The MMA News Report 02.20.08

Posted by Morgan Marx on 02.20.2008

Updates on Wanderlei Silva, Nate Diaz, and Machida v. Ortiz. Plus, a look at a different side of the Kimbo phenomenon, and the UFC Light Heavyweight power rankings!

MAILBAG/RANT TIME



We'll continue with a look at my personal Power Rankings, putting the spotlight on the Light Heavyweight division this week. Remember, this is a completely biased, non-official look at where the fighters stand against one another. Therefore, #1 contenders and titleholders don't have to hold the top spots.

UFC Light Heavyweight Power Rankings

1) Quinton Rampage Jackson (Champion)
2) Lyoto Machida
3) Forrest Griffin (#1 Contender)
4) Keith Jardine
5) Chuck Liddell
6) Mauricio Shogun Rua
7) Rashad Evans
8) Tito Ortiz
9) Wilson Gouveia
10) Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou

Notes: The decision to drop to middleweight by a number of fighters certainly weakens the weight class. Michael Bisping and Dan Henderson have already dropped to 185 (though Henderson may return). Wanderlei Silva may join them as well (see below)… 3 The Ultimate Fighter veterans sit in the top 10, a big boost for the show…4 straight victories, all coming by submission or (T)KO buy Gouveia a spot in the top 10…the Top 10 represent great diversity for the UFC. African American fighters, African African fighters, and Brazilians expand the audience the UFC will appeal to internationally…Machida's fight with Ortiz (see below) will be a good test run for whether he can handle a wrestler with the strength of Jackson. If Machida drops to 185, LHW might not be the glamour division it once was…I was tempted to drop Rua below Evans. If he performs listlessly against Liddell, a tough mach-up for the Brazilian, he will lose all his Pride momentum.

The Reader's Question: Would a move to 185 help Wanderlei Silva or hurt his UFC appeal?


NEWS LEG KICKS

Silva to 185?



Wanderlei Silva, coming off a UFC re-debut loss to Chuck Liddell, may be making a move to middleweight in time for his next fight. Though rumored to be fighting fellow light heavyweight Keith Jardine, a recent Gracie Mag post gives credence to the belief that Silva would be better lighter. Silva is known to walk around roughly at the same weight as former middleweight champion Rich Franklin. A cut to 185 might provide Silva the opportunity to regain his past standing as one of the most feared fighters on the planet.

I have to caution that information coming from Gracie Mag doesn't always become fact. However, this at least confirms that the thought process is there. Silva could become yet another high profile light heavyweight to make the move to 185, following Dan Henderson and Michael Bisping. Silva's arrival would automatically boost the division and provide yet another true challenger to the 185 champion, be it Anderson Silva, Henderson, or someone else.

Both Silva and Jardine are rumored to be fighting on the same card this summer. A fight between the two would make sense, though we'll have to weight (haha!) and see where Silva ends up.

Sources: GracieMag.com

Diaz to Return Against Pellegrino

Apparently the fans aren't the only beneficiaries of FightLinker's campaign to extend the April 2 Fight Night card on Spike to three hours. MMAMania.com is reporting that former TUF winner Nate Diaz has been added to the televised portion of the card. His opponent is reported to be Kurt Pellegrino, fresh off an impressive victory over Alberto Crane that left Pellegrino with a whole in his lip. If the UFC officially adds the fight, it will just enhance an already stacked card.

Diaz escaped relatively unscathed from a victory over Alvin Robinson. Diaz has won each of his last 3 fights by submission, though that includes an injury submission by Manny Gamburyan. Pellegrino recently fought Joe Stevenson for the chance to challenge for the lightweight title. Though Pellegrino came up on the wrong end of a decision, he hung tough throughout the entire fight and even troubled Stevenson with submission attempts.

Diaz would carry a slight edge in stand-up into a fight with Pellegrino, though Pellegrino would have a decisive edge in wrestling. Both fighters are accomplished BJJ practitioners and carry excellent pedigrees. The winner would immediately move back up into the crowded lightweight title picture, and Diaz would really reaffirm his TUF victory by toppling Pellegrino.

MMAJunkie.com has reported that the largely blog-drive push to expand Spike's coverage of the Fight Night event has worked. Though not officially announced by Spike, sources revealed that the show would run a full 3 hours. With commercials, I'm not sure how many fights would make the televised portion of the event, but fans should be in for a great night. I swear, if anyone whines about a fight being a "boring decision" after pushing to get more fights shown…

.Sources: MMAMania.com

Lyoto v. Tito Still a Go, Babalu Not a Credible Source

After a Renato Sobral comment sparked rumors that Tito Ortiz had pulled out of a May bout with Lyoto Machida, Machida's manager confirmed the fight is still on in an interview on the TAGG Radio Network. MMAJunkie.com reported the news, which should quell speculation regarding ducking, lawsuits, and Ortiz's UFC future. Or maybe not.

In a related story, Ortiz has stated that his fight with Machida will be his last for the UFC so long as Dana White is in charge. The news comes from a video interview on MSNBC.com. Ortiz's relationship with White has long been strained, and reports that Ortiz would seek new employment have surfaced off and on for months.

Should Ortiz beat the undefeated Machida, it would reestablish the Huntington Beach fighter as a possible titleholder. He could swing that momentum into high profile fights in organizations like Elite XC, possibly against someone like Frank Shamrock. If Ortiz should lose, one could argue that he hasn't had a dominant performance in years. It looks like the Machida fight will be a real turning point for Ortiz. Hopefully, he'll come into the fight in top shape, and exit without excuses.

.Sources: MMAJunkie.com


COMMENTARY

Yet Another Look at the Kimbo Phenomenon



In the wake of Kimbo Slice's brief demolition of Tank Abbot, we've been treated to approximately 76 different takes on the Miami brawler's performance and MMA status. Reactions run the gamut from hardcore commentators being won over by his training and popularity, to ignorant haters focusing on Slice's racial background and ignoring his skill. I've expressed my overall appreciation of Slice before, and nothing's changed. While I'm skeptical about Kimbo's ceiling in the sport (he's not exactly a young prospect), I have no problem with Elite XC building around the former Hurricane. I don't even fault Elite XC for elevating Kimbo to main event status. What does bother me is the kind of fight MMA fans are getting for their money and interest.

Kimbo's popularity is a given at this point. Research involving Google trend searches, website traffic flow, and YouTube hits all confirm that Kimbo can generate interest among MMA fans and newcomers. The hometown location certainly amplified the ecstatic reaction Slice garnered on the 16th. Fans in the Northeast or West probably would have received Slice just as vocally. The man is a marketer's dream, except for that whole "illegal street fighting" thing.

If the above is true (and I think we can agree it is), Elite XC cannot bury Kimbo on the undercard of a show. Fans want to see Kimbo regardless of his relative inexperience in the sport. Like Brock Lesnar, Kimbo brings in an audience that established MMA titleholders could only dream of. Unlike Lesnar, Elite XC does not have the depth in talent to provide Kimbo with the proper level of opponent. While former UFC champions and recognizable names can challenge Lesnar, Kimbo faces over-the-hill bar room fighters and men riding 4 fight losing streaks.

Luke Thomas of BloodyElbow fame makes the correct assessment that Tank Abbott represents the kind of fighter perfect for someone's second professional fight. Unfortunately, Kimbo is not fighting at local shows or on the undercard. He's a main event star, someone that brings in viewers. Eventually, fans will grow tired of 40-second fights. Someone spending money to view a fight (and Showtime is a pay channel) will feel cheated.

Many people pointed to the WWE-style promotion that went into the Kimbo fight. Unlike professional wrestling, Elite XC cannot guarantee a tremendous fight at the conclusion of the build. For some reason (whether nostalgia or naivete), people bought into the Abbott myth that Gary Shaw was selling. Even though most writers knew exactly how the fight was going to go, some still thought Tank might present some sort of challenge.

The fight reminded me most of the recent UFC Tito Ortiz v. Ken Shamrock debacle. Even though Shamrock is well removed from the prime of his career (like Abbott), fans still thought that past greatness and real hatred might inspire Shamrock into putting on a show against a younger, better fighter. Instead, we got back-to-back blowouts that left some fans feeling swindled. Quick stoppage or not, I felt stupid after plunking down my $40 for a fight card that had no chance of living up to expectations. If Shaw truly believes that fans will sign up for Showtime to watch Slice, he had better be able to provide better fights.

When people compare boxing and MMA (in a negative manner), the argument usually goes that MMA has to avoid the mistakes of boxing that led to the best fighters not fighting each other. That's a real issue, though not, in my opinion, the greatest threat. My fear is that Slice represents the same sort of marketing that catapulted Mike Tyson to fame. He's being built up as this destructive force that can take a man's head off with one punch. He's being presented with sub par opponents who crumble under the pressure seconds into the fight. That sounds exactly like Tyson's comeback run, during which gullible fans were tricked into believing fighters like Peter McNeely posed an actual challenge to the knockout king.

Which UFC fighter does Kimbo most resemble? To me, that's an easy answer: Houston Alexander. Both have instantly developed fan bases due to their brutal striking ability. Both got into the game late and are years away from challenging the elite fighters in their respective weight classes. The UFC provided Alexander with some tough early challenges, some of which he passed (Keith Jardine), some he failed (Thiago Silva). Now, it appears the UFC is going to attempt to maximize Alexander's talent by providing him with winnable fights against opponents that play into his strengths. No one wants to see Alexander smothered by a high caliber wrestler, or easily submitted by a BJJ black belt. They want to see him stand and bang, kind of like what will happen when he fights James Irvin, assuming Irvin makes it to and through the fight in one piece.

The difference between Slice and Alexander is that the UFC isn't building entire PPVs around Alexander. It's fine for Alexander to excite a Spike program with a 90-second knockout. Personally, I'm going to feel cheated if Slice continues to dominate overmatched foes in brief exhibitions. I'm certainly not ordering an Elite XC PPV just to watch Slice overwhelm another hand picked opponent.

This is not about Kimbo being booked against Fedor, Couture, or another top heavyweight. It's about Elite XC treating him for what he is. I don't want to be deceived by another promotional campaign that builds someone like Abbott as a credible threat. I don't want to see a Kimbo v. Paul Buentello fight billed as a battle between "top heavyweights." There's no shame in enjoying Slice for what he is. A talented, unproven fighter that will likely beat a Sean Gannon or Ken Shamrock with relative ease.

Tito Ortiz is as popular as an MMA fighter can get. But a short, one-sided fight is disappointing no matter the background of the competitor. Every once in a while it's ok for a headlining match to be quick (like Liddell v. Jackson). But without those 15 or 25-minute wars, it ends up being meaningless.


CONCLUSION

Thanks again for reading. Next week we'll take a look at the upcoming UFC PPV headlined by Anderson Silva and Dan Henderson. This is easily one of my most anticipated fights in a while, and I hope you share my enthusiasm. We might have another round of power rankings, though I might wait till after Silva and Henderson fight before looking at the middleweight division. Take care.