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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And that’s what I think, fans and friends. But what about you? What do you see happening in the near and not-so-near future of the big winners and losers of UFC 129?

How do these Black House guys do it?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1. It’s UFC 129. ‘Nuff said.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Canadian MARK BOCEK on competing at this historic event:

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

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

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

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

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

RORY MACDONALD on his MMA dreams becoming a reality:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

JASON MACDONALD on his emotional return to the Octagon:

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

RYAN JENSEN on fighting in hostile territory:

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

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

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

KYLE WATSON on fighting a former training partner in Makdessi:

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

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

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

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

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

—-

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

5. Lyoto Machida will never quit.

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

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

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

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

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

2. Who has Couture beat recently, really?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

4. The “Machida Enigma” has been solved.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

5. Randy Couture

Couture is a perennial entry in my “Apocalypse” lists, and for good reason. The man is so versatile, I think he could survive whatever horror my imagination feels like throwing at him. In most alien movies, there’s always that one grizzled veteran that everyone respects, the one that helps lead the rebels to victory and overcome the alien masses. Plus, Couture earns an immediate spot on this list for his ability to recruit the other members of “The Expendables”, which would undoubtedly and quickly become the most savage, most vicious, most notorious anti-alien team on the face of the planet. Picture “Inglourious Basterds”, except with aliens. And Sylvester Stallone. That’s what will happen if Randy Couture is thrust into an alien apocalypse.

4. Brock Lesnar

In most alien films that involve the aliens taking over, there’s always that one big action scene where the imprisoned humans stage an outbreak and score the first concrete victory for humanity. Normally it’s the hero of the film that gets all the credit, but there’s usually a hulking, usually-silent behemoth there to help him. Brock Lesnar could be that hulking behemoth. Whether it’s holding something open so the prisoners can escape or saving the hero in the nick of time by pulverizing an alien’s brains between two giant fists, Lesnar would be two hundred and sixty-five pounds of pure humanity-saving muscle.

3. Dana White

Who said you had to be on the human’s side to survive an alien apocalypse? Dana White is the king of the shocking deal: we never thought he’d buy PRIDE and he did, we never thought he’d buy Strikeforce and he did. In the new world of alien domination, I can definitely see Dana White staying alive by negotiating with the aliens and ensuring his survival by trying to lead humanity to its doom. Everyone vilifies Dana White already, so I’m sure I’m not the only one that thinks that White would be humanity’s Benedict Arnold, working together with the alien overlords to ensure his continued survival while at the same time ensuring humanity’s destruction.

2. Bruce Buffer

There isn’t a single “alien apocalypse” movie I can think of that doesn’t feature some grand motivational speech somewhere in the course of the movie. And who better to give that speech than Bruce Buffer? Buffer practically explodes with energy and all he does is announce who’s fighting. Buffer would probably give himself a heart attack if he had to rally humanity against its evil alien overlords. But before he did, he would probably give the best pre-fight rallying speech in history. Just picture him screaming “IT’S TIME” to a couple thousand eager rebels and try not to get goosebumps. And if Buffer does survive such a speech without his head exploding, he’d certainly be the go-to motivational speaker for the entire resurgent human race.

And the number-one fighter I think would be most likely to survive an alien apocalypse is…

1. Phil Davis

Look at this man. Really look at him.

Does that man look human? No? Well, there’s a reason for that: it’s because he’s not. Phil Davis is an alien, and in an alien apocalypse he would be the good alien that all the bad aliens try to eliminate. And just when you think all hope is lost for “Mr. Wonderful”, the cavalry arrives: an army of Phil Davis alien clones. That’s right, not only is Phil Davis an alien, he’s his own alien race. Alien clone Phil Davis army: humanity’s greatest weapon.

And if you hadn’t clued in before: APRIL FOOLS, fans and friends. This was all in fun and I hope you enjoyed it. But I just have to ask: who do you think could survive an alien apocalypse?

Before I begin, I’d like to point out that I’d like to see all five of these matches no matter when they happen and no matter who holds what championship in whichever division. Also, this list doesn’t take into account the army of dominoes that would have to fall into place for many of these fights to occur. In a perfect world where there are no such things as contract disputes and everyone can fight everyone else at their best, these are the five fights I want to see the most.

5. Anthony Pettis vs. Gilbert Melendez

I think of this match and I can’t help but smile. I also can’t even begin to imagine the potential insanity both men could unleash in the cage against each other. Gilbert Melendez is Strikeforce’s best Lightweight by far, while Anthony Pettis has fully and finally reached top-division status after an amazing five-round war with Ben Henderson. This fight would probably set the standard for years to come.

4. Quinton Jackson vs. Muhammed Lawal

It’s two of the best characters in MMA fighting each other… what’s not to love? Also, let’s not forget that both “Rampage” and “King Mo” love to bang and would probably spend every single second of this fight trying to knock each other’s heads off. Plus, I can’t even imagine how awesome the pre-fight trash talk will be between these two. Nothing about this fight or its build-up would be pretty, but entertaining? This fight has that in spades.

3. Nick Diaz vs. Georges St. Pierre

Although I don’t have a problem with taking a firm and even controversial stance on important issues, I’m not so rigid in my opinions that a fighter has no chance of winning me over. To this day, Nick Diaz stands out as the clearest example of that rule: I once utterly loathed him, but thanks in no small part to his many brilliant performances, I now consider myself a fan. I’ll go even one step further: he’s one of my favorite fighters, and currently one of the best Welterweights in the business. I’d love to see him fight GSP, who is already regarded as one of the best ever. Both men have a shot at winning this match, and I think Nick Diaz is one of the last, great challengers for GSP at 170.

2. Alistair Overeem vs. Brock Lesnar

This is the kind of fight where you wouldn’t be surprised if the ground shook the first time these two colossal titans locked horns. And that’s really the best way to describe these two hulking behemoths: they have a physique right out of Roman legends. And let’s not forget that these are two of the top Heavyweights in the business. Despite constant abuse from his cynics, Brock Lesnar is a former UFC Heavyweight Champion and one of the highest-drawing UFC stars of all time. Despite constant accusations of chemical enhancement, Alistair Overeem is a K-1 World Grand Prix Champion, the Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion, and the DREAM Interim Heavyweight Champion. This would be an awesome match no matter where both men are at in their careers when it does finally get around to happening.

And my number-one pick should come as a shock to virtually no one that’s followed me and my musings for any prolonged period of time.

1. Randy Couture vs. Fedor Emelianenko

When you talk about a “legacy fight”, this is what you’re talking about. Neither man has anything left to prove, both men will go down as one of the best in the history of the sport. However, I can and will admit that this fight doesn’t have the appeal it did back when Fedor was undefeated and Randy Couture was the UFC Heavyweight Champion. But none of that would matter if these two ever stepped into the Octagon against each other. I can’t think of a better way to end an era, as I think this fight would virtually close the book on Fedor’s and Randy’s careers. This fight still has an incredible amount of appeal, and it’s still easily the number-one “Strikeforce vs. UFC” fight I absolutely want to see.

And that’s what I think, fans and friends. What about you? What fantasy fights do you hope one day to see?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dana White took time recently to speak with Fighters.com and hit on some of the biggest topics in MMA. White reacts to the coming Strikeforce Heavyweight tournament, Randy Couture‘s pending return to the cage, and how Brock Lesnar will fare as a coach on the Ultimate Fighter reality show.  Good stuff from the boss, and he too thought Frankie Edgar was going to lose when he was rocked early in the first round against Gray Maynard.

Click through to watch the video.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

A 5-time UFC champion, garnering three-titles in the heavyweight class as well as an additional two as a light heavyweight, Couture is in a point of his career now where his future as a professional fighter is becoming more bleak by each passing day.

Randy is often regarded not only as one of the sports most popular stars, he has transcended the mold of “fighter” as is widely recognized as the sports true living legend.

At 47-years-old and several movies in the can, it looks like “The Natural” may be making the turning point in his career from fighter to full blown actor.

“I’m getting ready to do a movie in Grand Rapids, Mich., here the first couple weeks of December with Bruce Willis…Setup”, said Couture while a guest on ‘The Dave and Mahoney Morning Show‘ in Las Vegas.

“It just happened a couple of days ago. It’s a fun character. Small part, but a fun character in kind of a gangster movie.”

The role in the new Bruce Willis film seems to have been piggy backed when Couture was featured with the action movie star in the Sylvester Stallone blockbuster hit, “The Expendables”, which to date has garnered over a quarter of a billion dollars world wide.

With said success of the film, which also featured stars Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Mickey Rourke and the aforementioned Stallone, a sequel is in the works for March of next year.

“It’s definitely happening,” said the UFC Hall of Famer. “The target for now is March to start shooting the sequel.

“I think the trick is going to be getting everybody free to come back and do it, but I think the first one was so successful, everybody is going to be excited to come back for the second.”

With all of these budding movie projects in the works and with no proposed match up offered, we may never see the octagon warrior return.

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

6. Tito Ortiz (5,294,000 PPV Buys)

Ortiz’s name on this list proves to me that a once-great star can still have drawing power so long as his fans continue to chase a dream while his cynics keep wanting to see him lose. Ortiz had his day in the sun as a dominant Light Heavyweight Champion, but his continued success as a Pay-Per-View draw is due to his fans wanting to believe that he can finally make good on his promises of a comeback, while those that dislike the man dislike him to such a degree that they’ll consistently purchase Pay-Per-View where he fights just so they can see him lose again. Ortiz proves that a fighter with an established, loyal fanbase can remain a big draw no matter what kind of win/loss ratio he has.

7. Frank Mir (5,209,000 PPV Buys)

Like Forrest Griffin, this one took me by surprise a little. Let’s be honest, Mir doesn’t have the most entertaining style, in fact, many people were quick to call his last fight (against Mirko Filipovic) downright atrocious. And yet Mir has made a mint off of getting fans riled up. His name on this list says to me that you can still be a huge draw even if a vast majority of fans are tuning in solely to see you lose.

8. BJ Penn (5,025,000 PPV Buys)

BJ Penn’s name on this list is indicates that MMA fans don’t forget a dominant face, even if he goes away. Penn has had his fair share of highs and lows, but above all else, people still remember his dominant win over Matt Hughes, his epic win over Diego Sanchez, etc. etc. Even though MMA has entered a mainstream that always looks for the next hot thing and is quick to abandon whatever falls out of favor, Penn’s #8 slot proves that MMA fans may be a fickle bunch in some matters, but they’ve also got quite a memory.

9. Randy Couture (4,767,000 PPV Buys)

I think Randy Couture’s spot on this list is all the proof I’ll ever need in order to know that MMA is a tough addiction to quit. As strange as it may sound to say, consider that there could honestly be some MMA fans that grew up watching Randy Couture. He’s certainly competed in a main event or close to main event capacity long enough for this to happen. Throughout all the years Couture has been competing, his fans have stayed with him and with the sport. In a world dominated by the Males 18-34 demographic, Couture’s spot on this list tells me that the old dogs have a lot more influence than we might think when it comes to who draws in this sport.

10. Anderson Silva (4,650,000 PPV Buys)

Our final entrant on this list, I think Anderson Silva proves above all else that the UFC Hype Machine knows how to make stars. Anderson Silva was always a fantastic fighter, but thanks to the UFC’s marketing juggernauts, Silva has been built up as the be-all and end-all in the UFC, with UFC President Dana White consistently calling him the top “Pound-for-Pound” athlete in the world despite a few puzzling fights where Silva seemed to have little fight in him. Silva is living proof that a great fighter will always be great, but a great fighter marketed correctly can bring in a huge amount of money.

So that’s the list, fans and friends. Remember, the full list can be found on MMA Manifesto. And now it’s your turn: did anyone in the bottom 5 surprise you? Do you think someone should be ranked higher than someone else? And what do you think these athletes say about our sport?

The press release puts Couture out of action for three to four weeks, and the hot prospect said the following in regards to the situation he now finds himself in: “I was really looking forward to fighting so this is a big disappointment, but I’ll be back. As soon as I’m cleared, you can bet I’ll be back in the gym preparing for my next STRIKEFORCE fight.”

“Strikeforce Challengers” is effectively the San Diego-based promotion’s “B-show”, used to highlight up-and-coming talent and, every once in a while, some medium-level stars. Ryan Couture seemed to be the rare mix of both, as he displayed some awesome skills in his super-quick win over Lucas Stark. Even better, the young Couture seems to have inherited all the humility and good grace of his father. Not only does Ryan Couture sound exactly like his father, he’s got the same approach to Mixed Martial Arts. And whether or not you think his last name was the only reason he got to debut as a professional Mixed Martial Artist on a Strikeforce show, you simply have to respect the man’s dedication and love of the sport.

I think Ryan Couture will bounce back from this in a big way, and I look forward to him competing early in 2011. I think Couture will be very active and really begin to make a name for himself in the next calendar year. It’s too bad that he won’t be able to cap off 2010 with another win, or at the very least another entertaining fight, but staph can happen to anybody and everybody. When he gets this knocked out, I think Ryan will return better than ever for his next fight.

The thing is, even if he loses, the man seems to have the absolute best mindset for the situation he’s in. Ryan Couture has some massive shoes to fill, and to be perfectly honest I don’t see him ever fully emerging out of the shadow of his father. There truly is only one Randy Couture, trying to measure up to him is virtually impossible. Instead, Ryan looks to be forging ahead by doing his own thing and making his own name. He’s humble, hard-working, and definitely has a bright future in Mixed Martial Arts. Like any rookie I think Ryan Couture will have to face some big stumbling blocks and learn a few harsh lessons, but if he can persevere I think we’ll have ourselves another breakout star sooner rather than later.

And what about you, fans and friends? What do you think the future holds for Ryan Couture?

In October of 2007, serving as then heavyweight champion, Couture attempted to resign from the UFC in order to set up a fight with Fedor Emelianenko (since the organization failed to acquire Fedor into the UFC after the demise of the PRIDE promotion, which the UFC had purchased in 2006 and were able to maintain many of their fighters under contract with them),whom at the time was under the now defunct Affliction banner.

However, after several months of back and forth litigation between the UFC and Couture, he ultimately returned to the worlds largest organization, though to some degree still wanted a fight with Emelianenko, but conceded that it just wasn’t in the cards and never gave too much thought into it again, until now.

Now riding a three fight win streak inside the octagon, Couture has began contemplating his career, and rightly so at the age of 47. Accomplishing more than any one fighter could wish for, earning titles in both the heavyweight (3 times) and light heavyweight (twice) divisions, and being one of only 7 fighters inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame, Couture has seen enough in the MMA game.

He has questioned his longevity in the sport, where before it seemed that age was just a matter of opinion when it came to Randy, but now it looks like he’s truly weighing his options.

No longer interested in another run at the title, Randy has all but said the words “retirement”, which could mean he’s just waiting for the right type of fight to help him reinvigorate himself to fight once again, otherwise he’s stepping away from the game.

In an interview with Fight! Magazine’s Danny Acosta at the “EA Sports: MMA” launch in California, Randy suggested that the Emelianenko fight still very much interests him.

Now, Fedor’s management company is currently in talks with the Strikeforce promotion in order to re-up his contract, which has only one fight remaining, however, M-1 Global (said management company which also doubles as a MMA promotion) and Strikeforce have hit road blocks along the way. Vadim Finklestein, Fedor’s manager, has went over Scott Coker’s (Strikeforce CEO) head and is now dealing directly with Showtime (the promotion’s broadcast television partner).

Things appear to be rocky, and Dana White, though not an adamant Fedor fan, has said that he has still not closed the door on potentially getting Emelianenko inside the octagon, even after his first true professional loss (opposite of Fabricio Werdum last June).

So here’s hoping that Fedor could make his way to the UFC, but it’s a long stretch, and perhaps Randy’s only desire to continue fighting.

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

He’s fought on some of the biggest stages, competed against some of the best fighters in the world, claimed titles, and was dominant in two different weight classes.

And while their still exists some desire to compete, Couture has now become one of his own biggest skeptics.

How long can he keep it up? Even Randy is beginning to wonder.

Riding a three-fight win streak so far, Couture is coming off of a one sided beat down over boxing champion-turned mixed martial artist, James Toney. Defending the honor of the MMA community, after Toney made several outlandish claims putting boxing on a pedestal over all the rest.

After taking Toney down, and eventually submitting him inside of the first round, “The Natural” was lifted by the Boston crowd in attendance at UFC 118 last August, who went absolutely berserk when Randy was dubbed the winner, giving him a standing ovation.

It’s a night that Randy will likely never forget, and what better way to leave the sport but on a high note.

“I don’t know what is gonna happen on the fight front. I have had my wars, done my thing”, said the 5-time UFC champion while speaking with FightersOnlyMag.com.

“I’ve been having fun, I can still fight, but I am not sure I want to make another run at the title or anything like that.”

Conceivably, Couture would be on the cusp of another title shot in the near future should he have another victory, and what better way to increase revenue then to have Couture, a UFC Hall of Famer, vying for a title once again. But those days of titles, and championship admiration are well behind Couture, so he suggests. At 47, no one can blame him for wanting to throw in the towel. While his budding acting career has been moving him along leaps and bounds, fighting will always be his passion, but even Randy thinks it’s finally time to move on.

“I enjoy the sport, I enjoy fighting, but its probably time to move on…I hope to diversify [my roles], I would like to try a little bit of everything, we’ll see. Its a fickle business, so you never know what is going to happen”.

So, MMA peeps, what do you make of Couture’s statements? It looks like finally, he’s decided what he would like to do, and while some might not agree, you can’t help but respect the MMA pioneer’s decision.
Sound off in the comment section below.

For any of you living in a cave in Tora Bora the past three years, that is a quick snapshot of who Brock Lesnar is, how he arrived to be the biggest name in MMA and why he will sell out the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA this Saturday when he defends his title against Cain Velasquez.

The basic breakdown of this fight lines up as the quicker, cardio king in Velasquez will use speed and diversity to frustrate the bigger Lesnar hoping to wear him down and take the fight in the fourth and fifth rounds.   Lesnar would admit Velasquez may have a little quickness on him, but he doesn’t think for a minute the Mexican born fighter works any harder or will be in any better shape.  If it is one thing Lesnar knows, it is hard work and preparation.  He has been doing this since he was kid back on the plains of South Dakota.

“It has just been a way of life.  Just remember everybody working, doing their part on the farm.  It is not something, oh gosh I pay attention … It is not like we sit back and ponder ‘oh we used to work really hard,’ we still work really hard every day.  As long as I can remember, everybody has been working.”

This just may be the best version of Lesnar, ever.  This is his second fight since his nearly career ending illness, diverticulitus.  And against Shane Carwin, he learned he could take a big punch and recover from a bad spot in the Octagon.

“I think it is just a confidence thing.  You bang around in the gym and you have 18-20 ounce gloves on.  You can take a punch in the gym.  Up until the Carwin fight I wasn’t … always some question in my mind, plus it was a comeback fight.  It is just a confidence thing for me, just getting back in there being able to compete and be the best is my main focus.”

Lesnar also will bring his legendary confidence with him from his home in Minnesota.  But, don’t mistake his sure-fire talk as arrogance.  He has much respect for the AKA fighter who will be seeking his strap this weekend.

“The way the Heavyweight division is now, obviously Cain trains to be the best in every category you can be.  If you want to be at the top you have to be well-rounded fighter.  I understand my background is wrestling and his is wrestling, we are both junior college wrestlers and Division-1 athletes, so we both understand, at least I do, that I will have to evolve.  He poses threats as a wrestler, he poses threats as a boxer, and we both want to improve on everything.”

So, after a tame UFC 120 out of London, buckle up for Brock and Cain to lock horns on Saturday in Anaheim.   What version of Brock will we see?  Lesnar believes he is still growing yet will be at his best against Cain Velasquez.

“I feel I am right on, I am as lean as I have ever been.  Guys say they have good camps, I can go back and say every camp is the best camp.  I really think everybody – that is the truth for everybody.  I have gotten better and better and better.  I really don’t think I am the best I can be.  Come October 23^rd, on that night, I will be the best.

—

Who you got?  Can Cain the pull the upset?  Would it be an upset?

So on the heels of a three-fight win streak, and possibly a win or two away from another title shot in the light heavyweight division, you would think his focus would remain primarily on the MMA game, because after all, the guy is 47-years-young.

After appearing in his largest role to date in the blockbuster action movie this year, in Sylvester Stallone’s “The Expendables”, which featured a bevvy of some of the greatest punch-face stars of this generation, including cameos with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Mickey Rourke, and of course Stallone, Randy held his own when he was featured as one of the main stars of the film, which to date, has grossed a quarter of a billion dollars, world wide.

So, its natural for Couture to want to pursue his movie career while the iron is hot, even though it may be at the expense of mixed martial arts career, which has seen a second mind after dropping his heavyweight title to Brock Lesnar, then a bout to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueria, before going on a three-fight win with victories over Brandon Vera, Mark Coleman, and boxer-turned mixed martial artist: James Toney, added to his list of accomplishments.

“I think (acting) is certainly what my interest is right now,” Couture said on this week’s edition of the “MMA:30 Radio Hour,” which MMAJunkie.com has picked the beat up on. “I’ve had an amazing year, and I think it’s time to start looking at that, for sure. That’s probably what’s going to carry me through for the next 10 or 15 years.”

While Couture, 47, has three fights remaining on his contract, he’s finally coming to terms with his age. After all his accomplishments and accolades, it’s easy to see why Couture would consider the longevity of his life, in regard to wanting to pursue acting as much as he can. While no interesting projects have turned his way just yet as far as film goes, Randy seems as equally undecided about his fighting career.

“I just don’t know,” Couture stated. “I’m trying to honestly evaluate that now and see how many wars I’ve got left in me.

“There’s definitely some wars in the division.”

So, MMA peeps, if you played match maker, who would you like to see Couture face next in the cage? Or are you on the undecided side; would you rather see “Captain America” possibly retire all together, especially on the high note that he is on? Sound off in the comment section below.

“We’re sorting through things right now. I’d say right now it’s a toss-up. If something came up that was interesting, he would fight irrespective of whether he got a meaningful Hollywood role. But there’s other stuff for him to do that’s MMA-related. I think many would be surprised at some of the things we are working on. So he doesn’t have to be actively fighting in the ring to remain active. Is it possible he may not fight again? Yeah, it’s possible. I’d say it’s a toss-up. I’m not sure that Randy is focused upon whether or not he has another run at the title. If they said, ‘Will you fight Shogun [Rua] for the title?’ I think he would, but the title itself is not as important as the fight he’s offered.”

I’ll support Randy Couture in whatever action he chooses to take and follow him faithfully on whatever path he chooses to walk, but at the end of the day, I don’t want to see Randy Couture retire again. At least, not right now. Not when he’s on a three-fight win-streak and seems to have rejuvenated himself in his latest run at 205. According to the report, Couture has three fights left on his current contract. I don’t think it’s wishful thinking, not at all, to say that Couture could challenge for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship within those three fights. It all depends on how he does in his next few fights, now that he’s once more in a position where he can fight the UFC’s best talent. But regardless of how well he does, I at least want to see him try. Seeing Couture lose is a lot better than not seeing him at all.

Yet I can’t say I would be angry at Couture if he chose Hollywood over the fight game. I’d be disappointed and pretty sad, sure, but I wouldn’t hold it against “The Natural”. Couture seems to do a lot better of a job at the whole “acting” thing than virtually any other professional Mixed Martial Artist that has dabbled in film. While he played a glorified ancillary character in “The Expendables”, the fact remains that his performance was lightyears beyond the norm. What we normally have to suffer through is a wooden-faced, stone-eyed, unequivocally emotionless performance given to us by most, if not all, of the Mixed Martial Artists that have landed roles in a growing amount of cheesy, low-budget, direct-to-DVD movies. It would be pretty remarkable if Couture became a bonafide action movie star at his age, but then again, this is Randy Couture we’re talking about. For him, doing the impossible is just another day at the office.

So I’d hate to see Couture go, but I wouldn’t actually hate Couture himself . I want Couture to remain active and make one last run at a UFC championship, but even “Captain America” can’t beat Father Time. He’s done a pretty good job of it so far, better than anyone else in MMA, but nothing lasts forever. I want Couture to go out with a bang, but I’ll be hoping for his success no matter what his future holds.

And what about you, fans and friends? What’s next for Randy Couture? Do you think he has it in him to win a championship again? And do you think he’d make the grade in Hollywood if he becomes a full-time actor?

“I have said many times that I have nothing to do with match-making. Right now, Strikeforce are struggling to find me a serious opponent. Alistair Overeem keeps finding all sorts of excuses not to fight me. The remaining stars have lost in their recent fights, so the promotion has no desire to put them up against me. And Fabricio Werdum is still recovering from his surgery…My next fight will be last on the Strikeforce contract. I’m yet to decide whether I’m going to continue my fighting career after this contract expires.”

I think it’s understandable that Strikeforce and M-1 Global (Fedor’s management team) have hit yet another impasse. I don’t agree with it at all, I don’t like it at all, but I can see why it’s happening. Fedor’s reputation has been damaged, let’s all just finally admit it, so of course Strikeforce is wondering if he’s still worth the high amounts they’re paying him. M-1 Global wants big fights for big money, and right now Strikeforce’s Heavyweight Division is barely becoming legitimized. While the division’s future as a whole looks bright, it also remains uncertain for many better-known stars: Alistair Overeem still has ties with K-1, Antonio Silva needs several more fights before he’s taken seriously as a true top-level talent, Josh Barnett has yet to prove if he can bounce back from his latest steroid scandal…the list goes on.

I think Strikeforce has a lot to lose if they don’t give Fedor a good final fight…but I think M-1 Global has just as much at stake, which is why both parties are hitting brick wall after brick wall. I think Fedor is serious when he says that he may retire once he fulfills his final obligation to Strikeforce. While many will decry him for never having competed in the UFC, the man has nothing left to prove to anybody. He was one of the most dominant champions of all time, he’s always shown an incredible amount of humility and class, and he’ll go down as one of the best ever. Fedor retiring is a very real possibility.

It’s a possibility that I absolutely would not agree with, but one that I would fully understand. As a gigantic Fedor fan, I want to see him go out in a blaze of glory. I want to see him beat Werdum again, plow through Overeem, dismantle Barnett, and then, miracle of miracles, I want to see him get into the UFC and take on Randy Couture and Brock Lesnar. I can dream, can’t I? Fedor may have nothing left to prove, but one last run of dominance, including a stint in the UFC, would forever solidify his legacy as the greatest Mixed Martial Artist of all time.

But in the end? I just hope that whatever happens, happens soon. Nothing, absolutely nothing, is accomplished if Fedor continues to sit on the sidelines. If he retires, he retires. Good for him, and it gives his fans closure. If he signs a new contract, he should fight as soon as possible in order to have the best shot at rebuilding his image against the best competition that Strikeforce has to offer. But just having him wait in limbo while Strikeforce and M-1 Global bicker back and forth serves no one and has no purpose. So make up your mind, people. Fedor isn’t getting any younger, and while patience may be a virtue, actions speak louder than words.

For those that may not be familiar with the man, here’s a quick crash course on “The Babyfaced Assassin”. He made his name in the UFC due to two things: his pretty-boy good looks and his penchant for finishing opponents. Barnett became the youngest UFC champion in history when he beat Randy Couture at UFC 36 to claim the UFC Heavyweight Championship. He then tested positive for banned substances, was stripped of his title, and was fired from the UFC.

Barnett then headed to Japan where he arguably became even more famous, with several high-profile fights in the now-defunct PRIDE FC promotion. After the fall of PRIDE, Barnett would go on to compete in the short-lived Affliction promotion, and was scheduled to face Fedor Emelianenko in the main event of Affliction’s third card. After testing positive for anabolic steroids in a pre-fight drug test, the fight with Emelianenko was cancelled, which played a huge part in the event itself being cancelled, which played a not-insignificant part in the promotion itself going belly-up.

Even with the controversy and stigma surrounding him, Barnett is on a six-fight win-streak and hasn’t lost since 2006, back when PRIDE was still around. Before he tested positive for banned substances yet again, and before Emelianenko’s shocking submission loss to Fabricio Werdum earlier this year, Barnett was widely regarded (even by me) as one of the last, great, legitimate tests for “The Last Emperor” outside of the UFC. Barnett’s first Strikeforce opponent is as-of-yet unknown, as are the number of fights he will compete in under the promotion.

I think this is a pretty huge gamble for Strikeforce. I understand why they did it, though. Strikeforce needs name-value stars, they need big names and good athletes if they ever want to get back on CBS again. Josh Barnett is still a world-ranked Heavyweight, he still has name-value, the UFC has shown virtually no interest in ever hiring him again, and when he shows up clean and in shape he can still put on some fantastic fights. If it weren’t for the Affliction controversy, I’d support Strikeforce 100% on this decision and I may have even wondered why they didn’t sign him sooner.

But Barnett lost a lot of credibility and burned a lot of bridges when he got popped for juicing yet again. I know that Barnett defenders rush to his side and claim that Affliction’s horrendous mismanagement killed the promotion dead far more than Barnett being pulled from the fight with Fedor, and I honestly agree with that. But don’t think I believe for one second that Barnett’s controversy wasn’t a major nail in Affliction’s coffin. The way they hemorrhaged money was definitely a bigger nail, but that shouldn’t diminish what Barnett did: he cheated to try and get ahead, and far more people than himself would pay the price for Barnett’s actions.

Until he proves that he’s trustworthy again, I’m extremely hesitant about Josh Barnett signing with Strikeforce. If he shows up clean and in top shape, and puts on good fights, then I’m willing to wipe the slate clean and support him once again. But with his track record, that’s a massive “if”. It will be interesting to see if “The Babyfaced Assassin” has finally learned his lesson.

And what about you, fans and friends? How do you feel about Josh Barnett signing to Strikeforce?

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?

5. Chris Leben

Admit it: you could see Chris Leben leading a pack of raiders. Sometimes only the lawless survive in a world without law. With his iron chin, bad-boy status, and that “I’ll fight anybody” mentality of his, Chris Leben would have no problem getting together a gang of…well, he’d have no problem forming a gang. Look for Leben at a deserted highway or shopping mall near you…wearing tight leather, riding a motorcycle, carrying a shotgun, and shouting insane gibberish.

4. Clay Guida

Guida is already famous for being the closest thing to a caveman the UFC will ever see, but when the sky rains nukes, look for Guida to actually become a caveman. The decay and death of society will cause groups to go back to simpler, more primitive times: hunting and scavenging, migrating with any food source, eating their meat raw and killing it with sharpened sticks. Guida’s ability to absorb punishment would be a great advantage when trying to kill an evening meal, so look for him and his ever-growing tribe to burp, belch, fart and growl their way to a decent life even in the harshest of circumstances.

3. Yoshihiro Akiyama

Women want him. Men want to be him. None can stand up to the power of Sexyama. After both sexes turn to Sexyama in droves for comfort, look for Akiyama to establish a large harem of men and women that travel the lands seeking to comfort weary travelers and relieve them of their money. Now unquestionably the biggest pimp in the world, Akiyama would control both his hoes and his customers with an iron fist, judo-throwing non-payers to the side of the road while pimp-slapping any skank who dares question his authority. With unequaled sexiness and virtually unchallenged fighting prowess, Akiyama may end up being one of the most successful businessmen to ever set up shop amongst the wastes.

2. Georges St. Pierre

GSP seems to have the entire country of Canada on his side nowadays, so look for him to gain a sizable following once the Canadian government fails, just like all governments will fail, when the nuclear apocalypse begins. With his natural charm and intense fighting ability, I see GSP becoming King of Canada in about a month. GSP will probably have a tough time controlling his new domain, though, since the inevitable global warming will likely make livable the 80% of Canada that is currently nothing but frozen tundra, inviting a host of new fiefdoms and warring city-states. But when the time comes, I see all Canadian men and women bowing to the Riddum.

And my #1 fighter most likely to survive a Nuclear Apocalypse is…

1. Randy Couture

Everyone loves Randy Couture. Honestly, try and find someone that legitimately hates him and has a legitimate reason to. Couture is already a pretty big symbol of hope in the UFC, when the apocalypse happens, he’ll become a symbol of hope to humanity as a whole. “Captain America” will become a champion of the little people, inspiring pride and confidence in all, driving men to realize their potential, lifting civilization out of its crumbling depths and into a bright new future. Look for Couture to establish a haven that all men flock to, but only he can control. Plain and simple, Randy Couture is humanity’s savior. With him at your side, even a nuclear apocalypse doesn’t seem so bad.

So if/when the nuclear apocalypse does happen, seek out for any one of these five and you should be set. But what about you, fans and friends? Which MMA fighters do you see thriving, and not just surviving, after a nuclear holocaust?

1)Just because you submitted Muhammed Lawal, the former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion, does not give you a green card into a forgein land.

2)Never, under any circumstances, compete in mixed martial arts, again.

But Toney took more than a valuable lesson away from his 3-plus minute drubbing against the MMA legend–he took home a 6-figure check to take to the bank.

“The Natural” wasted little time in taking the multi-faceted boxing champion to the ground, feinting a jab before ankle biting Toney to the mat, eventually working his way quickly to mount. A few punches later, an arm triangle choke was set up, and James was forced, or according to some sources was suggested to tap by referee Mario Yamaski, in order to halt the bout.

For his extraordinary performance, “Lights Out” walked away with $500k according to the Nevada State Athletic Commission–marking the night’s highest purse, just in front of the aforementioned endeared former UFC champion, Randy Couture–who walked away with $250k of his own.

The rest of the nights earners are listed below, and originally formatted by MMAJunkie.com, who acquired said information from the NSAC, following last Saturday’s event.

The total paydays included:

Frankie Edgar: $96,000 (includes $48,000 win bonus)
def. B.J. Penn: $150,000

Randy Couture: $250,000 (no win bonus)
def. James Toney: $500,000

Demian Maia: $68,000 ($34,000 win bonus)
def. Mario Miranda: $8,000

Gray Maynard: $46,000 ($23,000 win bonus)
def. Kenny Florian: $65,000

Nate Diaz: $60,000 ($30,000 win bonus)
def. Marcus Davis: $31,000

Joe Lauzon: $24,000 ($12,000 win bonus)
def. Gabe Ruediger: $8,000

Nik Lentz: $22,000 ($11,000 win bonus)
def. Andre Winner: $10,000

Dan Miller: $30,000 ($15,000 win bonus)
def. John Salter: $8,000

Greg Soto: $12,000 ($6,000 win bonus)
def. Nick Osipczak: $10,000

Mike Pierce: $24,000 ($12,000 win bonus)
def. Amilcar Alves: $6,000

So, is anyone else surprised at some of the figures shown? Does Toney’s inception into MMA deserve the nights top billing? And should we see him fight in MMA again with that salary? You be the judge, my MMA peeps. Let your opinions known below.

Next for Nate Diaz: A fight with another good technical striker: Dan Hardy. Even if it’s not Hardy, look for Diaz to get a shot at a top-tier opponent. Perhaps even Thiago Alves should be the next challenge for Nate.

Next for Marcus Davis: Once again Davis has been stopped in dominating fashion. While I don’t see him losing his job anytime soon, if ever, I also think that this fight permanently moved Davis to mid-level gatekeeper status. Look for him to receive a steady stream of UFC newcomers for his next several fights.

Next for Kenny Florian: He needs to come to grips with the fact that he’s a divisional gatekeeper if he doesn’t improve his ground game from the bottom. When fighters are able to take “KenFlo” out of his element, Florian has always looked downright lost in the Octagon. Florian is still one of the best fighters in the Lightweight division, but his inability to come back when the odds are stacked against him is a real hindrance.

Next for Demian Maia: In Maia’s continued quest to regain his Middleweight relevancy, his domination of Mario Miranda was a big step in the right direction. I think Maia is ready for a rematch with Nate Marquardt. If not Marquardt, I say give Maia another good striker, like Chris Leben, in order to highlight the submission skills that made him so famous and/or to highlight his admittedly improving striking.

Next for Randy Couture: Why not Jon Jones? Couture has had nothing left to prove for the last several years and he’s still had more wins than losses. Now that he’s got a three-fight win-streak under his belt, why not welcome Jon Jones to the UFC’s elite in a big way with a very tough opponent? I think it would be amazing to see how Jones’ wrestling holds up to Couture’s, and if Couture can stand up to the dynamic striking of Jonny Bones.

Next for James Toney: Kimbo Slice in a boxing ring. I don’t see James Toney going anywhere near an Octagon for at least a couple of years. If he ever does return to the UFC, he’ll likely face a predominantly striking-based fighter, someone like Cheick Kongo. I think Kimbo vs. Toney is very likely if only because the fight will generate a lot of interest and make everyone involved a boatload of money. Look for Toney to take the KO, by the way.

Next for BJ Penn: It’s tough to say. Has the Lightweight division finally caught up to BJ Penn, or is Frankie Edgar simply his kryptonite? If BJ stays at Lightweight, he’s got to learn how to deal with today’s version of the dominant wrestler, as opposed to someone like Sean Sherk, who Penn outright dominated. This issue is even further heightened if Penn moves to Welterweight, since it’s practically controlled by dominant wrestlers. Tough times are ahead for BJ Penn, whether he or his fans or anyone else wants to admit it or not.

Next for Frank Edgar and Gray Maynard: Each other, obviously. Look for this to be heavy on the wrestling, with Maynard trying to nullify Edgar’s impressive speed and off-the-charts cardio by holding him constantly and trying to grind out a decision. I think Edgar will be a wholly different fighter for this rematch, so I’m betting that Edgar evens it to 1-1. Maynard impressed against Florian and I have no doubt that he’s ready for his shot at the gold, but Frankie Edgar simply impressed me far, far more.

But what do you think, fans and friends? Where do people like Penn, Edgar, Couture, Florian and Maynard go from here?

My main problem with the pre-fight talk leading up to Toney/Couture was that no one was giving Toney any credit at all. People either didn’t know or didn’t care that Toney was and still is a phenomenal boxer and has been KO’ing people since the late 1980’s. Toney was never and still has never been knocked out, and he absorbed some massive damage from Randy Couture when Couture secured the mount literally seconds into the fight. He’s still a Heavyweight Champion in boxing. Even if you hate him with every fiber of your being, James Toney at least deserves your respect.

And if you feel that his pre-fight verbal jousting is the chief reason he doesn’t deserve your respect, all I have to say is: welcome to the fight game. People get emotional leading up to a fight all the time. There are simply far too many examples to list of MMA fighters running their mouths for months leading up to a fight, whether to sell a fight or because they legitimately hate their opponent. And you know what? I don’t think James Toney ever legitimately hated Randy Couture. Again, this goes back to MMA fans’ inexperience or ignorance regarding James Toney. Toney has always played the bad guy. Toney has always been willing to run his mouth and spit ridiculous amounts of venom just to sell a fight. And he really, really sold this fight.

And honestly, aren’t these the kinds of fights that we need to see? The UFC could use a nice little freakshow fight like this every once in a while, it’s a lot of fun. There’s a legitimate rivalry brewing between pro boxing and pro MMA, and I think any and all fights made to test which sport is best will be good for both sports. It bridges the gap, it brings in fans, it generates media interest, and everyone involved benefits from more eyes on the product and more money being spent on the product. It’s still too early to say whether or not James Toney was a solid investment, but I applaud the UFC for even trying. And above all else, I applaud James Toney for taking this chance to begin with. For better or for worse, James Toney fears nobody and will fight anybody.

But at the end of the day, Randy Couture dominated him. He did what everyone thought he would do, and James Toney had no answer for it. Randy Couture deserves all the credit in the world for so easily taking Toney out of his element. So, here it is: I was completely wrong. I’m going to sit back and eat my slice of humble pie with a smile. If you’ve got a stone to fling my way, now is your chance. Because I’m not going to turn tale and run simply because I was wrong. Because I still respect James Toney. Because I still stand by my “Facing the Inevitable” article, and for that matter, any article I’ll ever write as an aspiring MMA journalist. Because I don’t regret anything. So aim well and aim true, fans and friends.

The newest addition to Strikeforce’s lightweight division, Ryan made his promotional debut, which also marked the Xtreme Couture product’s professional mixed martial arts debut, at Strikeforce Challengers 10, nearly two weeks ago in Phoenix, Arizona.

The younger Couture submitted 6-fight veteran Lucas Stark with his patented triangle choke, inside of the first round. As an amateur, Couture went 5-1-1, with his 5 victories coming by way of submission.

It was recently announced that Ryan will be competing again for the San Jose based promotion this coming November, though no official announcements on a venue or headlining fight have been made just yet–as Strikeforce is notoriously late on match up announcements.

Couture began his competitive career much like his father, with an amateur wrestling background from high school onto college, where he placed third in the Washington state 4A Wrestling Championships. Ryan grew up in Edmonds, Washington, not too far away from his fathers old stomping grounds of Everett, Washington.

The Strikeforce lightweight traded in a degree in Mathematics he earned after graduating from Western Washington University in 2004, trained for several years on and off with his father in Las Vegas, before making the jump into mixed martial arts in 2009 on the regional circuit as an amateur. Often times during said shows, Ryan would be pushed to top-billing due to his infamous last name, but he believes that it was all that extra attention given that has allowed him to persevere through the pressures of fighting and media alike, which will only benefit him in the long run.

Ryan is a submission savvy young man, but is his future bright enough to make an immediate impact in the world of MMA, or will his efforts go largely unnoticed or unheralded? Make your opinions known below.

The main reason I’m looking forward to this fight is because both men’s styles match up so well with each other. Even though a majority of his wins have come via submission, Nate Diaz loves to strike. Marcus Davis needs no introduction as a striker; he’s competed in some awesome all-out striking wars and has displayed a resiliency that sometimes seems superhuman.

The key difference between the two is their unique punching styles. Davis was a professional boxer for seven years, and that mentality hasn’t died yet, but rather evolved. Through trial and error, the more-traditional striking of Marcus Davis has bridged the gap between boxing and MMA and given “The Irish Hand Grenade” seventeen wins in a seven-year career. Nate’s style is vastly different and far trickier than that of Davis. Like his slightly-more-famous brother Nick, Nate has adopted the “punches in bunches” style of peppering shots that are designed to do cumulative damage rather than definitively KO an opponent.

It’s true that Diaz is 2-3 in his last five fights while Davis is 3-2, but also like big-brother Nick, I think the smaller Diaz brother is finally beginning to realize his potential. Still, Davis poses a big threat to Nate, since Davis has always been a rather large Welterweight while Nate Diaz just got done with a stint at Lightweight. If the weight advantage isn’t enough, I’ll be frank and admit that Davis has more power in his punches. Remember, the reason both Nick and Nate adopted the “punches in bunches” style to begin with was because of their inability to one-hit KO their opponents. Then again, Nate Diaz has never been knocked out before, while the iron chin of Davis finally cracked against an explosive knee courtesy of former UFC fighter Ben Saunders. Davis may have more pure power, but Diaz is super-tough and has very long arms, so his peppering shots may find home so often that they’ll wear out Davis enough to diminish his fierce punching power. Or Davis could go for broke like he almost always does and become only the second man to ever legitimately (T)KO a Diaz brother.

The one area of expertise that Diaz clearly has over Davis is the ground game. The younger Diaz has become known as a submission specialist, and for his near-inescapable modified Guillotine Choke in particular. More often than not, fighters faced with the realization that Diaz is getting the better of them at the striking game attempt to take him down, only to end up getting submitted. Diaz’s style of punching is very frustrating, and I think it’s quite possible that Davis will lose his head and attempt to go for broke if Diaz begins to pick him apart, which will lead to Diaz either taking Marcus down or being taken down himself, but getting the submission either way.

But no matter what happens, this should be an excellent match. Could it steal the show against bouts like Edgar/Penn 2 or Toney/Couture? Maybe not when you consider how much hype is surrounding those two fights, but trust me, Diaz vs. Davis has “sleeper hit” written all over it. It’s a shame these two haven’t seen their time in the spotlight nearly enough as Couture, Toney, Penn, or Edgar. It may not put either man “in the mix” but sometimes you have to appreciate a fun fight just because it’s a fun fight. And this one is going to be a whole lot of fun.

But what do you think, fans and friends? What’s your opinion on Nate Diaz vs. Marcus Davis?

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?

Aside from the boxing component, most MMA experts believe Couture has a huge edge in experience and a more diverse skill set against Toney.  There is also the angle that Couture must defeat Toney to uphold the honor of MMA against the career boxer.  Penn, who addressed the Toney/Couture fight on the UFC 118 conference call, will be rooting for Toney to put on a show and believes a good fight from Toney will help MMA in general.

“I really would like to see Toney do good.  It only helps the sport. If Randy goes in there and runs over Toney in five seconds … that doesn’t do anything.  I look for what tries to build this sport, what tries to put more fans in the seat.  More fans in the seats is more money in our pockets.  I would like to see Toney go out there and do good.”

While rooting for Toney, Penn acknowledges his chances may lie in the first minutes of the fight, before Randy can leverage his wrestling skills.

“With Randy it is going to be tough, he has the Greco (Roman Wrestling), he wrestled in college so he has the shot, and if they exchange he is going to get caught in some sort of clinch.”

Toney has brought one thing with him from his boxing days that will always translate well ahead of an MMA fight – trash talk!   Toney has called Couture ‘princess’ and has vowed to knock him out.   Penn likes that part of his game but also notes, most of such talk is just classic promotion in the fight business.

“People get confused. People think all this hype and they think all these things.  You think Chael Sonnen is serious when he says all these things?  Think Toney is serious when he says this stuff?  They are hyping up the fight and doing their job.  I would like to see Toney go out there and do something.”

Regardless of the outcome, Penn is impressed that Toney has actually followed through on his pledge to test the MMA waters.

“I remember talking to him and he said … ‘BJ, I want to get involved in this stuff.’  I thought he was just running his mouth … just having a conversation and here he is, stepping in and fighting a five-time UFC champ in his first fight. The guy has some balls.”

— Can Toney survive the first round against Couture?

@john_moody

First off, beating the top fighter in the world does not instantly make you the top fighter in the world, especially considering the splintered nature of MMA’s Heavyweight division, where almost all the best Heavyweight athletes are in the UFC. Leading up to his shocking win against Fedor, Werdum had beaten Mike Kyle and Antonio Silva himself. Leading up to his shocking come-from-behind submission win over Shane Carwin, Brock Lesnar had beaten UFC Hall of Fame member and then-current UFC Heavyweight Champion Randy Couture and former UFC Heavyweight Champion and then-current UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion Frank Mir.

In short: Werdum beat a nobody and then a mid-level opponent that has only recently begun to emerge as anything more than a freak-show attraction, and then he got a great win under his belt. Brock Lesnar beat a champion who is also a legend in this sport, and then he beat another champion and the only man who ever beat him, and then he scored a fantastic come-from-behind win over someone who had just obliterated anyone that ever went up against him up to that point. Even with his remarkable win over Fedor, Fabricio Werdum simply hadn’t faced the same level of competition that Brock Lesnar had, and so I think it’s perfectly justifiable to have Lesnar as the number one Heavyweight, Werdum at two, and Fedor at number three.

I agree with Silva that it’s crazy to have a fighter with a 5-1 record being ranked as the top Heavyweight in the world. But that’s actually a compliment to Brock Lesnar. It’s a testament to his off-the-charts skills, power, and wrestling pedigree that Lesnar basically came in, conquered the UFC, and now stands atop the world as the best Heavyweight. I personally think that Cain Velasquez will prove to be Lesnar’s kryptonite, but until that time comes, Lesnar is without equal.

And to be perfectly honest, I don’t think Antonio Silva should be throwing stones while living in a house made of glass. It wasn’t long ago that “Bigfoot” was nothing more than a freakshow attraction, used by promoters to milk his impressive size and his average fighting ability. Until his recent win over Andrei Arlovski, the only real name-value opponent on Silva’s record was Fabricio Werdum, and Silva lost that fight. Antonio Silva has only just begun to be accepted as an elite-level Heavyweight fighter, rather than just a big guy with big hands. He should take a hard look at himself, and how promoters booked him in the past, before he begins criticizing the UFC and their rushing of Lesnar into the spotlight.

But what do you think, fans and friends? Do Antonio Silva’s words have merit, or is he sticking his nose into places where it doesn’t belong?

1. The fighting system is a heavily-modified version of EA Sports’ premier boxing video game franchise, Fight Night. Punches are controlled using one of the analog sticks, and there is a button modifier that will allow for kicks.

2. The career mode will take your fighter around the world, with the ultimate goal being to sign to a major, real-life promotion, such as Strikeforce or the Japan-based DREAM. Both promotions have been confirmed as official leagues of the game, with Strikeforce being called the “premier league”.

3. Since the game features different locations around the world, different rules and venues are available. For example, it’s been revealed that you can compete in a Strikeforce cage, a rounded cage, and a ring. Different rulesets will allow everything from knees to the head of a grounded opponent to soccer kicks and stomps.

4. The official Heavyweight roster is as follows: Brett Rogers, Bob Sapp, Josh Barnett, Tim Sylvia, Andreas Kraniotakes, Hidehiko Yoshida, Andrei Arlovski, Muhammed Lawal, Jeff Monson, Ken Shamrock, Kevin Randleman, Bobby Lashley, Randy Couture, Fedor Emelianenko, Alistair Overeem, and Fabricio Werdum.

5. The Light Heavyweight roster is as follows: Murilo Rua, Matt Lindland, Kevin Randleman, Dan Henderson, Alistair Overeem, Vladimir Matyushenko, Muhammed Lawal, Scott Smith, Roger Gracie, Melvin Manhoef, Ken Shamrock, Jason Miller, Bas Rutten, Randy Couture, Renato Sobral, Gegard Mousasi, and Frank Shamrock.

6. The Create-a-Fighter is being touted as very in-depth, and there is an option to have a photo of your face digitized and put onto your created character.

7. The online mode is very expansive. Standard ranked and non-ranked modes are present, as is a specialty “booker” mode where you and up to nine other people can book and then compete in an event. All ten people can commentate during each match. EA Sports will also hold live specialty events featuring top-ranked players that will compete with thousands of spectators watching.

8. EA Sports is putting a lot of time into developing the EA Sports MMA community. Players can download each other’s recent fights, view highlights and replays, and even download each other’s created fighters.

9. EA Sports MMA is scheduled for an October 19 release on the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 video game consoles.

That’s all the big news so far, fans and friends. As a self-professed hardcore gamer, I felt pretty hesitant about spending my money on this game when it was first revealed. After closely following the various update videos, press releases, interviews, and things of that nature, and especially after the colossal letdown that was UFC Undisputed 2010, more and more I find myself thinking that EA MMA is a can’t-miss title. The various modes and features seem to provide, on paper, a source of near-infinite replayability. If it catches on and the community grows strong, there’s a very real possibility that you’ll never have the same fight twice.

I admit that I was a little let down that the Light Heavyweight roster consists of so many cross-division fighters: Randy Couture is already in at Heavyweight, for example, as is Alistair Overeem, Muhammed Lawal, Ken Shamrock, etc. It’s also apparent that the non-Heavyweight Light Heavyweights will wind up in other divisions as well: I’m almost positive that we’ll see Jason Miller, Scott Smith, and Dan Henderson all revealed as part of the game’s Middleweight roster.

Despite all that, my anticipation for this game remains relatively high. We may have a crown-stealer on our hands, fans and friends. But what do you think? How excited are you for EA Sports MMA?

The former light heavyweight and heavyweight champion, who made his way from straight to dvd-film to silver screen, has it hit big with Sylvester Stallone’s “The Expendables”, which opened this past weekend.

MMAJunkie.com had reported that the film has earned the weekends high-mark of $35 million at the box office, topping fellow weekend release “Eat Pray Love” with Julia Roberts, which earned $23 million, and the top comedy in the country “The Other Guys”, which stars Will Ferrel alongside Mark Whalberg.

While the former 5-time champion has a fight looming ahead with boxing champion turned UFC newcomer James Toney at the end of the month, I’m sure the proud father of fellow MMA fighter Ryan Couture, will be enjoying the fruits of his labor.

The film, “The Expendables”, features a who’s who of action stars of our generation, including the aforementioned Stallone, Couture, as well as cameos with Bruce Willis and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and stars Jet Li, Jason Stathem, Dolph Lundgren, Steve Austin, Terry Crews and the infamous Mickey Rourke.

Good for you Captain America. Good for you.

To start off, Ryan Couture was incredibly humble leading into this fight. That’s hard for any fighter to do, period, and Ryan is the spawn of one of the best Mixed Martial Artists ever. He was more than ready to admit that he more than likely didn’t deserve to have his professional MMA debut televised, especially in what ended up being one of the last fights on the “Challengers 10” card. The Strikeforce announcers joked during the fight that Ryan Couture sounds almost exactly like his father, but if I were Randy Couture, I’d be pretty happy and damn proud that my son has my exact sense of respect for the business, moreso than my exact voice. Ryan will be the first to admit that he’s got a long way to go, and as long as he keeps that sense of humility, his natural talent and inner drive won’t fail him.

Even though Ryan Couture faced an opponent that was also making his professional MMA debut, and thus his quick win lost a bit of its luster, it was easy to see that Ryan Couture’s potential and expertise far outweighed that of his opponent, Lucas Stark. I admit that I had a bad feeling when I saw Ryan Couture get thrown to the mat, but a few seconds later, I realized that Ryan Couture allowed Stark to get him in a Fireman’s Carry. Ryan’s transition to a Triangle Choke was so smooth that I barely had time to register what was happening before Stark was tapping.

And that’s just plain scary. Ryan Couture already has one of the best mentors you could ever possibly have when it comes to wrestling and dirty-boxing, but he knows submissions too? How crazy does that sound? Even Randy Couture seemed to admit in a post-fight interview that Ryan just might have better submission skills than dear old dad.

So what’s next for Couture? Hopefully more of the same. Even though I think Ryan Couture has amazing potential, he shouldn’t step into the shark tank until he gets a solid win streak under him. I’m not saying Couture should be coddled or spoon-fed opponents, but I don’t think he’s ready to be on a major Strikeforce show, competing with legitimate MMA names. I think Ryan’s best path leads through a few more Challengers shows, and if that ends up paying off, then we’ve officially found ourselves one of the brightest Lightweight prospects in years.

But what do you think, fans and friends? How impressed were you by Ryan Couture, and where do you think he’ll go in his MMA career?

**Chael Sonnen generated a ton of PPV buys whatever the final numbers turn out to be.  Let’s not mince words.  If not for all his creative trash talk, UFC 117 would have been far less successful from a financial standpoint.  I was a little surprised at Dana White’s neutral response to Sonnen’s style of promotion when asked by a reporter about how Sonnen sold the fight.  I believe Sonnen was a goldmine for drumming up interest in a fight between a non-English speaking champion coming off two horrible cage outings who did little promotion, and a virtual no-name challenger to the general public.  Sonnen’s bravado and one-liners did wonders for driving business.  White should be thrilled when he gets that much high-value PR from a fighter, since many do the bare minimum and in a very generic fashion. I don’t think Sonnen is getting any back end PPV points like Liddell or Couture, but he sure does deserve it!

**Dana White may not be the biggest Jon Fitch fan.  After saying Fitch would get a title shot if he won, White backed off that claim after his victory. No way does Dana White want Fitch to be the UFC welterweight champion of the world.  White is in a quandary.  Fitch has earned a shot, and has the ability to ground and pound his way to the title belt.  But, who in the world gets excited watching Jon Fitch wrestle his way around the Octagon.  Effective – yes, entertaining – no.  What does Dana do?  Fitch is a warrior and is due respect for his results.  Does White boldly deny Fitch and place entertainment value above what is right and just based on results.  Does Fitch dig in and demand a title shot?   I think Dana has to realize he can’t manipulate everything, and like a tennis tournament that has two no-names in the final, White should honor Fitch’s results and let him go for the title and let the rest play out as it will.

**As rounds three, four, and five began in the Silva/Sonnen fight, I said to my buddy, ‘the first 30 seconds of the round will look exactly like what we will see in Couture v. Toney at UFC 118.’  Sonnen had established his utter dominance on the ground and desperation had creeped in on Silva’s part.  Silva had to get a K.O. in the first thirty seconds of each round before Sonnen took him down or he would lose the fight (ok that did not play out).  Those first thirty seconds are an exact diagram of what Randy Couture will be faced with against Toney.  Toney must, MUST, execute crippling blows standing, before Randy times the take-down and ends the fight.  The difference will be, Couture will only need one take down and ground and pound session to the end the fight.  So, Toney has one 30-45 second stretch at the start of the first round to generate a K.O. – he won’t survive multiple rounds of ground torture as did Silva.

**As it appeared, UFC 117 had major attendance from the sports media at large.  However, one major outlet was missing during the UFC’s first trip the San Francisco area, The San Francisco Chronicle.  The largest bay area paper declined to cover the event (only ran an AP article).  It appears they are not fans of MMA and refused to send a reporter.  Three or four years ago, this would not have been surprising.  But, with ESPN now on-board, these old school hold-outs are becoming few.  With a thrilling event in Oakland, CA Saturday night, I can‘t imagine the next time the UFC heads to Nor-Cal, that the Chronicle will let its rivals own the story.  Business always wins in the end per these moral-editorial newsroom arguments.

Agree with my points regarding UFC 117?  Am I way off base … chime in!

Follow @john_moody

While hot topics such as football, Mel Gibson crazy rantings, where you can find the best looking women, “Iron” Mike was able to squeeze in some praise for the MMA community, including James Toney inception into the UFC against legend Randy Couture, and the beast that is Brock Lesnar.

“My favorite guy has got to be Fedor (Emelianenko)”, said Tyson while sitting down with the Gridlock crew.

When asked in regards to the current UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar, Tyson had much praise for the former WWE superstar turned mixed martial artist, in regards to his last fight with previously undefeated heavyweight sensation, Shane Carwin.

“Brock Lesnar is very exciting. Very exciting fighter”, said the former boxing champion.

“You have to account now, that he has a great sense of fortitude, from what happen in his last fight (with Shane Carwin), so you can never count him out now. Because now you know, his pain threshold is off the roof now. He’s big, he’s powerful, fast, and he can handle pain as well as he can dish it. So it’s going to be tough to beat him.”

When asked in regards to his former colleague in Jame Toney, if he can make an immediate impact in the sport, let alone have a chance against UFC hall of famer Randy Couture, Tyson had this to say.

“I don’t know. I’ve never seen James Toney fight in MMA.”

When told it would be his first fight ever in MMA, Tyson was not so optimistic, at first.

“Oh man. It could be detrimental to him. But then again, I’ve seen Randy (Couture) get knocked out by boxers like Chuck Liddell. (Chuck Liddell) is a boxer-fighter, (he) base’s his fights on punches”.

Mike acknowledges that Toney has a puncher’s chance, but only a puncher’s chance, much like what is the universal opinion on the matchup.

While his wild escapades and long hard journey have now found Tyson living out of Las Vegas, it’s nice to know that a now more grounded Tyson can still enjoy combat sports on some level, even if we may never see him lace up the gloves every again.

One of my biggest reasons for this drastic change in opinion is the simple fact that Randy Couture hasn’t looked all that great in his recent return to the Octagon. Couture will always be one of the most talented men to have ever stepped inside of the Octagon, and you’ll never see me try to argue that. But the ageless wonder is beginning to show his age. Couture is 2-2 in his most recent stint inside the UFC, and even his two wins honestly didn’t impress me. In the Brandon Vera fight, he edged out a really close (but Unanimous) decision win that I know for a fact many fans disagreed with. In the Mark Coleman fight, Coleman showed up demoralized and a ghost of his former self. I truly believe that Coleman had lost that fight before he ever stepped inside the Octagon. In fact, I would be willing to bet anything that if anyone else in the world with even one-fourth of Couture’s talent had taken Couture’s place against the Mark Coleman that showed up at UFC 109, that person would have beaten Coleman just as decisively.

Also, let’s not forget that six of his ten career losses have come from the hands of his opponents: FIVE (T)KO’s and one submission due to strikes. Couture has been on the receiving end of several highlight-reel knockouts, and in three of his last four fights, all of his opponents came close to stopping him (only current UFC Heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar proved able to). With that fact firmly in your head, take the following into consideration: James Toney has been boxing professionally for over twenty years! And in those twenty years, he’s lost only six times. No matter how crazy you think he sounds in his interviews or how doomed to failure you think he may be, the man has an astonishing forty-four knockouts on his pro boxing resume. Most people admit that Toney has a “puncher’s chance”, when what they really mean is that Toney only has a shot at winning this fight is if he gets extremely lucky. Newsflash, people: it’s only going to take one punch. If Toney lands decently even once, he’ll do more than daze Couture. He’ll knock him clean out.

Plus Couture has never had pure knockout power, and if his recent fights are any indicator, his punching power is actually starting to go down. Add to all that the fact that Toney has never been (T)KO’d once. Not a single time. In over twenty tears. Couture will always have his dominant wrestling to fall back on, but consider this fact as well: this is going to be a Heavyweight fight, and Couture has always been a small Heavyweight. Toney will more than likely show up to this fight heavier than Couture, meaning that Couture will have to work hard and consistently work hard to score his takedowns. If Toney can make Couture work for every single takedown, that opens Couture up for more and more counter-punches. And that’s the beauty of this fight: Toney has fifteen minutes to land only one punch.

Some people think that the odds of Toney winning are ludicrous. I think the odds of Toney not landing one good punch in the span of fifteen minutes are ludicrous. It’ll send shockwaves up and down the MMA landscape, but 2010 has been the year of the epic upset. And Randy Couture is getting knocked out.

But that’s all my opinion, fans and friends. How do you see this fight going down?

I found myself having an intense love/hate relationship with UFC 2010: when the game works, it’s a wonderful recreation of an actual MMA fight. When it doesn’t work, the game is an infuriating, controller-breaking mess. If done correctly, EA Sports MMA has a good chance of toppling THQ from the MMA video game throne. Looking forward, here are a few key factors I think will influence EA Sports MMA’s chances of success.

The first and all-important factor is the gameplay. The game needs to be equal parts fun and challenging: “easy to learn, difficult to master” comes to mind. There have been a few details revealed about how the game plays, but I’ll reserve judgment until I have the disc in my Xbox and a controller in my hands. But I’ll say this: EA MMA should try its absolute hardest to do away with the cheap gameplay mechanics that makes UFC 2010 such a chore to play.

If a fighter does nothing but spam takedowns, that fighter should have his stamina depleted if those takedowns are consistently blocked. I’ve lost count of how many times I would block a large number of takedowns from a takedown spammer in UFC 2010, only to get caught with one last takedown as I was trying to counter and end up getting KO’d or put into a submission. Speaking of counters, reversals should be incredibly difficult to pull off, and should only be available to high-level grapplers. In UFC 2010, the reversal system is so broken that nine times out of ten my online opponent will do nothing but sit in my guard and wait for me to try and break free, so he can reverse me. It makes for a boring, incredibly frustrating fight, and if EA MMA does away with it, they can count me in as a paying customer.

Speaking of online, a fluid and diverse online mode would be a fantastic way that EA MMA could pull ahead of the Undisputed franchise. Upon its release, the online in UFC 2010 was downright broken. Even with a number of patches since its release, I’ve still encountered game-breaking amounts of lag in several online fights. Not only that, but the Undisputed online mode is relatively weak. Fight camps were a good idea, but vastly under-utilized. If EA MMA can provide a robust and completely lag-free online mode, I think they could easily pull ahead of UFC 2010.

I think a good story/career mode would be the final piece of the puzzle that would make EA MMA better than UFC 2010. I want to actually care about my Create-a-Fighter, I need much more back-story than just an up-and-coming rookie trying to make his way to the top. Give me the ability to fully interact with my trainers and partners, give me fully interactive cutscenes, interviews, and weigh-ins, give me an honest-to-goodness story mode with branching paths. I need more of a reason to give a crap about my fighter other than the fact that it’s cool to see something I created go toe-to-toe with an actual MMA star. If EA MMA can deliver a career mode that’s truly worth playing, it will set a precedent that the Undisputed franchise would have a hard time trying to top.

So what do you think, fans and friends? Is EA MMA destined to steal the crown, or will UFC Undisputed continue to dominate? And what are some things not listed here that you think EA Sports MMA will have to do to hold your attention and get your money?