The MMA News Report 07.18.07
Posted by Morgan Marx on 07.18.2007
Updates on Chuck Liddell, Keith Jardine, Shogun Rua, and Forrest Griffin. Also, why didn’t Royce Gracie file an appeal, why doesn’t Chris Leben want to fight, and who will win my mid-year picks. All that and more inside.
INTRODUCTION
So I promise not to talk about Wanderlei Silva, except for a teeny bit in the reader's question. And a brief mention in a Chuck Liddell update. But I swear no long drawn out analysis of how badly managed this whole issue has been since day 1. And to think, were it not for Quinton Jackson this fight would have happened in 2003, sparing us all the back and forth.
In other news, we've got some various fight updates, both in the UFC and Bodog Fight. Royce Gracie makes a peculiar choice involving his steroid suspension. And I add my own thoughts on a variety of mid-year awards. Thanks for taking the time to read.
MAILBAG/RANT TIME
Eddie Maldonado wrote in about my comments on the relationship between fans and violence in MMA. Says Eddie:
I just wanted to say that even though I very much appreciate the skill that Sherk showed Saturday, it was boring as all hell. I mean really, it was brutal. Sherk will always be an undercard or dual main eventer while he has the title. Knockouts are what the people (present company included) want to see. I would rather watch a 2 minute fight with a brutal knockout, than a 25 minute (sweet god that was long) wrestling match. I think the UFC is going to have to look at the fighters willing to go toe to toe as the PPV draws. I don't watch the UFC for skill and style. I want my violence, and I would have to say that I am in the vast majority.
I appreciate Eddie's comments and the way they were sent in. Our columns at 411Mania are pretty much an open discourse between the readers (that would be you) and the writers (allegedly me).
For all of you who complain about Nate Marquardt or Matt Lindland being bounced from the UFC due to their styles, this is the reason why folks. While I might disagree with Eddie's comments, I'm sure he does in fact represent many UFC fans. Until the UFC does a better job highlighting the skills of ground fighters and staying away from things like "Ultimate Knockout Retrospectives," matches fought primarily on the ground will be met with boos.
However, I think the dynamic is already shifting. While many were dissatisfied with Sherk's recent outing, fights like Griffin v. Guida were certainly cheered even though most of the action took place on the mat and no KOs were to be found. As more and more fans become acclimated to the sport, more and more fans will be able to tell the difference between "good" groundwork, and boring lay and pray.
For this week's reader's question, I just want to test something for my own curiosity. We've all read about the back and forth between Wanderlei Silva, Chuck Liddell, and Dana White. I'm wondering how badly UFC fans want to see this fight. Is your anticipation tempered because of Silva's recent struggles? Or as a UFC fan are you not as familiar with his work. Anyway, if you have any thoughts, drop me an email. I can usually promise a fast response.
The Reader's Question: How excited are you for a possible Chuck Liddell v. Wanderlei Silva New Year's Eve match? And, are you primarily a UFC fan, or are you a Pride fan as well?
NEWS
Liddell to Return Against Jardine
With the Chuck Liddell v. Wanderlei Silva soap opera still unresolved, the UFC has been forced to look elsewhere for Liddell's return opponent. According to Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports, Keith Jardine is the man slated to next test Chuck's chin. Both fighters are coming off surprising losses, Jardine to newcomer Houston Alexander, Liddell to current UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton Jackson. A win for Liddell would likely lead to a match versus Silva (assuming papers ever get signed) and an eventual shot at his former belt. It would be an understatement to call a win for Jardine "career-making."
Some have complained that Jardine is not a main-event caliber opponent for Liddell. Dana White refuted those claims:
It is definitely a main event, in my opinion. Jardine beat a lot of good guys, and he absolutely deserves to be fighting Chuck. He wouldn't if Chuck still had the title, but I don't think he needs to win a lot of fights just to get a fight with Chuck.
I have to agree with White. While the loss to Alexander was devastating, Jardine is still a talented competitor. Perhaps being the favorite knocked Jardine out of his training regimen. Jardine is a heavy underdog pitted against Liddell and should have all the motivation in the world to train seriously for the fight.
Update: According to MMAweekly.com, Jardine has also confirmed the fight with Liddell.
In comments made to the blog UFCJunkie, former The Ultimate Fighter competitor Mike Swick stated that fellow cast mate Chris Leben has pulled out of their fight scheduled for UFC Fight Night 11 this September. The two were expected to square off in what is essentially a rematch. Leben holds a TKO victory over Swick from 2004. Leben repeatedly referenced the win during his stint on the reality show.
Both Swick and Leben were considered potential title challengers, but both fighters are coming off momentum-killing losses. Swick dropped a decision to Yushin Okami and since then has stated his desire to drop to welterweight. Leben suffered a dominant loss at the hands, feet, and knees of current middleweight champ Anderson Silva, but was truly derailed by back-to-back losses against less-heralded opponents Jason MacDonald and Kalib Starnes.
Says Swick:
What it comes down to is that [Leben's] got a win over me, and he's been blabbing about it since the show. (At UFC Fight Night 11), I would get to take that away from him. I don't think he wants to gamble. It's a cheap move. And he can't give me the respect to let me avenge that loss? All that talk he talks, and this is how it goes? I think he lost that warrior spirit.
It is assumed that Fight Night 11 will now be headlined by the lightweight contender fight between Din Thomas and Spencer Fisher. A replacement for Leben has not been announced.
Having tested positive for a banned anabolic steroid following his June 2 victory over Kazushi Sakuraba, MMA legend Royce Gracie had until July 13 to issue an appeal of the findings. Instead, Gracie has decided to forego the process, pay his fine, and serve his suspension. Gracie will be forced to stay out of action until May 30, 2008. Says Gracie:
Well, I fight once a year anyway and it's much cheaper to pay $2,500 in fine than $10,000 retainer to attorneys alone. As for my fans, those who believe me, believe me anyway, and those who don't, does not matter what I do, or what I say, they will not believe anyway.
You can make your own inferences from Gracie's claims. I don't see how an honorable fighter, especially one as well off as Royce Gracie, would ever allow his reputation to be tarnished by a false positive test rather than spend $7500. The June 2 "Dynamite!! USA" card marked the first time in his MMA career that Gracie was tested for performance enhancing drugs.
Rua v. Griffin? Though it had been speculated that Shogun Rua would make his UFC debut against Lyoto Machida, Tagg Radio online has reported that Forrest Griffin will be Rua's first opponent. The highly lauded Rua, who holds a victory over current champ Quinton Jackson, is seen as an instant light heavyweight title contender. While Rua will be Griffin's toughest opponent to date, the fight will not be a gimmie for Rua. Griffin is hugely popular in the eyes of UFC fans and is accustomed to fighting in front of American audiences and in the cage. It was rumored that Griffin requested to be Rua's opponent. The fight is expected to take place at UFC 76 this September. Sources:Five Ounces of Pain
Nate Diaz Returns Against AssuncaoThe Ultimate Fighter 5 default winner Nate Diaz will make his octagon return at Fight Night Live 11 against Brazilian jiu jitsu ace Junior Assuncao. Assuncao, who holds a UFC record of 1-1, will look to make a name for himself in the crowded lightweight division by upsetting the TUF TV champ. Diaz, who was declared victor in the live finale only after Manny Gamburyan was injured, will be out to prove that he deserves the title. Sources:UFCJunkie
The Law Back at 185, Will Challenge For Title Matt Lindland, widely considered a top 5 (even a top 3) middleweight contender, has returned to his natural weight class. After sojourns up to take on opponents like UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton Jackson and Pride heavyweight champion Emelianenko Fedor, Lindland has stated his desire to challenge new Bodog middleweight champion Trevor Prangley. Prangley captured the Bodog title by recently defeating Yuki Kondo. Lindland will bring credibility to both the organization and the title, win or lose. Sources:MMA Weekly
COMMENTARY
After a breakneck Spring/Summer, MMA fans finally have a moment to catch their breath and assess 2007 as a whole. This time of July is generally considered a void in the sports landscape. Football is still 60 days away, baseball is at its midseason break, and David Beckham won't take the pitch until Saturday. So we columnists and sports networks come up with all sorts of contrived gimmicks to fill the time (did someone say ESPY's?). You may have noticed the UFC homepage recently ran a string of mid-year awards with categories like "Best KO," and "Biggest Upset." How could I not plagiarize. I mean, craft an homage.
In a similar vein, I'm going to pass out some awards of my own. I'll stay away from the big categories, since the UFC did a good job covering all the bases. So, without further adieu, here are my mid-year picks for 2007.
Most to Gain in 2007: Quinton "Rampage" Jackson. With both history and a unique skill set on his side, Rampage entered his fight with UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell as a genuine threat. Still, people predicting a 1st round KO were typically picking The Iceman. With the UFC and MMA as a whole exploding on the national stage, Quinton Jackson picked the perfect time to land the upset. While other fighters have surprisingly captured titles this year, no one can match Rampage when it comes to personality. A win over the tough Dan Henderson would cement Rampage as the face of the UFC. If he enters 2008 with multiple belts, Rampage could end up the biggest star the sport has created to date.
Most to Lose in 2007: Tim Sylvia. What a difference a year makes. Last July, Tim Sylvia staked claim to the heavyweight title by winning a lackluster decision over former champ Andrei Arlovski. In a division bereft of challengers, Sylvia looked like a lock to reign for a long time. However, another boring decision victory and a shocking loss to UFC legend Randy Couture finds Sylvia facing the long road back to the title. On top of that, a back injury and a string of big name signings means Sylvia might not even be a top 5 fighter right now. To once again be considered a top challenger, Sylvia not only has to win his return match late this year, he must do so in dominant fashion. Though he has only 3 losses to his name, another would be devastating.
Overacheiver of the Year: Manny Gamburyan. At the beginning of TUF 5, everybody had a favorite to win. Some liked Joe Lauzon's experience, others Grey Maynard's wrestling. It's a safe bet no one had Manny Gamburyan penciled into the finals. Though the smallest fighter in the tournament, Gamburyan outworked the competition, scoring victories over his more lauded peers. When it came time for the finals Manny was arguably the favorite, picked to beat Nat Diaz with his suffocating ground game. While an in fight injury derailed his TUF dreams, Gamburyan will fight in the UFC again. No one did more with less, not even Matt Serra.
Best Upcoming Card: UFC 75. With the influx of talent following the UFC's purchase of Pride, fight cards are becoming more and more loaded with talent. Take, for instance, UFC 75. Originating from London, the show will be broadcast on a tape-delayed basis for free on Spike TV. Instead of getting a watered-down card, fans will witness 2 of the top 5 light heavyweights battle in the UFC's first unification bout (Jackson v. Henderson). We'll also see a top 3 heavyweight attempt to regain momentum lost (Cro Cop). Toss in fights featuring a UFC goldenboy (Michael Bisping), a former TUF standout (Matt Hamill) and an exciting newcomer (Houston Alexander), and fans will have their plates full.
Biggest Lesson Learned: Georges St-Pierre. The axiom holds that you learn more in defeat than victory. If so, GSP has learned two huge lessons from his only professional losses. Following a submission loss to Matt Hughes, Rush learned never to doubt his own abilities in the cage. Having looked up to Hughes, GSP didn't think he belonged in the same arena as his former idol. He conquered that demon by truly outclassing the most dominant welterweight in UFC history, but GSP paid a much bigger price at the fists of Matt Serra. What did St-Pierre learn? That as the champ, everyone is gunning for you and no fighter can be overlooked. Serra entered their bout as arguably the largest underdog in UFC history and walked away with the gold. If GSP takes the lesson to heart and rededicates himself to regaining and keeping the title, it could be a long time before he loses again.
Camp with the Most to Prove: MFS. Many might be tempted to place Greg Jackson's camp in this position. However, Jackson still has upside on his, err, side. Miletich Fighting Systems is going through a rough patch now. The camp once boasted multiple UFC champions among its fighters. Now, other than Matt Hughes, MFS has lost some of the luster. Tim Sylvia is down on the pecking order at heavyweight and sometime MFS training partner Rich Franklin won't be expected to defeat Anderson Silva in his rematch. Matt Hughes will likely regain the title against Matt Serra, but he's nearing the end of his illustrious career. MFS doesn't boast the same number of up and coming fighters as camps like ATT, AKA, and yes, Greg Jackson's. The peak of MFS' influence might be passed.
Biggest Chance to Shine: Keith Jardine. Usually, getting decimated by an unheralded 35-year-old newcomer is not the way to take a step up the ladder. However, instead of getting knocked back onto the scrap heap, Keith Jardine might just have a reprieve. Since the Chuck Liddell v. Wanderlei Silva fight may never actually happen, the UFC needs someone to take on Chuck in his return fight. What better way to make people forget about a brutal KO by beating the face of the franchise? If Jardine can upset a suddenly vulnerable Liddell it would immediately place him back among the title competitors.
Former Champion Most Likely to Regain their Title (Other Than Matt Hughes): Tim Sylvia. The easy answer would be Georges St-Pierre. While he would have to defeat at least 2 top quality opponents, GSP will probably be a welterweight titleholder against fairly soon. However, I'm going to step out of a limb a pick Tim Sylvia. Yes, he looked bad in his last defeat. Yes, the UFC's heavyweight division has become markedly better in his absence. But the former champ is still in his prime at 31 and is still 23-3 for his career. Injuries probably did hinder Sylvia in his match with Couture, a match he would be expected to win 9 times out of 10. With his size and ever-growing arsenal of weapons, there isn't a heavyweight challenger Sylvia can't beat. If he focuses on regaining the killer instinct that made him a fan favorite, Sylvia can regain the gold he covets.
5 Potential Fights I'd Like to See:
1) Shogun Rua v. Chuck Liddell – A number 1 contender spot might be in the balance when these two meet
2) Randy Couture v. Emelianenko Fedor – On his night, Randy can beat anyone in the sport. But can anyone beat Fedor?
3) Anderson Silva v. Dan Henderson - The big money match-ups might be at light heavyweight, but the most interesting is at middleweight. Henderson might be the only UFC fighter capable of taking the belt from Silva.
4) Josh Koscheck v. Brock Larson - Two powerhouse wrestlers who explode through opponents. If Larson ever gets the UFC call up, could be interesting.
5) Shinya Aoki v. BJ Penn - Imagine the flailing limbs! Imagine the submission combinations! Imagine the Day-Glo pants!
So that's it for my totally made up mid-year awards. Disagree with my picks? Have some of your own? Email away!
CONCLUSION
I hope you enjoyed this week's edition of the column. I like testing out new features for weeks when we don't have a fight card to preview, review, or any other kind of view. We'll be back next week with more news, thoughts on the upcoming WEC card, and whatever else I find interesting. Take care.
