MMA Analytics 01.28.07: UFC Moves Pieces into Place
Posted by Leland Roling on 01.28.2008
In last couple of weeks, the UFC has been on a shopping spree. They've managed to bring in some of the best talent around the world that could prove to make impacts in their respective divisions. In this edition of MMA Analytics, we'll take a look at the signings of Dong Hyun Kim, David Bielkheden, and the rumored signing of Rousimar "Toquinho" Palhares.
Scouting is one of the most important aspects in every professional sport. Without a great eye for finding the next big thing, your team may lose out on an individual that could potentially help your team, and may end up helping your opponent. The same applies in mixed martial arts. The only huge difference is that the UFC is a player in the large number of mixed martial arts promotions in the mix. ProElite, K-1, Strikeforce, and even M-1 Global are all players in this sport as well as the many other newly forming promotions and veteran promotions beginning to be infused with more money. It's very comparable to a team concept, and the UFC is the best team in the league.
Sometimes the best team doesn't win, but in the world mixed martial arts league, the UFC wins every year. They also make the most money, draw the most fans, and are the most recognizable organization on the face of the earth when it comes to MMA. This gives them the edge in their ability to lure talent to their promotion, but they also need to recognize the type of talent that can be successful in the UFC and marketable as well. The UFC proved this week that their aim is to obtain some of the best talent in the world.
Dong Hyun Kim will reportedly make UFC debut
The UFC may be on the same page as my own thinking regarding the Welterweight division. Although I have drawn criticism for my stance that the Welterweight division has a large talent gap, I will admit that there may be some talent that can give Georges St. Pierre a run for his money. Logically, more tests should take place in order to support that thought. One thing is for certain however, the UFC has added an up-and-coming power house in Dong Hyun Kim.
Hyun Kim has only recently put his name on the map with the other 170 pounders in the world. His 8-0-1 record is quite impressive, but his last two battles against veteran grappler and survivor Hidehiko Hasegawa solidified his standing within the MMA world. Kim defeated Hasegawa by TKO in a non-title fight in DEEP 31. Kim's win caused DEEP to set up a matchup for the DEEP title. Both fighters battled to a draw in the second matchup, but the consensus was that Kim won the battle and was robbed by poor judging. Regardless, Kim proved that he could beat the elusive DEEP champion and earned the respect of many fans.
Now Kim will be moving to the UFC, a promotion that has fed on Japanese talent in the past. Many former PRIDE fighters have been unsuccessful in the cage environment or taken the UFC's stable of fighters too lightly. Can Kim make an impact?
Kim's style makes for some exciting fights. He's mainly a power striker, taking out 5 of his opponents via TKO/KO, and only heading to decision twice. He has some strong wrestling as he has been training with UFC success Yushin Okami. Strong, powerful, and possessing great wrestling and striking should be a recipe for success in the UFC. Add in the fact that it also taps into a Korean fanbase, the UFC seems to have added an exciting fighter and a potential "foot in the door" to Korea.
"Toquinho" breaks legs, now is rumored to be breaking into the UFC
Another great addition to the ranks of the UFC is Rousimar "Toquinho" Palhares. Originally, it was thought that ProElite has the beat on this Middleweight prospect since the very promotion he has been fighting in recently partnered with ProElite to stream events. It was also thought that this was a precursor the Fury FC to be bought out by ProElite. Unfortunately for ProElite, Sherdog reports that Palhares is close to signing with the UFC, and this would make for a surprising addition.
Why so surprising? Think of Paulo Filho's main weakness... his striking. Although Filho should be feared because of his awesome power, he's technically inferior to most opponents with a good base in boxing. His strengths are his power and ground game, which neutralize nearly all of his opponents. This is where Palhares is most dangerous. He's nearly identical in style to Paulo Filho and possesses huge strength that makes it hard for opponents to avoid his submission game.
The surprising difference is that Palhares has avoided the standup blows for the most part, and doesn't seem to be terribly out of place trying to avoid the standup war. He has much more speed than many of his opponents, and I believe this is the main attribute that separates him from many other fighters that possess his skills.
This was mostly evident in his Fury FC tournament fights. He took on a fairly well-rounded Fabio Negao who possesses some good knockout power along with a submission game that isn't bad either. It was evident that Negao wanted to stand with Palhares and keep it on the feet. Unfortunately for Negao, Palhares took him down while sinking in a leglock that looked to break or injure Negao's leg badly.
In the tournament final, he took on Chute Box product Daniel Acacio, a PRIDE veteran, who would be representing Chute Box and trying to win a bet for Chute Box head Rudimar. The bet was for a Toyota Land Cruiser SUV between Mario Sperry of Brazilian Top Team and Rudimar of Chute Box. If there was a Chute Box vs. BTT final, the bet was in play. Fortunately for the fans, both Acacio and Palhares made it to the much anticipated final to find out who is the best Middleweight in Brazil.
In the final, Palhares disposed of the veteran Acacio in stunning fashion and by nearly the same exact leglock/anklelock that he had imposed on Negao. A big win for Palhares and definitely put him on the map. Mario Sperry is probably enjoying his Land Cruiser as well.
What's next for Palhares? A trip to the UFC hopefully. It has been long said that the Middleweight division of the UFC has suffered greatly from having nearly no talent to take on champion Anderson Silva. Even in the lower ranks of the division, many fighters seem to be trading wins back and forth. Palhares has a chance to make a huge impact. His skill should dominate the lower ranks and move him into good position to take out the mid-echelon talent in the division. There are roadblocks, but Palhares can be a real contender with some improvements in his standup.
Keep an eye on "Toquinho".
Bielkheden signs with the UFC, gets Sanchez
Another Brazilian Top Team prospect to get the call from the UFC was David Bielkheden (12-5). A PRIDE and Shooto veteran, David has had some success and some failures in his career. He defeated current UFC fighter Charles McCarthy back in February of 2004, but that isn't exactly the most impressive victory for fans who hear the big names in the UFC. Bielkheden managed to take Mitsuhiro Ishida to a decision back in October of 2006, but he hasn't had great wins in the past.
Bielkheden does, however, have a great camp that he trains with, and a well-rounded skillset. He has a good submission game and some power on the ground. His style should be great for the UFC in that he is mainly a ground and pound fighter with good power and great takedowns.
Unfortunately for Bielkheden, he won't have an easy matchup in his first UFC bout. Diego Sanchez has fallen on some tough times, but he still possesses good power, wrestling, and the ability to take out opponents with his submission game. His main weakness is his ability to finish fights with his hands, so this battle could be a war for Diego. It should be a good scrap, so keep an eye on it at UFC 82.
Final thoughts
I've been fairly impressed with the scouting by the UFC. Their focus on the younger talent has been broad. They've managed to see the talent in both the Asian and Brazilian markets and will most likely begin looking in other areas of the world for new talent.
Interestingly enough, Palhares was a name that I thought would be in the States within the next few months. ProElite seemed to be on the fast track, but it now looks like many fighters will either take a paycut to be in the UFC or the UFC is simply paying more than the other organizations. Either way, the UFC wins.
Hyun Kim and Bielkheden are both good signings, and should prove to be formidable competition inside the Welterweight division. Bielkheden will be a tough fight for nearly anyone in that division, and Kim's power and wrestling should be dangerous for anyone up against him. Add in Yoshiyuki Yoshida, and the amount of skill the UFC has signed looks to be fantastic for maintaining their talent pool.
