UFC Insiders Edge 04.19.06: Random Thoughts

Posted by Billy Theriault on 04.19.2006

News on UFC 60, Tito Ortiz, Rampage, Ultimate Fighter Season 4, and much more!

Good morning. This weekend was the most solid show the UFC has had in a year and I am still shocked at what transpired in the main event. This is the first time I have done the random thoughts feature and I hope that you guys enjoy. Feel free to send me any of your questions.


UFC 60

I know a lot of people are complaining because they don't think that the fight between Matt Hughes and Royce Gracie will be competitive but let me be the first to tell you otherwise. Matt Hughes is the best welterweight in the world but this is a bad matchup for him. Hughes has not faired well the last few years against Jiu-Jitsu wizards BJ Penn and Renato "Charruto" Verrisimo and Gracie will provide him with the same frustrations. Although Gracie is from the old school, he has still fought every year for the last couple of years and put on a couple of impressive performances against Yoshida and sumo star Akebono. He will go in with a definite reach advantage and will keep Hughes working on the ground. I expect Hughes to win the fight but I see this being a five round chess match where we see two fighters leave it all in the octagon. If your not excited about this fight then you better get excited because UFC 60 is going to blow your socks off.


The rest of the card is shaping up like this:

Jeremy Horn vs. Evan Tanner - This is huge. Winner will probably fight Marquardt for number one contenders spot. I love this fight.

Brandon Vera vs. Assuerio Silva - Winner of this is probably one or two wins away from fighting for the title.

Joe Riggs vs. Mike Swick - This is going to be fireworks. Should be the fight of the night. Winner of this fight should get a crack at Rich Franklin when he gets healthy.

Alessio Sakara vs. Dean Lister - Lister is one of the best grapplers in the world while Sakara receives a ton of praise on the underground. This should be entertaining but may be a snooze fest if Lister lays and prays. This fight will boost one of these guys on to the main card.

Melvin Guillard vs. Rick Smith - Guillard needs a win in the worst way here. Smith makes his debut.

Spencer Fisher vs. Jason Chambers - Fisher is the real deal and Chambers makes his debut. Fisher fights are usually pretty entertaining.


This looks to be pretty good but I think they need to add a couple more big names. Adding a Stephan Bonnar or Diego Sanchez fight would do a lot for the show. I think the fights will all be pretty good but the names just aren't there yet. I hope the UFC is not banking on just Gracie/Hughes because they are coming up just short on star power with the current under card.


Chuck Liddell
The Iceman is at the top of the game but really what is left for him in the UFC? He has rematches against Babalu and Tito scheduled for the next 6-12 months but after that the UFC doesn't have much to offer. Possible Forrest Griffin or Stephan Bonnar matches are intriguing but if Griffin stood in front of Liddell like he did Ortiz then it will be lights out. I think the best thing for him may end up being a loss to Ortiz as it will set up a third super fight which would sell huge. I personally believe that Dana White is banking on Chuck/Tito II for the super bowl show this year that would easily be the biggest show they have ever had. I don't know how much of a threat Tito really poses to Chuck but the electricity between those two the first time could easily be recreated.


Rampage
Now it looks like he is going to spurn both the UFC and Pride by taking a contract with the upstart WFA. Originally this was going to be Tito Ortiz in his position but Tito opted to take his new contract with the UFC instead. Rampage should really think about what he is doing because this may spell career suicide. Rampage could go to the UFC and reinvent himself, as they are an organization dying for a prominent African American star. I think his actual in ring performance would improve greatly because the legalized elbows and cage fit right in to his street fighting style. Fights with Forrest Griffin and Chuck Liddell would be fight of the year candidates.


Andrei Arlovski
After re-watching the Sylvia KO against Arlovski it is obvious that this is just a small setback for Andrei. Arlovski dominated Sylvia in the stand up and unfortunately fell victim to a flash knockout. In the rematch we will see a much more focused and determined Arlovski, which will mean a quick night for Sylvia. I think Arlovski got caught up in the pre fight banter and really wanted to pound Sylvia out this time as the leglock was there once again and he passed it up to try and pound out the giant. I actually feel bad for Tim because he gets one last taste of the belt. Somebody better warn him that later this year the clock is going to strike midnight.


Tito Ortiz
Looks like he is going to be out for a minimum of three months. Bad news for the Huntington Beach Bad Boy as I think if healthy, he will finish Ken Shamrock within the first round. Although he was clearly hobbled the entire second and third round; he showed the best stand up of his entire career. I was very impressed by the way he was actually counter punching instead of covering up ala Chuck Liddell and hoping for the best. Ortiz is clearly in his prime but the injury bug bites again.


Vitor Belfort
Last week he competed in a pro boxing match and scored three knockdowns in the first round. I still have hope that he one day gets his MMA career straight so we can see high profile rematches against Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell. I think the Vitor we saw against Tito could go toe to toe with anyone in the world. Tito fought an excellent fight that night and nine out of ten guys would have been knocked out by Vitors second round barrage.


Nick Diaz
What has this guy ever really done? He had a nice submission win against Jeremy Jackson then KO'ed Mr. Overrated Robbie Lawler before being exposed by Karo Parisyan, Diego Sanchez, Sean Sherk, and to a lesser extent Joe Riggs. I think he needs to get himself together and mature in to the fighter he could become. Diaz is still only twenty-two so there is time to hit the WEC's and Rumble on The Rock's.


Ultimate Fighter Season 4
The big news is that the fourth season is going to feature previous fighters from the UFC who have found their way out of the mix and are trying to get back in. Rumor has it Frank Trigg, Mikey Burnett, and Matt Lindland are some of the names that will be involved. I really like this format because the fights we see will be top notch. Somebody get Scott Ferrozo on the phone for this season...


Herb Dean
Why is he being blasted for stopping the Arlovski fight? Arlovski clearly was not defending himself and it would have gotten much uglier. Herb Dean proved himself to me when he caught Sylvia's arm breaking against Mir and has continued to do a good job since. Where was Big John McCarthy though?


Renato "Babalu" Sobral
Where does he go now that Marvin Eastman has been upset? I would like to see a young up and comer such as Jason Lambert get a shot at him but I think the UFC is going to play it safe and bring in a retread such Elvis Sinosic. I think Babalu needs a strong challenge before he goes on to face Liddell.


Frank Mir
He has said in recent interviews that he will be fighting on either the June or July card. I think an immediate rematch with Marcio Cruz makes sense. A win here will erase doubts that he is injured but a loss could be possibly career ending. I think that Mir would of pulled that bout out had he not been cut but the only way to settle this is through a rematch. Hopefully if Mir is not able to continue a career as a fighter then he can hit the broadcast booth. His broadcasting skills are by far the best of any fighter. The play by play he did for Arlovski/Sylvia I was fantastic.


ODDS FOR THE WEEK

I will be back later in the week with some predictions but take a look and see if there is anything you like.

Mixed Martial Arts - April 21

RUMBLE ON THE ROCK - "WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS"

JAKE SHIELDS

VS.

YUSHIN OKAMI

-260

+220


FRANK TRIGG

VS.

CARLOS CONDIT

-375

+315


Mixed Martial Arts - April 22

ABSOLUTE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIPS- (AFC 16)

FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY, BOCA RATON, FL


HERMES FRANCA

VS.

NICK AGALLAR

-200

+160


DUSTIN DENES

VS.

SHIKOU YAMASHITA

-250

+200


YVES EDWARDS

VS.

RAPHAEL ASSUNCAO

-300

+240



In Closing

This is all I have today but any feedback would be welcomed and appreciated. I think the current direction of MMA is all positive. Seeing small shows pop up every week is a good thing to see. Thanks for reading!

All questions and comments can be sent to [e-mail]