The MMA News Report 09.12.07
Posted by Morgan Marx on 09.12.2007
Fallout from UFC 75, thoughts on Mirko Filipovic and Michael Bisping, and updates on Diego Sanchez and Spencer Fisher. What more could you ask for in a midweek news report?
INTRODUCTION
We're back again with more news, opinion, and event coverage. This week I comment on the two big stories from UFC 75, the decline of Mirko Filipovic and the judging for the Bisping v. Hamill fight. We also have updates on Diego Sanchez, Frankie Edgar, and Jason Lambert. Finally, I take a look back at the fights from last Saturday, and note anything interesting that caught my eye. Let's get to it.
MAILBAG/RANT TIME
Two points have been running through my mind since UFC 74, so we're expanding rant time to allow my unadulterated opinions to take over. You've been warned.
1) The Problem With Pride In the wake of two more losses by former Pride superstars, another round of Pride bashing has started. However, the issues surrounding some of the UFC's new acquisitions are bigger than simple arguments about whether Pride was overrated. Due to several factors some Pride vets are struggling to make successful transitions to the UFC. However, should the UFC really care?
While each fighter has to be judged on a case by case method, we can generalize slightly about the Pride newcomers. The biggest issue (at least financially) is whether UFC fans accept and recognize the Pride fighters. The argument goes that American MMA fans aren't well versed in the exploits of Pride fighters. I'm not sure I totally buy that line of thinking. The Internet allows even casual MMA fans to search for information and fights involving Pride veterans. Also, with the satellite TV package my girlfriend and I have, the Fox Sports Pride show is on literally 4 or 5 times a day. Anytime I need background accompaniment, I can usually find Jay Glazer and Frank Trigg discussing the same Don Frye fight I've seen 12 times. I think it's just as easy for an MMA newcomer to learn about Wanderlei Silva as it is Karo Parisyan.
The ratings for UFC 75, headlined by three former Pride stars, seem to back up my assumption. UFC 75 smashed ratings records, becoming the most watched MMA event in North America. Obviously, the fact that a PPV quality show was broadcast for free on Spike TV plays a large factor in the record audience. But all the handwringing about how Dan Henderson hadn't been built up, that American audiences are unaware of Pride stars, and that the unification fight occurred too soon seems for not. Sherdog devoted two separate columns to the fact that the Jackson v. Henderson fight lacked "buzz." I'm not sure how much more attention the fight could have received, even with more advertising.
Granted, while Mirko Filipovic is a hero in Japan he may be more of a cult fighter in the US. It's astounding to read some of the reactions of hardcore MMA fans to his loss. They are literally bereft at the downfall of their striking giant. However, a newcomer to the UFC might not know why Cro Cop is so vaunted or care. In that case, Cro Cop's loss isn't devastating for the UFC matchmakers or bookkeepers. The UFC might be taking a bath on Cro Cop's contract (rumored to be around $300,000 a fight) but since the UFC underpays so many other of their other popular fighters, it's probably a wash.
Unfortunately in the case of Chiek Kongo, I'm not sure the UFC can elevate the underdog who scored a victory over Cro Cop. While Gabriel Gonzaga has the tools to trouble any heavyweight, Kongo would be demolished at the hands of Randy Couture or Big Nog (or anyone with a decent ground game). In this case, Cro Cop's loss doesn't have the added bonus of being a star-making vehicle for his opponent.
Dan Henderson's loss to Quinton Jackson is another case where the UFC shouldn't worry about the outcome. Right now the light heavyweight title is in the hands of a very charismatic fighter entering the prime of both his physical and mental abilities. Should Henderson have walked out with both the UFC and Pride titles, the UFC would be forced to build around an unheralded 37-year-old whom most UFC fans haven't heard of. I think it's safe to say that the UFC is in better hands with Rampage at the helm.
So while Cro Cop's loss is a disaster for the Croatian, it's more of a wash for the UFC. Henderson's loss is probably a gain. How about other new acquisitions and upcoming Pride debutantes?
Wanderlei Silva is being brought to the UFC for one reason. The fight with Chuck Liddell has become something of Dana White's…err…white whale. I bet the UFC will be thrilled with whichever fighter wins. Should Liddell KO Silva in dramatic fashion mainstream fans will be back on the Liddell bandwagon. If Silva should regain his former ability, the UFC can book him in a series of big fights. Count me as one of the columnists who thinks the Chute Boxe fighters are going to struggle in the UFC. Both Silva (who also has age and durability against him) and Shogun Rua might struggle with the rule changes (no soccer kicks or knees on the ground), the cage (no trapping an opponent in the corner), and other issues (cough*steroidtesting*cough).
Should Rua lose in his debut, the UFC has options. As Forrest Griffin has said, beating Rua is the shortcut to a title fight. If UFC fighters continue to upset Pride newcomers, the UFC can promote the heck out their own. And since a majority of the Pride newcomers aren't known commodities in the States, the UFC is only losing out on salary money. With the numerous upsets in the past calendar year, no one can pencil in how the various weight classes will look in late 2008. Whether the Pride newcomers all fail to have an immediate impact in the UFC or not, the organization will be fine.
However, the struggles of Filipovic, Heath Herring, and Marcus Aurelio (and to a lesser extent Henderson and Big Nog) should remind everyone why the UFC is being cautious with fighters like Fedor. Investing a huge sum of money into the Pride champion just to see him lose and lose again would not make sense. While Fedor is probably the safest bet to make a smooth transition to the cage, don't be too surprised if he drops a debut to someone like Tim Sylvia or Andrei Arlovski.
2) Michael Bisping Judging Debate By the end of the second round of the Bisping v. Hamill fight, I fully expected a wonky decision that would send messageboards into a tizzy. However, I am a little surprised that the posting populace has been so vociferous in their support of Matt Hamill. I thought the one obvious thing about the fight was that it was very difficult to call. While Hamill clearly won the first round, the latter two left more than enough doubt in my mind to lead to a split decision. I wasn't surprised that two judges felt Bisping had done enough to win, I just consider him very, very lucky. If Matt Hamill's cardio doesn't wane down the stretch, we're looking at a different outcome. Three points about the fight:
a) The biggest issue circling messageboards is whether the UFC needs to abandon the 10-point must scoring system. I'm not sure that adopting the Pride rules would put an end to controversial decisions. Anytime a close fight ends up in the hands of the judges someone will disagree (usually the loser) with the outcome. In fact, there is some grumbling that Dan Henderson won the main event, a thought I completely disagree with. Had Bisping and Hamill fought under Pride rules, I still think Bisping might have taken the split decision. Hamill slowed considerably, while Bisping definitely picked up the pace in the closing round. Since most of the damage Hamill inflicted came early in the fight, I think it's conceivable that two judges might have felt Bisping was the overall more accomplished fighter. Changing the 10-point must system doesn't solve the problems, it just would create new debates.
b) A large part of the discrepancies in judge's scores must come from the different backgrounds of the men calling the fight. It seems obvious that someone from a boxing background would score a fight differently than someone with a history in karate. Additionally, I think the expectations coming into a fight significantly change the way judges grade fighters. For instance, Hamill was seen as a powerhouse wrestler who would dominate position on the mat. When Bisping repeatedly succeeded at getting the fight back standing, I think that scored him more points than the initial takedown did for Hamill. Hamill's lack of production in the areas he was supposed to succeed in could have outweighed his gains in the striking game.
c) Bisping's lack of humility was astounding. The Brit has won himself a lot of fans with his charisma and intelligence. He seems to understand the fight game and popular culture at large. He knows how to promote a fight and how to play to the media. Bisping has repeatedly bristled at claims that he's been "babied" in his fledgling UFC career. So he ends up stealing a decision from an opponent he clearly underestimated, and then he doesn't even reference the fact that he was lucky? That Matt Hamill was far more contrite and eloquent with his impediment says a lot about his character. I think it was great that the UK UFC fans supported Hamill after the fight. Hopefully, the UFC will realize that fans cheer great fighters. You don't have to force-feed us particular men because they are "marketable."
Thankfully, Bisping has corrected his mistake in a statement on his personal website. He praised Hamill's effort and cited a post-fight adrenaline rush as the reason for his comments to Joe Rogan. He also officially requested a rematch with Hamill.
NEWS
Diego Sanchez: The Loss was God Opening My Eyes
Diego Sanchez has had better years. Beginning 2007 with a drug related suspension, Sanchez battled health concerns and dropped a tough loss to a hated foe. Now, Sanchez is hoping his latest difficult decision (splitting with former training partners Team Jackson) will lead to better times. In an interview with Houston Chronicle reporter Steve Sievert, Sanchez sounds much like the fighter who steamrolled the competition on the first season of The Ultimate Fighter.
Sanchez's decision to leave Team Jackson stemmed from the addition of fellow welterweight Georges St-Pierre. Says Sanchez:
We were going to work it out to train together, but if that would happen, we would become brothers, and I'm in no way going to fight one of my training brothers. I had to make the move.
Hopefully, the move will allow Sanchez to recapture the drive and determination that lead him to the precipice of a championship bout. Sanchez's return to the octagon comes against one of the most well rounded (and dangerous) fighters in the division, 14-2 Jon Fitch. Fitch has yet to lose in the octagon, and currently rides a 13-fight win stream. Sanchez, who began his career 17 straight wins, is no stranger to streaks. Not surprisingly, he feels ultra confident heading into his UFC return.
He's (Fitch) never fought a guy that's going to press the pace that I'm going to press Sept. 22. I'm going to cut him off. There will be no running. There will be no chess game. I'm going to attack like you've never seen me attack before.
You can quibble with Sanchez's statement. Fitch does hold UFC victories over Brock Larson and Josh Burkman, two fighters not known for their timidity. But the fact that Sanchez is once again speaking with such confidence and conviction suggests that he is ready to return to his winning ways. A win over Fitch would vault Sanchez back into the top 5 in his weight class. A rematch with Koscheck surely awaits somewhere down the road, as well fights against the elite welterweights: St-Pierre and Matt Hughes.
I've always viewed Sanchez as a fascinating figure. His bluster and supreme self-confidence makes him one of the most interesting personalities in the sport. I will be very impressed if he comes back with a dominant performance against Fitch. Fitch is arguable one of his toughest opponents to date, but I wouldn't be surprised if Sanchez returns to the Nightmare character of old, and tears through Fitch. Somewhere, Josh Koscheck should be worried.
Gouveia Off UFC 76 Between staph infections, rib injuries, and broken noses, these September UFC events have seen a fair amount of changes. The latest reduction striking a UFC event is that of light heavyweight Wilson Gouveia. A nose injury that occurred in training will prevent Gouveia from taking place in a fight against Jason Lambert. The fight had been scheduled for the undercard of the event. Due to the proximity of the show, a replacement opponent for Lambert will not be found. It looks like the bout will be rescheduled once Gouveia is fit to return. Sources:UFC.com
Spencer Fisher to Fight Frankie Edgar Fisher, having pulled out of a September match-up with Din Thomas due to a staph infection, is set to take on rising lightweight challenger Frankie Edgar. Edgar confirmed the bout while appearing on the Inside the Cage podcast. While the fight won't carry as much weight as the Thomas fight, a dominant win for either fighter would effect a division potentially lacking a champion. Fisher is coming off an entertaining victory over Sam Stout, while the undefeated Edgar recently stopped Mark Bocek via strikes. The fight is scheduled for UFC 78 in New Jersey, meaning Edgar should be a heavy hometown favorite.
.Sources:MMA Junkie
COMMENTARY
Like most that tuned in on Saturday, I was thrilled at the main card action for UFC 74. We saw several great fights that have real impact in multiple weight divisions. Here are some thoughts on the night's action.
UFC 75 Houston Alexander v. Alessio Sakara: I hate to be one of the last columnists on a sinking ship, but I'm still not ready to crown Alexander as the next light heavyweight contender. Alexander's rise to prominence is a great story and I'm glad such an interesting man is getting the success he deserves. However, another quick KO victory leaves just as many unanswered questions about Alexander's overall MMA game as there were coming into the Sakara fight. We've now seen two men make the same exact mistake with Alexander. Why would you allow Alexander to fight from the clinch when that's the only skill set his exhibited in the UFC? Someone take this man down and make him work.
In his next fight, Alexander is either going force me to eat a ton of crow, or he's going to have a rude awakening. I want to see him fight someone who isn't tailor made for his abilities. If Alexander is being put in there opposite Machida or Shogun, he's in trouble. If it's someone like Bonnar, he's being spoon-fed. See below for an additional idea for Alexander's next fight.
As for Sakara, I like him as a fighter, but his UFC days are numbered. I don't even know if he's good enough to be a "gatekeeper." He's now lost to a jiu jitsu expert (Sakara's weakness) and two sluggers (Sakara's strength). I'm not sure what else he can accomplish.
Marcus Davis v. Paul Taylor: A tremendous fight with as much action as you can pack into one round. Davis showed a ton of heart and the ability to recover from danger. Taylor showed some great stand-up and a pretty bad ground game. Hopefully, Davis gets a prominent opponent in his next outing, and Taylor gets an invite back to the UFC.
A lot of people are tossing out Josh Koscheck's name in regards to Davis. I think that's the one welterweight competitor not to put Davis against. Koscheck would smother all of Davis' momentum with superior wrestling and end his win streak. Against any other welterweight, Davis has proved he has a good chance at victory. I'd rather see him up against someone like Josh Burkman, Mike Swick, or even Chris Lytle. Should Davis win again, then throw him in against a Koscheck or Parisyan.
Mirko Filipovic v. Cheik Kongo: Did Filipovic suffer a fight-altering injury? Did Britney Spears tank because of a Sarah Silverman joke? I suppose we can't tell if that's the truth or spin. We do know that Filipovic looked good in the first round, pressed the action, and even secured mount. And then, almost right from the start of the second round, he looked tentative, passive, and overmatched. Either one of Kongo's mid-level kicks or knees damaged Cro Cop, or he was demoralized that Kongo escaped the mount and ended up in top position.
I'm not sure where Filipovic goes from here. I can't imagine him fighting just to fulfill a contract or to earn some more money. Retirement has to come into consideration if his alternatives are to return to Japan (with a lesser organization) or to curtain jerk Spike events. Cro Cop won't see a UFC titleshot unless he scores consecutive victories against fighters like Vera, Arlovski, and Sylvia.
Kongo also won't be seeing a title shot anytime soon. The UFC heavyweight division has too many talented fighters for a 32-year-old kickboxer lacking a ground game. Kongo's size and striking are great and marketable, but he can't compete against Vera, Gonzaga, or Big Nog. And by the time he learns the nuances of the ground game, his chance may have come and gone.
Matt Hamill v. Michael Bisping: Add me to the Greek chorus urging Bisping to move down to middleweight. There's no way he matches up with the elite light heavyweights like Rampage and even Tito Ortiz. If he moves down he's instantly a top 10 fighter and could be only a fight or two away from a title shot. Sure, Bisping doesn't match-up well against the likes of Anderson Silva, Dan Henderson or Rich Franklin either, but he would fit nicely into that second tier of middleweights that's lacking a star name. As of now, Rashad Evans would destroy Bisping at light heavyweight.
I don't think Bisping has done himself irreparable damage to his star status. By recanting his statements and requesting a rematch, Bisping has already taken the first step to regaining his popular position. If he can score another (less tainted) victory over Hamill, he should then readdress his UFC goals. Hopefully, this saga with Hamill will be a wake-up call for Bisping. Change divisions, change training camps (move to the US), and stop picking on deaf fan favorites.
As for Hamill, I wasn't quite as impressed as some other viewers. He has heavy hands, but his striking was slow, lacking combinations, and predictable. While it may have been his gameplan, his inability to keep Bisping on the mat doesn't bode well for future fights against larger opponents. He's a great story, but I don't see Hamill threatening the upper tier of light heavyweights. Even if he defeats Bisping in a rematch, I'm not sure that would convince me he has what it takes to contend in the UFC. Here's an idea: lets have him fight Houston Alexander to see which man has the better dirty boxing!
Light Heavyweight Unification Fight: Quinton Jackson (c) v. Dan Henderson (c): Just a tremendous fight in every way. The stand-up exchanges were just dangerous enough to make up for the lack of a finish. There was a real sense that the fight could end if just one uppercut or hook landed flush. The ground game was fascinating to watch. The fact that Rampage was able to control Henderson so effectively speaks to his newfound dedication to training. The kimura attempt added a sense of excitement to the fight, both because of the chance of a submission and the way Henderson used it to change positions.
How great was the stare down? It seemed like Henderson was surprised at Jackson's aggression and focus. Henderson was caught with a smile on his face before regaining a look of determination. Randy Couture, while calling the fight, referenced that Henderson had stated he could make Jackson quit. I don't think Henderson was prepared to face such a mentally in tune Quinton Jackson. Rampage has always been a likable fighter, but it's even better to cheer for a man who obviously came into the biggest fight of his career in the best shape of his career.
The only light heavyweights that might have an advantage over Jackson are the two Chute Boxe fighters. Jackson might not have to deal with Silva so long as Liddell knocks him out. A showdown with Rua seems inevitable, but I give Jackson every chance of coming out on top. The rule changes and Jackson's new training regimen could swing the fight in his favor. Other than the Brazilians, who can trouble Jackson? Liddell, assuming he gets a rematch. And then…that's about it.
As for Henderson, a move down to middleweight seems like the most logical (and most talked about) path. However, I'm not sure he would be as successful as some others are predicting. First off, there's an issue about his contract. Will Henderson agree to an extension at middleweight, when the big profile matches are at light heavyweight. The second issue is whether he gets a title shot right off the bat. Obviously, Henderson is deserving of a middleweight shot under the same logic that pushed him into the Jackson fight. The UFC would be taking a risk should Henderson go on to lose again. What would they do with a newly signed Dan Henderson that dropped two fights to two UFC champions?
It seems wrong to suggest Henderson needs a tune-up fight before facing the titleholder at 185. But if UFC fans truly don't know who he is, maybe he needs a victory in the octagon to remind them. As for how he'd do at 185, I would give him a shot at dominating the weight class, but I don't think it's a foregone conclusion. I don't know why everyone sleeps on Anderson Silva, but I think you have to at least give him a chance to beat Henderson. Silva was supposed to struggle against Nate Marquardt's wrestling, and that turned out ok for Silva. I'm a huge Silva fan and I'm constantly surprised that he's so often dismissed.
A Dan Henderson v. Rich Franklin match would also be somewhat even, in my mind. Rich Franklin might even have a size advantage over Henderson. Again, I think Henderson would fit right in among the top 3 middleweight contenders, but I'm not sure why he's seen as head and shoulders above the rest. He has lost to the likes of Kazuo Misaki and Ricardo Arona before. He's not Fedor.
I see a fight against the loser of the upcoming Rich Franklin v. Anderson Silva rematch in Henderson's future. Should he sign a new contract, a title fight may be in order. While there's more money at light heavyweight, there are just as many intriguing match-ups at middleweight.
CONCLUSION
Next week we should have another packed edition of the column. Previews for both Fight Night 11 and UFC 76 will probably take up most of my thoughts, as well as any breaking news that catches my attention. Till then, take care and keep reading.
