The MMA News Report 07.25.07
Posted by Morgan Marx on 07.25.2007
Updates on Nick Diaz, Wanderlei Silva (again), and UFC 74. Also, which 5 fighters are facing career changing fights this fall? And I promise not to deluge you with steroid news. Just the important stuff, I swear.
INTRODUCTION
I'm only doing one news story on the steroid situation afflicting MMA. I think the episode has been covered every way imaginable by all sorts of more qualified commentators. As for my personal beliefs, I am against the use of performance enhancing drugs in all legitimate sporting events, and I don't understand those that claim it's not that big a deal.
Elsewhere, we have updates on Wanderlei Silva (again) and the next UFC PPV card. I'm also doing a mini-commentary on 5 fighters who face a crossroads this summer. I hope you all like.
MAILBAG/RANT TIME
Tons (ie, 6) of great emails this week. For starters, here's Josh Fealy on Chuck v. Wandy:
The prospect of a Chuck vs. Wandy match-up is very exciting, but not like it was when they were both titleholders. I don't want to look back in 10 years and wonder what would have happened if the both these future legends had thrown down while Chuck was still in his prime. Wandy vs. Chuck will be as interesting in a year as it is now, but never as much as it would have been 2 years ago...
Great points Josh. We are dangerously approaching the "now or never" point for this fight. No one wants to see the two square off like Gracie v. Sakuraba.
Drew Camp also has something to say about how excited MMA fans about the fight:
I am very excited about Liddell vs. Silva, but I don't know if they will make it happen as soon as new years eve. I am a true UFC fan but now-a-days UFC/Pride/WEC is all basically interchangeable so I guess I should just say I am a MMA fan period. I think/hope that Lidell vs. Silva will happen. If Dana throws enough money at both it probably will.
I think Drew raises a great point about MMA fans. Gone are the days when endless debates about "Pride versus UFC" would dominate messageboards. As the sport consolidates, the fighters themselves will answer the arguments.
Jamie Gillon chimed in with several comments, and had some great additions to my "Mid Year Awards." Here's one:
Camp with the most to prove: I would go with Chute Box. The Pride influx is going to be the biggest thing in UFC this year, and the guys from that camp are in a spot to show the merits of the most renowned organization and one of the more renowned camps outside the US. The UFC is American dominated right now, and that may or may not change SOON.
Great point Jamie. You're the man I turn to when I want interesting takes on camp related opinions. Both Chute Box and BTT could increase their exposure in the US, assuming they get their acts together. Wanderlei Silva hasn't commented on what camp he will be training with in the US.
That's a great turnout for the mailbag this week. If you think you have an interesting opinion or point to make or if you just want to see your name in the column, feel free to write in about the Reader's Question or anything else I discuss.
Reader's Question: Do you think the UFC should enforce it's own steroid policy, or would you feel more comfortable if an independent party tested fighters?
NEWS
Steroid Roundup
I'm not going into too much depth on the big story facing MMA this week. My fellow 411 writers, along with most everyone in the MMA journalism field, have covered the story in great detail. Here are a few newer items to take notice of:
1) Sean Sherk proclaims innocence. In a statement on his official site, Sherk has claimed he has never used performance-enhancing steroids. "I have never cheated, all of my success has come from hard work and dedication to my sport," said Sherk. His vociferous defense is in stark contrast to Hermes Franca's weak admission. I'm reserving judgement on the fighter until the appeals process has been completed. Nate Marquardt was victim of a false positive, so could Sherk.
2) IFL planning comprehensive testing in 2008. Kurt Otto, commissioner of the IFL, recently revealed that while the organization does not self-police steroid use presently, they would do so in 2008. Said Otto, "I'm going to be announcing the full program and how it's gonna work. It's something we're gonna be taking extremely serious. It's no fooling around. It's pretty much zero tolerance." It's a good move by the IFL. The last thing a fledgling organization needs is a scandal. The UFC would be wise to follow suit before bigger name tests positive.
3) Media Reaction. Much has been made of the online reaction to the Sherk and Franca positive tests. Most of the commentary has been negative, focusing on the problem MMA has with steroids and possible solutions to the epidemic. I think the best idea, echoed by several 411 writers, involves the UFC overhauling the system in which fighters fear being punished for pulling out of contests due to injury. Not to excuse either man, but both Stephan Bonnar and Hermes Franca claimed similar reasons for taking banned substances. Putting the focus back on the athlete's health rather than the demand for fighters to play through pain would be a great first step in rectifying the problem. Stiffer penalties for confirmed positive tests should also be in order.
This story won't go away, particularly if the UFC does not take adequate measures to prevent findings like these from occurring again.
Wanderlei on Liddell: "I will not run away from him, not now, not ever"
The sole positive about the steroid uproar is that it at least it knocked the Wanderlei Silva v. Chuck Liddell controversy off the front pages. Still, that issue won't fade away either. In an interview with Sherdog, Wanderlei didn't really clear up the situation, so much as reiterate the same sticking points as before. He's moving to the US. He doesn't know where he's going to train. A September match versus Liddell wouldn't allow enough time to prepare himself. Says Silva, "I want to fight him when I'm 100 percent ready, no excuses."
All that is well and good. If the two should meet, fans would want to see both fighters at their best. Asking Silva to acclimate to a new environment and training camp a month before the fight would shortchange fans in the long run. However, some of the comments Silva made cast doubts on whether the dream match would in fact take place. He mentioned that a contract with the UFC hasn't been signed, and that other offers exist.
While the notion that Silva, a man who has fought heavyweights on short notice, would duck anyone is probably false, this fight is far from a certain thing. And the longer it gets drawn out, the more fights the two men drop, the less excitement their meeting will eventually hold.
The card for UFC's next marquee PPV, UFC 74, has been finalized. In addition to the headlining fights (Randy Couture v. Gabriel Gonzaga for the heavyweight crown, Georges St-Pierre v. Josh Koscheck), Marcus Aurelio will make his UFC debut against Clay Guida, Roger Huerta fights for the 75th time this year, and Joe Stevenson looks to take another step to the lightweight tile against Kurt Pellegrino. Other fights feature Kendall Grove, Frank Mir, Renato Sobral, and Travis Lutter. Between the TUF stars, the former Pride fights, and the new talents the UFC keeps discovering, each PPV is filled with notable fighters and fights.
UFC 74 will air on August 25, live from Las Vegas.
Fresh off a 6 months suspension following a positive marijuana test, Nick Diaz is set to return to action in the EliteXC organization. While no opponent has been specified, Diaz is scheduled to appear at the September 15 EliteXC card taking place in Hawaii. Diaz last fought in the Pride organization, besting Takanori Gomi via gogoplata, but the match was ruled a NC due to his failed drug test.
Diaz is highly revered by hardcore MMA fans and should make a great addition to the EliteXC ranks. Unlike a David Loiseau, Diaz will enter the Showtime-backed organization still in his prime. The scheduled headliner for the show will feature Murilo "Ninja" Rua facing off against Robbie Lawler (whom Diaz famously KOd in the UFC) for the middleweight title.
This fall, several big names will be returning to the octagon looking to make statements. Some, like Tim Sylvia and Georges St-Pierre, will be looking to remind fans that they will regain once-held titles. Others, like Brandon Vera, will be looking to get back in the title hunt after long layoffs. Then, there's a drop-off to another level of fighters, men facing a crossroads in their UFC careers. Some are coming off devastating losses, others major injuries. In each case, the fighter is facing a do or die situation. A loss and they could be out of the UFC. A win might mean some glory lies ahead. Here are 5 fighters facing major turning points in their careers.
1) Diego Sanchez: After using phrases like "turning point" and "do or die" in the introduction, you might be surprised to find the 17-1 Sanchez leading things off. I am not a big fan of "The Nightmare" but I am fascinated by his psyche. There isn't another fighter in MMA who boasted the kind of confidence Sanchez held before his loss to Josh Koscheck. While there are many brash, arrogant fighters out there, most are humbled long before reaching 17 wins. At one point, Sanchez stated he was "destined" to remain undefeated for his career. He thought his win streak was a divine creation. A serious staph infection scare (including mentions of possible early retirement) had as much to do with his lackluster performance in Houston as Koscheck's tactical plan. Still, how shaken is Sanchez by that one black mark on an otherwise sparkling record?
His road to redemption won't be easy. The welterweight division is arguably the most talented group of fighters in the world at the moment. Instead of being spoon fed an easy victory, Sanchez has chosen to face off against the tough-to-swallow Jon Fitch. Fitch has won 13 in a row (6 in the UFC) and would cement his title challenger status with a victory over Sanchez. However, maybe I'm placing too much of an emphasis on the hit Sanchez took from his loss. Maybe he learned from the experience and has become a mature, more dangerous fighter. If the Sanchez of old comes out and runs through Fitch with his mix of high cardio and extreme intensity, we'll overlook his recent misfortune. But maybe Sanchez was a little overrated. His two most impressive victories came against Karo Parisyan and Nick Diaz in fights that easily could have gone the other way. Maybe, with the loss of his greatest weapon, that unwavering self-confidence, Sanchez has already hit his career peak. We'll have to see at UFC 76.
2)Renato Sobral: It's easy to forget how good Renato Sobral is. Take away four losses to some of the world's best - two to Chuck Liddell, one each to Dan Henderson and Fedor Emelianenko – and Babalu stands at 27-3 over an illustrious career. But after his UFC title losses and what could be considered an upset at the hands of Jason Lambert, Sobral's stature as a light heavyweight contender is slipping. Instead, he's falling into that gatekeeper roll; not good enough to hold a belt, but better then most other fighters. That's certainly not a position Sobral covets.
A fight at UFC 74 against the 7-1 David Heath fits that exact description. A win for Heath propels him back up the ladder and into that group just below the top 3 or 4. A loss for Sobral likely finds him heading out of the UFC, or curtain jerking against former TUF participants. A recent encounter with police at a casino in Florida does nothing to increase his popularity with UFC officials.
However, an impressive win for Sobral might extend his UFC run. He's bounced back from losses before (a 10 fight win streak following that lovely head kick shown in the various UFC promos) and can do so again. Shogun Rua has already stated he'd like to fight Sobral, and with the influx of new competitors there are new fights out there. Let's just never set him up with Liddell again. I've talked myself into that upset twice only to be disappointed.
3) Frank Mir: I am an unabashed Frank Mir supporter. I love his ground game and the artistry that comes with it. He posses great knowledge of the sport and will make a tremendous announcer, as his commentary work with both the UFC and WEC has demonstrated. The only question is how soon that career change will occur. A loss to Antoni Hardonk would herald the switch rather quickly.
We all know how talented the pre-accident Mir was. His appearances following the motorcycle wreck paint a decidedly different portrait. Gone are the swift takedowns, blows from the mount, and gorgeous submission attempts, replaced by a fighter that at best has looked out of shape, at worst totally outclassed. Mir should never have entered the cage against Brandon Vera, a fighter on a much higher level than his on that date. The entirely predictable quick KO did nothing for either man. We all know that Mir can be better than that and Vera won't have it that easy against other top 10 fighters.
A return match against Hardonk seems a better fit. While Hardonk's standup is highly praised, Justin McCully took him down with easy and was in very little danger en route to a decision victory. A motivated Mir could follow the same game plan and actually end things with strikes or a submission. But will Mir ever recover from both the physical and mental damage his accident wrought? Supposedly healed from a shoulder injury, I hope the real Mir returns. If not, at least he has post-octagon plans.
4) Evan Tanner: Well, he's younger than the reigning heavyweight champion. Fighters like Randy Couture and Chuck Liddell have shown that age can be immaterial to success. But Evan Tanner is coming off a lengthy hiatus from both the UFC and MMA. It's been over a year since the former middleweight champion defeated Justin Levens by first round submission. You can look at the break in one of two ways. It could prove to be harmful. A fighter at Tanner's age can not expect his stamina to bounce back to form after avoiding competition for so long. On the other hand, the vacation may have given Tanner a chance to revive both his body and mind. A newly focused Tanner could revert back to his championship level.
Tanner is widely considered one of the stand-up men in MMA. He has been welcomed back by the UFC with open arms. Though we don't know his opponent, Tanner's performance will answer the questions about where he stands in his career. At a new beginning, or an abrupt end.
5) Alessio Sakara: Legionarius' UFC run has been maddeningly inconsistent. A loss to submission expert Dean Lister is no shame, but when newcomer Drew McFedries dominated the former boxer in the stand-up game, eyebrows were raised. Then, just when people wrote Sakara off against Victor Valimaki, he comes back to win the fight by stoppage twice.
So where does Sakara stand now? He's being fed to Houston Alexander at UFC 75. Sakara will appeal to an international audience, while his predominately stand-up style will allow Alexander to do what he does best (throw vicious punches). I think it's safe to say that the UFC would prefer another quick Alexander victory, what with the shiny new contract extension he received. But Alexander is still relatively new and Sakara can't be overlooked. No one knows if Alexander has a ground game to go with his uppercuts, and Sakara will love to stand and bang. He's probably a better technical boxer than Alexander and still has KO power. Plus, the European setting may benefit Sakara.
Though another highlight reel KO might be expected from Alexander, Sakara needs the win more. And I wouldn't put the upset past him.
Wrap Up So that's the list. Which of these fighters do you think has the best chance at putting together another UFC win streak? Which is quickly on their way out of the organization? Let me know what you think.
CONCLUSION
It looks like the steroid issue may be the big news story of the summer, so check back next week for any more updates. Also, we'll probably do a preview for the WEC's upcoming card, to be aired on the Versus network. The fighters include Carlos Condit, Brock Larson, and the US debut of Paulo Filho. It could be the non-UFC event of the summer. Take care and keep reading.
