he’s going to demolish “Shogun”.

Even the preliminary fights have something special to offer: Anthony Njokuani is very exciting, Luiz Cane always shows up to brawl, Ricardo Almeida and Mike Pyle are great grapplers, and Kurt Pellegrino and Gleison Tibau are both tough, experienced veterans.

There’s really very little not to love about UFC 128, so I can’t wait to catch this event. And what about you, fans and friends? What do you think about UFC 128?

5. Dan Hardy vs. Anthony Johnson at UFC: “Fight Night 24”.

Both men are at a pretty interesting crossroads in their careers right now. Dan Hardy was the tough Brit who would never quit and had an iron chin… until Carlos Condit knocked him out. Anthony Johnson was supposed to be the next big can’t-miss prospect at Welterweight… then Josh Koscheck submitted him in November 2009 and “Rumble” hasn’t stepped into the Octagon since. Both men have a lot to prove in this fight, and it should be a fantastic fight.

4. Urijah Faber vs. Eddie Wineland at UFC 128: “Shogun vs. Jones”.

This entry definitely makes the list mostly because I’m an unabashed WEC fanboy, but this is one occasion where I have no problem letting my fanboy flag fly free. I’ve got a tremendous amount of respect for Urijah Faber, and I think he’s found his fire again after dropping down to Bantamweight. I’m really looking forward to seeing Faber debut in the UFC and letting all the non-WEC UFC fans know what they’ve been missing, especially given the disappointing debut of Miguel Torres.

3. Diego Sanchez vs. Martin Kampmann at “UFC on Versus 3: Sanchez vs. Kampmann”.

I’m going to enjoy this fight even if Diego Sanchez loses, simply because it has all the makings of an epic encounter. This is the type of match perfect for the main event of a TV card: it’s two semi-big names in a smartly-booked fight that plays to both men’s strengths. Whoever emerges the winner takes a big step towards championship relevancy, and this should motivate both men to perform at their best. And when they perform at their best, they’re very entertaining. And performing at their best against each other? That will be even more entertaining.

2. Dan Henderson vs. Rafael Cavalcante at Strikeforce: “Feijao vs. Henderson”.

As a massive fan of the old school, part of me really wants Dan Henderson to beat Rafael Cavalcante. But as a moderate fan of Rafael Cavalcante, another part of me wants “Feijao” to beat Henderson in order to both legitimize his championship reign and bring stability to Strikeforce’s Light Heavyweight division. It’s a tough fight to call, and it could go either way, and very few things are for certain until these two step into the cage. But one thing is for certain: if it lives up to its potential, this will be an awesome match.

And by quite a large margin, my number-one most-anticipated fight of March 2011 is…

1. Mauricio Rua vs. Jon Jones at UFC 128 “Shogun vs. Jones”.

I’ve talked about this match a whole lot, and I’ve had to deal with my fair share of criticism for my views. But I can’t wait to be proven right, because I wholeheartedly believe that I know exactly what is going to happen. I think Mauricio Rua’s mega-hyped comeback is all smoke and mirrors, and I think Jon Jones will prove once again that he’s the future of the Light Heavyweight division. A new era is about to dawn: Jon Jones will break the streak of Light Heavyweight Champions losing the belt in their first few defenses, a chain that has remained unbroken since Quinton Jackson famously dethroned Chuck Liddell all the way back in 2007. I absolutely cannot wait for this match.

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

March 3, 2011: “UFC  on Versus 3: Sanchez vs. Kampmann”: A reinvigorated Diego Sanchez looks to stake his claim to the UFC Welterweight Championship by beating Martin Kampmann, an always-dangerous elite-level 170 pounder that most recently nearly spoiled the UFC debut of Jake Shields. Former WEC Bantamweight Champion Brian Bowles will also be making his UFC debut, taking on the super-tough Damacio Page. Other interesting bouts include Alessio Sakara vs. Chris Weidman and Joe Stevenson vs. Danny Castillo.

March 5, 2011: “Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson”: Former PRIDE FC and UFC veteran Dan Henderson looks to make the most out of his most recent comeback by taking the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship away from the man who just won it, the tough and talented Rafael Cavalcante. Also, former Strikeforce Middleweight Championship contender Tim Kennedy will be in action, taking on Middleweight powerhouse and wrecking machine Melvin Manhoef. Other interesting bouts include Jorge Gurgel vs. Tyler Combs and Marloes Coenen defending her Strikeforce Women’s Welterweight Championship against Liz Carmouche.

March 19, 2011: “UFC 128: Shogun vs. Jones”: Mauricio Rua makes his long-awaited first defense of his UFC Light Heavyweight Championship against the man many consider the future of the division, Jon Jones. Also, WEC legend Urijah Faber makes his long-awaited UFC debut against the tough Eddie Wineland, who is on a four-fight win-streak. Other interesting bouts include Nate Marquardt vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama and Mirko Filipovic vs. Brendan Schaub.

March 26, 2011: “UFC Fight Night 24: Nogueira vs. Davis”: Grizzled veteran Antonio Rogerio Nogueira looks to remain relevant in the UFC’s super-competitive Light Heavyweight division by beating the fast-rising Phil Davis. Also, former UFC Welterweight Championship contender Dan Hardy takes on Anthony Johnson in what should be a fantastic war. Other interesting bouts include Leonard Garcia vs. Nam Phan and Alex Caceres vs. Mackens Semerzier.

And now, here are some thoughts on how I think the month of March 2011 will unfold.

I think “UFC on Versus 3” will be a quality event from top to bottom, and I also think that Sanchez will more than likely beat Kampmann. Urijah Faber will also most likely win his UFC debut too. While I think Dan Henderson is definitely on the comeback trail, I think he’s being given a title shot too soon, and I also think that Cavalcante will be able to beat him. It seems as if Strikeforce is trying their hardest to make “Hendo” a champion after going through so much to acquire his services, and I just don’t see that happening.

I’ve already vocally supported Jon Jones and picked him to win against Mauricio Rua, and I’d just like to note that nothing has happened to change that opinion. Mark my words: “Shogun” will have nothing for “Bones”. I also think Brendan Schaub is going to KO Mirko Filipovic. And finally, I think Davis may have it in him to beat “Little Nog” by Unanimous Decision so long as he doesn’t get careless on the ground. Because if he does, Nogueira could end it anywhere at any time.

All in all, it looks to be a great March 2011, fans and friends! But what about you? How do you think the month will shake out, and what’s your take on this new series?

Anderson Silva continued his reign of dominance by deftly defeating former teammate Vitor Belfort with a first-round knockout, defending his UFC middleweight title once again.

Forrest Griffin has now extended a two-fight win streak for himself inside the octagon with a dominant performance turned in over former titleholder Rich “Ace” Franklin.

Meanwhile, Jon Jones submitted then-undefeated light heavyweight star Ryan Bader with a second-round guillotine choke. The win came with an unexpected prize, earning Jones the 205-pound title shot when an injured Rashad Evans bowed out of the championship bout with Mauricio “Shogun” Rua–who insists that Quinton “Rampage” Jackson was initially offered the fight, however turned it down immediately after.

Jackson didn’t take too kindly that the Brazilian took to the media to reveal the proposed bout.

MMAJunkie.com caught up with the former light heavyweight champion, who was clearly agitated when he learned that Rua seemed to be questioning Jackson’s desire to fight. Quinton is already scheduled to be facing contender Thiago Silva at UFC 130 in May, and should “Rampage” had agreed to step in on short notice to face Mauricio, he would have only six-weeks to prepare for the bout. He currently is walking around at 250-pounds and is in nowhere near fighting shape.

“It’s not enough time to get ready for a five-round fight,” said Jackson.

“Dana knows that. And ‘Shogun,’ he’s a fighter, and he should know that. He shouldn’t even go and say [expletive] like that with him being a fighter. He saw me at the fight this weekend. Everybody saw how big I am.”

Everyone knows that Quinton isn’t exactly the prototypical fighter who stays in fighting shape year-round. When he’s not inside the cage, he’s enjoying himself elsewhere, which is evident to his heavy frame that would put even some heavyweight fighters to shame. To cut 45-pounds in six weeks on top of preparing for the technical prowess of a fight with some as dangerous as Rua is asking a little too much.

And Jackson knows all too well how dangerous the Muay Thai specialist is, having lost to the Brazilian more than five years ago when they were both under the PRIDE banner in Japan, where Rua TKO’d the enigmatic light heavyweight fighter inside of the first-round.

So, MMA peeps, what did you think of Jackson’s comments? Do you agree that it was a little bit premature for Rua to question whether or not Jackson wanted to fight, let alone reveal that Jones was second choice to “Rampage”? Sound off in the comment section below.

Jones took home the win with a second-round guillotine choke, where after Joe Rogan informed Jones that the organization was granting Jon the shot at the belt once it was confirmed that teammate Rashad Evans had bowed out of the March fight with champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.

However, the Brazilian recently indicated that former rival Quinton “Rampage” Jackson was originally intended to be the man to step up on short notice, however the fan-favorite slugger turned down the title opportunity.

“Shogun” was at the pay-per-view event which took place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, where he was able to greet his new opponent in Jones first-hand, stepping into the cage and sized up his nw opponent.

The alleged bout with Jackson would have been a rematch from their original encounter in 2005 under the PRIDE banner, where both men were a staple of the light heavyweight division. They met in the quarter-finals of the prestigious middleweight (205) Grand Prix, where the Brazilian scored a first-round TKO over the future UFC champion.

Jackson has long discussed his desire to avenge that loss, and Rua in turn has rallied for a fight with the A-Team movie star, so he was surprised when ‘Rampage’ allegedly declined the bout.

“The UFC thought in other alternatives, but it didn’t worked out. For some reason he (Jackson) didn’t accepted it”, told Rua who spoke with TATAME.com about the originally planned bout.

However with the task at hand now being the young 23-year-old Jones, Rua will have six-weeks in order to change bits in pieces of his training camp, though he suggests largely the camp will remain the same.

“I’ll have to change my training because he’s a lot different from Rashad, much taller, and it’ll be a great challenge. (Jon’s) been surprising everybody in the UFC, defeated everybody with easy, and it’ll be a tough fight for me”.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think about Quinton declining the bout? He was originally scheduled to be facing another Brazilian in slugger Thiago Silva at UFC 130 this May, so regardless that fight should go on without a hitch. No word from Jackson has come about concerning the missed title opportunity. Sound off in the comment section below.

Jones earned the shot at the championship strap with a second-round submission victory over then-undefeated fighter Ryan Bader, the season eight winner of “The Ultimate Fighter”. Ultimately, though, the opportunity came when teammate Rashad Evans had to bow out of the title fight with Rua when he suffered a knee injury in preparation for the bout.

Now, Evans’ camp is indicating that should Jones defeat the Brazilian next month, Rashad is willing to either move up or down in weight class.

MMAJunkie.com caught up with Rashad’s co-manager Malki Kawa who indicated that Evans will either move up to the heavyweight class or to the middleweight division. The former light heavyweight champion is no stranger to the “extra” healthy division, where Evans initially emerged into the UFC when he claimed the status of “The Ultimate Fighter” as a heavyweight star on the second-season of the popular reality show.

The code of honor between most athletes under the same roof is to respect each other enough not to fight, at any means. Evans still has aspirations of becoming a champion once again, and manager Kawa believes that Rashad’s best payday would be in the middleweight division where the collegiate wrestler could take on the dominant Anderson Silva in the foreseeable future.

“Rashad wants to fight for a championship,” Malki told MMAJunkie.com. “He doesn’t want some regular fights or whoever it might be. A fight that interests me a lot, and I thought would be a really big payday for him, is a fight against Anderson (Silva).”

“The Spider” has recently come off of a dominant performance, knocking out former teammate Vitor Belfort last Saturday in the main-event of the evening at UFC 126, having now successfully defended his title for a record eight times and now extends his win streak to a perfect 13-0 inside the octagon.

Yushin Okami and Georges St. Pierre seem like the only logical challenges left for the Brazilian, but Evans could breathe new life into the division.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of Rashad’s possible move down to 185? At 5’11, the middleweight class would be ideal for the Greg Jackson product, how packs serious power at 205-pounds, which would only make him more dangerous in the lighter weight class. Sound off in the comment section below.

Then, there was an exuberant Jon Jones realizing his life’s work when UFC commentator stepped into the cage to announce “Bones” as the next challenger to the light heavyweight title. Elated, Jones fell to knees in disbelief and the appreciation of such an opportunity was painted on his face.

Jon earned the title opportunity with a second-round submission victory over then undefeated Ryan Bader on the main card for “UFC 126: Silva vs. Belfort” which culminated this past Saturday.

The win extended the 23-year-old to a three-fight win streak, with his only blemish in his professional mixed martial arts career coming to the hands of Matt Hamill via a controversial disqualification.

The bid for the championship came at the expense of Jones’ teammate Rashad Evans, who was originally expected to face champ Mauricio “Shogun” Rua on March 19 at the Prudential Center for UFC 128, however the Greg Jackson star injured his knee in preparation for the bout.

Already, the light heavyweight dynamo, who has become one of the most phenomenal and talked about athletes in recent memory, has opened up as a favorite over Rua for their March tussle, even though Jon has roughly six-weeks to prepare for the title fight and has less than three-years experience as a MMA fighter, though his athletic ability and wrestling skills have carried him to an 12-1 record, 6-1 in the UFC.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of the recent news? Do you believe Jones is deserving of the title shot, or would you have rather seen someone else thrown in the mix? Sound off in the comment section below.

Here’s what the controversial UFC President had to say during a recent interview with Karyn Bryant of MMA H.E.A.T.: “The way that guys stay great at fighting is to keep fighting… I think Rashad Evans was insane to take that layoff and wait all that time for the fight, but that’s what he chose to do… My philosophy is: you’re either the best or you’re not… You’re going to end up fighting all the guys anyway. You might as well stay busy, stay active, make some money, and be ready for [Mauricio Rua]. Or have any advantage over ‘Shogun’ by staying active.”

As I find myself so often doing, I both partially agree and disagree with what Dana White says. I think he has a good point about Evans having to fight all the top guys anyway, and that it’s better to stay active than sit on the sidelines if at all possible. I think it’s been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that ring rust is very real and has affected many MMA stars, from the bottom of the barrel all the way to the top of the heap. But here’s the thing: with this statement, Dana White basically gave one answer to a very multi-faceted question.

That question is “Why risk it?”

This is why I’m not faulting Rashad Evans for choosing to stay on the sidelines. There are a lot of variables involved in this equation, too many for Rashad’s taste, and I don’t get why people complain about this. What if Evans took another fight and got injured? What if he won his “staying active” fight but Dana White still decided that someone else was more deserving of the shot? It’s no secret that White changes his mind all the time.

Putting it plainly and simple: the UFC made Evans a promise, and he’s holding them to that promise. They promised him the next title shot, and he chose to wait until the champion healed up. He’s fully in his rights to do so, and since it’s his body and his career, who are we to doubt him or accuse him of being afraid to fight? Can you really blame Evans for holding the UFC and its President to their word, especially in today’s UFC where no contract is safe and the title hunt can change drastically on a per-event and even a per-fight basis?

I really don’t think you can, so I’m not going to. In the end, I’m still siding with “Sugar” and calling for the fall of the “Shogun” empire. Rashad is one of the best and trains with some of the best, and I think everyone is going to be in for a very rude awakening when Rua shows up with far more ring rust than Rashad and proceeds to get grounded, pounded, and ultimately stopped. Maybe then people will finally start giving Rashad Evans the credit he deserves.

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

The headliner will pit former PRIDE star turned UFC light heavyweight champion in Mauricio “Shogun” Rua as he defends his title for the first time when he takes on former titleholder Rashad Evans. The event takes place at on March 19 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

The evenings co-main event features a battle of former champions as former WEC stars collide when Urijah Faber (the now defunct organization’s poster boy) takes on the grizzly Eddie Wineland in a bout that will likely determine the number one contender for the UFC’s bantamweight title, which is currently held by the dominant champion, Dominick Cruz.

UFC officials today announced two more bouts that will likely complete the 12-fight lineup as welterweights Mike Pyle and Ricardo Almeida do battle in Newark.

Pyle is beginning to come into his own inside the octagon, where in his last outing he managed to score a huge decision victory over then budding contender John Hathaway at UFC 120 at the O2 Arena in England. The win extended a two-fight win streak for Mike who has now found some consistency in his up-and-down mixed martial arts career.

Almeida (a resident of Hamilton, New Jersey) will also be looking to climb up the ranks once again. A former contender in the middleweight division (and a former King of Pancrase) Ricardo will look to make it two-in-a-row with a victory over Pyle. “The Big Dog” was last seen in action when he scored a decision win over the always-tough T.J. Grant at UFC 124 last December. The win helped Almeida bounce back from an embarrassing first-round submission loss to former champ Matt Hughes last August at UFC 117.

Additionally, middleweights Dan Miller and Nick Catone are also set to do battle at the March event. Both men hold the home field advantage since the two of them call New Jersey “home”, and will likely have a ruckus crowd behind the two exciting athletes.

After suffering a scary three-loss stretch inside the octagon, Miller has now climbed back up the ranks as he has been able to compile a two-fight win streak, which began with a second-round submission win over John Salter last August. He followed up the performance with a hard-fought decision win over longtime veteran Joe Doerksen.

Catone, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt, was also on the heels of the UFC chopping block when he rode a two-fight losing streak into his bout with “The Ultimate Fighter” season three veteran, Jess Forbes. Both wrestlers engaged in a tough back-and-forth battle, but in the end Nick was declared the winner when he was able to snatch up the split-decision win.

The full card lineup is as follows:

MAIN CARD

* Champ Mauricio “Shogun” Rua vs. Rashad Evans (for light-heavyweight title)
* Urijah Faber vs. Eddie Wineland
* Jim Miller vs. Kamal Shalorus
* Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Nate Marquardt
* Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic vs. Brendan Schaub

PRELIMINARY CARD

* Luiz Cane vs. Karlos Vemola
* Edson Barboza vs. Anthony Njokuani
* Ricardo Almeida vs. Mike Pyle
* Kurt Pellegrino vs. Gleison Tibau
* Joseph Benavidez vs. Ian Loveland
* Raphael Assuncao vs. Manny Gamburyan
* Nick Catone vs. Dan Miller

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of the card in it’s entirety? It’s a real treat for anyone that decides to make the trip to Newark, which is daunting in of itself but totally worth it for this event. Sound off in the comment section below.

According to MMA Weekly, two new bouts have been made official for UFC 128 “Shogun vs. Evans”. A planned match-up between Nate Marquardt and Yoshihiro Akiyama is now a full-fledged fact rather than a mostly-confirmed rumor. Also, former WEC Featherweight Championship contender Manny Gamburyan will be taking on Rafael Assuncao at UFC 128 in the other recently-announced match-up.

Currently, the UFC 128 fight card stands as follows: Mauricio Rua (C) vs. Rashad Evans for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship, Urijah Faber vs. Eddie Wineland, Joseph Benavidez vs. Ian Loveland, Mirko Filipovic vs. Brendan Schaub, Jim Miller vs. Kamal Shalorus, Nate Marquardt vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama, Raphael Assuncao vs. Manny Gamburyan, Ricardo Almeida vs. Mike Pyle, Kurt Pellegrino vs. Gleison Tibau, Anthony Njokuani vs. Edson Barboza Jr. Dan Miller vs. Nick Catone, and Luiz Cane Jr. vs. Karlos Vemola.

As a perennial Nate Marquardt fan, I really do hope that “The Great” comes back strong after another deflating loss. I think Yoshihiro Akiyama is a great test for Marquardt as it stands right now. Akiyama needs a win and needs it badly, so he’ll likely fight Marquardt as if his job was on the line, because if Akiyama loses three fights in a row (Akiyama went winless in 2010, losing both times he competed)… it most likely will be. At the very least, it should be an entertaining scrap between two gifted high-level performers.

I think this card is shaping up to be a real can’t-miss attraction. I’m already hooked due to the main event (more on that later), but it seems as if the UFC’s undercards just keep getting better and better. Of course, that’s thanks in no small part to their merger with the WEC. Nevertheless, there’s a difference between merging with a company and effectively merging with a company, and the UFC 128 fight card is a great example of a card that’s top-heavy with big UFC names while having plenty of exciting undercard bouts thanks to scrappy WEC performers hungry to make their mark in the Octagon.

And just in case you forgot, fans and friends, I’d like to once again loudly and proudly proclaim that this event will see the downfall of Mauricio Rua. Rashad Evans is simply too well-rounded for “Shogun”, and if Evans keeps his mind focused and his wits clear, he may even be able to finish Rua in the first round. Evans is a world-class wrestler with real KO power, and he trains with one of the best MMA camps on the face of the planet. You can doubt all you want, but Evans is taking home the gold for a second time at UFC 128.

And of course, if I’m wrong I’ll be more than happy to eat another serving of humble pie. But in a world where Evans is constantly disrespected and “Shogun” fans are shouting from the rooftops that their favorite son is “back”, I’ve got no problem just as loudly voicing my opinion that Evans is going to become a two-time UFC champion before UFC 128 is through. And what about you, fans and friends? What’s your opinion on these latest developments, and the UFC 128 fight card in general?

Reigning and soon-to-be defending UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua will be pitted against former title holder Rashad Evans in the main event of UFC 128, which takes place at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on March 19.

The promotion officially announced the main event of the evening earlier today.

Mauricio was last seen in action in May of last year when he defeated rival and fellow countryman Lyoto Machida at UFC 113 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. “Shogun”, who previously lost a controversial decision to the karate expert in October of 2009, avenged the defeat with a stunning first-round knockout. With the victory, Rua claimed the promotion’s 205-pound title.

Rashad is currently riding a two-fight win streak inside the octagon, which began after losing his light heavyweight title to the hands of the aforementioned Machida in May of 2009. Evans quickly bounced back with two commanding decision victories over Thiago Silva in January and then former champ Quinton Jackson last May.

Both Urijah Faber and Eddie Wineland, former champions in the WEC, will make their UFC debut come March 19. Their move to the worlds largest mixed martial arts organization comes on the heels of the WEC merger, where the bantamweight, featherweight, and lightweight divisions have now been assimilated into their sister promotion, and as such, the fighters will gain more exposure and possibly larger paydays.

Faber comes into the UFC with a victory in the 135-pound division when he recently defeated former title challenger Takeya Mizugaki at WEC 52 last Novemeber via rear-naked choke inside of the first round. The win helped soften the blow of a defeat against pound-for-pound great, Jose Aldo for the Brazilian’s featherweight title earlier last year.

Wineland will make his UFC debut on good footing as the former bantamweight champion has recently compiled a four-fight win streak under the Zuffa banner, including back-to-back knockout victories. In his last performance, Eddie competed in the World Extreme Cagefighting’s last held event, WEC 53, as he took on promotion newcomer Ken Stone. The American Top Team product made the grave mistake of pulling guard early in the bout and Wineland never hesitated in elevating and slamming Stone to the mat, knocking him out instantly. The victory garnered Eddie “Knockout of the Night” for his efforts.

So, MMA peeps, what do you make of the matches heading to New Jersey? Additional bouts will surely be announced in the immediate future, but in the mean time who do you think will win their respective bouts? Sound off in the comment section below.

MMA Weekly reports that verbal agreements are in place for a bout pitting Jim Miller against former WEC star Kamal Shalorus. The bout is expected to take place at UFC 128 on March 19, an event that is rumored to be headlined by the return of Mauricio Rua. Both Miller and Shalorus are fresh off of major victories, with Miller arguably scoring his most impressive victory yet: a fantastic blink-and-you’ll-miss it submission over highly-touted prospect Charles Oliveira. Kamal Shalorus recently ended his WEC tenure by beating tough veteran Bart Palaszewski.

MMA Weekly also reports that Alex Caceres will finally get his shot in the UFC, and is currently expected to face Mackens Semerzier at UFC Fight Night 24 on March 26. The event is expected to be headlined by a fight between Tito Ortiz and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, with Ortiz fighting for his very career. Alex Caceres made his mark on the twelfth season of “The Ultimate Fighter” as the brash-talking and super-arrogant “Bruce Leroy”. Mackens Semerzier, meanwhile, is a four-fight WEC veteran that is on a three-fight losing-streak.

I think I’m going to enjoy watching Caceres fight in the UFC, he was by far one of the most entertaining personalities of TUF Season 12. Every TUF needs a “bad boy” for the season, and Leroy filled that role amicably. Better yet, he displayed some real skill in his time at the TUF house. I think Dana White and company know that Caceres could one day turn into a draw if marketed correctly and matched up against the right opponents, and I think they’re unabashedly feeding Mackens Semerzier to “Bruce Leroy”.

In regards to Jim Miller, I think Kamal Shalorus is a great opponent for him because Kamal has an incredible amount of heart and drive. But to be honest, this isn’t a fight Miller should be having at this point in his career. Kamal’s most famous moment in the WEC was when he fought to a draw against Jamie Varner, and as we all know, Jamie Varner was recently axed by the UFC and is now a free agent. Jim Miller has been campaigning for a top-level opponent for some time now, and I think he’s more than justified to get one. With absolutely no disrespect to Kamal, I personally think Miller deserves better.

Nevertheless, 2011 is shaping up to be a fantastic year for the UFC, and I personally can’t wait to see what the future holds for the largest MMA promotion in the world. These two fights only bolster what are already some very solid events on paper, so hopefully no one is bitten by the injury bug and all these planned fights come to fruition. Because if they do, MMA fans are in for one amazing 2011.

And what about you, fans and friends? What do you think about these planned match-ups?

The Brazilian striker was last seen in action this past May when he claimed the UFC light heavyweight title from rival and fellow countryman Lyoto Machida at UFC 113 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Rua was able to knockout the then undefeated 205-pound star with an overhand right followed up by an aggressive ground-and-pound attack. With the victory, Mauricio also claimed “Knockout of the Night” for his efforts.

For all his accolades, a former PRIDE and UFC champion, at 29-years-old and at the pinnacle of his career, there are still a few things that the Chute Boxe protege wishes to accomplish. One of those goals, fight Randy Couture.

“I think I’m done. The time is right,” said Randy Couture recently while speaking with the LA Times. “I’d fight (Lyoto) Machida or Shogun but outside of that, I wanna focus on other things in my life.”

Couture has taken to the press on several occasions recently, bluntly indicating that his time in the sport is all but done. The main sticking point for the 5-time UFC champion has been the desire, or rather the lack thereof, to contend for a world title once again. The UFC Hall of Famer knows very well that recent victories over Mark Coleman and James Toney don’t exactly scream ‘contender status’ in a crowded 205-pound division.

Randy, the budding movie actor who recently appeared in the action packed blockbuster ‘The Expendables’, has even become a bit more savvy in his old age. At 47-years-old, Couture has even taken to Twitter to discuss his future in the world of mixed martial arts.

“Thanks to everybody who’s been tweeting about seeing my fights. I must have missed the memo,” tweeted Randy. “I think I’m at the end of it y’all. It’s time.”

In turn, Mauricio Rua took to Twitter as well, pleading with the 13-year-veteran to stick around just long enough for him to get a crack at the legend.

“Randy Couture has more to give to MMA and shouldn’t retire yet! I would be honoured to fight him, he is a legend of the sport!”, tweeted Rua.

While Mauricio may an impending battle with Rashad Evans in March, nostalgia in facing a legend is mounting. So, MMA peeps, what do you make of Rua’s wishes? Would you like to see a Couture/Shogun match up? Sound off in the comment section below.

5. Mauricio Rua/Rashad Evans vs. Jon Jones

This is more about the ascension of Jon Jones than it is about Mauricio Rua or Rashad Evans, although both men are great fighters and pose a varied assortment of problems to “Bones”. No matter who ends up wearing the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship, I can’t wait to see Jon Jones finally get his crack at the most hotly-contested and arguably the most prestigious championship in the UFC. With the title being on the line, and given whom Jones may end up facing, we’d most likely see a brilliant performance by “Bones” that utterly eclipses anything he’s ever done in the Octagon before. And that’s a dream come true for Jon Jones fans.

4. Nick Diaz vs. Jason Miller

At this point I think both men can barely stand to be in a room with each other, and I can only imagine how vicious these two would be if they ever got the opportunity to fight each other. This fight has been talked about at length for a long time, and I have personally done my best to keep both myself and my readers constantly up-to-date on this rivalry. And there’s a good reason for that: outside of the Heavyweight division, I truly believe that this fight is the most marketable and most interesting fight that Strikeforce conceivably has access to. And even though I’ve had a few issues with Jason Miller’s antics in the past, make no mistake: I’d still absolutely love to see this fight.

3. Jon Fitch vs. Georges St. Pierre 2

I’ve been a fan of Jon Fitch for a long, long time. I think he’s an amazing athlete, an incredible wrestler, one of the UFC’s best assets, and the recipient of far more criticism than he deserves and far less recognition than is fair. I’d love to see this fight because I think Jon Fitch has it in him to prove a lot of people wrong. Plus, it would likely bring out the best in Georges St. Pierre, who continues to evolve at an astonishing rate. Both as a Fitch fan and a GSP fan, I’d go out of my way to make sure I watched this fight if it ever ends up happening.

2. Fedor Emelianenko vs. Fabricio Werdum 2

Be honest, you knew it was coming. And for good reason, too: I think Fedor Emelianenko is the greatest Mixed Martial Artist that has ever fought. I think he made a mistake against Fabricio Werdum after a lifetime of performing flawlessly, and I think he has every intention of correcting that mistake in the most heinous, destructive way possible. The first fight shook the MMA world to its core, the rematch would be talked about for years to come. There’s not a lot I wouldn’t give to see this fight.

But, as if there could be any doubt, my top dream fight as we head towards 2011 is…

1. Anderson Silva vs. Georges St. Pierre

Even though it won’t look like it, I’m going to say this without an ounce of hyperbole on my part: I truly believe that Anderson Silva vs. Georges St. Pierre is the biggest dream-fight currently conceivable. Pick your poison, it’s all the same to me: it doesn’t matter if it’s Fedor vs. Randy Couture, Fedor vs. Brock Lesnar, Brock Lesnar vs. Alistair Overeem, or any and all of the rest. I truly believe that this fight would define a generation and go down as the biggest fight in MMA history. In the immediate future, I don’t think anything has a chance of toppling this fight as my top “dream fight”.

And so Part 2 comes to a close, fans and friends. Stay tuned for the final two parts as we head into the second half of “All I Want for Christmas”. And what do you think? What are some big dream matches you’re looking forward to?

And adding the UFC championship belt to his mantle last year after knocking out rival Lyoto Machida was just the icing on the cake he needed to move forward in his mixed martial arts career.

So, now that he’s reached the pinnacle of his division, claimed gold in the worlds largest MMA organization, the next step moving forward here on out is simple. Continue to defend his title.

“I went for it and so far no one has been able to find Lyoto on the octagon, he was unbeaten at that time, so no one had come close to defeat him, and I was glad I did it”, said Mauricio who spoke with TATAME.com of his title victory over Machida this past May.

“The result of the first fight was a good one after all because if it wasn’t because of it, I wouldn’t have done the following bout and I wouldn’t have won this award”, said Rua of his ‘Knockout of the Year’ award he garnered from the Fighters Only World MMA awards.

“This was a very glad with this homage, it was very important to me, and I hope next year I can be one of the finalists for the Oscar award again, right? I’ll give my best so that I can be at this party again next year.”

And what are his goals?

“I hope so, my goal is to keep always evolving and try to be better each time. 2010 was a very good year, but I’m already focused in 2011, when I’ll still try to keep winning. My goal is to keep the belt on this year that is coming. My fans can be sure I’ll give my best and I won’t lack motivation.”

So, MMA peeps, what do you make of the news? Sound off in the comment section below.

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.

ufc 128 is expected to go down this March for round-two, in Abu Dhabi.

The venue has not been pin pointed as of yet, however the UFC should return to A.D on March 19th, since it’s original inception in the organization’s new market which came earlier this year at UFC 112, last April.

MMAWeekly.com has reported the news, and have in turn raised an interesting fact. UFC 127, which will also mark a return to Australia for the world’s leading mixed martial arts promotion. So, therefor, back-to-back overseas events will take place, which is generally speaking not the norm for the organization, but is a direct consequence of their own success.

UFC 128 is also tentatively rumored to host the return of current UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua when he defends his title for the first time against former champion Rashad Evans.

Rua initially captured the title in May of this year, when he knocked out former title holder in Lyoto Machida inside of the first-round at UFC 113. The bout was an immediate rematch for both competitors, when Mauricio has initially vied for the title in October of last year. In a heated and very controversial fight, Machida was declared the winner by unanimous decision, much to the dismay of the media and fans alike. Dana White, the UFC President, was included amongst those who believed that Rua had done enough to win the five-round affair. Then, the rematch was made, and history righted itself.

Rashad Evans, since his losing his title to the aforementioned Machida at UFC 98 in May of last year, has rattled off two-consecutive victories over the likes of Thiago Silva and nemesis Quinton Jackson, respectively, both by way of unanimous decision. The win over “Rampage” made Evans the new number one contender to the title.

No additional bouts have been rumored for the event.

So, MMA peeps, what do you make of the potential match up? Who do you favor? Will Rua retain his title, or will Rashad, the winner of season two of “The Ultimate Fighter”, become a two-time light heavyweight champion? Sound off in the comment section below.

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?

Here are the highlights of an interview Evans recently had with ESPN: “”…If I don’t get the chance to fight for the belt, I will never ask to fight for this belt again. I will never want to fight for that belt again… If [Rua] is going to be out longer than May or June then [UFC] should consider an interim title and I will fight for an interim belt… But if I don’t get a chance to fight for an interim belt, then I will just beat everybody in the division and I will never fight for the belt… If I don’t get to fight for this belt because [Rua] stays injured too long and they don’t make anything happen, then I will never ask to fight for that belt again, man.”

On some level, I can see where Rashad is coming from. Mauricio Rua’s expected return is around March 2011, if Rashad continues to play the waiting game he’ll be looking at a layoff of almost a year before he finally steps into the cage to get his shot at the gold. “Shogun” is looking at an even longer layoff, but he’s rehabbing an injury. Evans is perfectly healthy and needs to remain active in order to fully capitalize on this comeback that’s in the works.

But it seems as if Evans thinks that the UFC is conspiring against him. That’s wishful thinking at best. Rashad earned his shot at the champion, and then the champion came down with an injury. It happens. The UFC shouldn’t jump the gun and make an Interim title at a moment’s notice, especially not in the Light Heavyweight division, which hasn’t seen a dominant champion since the glory days of Chuck Liddell. The actual UFC Light Heavyweight Championship is so hotly contested that any Interim Championship would immediately be recognized for the make-believe belt that it is, and it would be a small comfort to an athlete like Evans.

Interim belts should only be created when the future of the current champion is uncertain. Many people don’t like Interim belts to begin with, regardless of the circumstances surrounding their creation. Even past UFC stars have been quick to criticize and basically throw away their Interim Championships. If Rashad Evans wants a belt so badly, he should train hard, minimize any ring rust, and wait for it. Rua’s future is not uncertain, he will be making his return, and in the meantime, an Interim belt is completely meaningless.

Perhaps the funniest thing about this entire situation is that I seem to be one of the few that believes that not only will Evans beat Rua, but that he’ll beat him decisively. Evans certainly isn’t endearing himself to the general public with these kinds of interviews, but he’s still a dominant wrestler with serious KO power. If “Shogun” blew out his knees defending the takedowns of Lyoto Machida, they’ll be turned to jelly against “Sugar”, so long as Evans stops needlessly complaining and focuses on preparing for one of the biggest fights of his career.

And what about you, fans and friends? What do you make of Rashad’s comments and/or his chances against “Shogun”?

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?

Rafael Cordeiro, Silva’s former trainer for his Chute Boxe days, tops the list.

The two have reunited this year when “The Axe Murderer” made a successful debut in the 185-pound division, after a long and storied career n the light heavyweight division, defeating Michael Bisping at UFC 110 in Sydney, Australia, with Cordeiro in his corner.

Assisting him in the weeks leading up to the fight, Silva has acknowledged that training again with whom he calls his “Master”, Cordeiro has replicated the same success in other fighters and will now assist Silva in bringing back the old Chute Boxe team once again.

The old Chute Boxe, for the uninformed, produced some of the greatest Brazilian monsters, in the world of mixed martial arts. The aforementioned PRIDE middleweight champion Wanderlei Silva, current UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, UFC light heavyweight champion “Shogun” Rua, former EliteXC middleweight champion Murilo Rua (among others) all called Chute Boxe home at one point.

While these greats went their separate ways, it’s Wanderlei’s dream to reunite everyone once again, in order to gain back that positive energy that all of these friend’s had shared together once before.

“This guy is an idol now”, said Silva while speaking with trainer Cordeiro of Mauricio.

“And the guy is amazing. Shogun is gnarly. Come back and bring back your energy for us. We need your energy here. Ninja (Murlio Rua). Come on Ninja, come train with us. I think that all of us with the same spirit and the same ideals… we have to unite again.”

During the video, Silva makes mention that Mauricio has already came down to the Wand Training facilities in Las Vegas, Nev. in order to speak with his former head trainer, Cordeiro, in order to have the Brazilian back amongst the ranks of Wanderlei and some new partners, including Fabricio Werdum, Renato Sobral and UFC’s Mark Munoz to name a few.

“The secret is union, sincerity, loyalty and a strong spirit”, says Rafael, who like Wanderlei would like to assemble his former protege’s in a conductive and fun working environment.

“Another person who I would like to help, and right now I’m making myself available to help, I can’t train right now, but even if it’s just psychological… Anderson (Silva)”, said the MMA legend.

“Anderson, we want to help you in anyway you need”.

If Wanderlei had his way, he’s mentioned the likes of Jose Aldo, the WEC featherweight champion as well.

So, MMA peeps, what do you make of the news? Sound off in the comment section below.

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?

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.

Courtesy of MMAMania, here’s the poem in its entirety: “Anderson think it through / There’s still a few months before they lock the cage door behind me and you / Last time they raised your hand / But it was plain to see / That I took a lot more out of you than you took out of me / I broke the mirror and I blew away the smoke / It was me who tapped / But it was you who broke.”

In regards to GSP and “Shogun”, here’s what Chael said to MMAWeekly: “GSP had better pray to heaven above that Shogun accepts my challenge because one of those guys is getting beat up. If GSP said he wanted to fight me, the first thing I would say is the same thing I say every time I hear GSP talk, ‘God dangit that guy sounds like a French-Canadian Minnie Mouse.’ That’s the first thing I’d say. Then I’d say ‘hey GSP, let me ask you a serious question. Do you have a designated driver? Do you have someone to get you home safely? Cause clearly you’re intoxicated.’ I would say, ‘GSP, do you have a hankering for pain? GSP, did you lose a bet with God? GSP, bring your $3,000 suit, bring your $3 date, and get that 3 cent tan beat off your socialist back.’ That’s what I would tell GSP.”

In typical Chael Sonnen fashion, I find this utterly hilarious. Chael Sonnen makes it so easy to hate him that I’m honestly beginning to become a fan. I don’t know where Sonnen suddenly found this bizarre and wildly entertaining sense of humor, but it’s gotten to the point where I along with many others think that he could have a run as a stand-up comic. I mean…poetry? A French-Canadian Minnie Mouse? Who else but Chael would be creative enough in his trash-talking to give us those kinds of gems?

If Chael Sonnen wants to keep his name in people’s minds, he’s doing an excellent job of it. But if he really believes the things he says, and is not just saying them to garner interest, then I think that’s where his undoing lies. In particular, the fight with Georges St. Pierre would be a case of Chael biting off far more than he could ever chew. Sonnen is a dominant wrestler and a decent striker, but Georges St. Pierre is an amazing striker and one of the best wrestlers to ever compete in Mixed Martial Arts. He may fare better than Mauricio Rua, who I’ve been a vocal opponent of in the past, but even I can admit that Rua is no slouch on the ground and that every second Sonnen stays standing with “Shogun” is a second too many.

At the end of the day, you have to respect Chael Sonnen for what he did to Anderson Silva. He talked a ridiculous amount of trash and then managed to back up almost all of it. But it doesn’t mean he can do it again. I still think that a healthy and motivated Anderson Silva could conceivably destroy Chael Sonnen, as could Georges St. Pierre and Mauricio Rua. Sonnen is still the best talker in the business… but he’s beginning to talk himself into an early grave.

And what do you think, fans and friends? How do you feel about this latest series of antics by Chael Sonnen?

5. Miguel Torres vs. Urijah Faber

Both men are likely only one fight away from this massive dream match-up. If Torres can beat Charlie Valencia at WEC 51 and Faber makes a successful Bantamweight debut at WEC 52 against Takeya Mizugaki, I think the WEC would immediately make this match. It’s true that both men have fallen on hard times and that the match itself loses some of its luster due to that, but it’s a fight that’s been on people’s minds for a long time and still features two of the best fighters the WEC has ever seen, so it’s definitely good enough to make this list.

4. Shane Carwin vs. Cain Velasquez

I’ve talked about this fight in the past, but it could easily happen in 2011. In fact, it’s only a matter of who wins what. If Brock Lesnar beats Cain Velasquez to retain the UFC Heavyweight Championship, a match with Carwin is an immediate possibility. If Velasquez beats Lesnar, then Carwin is only a few fights away from another title shot, perhaps only one fight away if Lesnar/Carwin 2 is booked and Carwin manages to even the score to 1-1. Even though Lesnar is the UFC’s golden boy of PPV ratings, Carwin/Velasquez would do monster business and definitely be a landmark occasion.

3. Randy Couture vs. Mauricio Rua

Of course, this is assuming that Couture keeps winning and Rua remains the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. This would be a huge fight that would pit the unlikely comeback of Mauricio Rua against the Comeback King, Randy Couture. No matter where it’s held, I think the arena that has this fight would explode if Couture somehow beat “Shogun” and became champion once again. Seeing the ageless wonder with gold around his waist once again would go a long way towards outdoing 2010 in terms of can’t-miss happenings.

2. Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen 2

It was one of the most hyped, talked-about, and shocking fights of 2010…and it’s very likely that 2011 will see Chapter 2 written. Everyone wants to see this fight. I’m convinced that those that say Chael Sonnen doesn’t deserve an immediate rematch even want to see this fight. We need to know once and for all: was the first fight a fluke? Is Chael Sonnen really that good, or was Silva’s rib injury the cause for his near-downfall? Will this be the return of the old Anderson Silva or the final coronation of the people’s champion? The first fight made history, the rematch should be even bigger.

And in that regard, my #1 spot goes to…

1. Fedor Emelianenko vs. Fabricio Werdum 2

I don’t know when it will happen, how it will happen, or even where it will happen. But it’ll happen in 2011, I have a strong feeling about that. Fedor Emelianenko’s first legitimate loss was the biggest story in years, and the rematch would likely set several records if marketed correctly and promoted heavily. It’s the ultimate test of Emelianenko’s career, it would finally and definitively answer the avalanche of questions surrounding that defeat. Did Emelianenko get careless? Was Werdum just that good? Is Fedor done? Was he ever all that good to begin with? This rematch would settle all the scores, and due to that, it’s number one on my list.

And what about you, fans and friends? As big a year as 2010 was and still is, what fights do you think could happen in 2011 that would make it even bigger?

Here’s what Dana had to say on the matter: “There’s no such thing as an automatic rematch. Back in the day, in boxing, when they would negotiate contracts, there would be a rematch provision, meaning ‘if I have the title and I lose this fight I get an automatic rematch.’ Used to happen all the time, that doesn’t happen in the UFC. In the UFC, we rematch fights that we think either A) deserve it or B) people want to see. So there really is no automatic rematch. There’s no such thing.”

I’m glad that Dana White put a definitive end to this branching section of the larger debate. I wouldn’t call an “automatic rematch clause” a dirty tactic, but it’s certainly a cheap one. If a champion is so afraid of losing his championship that he won’t fight an opponent without an automatic rematch clause, then that fighter it’s truly championship-caliber.

However, sometimes immediate rematches just need to happen. All sports are prone to mistakes, errors in judging and whatnot, and MMA is not immune. For the most part, immediate rematches have been used as a way to rectify mistakes either glaringly obvious or hotly debated. MMA judging and even MMA refereeing have come under fire a lot lately, with blown calls and bad decisions being handed out seemingly once every major Pay-Per-View. The quickest and easiest way to solve this problem and to ease fan backlash is to simply book another go-round.

And you can say whatever you want about Dana White, I’ve said plenty in my time, but the man responds to what his fans want. If enough fans demand it, he’ll make it happen, sometimes even if it doesn’t make sense. It’s the reason why Chael Sonnen is getting an immediate rematch with Anderson Silva even if Silva definitively finished the fight and Sonnen tapped out. Even if you think an immediate rematch after a stoppage victory is ludicrous (and trust me, that’s a huge debate in and of itself), the simple fact of the matter is that Dana White listened to what the majority of his fans wanted and now it’s pretty much confirmed that Chael Sonnen will be given an immediate rematch.

At the end of the day, I think we should judge a fighter on the quality of the fight they put on in the rematch, and not criticize them so harshly solely because we think their immediate rematch isn’t deserved. Both Mauricio Rua and Frank Edgar made the most out of their immediate rematches. Chael Sonnen will likely have a fantastic rematch with Anderson Silva. So long as immediate rematches are handled on a case-by-case basis rather than as a whole, I’ll continue to judge them not as a whole but on a case-by-case basis. If an immediate rematch makes enough sense (if people want to see it, if it’s a big money fight, if the ending was controversial, etc. etc.), I say just bite the bullet and make the rematch, no matter how the first fight ended.

But what about you, fans and friends? Even though it’s now confirmed that there’s no “automatic rematch clause” in the UFC, how do you feel about the recent string of immediate rematches?

UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua has undergone successful knee surgery this past June, and is still in recovery mode. According to UFC President Dana White in a recent interview with Sportscenter revealed that he intends on making Rua’s return in the Spring or early Summer of next year.

Dana also made a mention on the champ’s proceedings towards his knee surgery, which marks Shogun’s third in just under three years, that he had Rua come to the states to have the surgery done. The first two surgeries took place in his native Brazil, though some might remember Rua’s sluggish returns to the octagon post-knee surgeries. His initial UFC debut against Forrest Griffin at UFC 76 in Anaheim, California in 2007, did not go quite as easily as most fans and media alike had predicted. “The Ultimate Fighter” veteran submitted the former Pride champion with a third-round rear naked choke.

Over a year later, at UFC 93 in Dublin, Ireland, “Shogun” returned on the winning side of things when he rallied back against then UFC fighter Mark Coleman, defeating the former heavyweight champion with strikes in the third round. However since those sluggish performances, Shogun is red-hot.

Despite sporting a subtle 3-2 record inside the cage, his actions speak volumes. After earning his bid for a title shot after knocking out former champion and UFC Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell at UFC 97, Rua then went the distance with then champ Lyoto Machida at UFC 103 and on all accounts beat “The Dragon”, but in a surprising turn of events, lost by unanimous decision, much to the dismay of the fans and press alike, who were all left scratching their heads.

The rematch was set, and at UFC 113 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in May of this year, the Brazilians battled it out and “Shogun” exacted revenge when he knocked out Machida inside of the first round, to claim Number One supremacy.

The knee surgeries were taxing on the Brazilian, but the UFC head honcho is more optimistic about Rua’s recovery time and methods of returning back strong this time around. With what looks like a year-long layoff for both “Shogun” and challenger Rashad Evans–who was last seen in action in May as well, with a unanimous decision win over heated rival Quinton Jackson at UFC 114.

Do you think the fight being pushed to a later date would benefit both fighters on a stint with “TUF”? Rashad was an excellent coach, “Shogun” is the man–though his English is limited.

Im my opinion, the longer this fight is pushed, the less attention it will receive and the less relevant it will become, even if it is a title fight. So to keep both competitors in the public eye, a visit towards a possibility with “The Ultimate Fighter” should be addressed.

Jonny Bones has utterly destroyed every single opponent he’s ever faced. The only person to ever beat Jon Jones has in fact been Jon Jones, when Jones lost his head for a moment and landed some illegal elbows to Matt Hamill which forced those in charge to disqualify Jones. Jones dominated Stephan Bonnar like no one had ever dominated him before, he’s only one of two men that have ever (T)KO’d Brandon Vera, and he currently holds the record for the quickest (T)KO win over thirteen-year veteran Vladimir Matyushenko, a record that was held by former UFC Heavyweight Champion Andrei Arlovski since 2003. I hate to say this, but I think Brandon Vera may be a bit bitter that Jones is realizing his potential as a superstar when Vera himself was in this same position a few years ago, only to hit some very hard stumbling blocks and ultimately fail at becoming a big-time star. Whereas Brandon Vera was touted as the future of the Heavyweight division and failed to live up to such acclaim, Jon Jones has done everything in his power to prove once and for all that he is definitely the future of the UFC’s Light Heavyweight division.

And remember, this is all coming from someone who went against the grain and predicted that Matyushenko would be the one to beat Jones. Instead, Jones gave us arguably the best performance of his career and seemed to have it all too easy finishing off a man that started fighting as a professional Mixed Martial Artist when Jon Jones was ten years old. I honestly don’t see Jones’ domination ending anytime soon, even as he finally transitions into fights with the super-elite of the Light Heavyweight division. In fact, I’ll go so far as to say that it wouldn’t surprise me at all if Jon Jones is “the chosen one” destined to bring about an end to the string of UFC Light Heavyweight Champions losing the belt in their first few fights. Jones will likely have his string of quick, all-out dominating finishes brought to a halt when he’s matched up with people like Rashad Evans, Lyoto Machida, Quinton Jackson, or Mauricio Rua, but I gotta say: I think Jon Jones could win every single one of those fights.

In all honesty, I think Brandon Vera may be a little jealous, a little green with envy, when it comes to Jon Jones. I think a Jones/Vera rematch doesn’t make a whole lot of sense unless Vera gets some good wins under his belt, but I wouldn’t mind seeing it if Vera works his way back up. If Vera truly believes he can beat Jon Jones, actions always speak louder than words. I think Brandon Vera can work his way up to a rematch with Jon Jones if he tries hard enough, but until then, Vera is just stirring the pot and trying to keep his name out there while he heals up from the elbow Jones hit him with that broke his face in three places.

And what do you think, fans and friends? Does the prospect of Jones/Vera II appeal to you?

5. The WEC in general, Jose Aldo in particular.

With their star-studded cards and penchant for delivering amazing fights, the World Extreme Cagefighting promotion has quickly become one of my favorite MMA organizations. The WEC gave us so many Fight of the Year and Event of the Year contenders in 2010 that I think 2011 will be one of their biggest and best years ever. In particular, I can’t wait to see where 2011 takes current WEC Feather Champion Jose Aldo. Aldo has looked phenomenal in every single one of his fights, and looks primed to embark on a career-defining win streak that hasn’t been seen in the WEC since the glory days of Urijah Faber and Miguel Torres.

4. The ascension of Junior Dos Santos

I think that by the end of 2011, Junior Dos Santos will be wearing Heavyweight gold. He’s proven time and time again that it’s almost impossible to take him down, and when he does get taken down, he immediately gets back up. His punching power is unquestioned, and even if his recent fight with Roy Nelson dispelled the myth that there was no one in the Heavyweight division he couldn’t KO, Dos Santos still looked unbelievably dominant. Dos Santos won’t likely run right over people like Cain Velasquez or Brock Lesnar, but history has taught me to never again bet against “Cigano”.

3. The future of Fedor.

For the first time in his life, Fedor Emelianenko has been humbled. People have begun to question his heart and ability, and many Fedor detractors are forecasting doom on Emelianenko, saying that he was never all that good and that his time as an elite Heavyweight has passed. I personally think Fedor can work his way back to the top and stay there for years to come, but we’ll never know until he tries, right? Quite a lot hinges on Fedor Emelianenko’s next fight, perhaps more than any of his legendary fights in PRIDE, so I can’t wait to see both who his opponent is and how he deals with him.

2. The Return of Shogun

I’ve voiced my opinion already in my controversial “Shogun Will Fall” piece, but I would just like to re-iterate that I can’t wait to see if I’ll be eating a big slice of humble pie in 2011, or if I’ll be the one leading the “I told you so” charge. Whatever happens, the return of Mauricio Rua should be quite eventful.

And my #1 pick is…

1. Anderson Silva: The Neverending Reign

Despite all the damage inflicted on his aura of invincibility when Chael Sonnen dominated him for twenty-three minutes, Anderson Silva is still the UFC Middleweight Champion, and once again fans have to ask themselves: who the hell can beat this guy? The answer? Nobody. Anderson Silva fought with a broken rib against a world-class wrestler and still found a way to win. When he’s injury-free, nobody has even come close to putting a dent in his armor. Fans and fighters alike may think that the blood is in the water now that Sonnen proved that Silva is human, but trust me: seeing Silva get back to his dominating ways will be the most fun you’ll have in 2011.

So that’s my list, fans and friends. What are you looking forward to for next year?