The MMA News Report 04.09.08

Posted by Morgan Marx on 04.09.2008

Big news on Fedor’s fight against a UFC heavyweight champion, plus Kimbo’s upcoming opponent. Also, I share some thoughts leftover from Fight Night 13, and a look at the welterweight power rankings prior to UFC 83.

INTRODUCTION

We're back again, after another successful week of MMA. The ratings didn't quite live up to expectations for Fight Night 13, but the in-cage action certainly did. Perhaps there is some truth to the notion that the UFC is over saturating the market when it comes to live shows. If that's true, things aren't looking so hot for this spring, when an overabundance of MMA will be available for viewing.

Personally, I can't wait for the UFC programming or the action on stations like CBS and HDNet. Hopefully, the fights will continue to warrant the amount of MMA taking place on a weekly basis.

MAILBAG/RANT TIME

Welterweight Power Rankings

1) Georges St-Pierre (Interim Champion
2) Jon Fitch
3) Matt Hughes
4) Karo Parisyan
5) Matt Serra (Defending Champion)
6) Thiago Alves
7) Josh Koscheck
8) Diego Sanchez
9) Marcus Davis
10) Chris Lytle

Notes: My Anti-Matt Serra bias isn't well veiled. I'm not one to believe in the practice of placing defending champions atop rankings list, no matter the gold around their waist. Serra's upset of St-Pierre will end up being MMA's version of Villanova over Georgetown. But come April 19, if St-Pierre destroys Serra, the TUF 4 winner will start a slip down the UFC's welterweight rankings and back to obscurity. A loss to Hughes would likely follow, and from there, I could easily see any one of the up-and-coming welterweights defeating Serra. Had Joe Riggs (improbably) knocked out Matt Hughes in 2005, would he have been considered the class of the division?

Parisyan is still a top five fighter, but a title shot seems a ways a way for the judo practitioner…GSP and Fitch are distancing themselves from the pack. Hughes needs a strong win over a credible opponent to answer questions as to his future in the organization…The problem with the bottom half of the top 10 is that they keep beating each other. Someone will have to make a run of three strong wins to earn a title shot. Alves is a likely contender, as is the winner of the Sanchez v. Koscheck rematch (it's inevitable, right?)…Davis will have to have an unprecedented run (err, I suppose Fitch is somewhat precedenting it) to earn a shot.

The Reader's Question: Has the UFC's welterweight division lost some luster recently? It seems that the light heavyweight class and the lightweights have passed by the 170ers as the top division in the UFC.

NEWS LEG KICKS

Fedor v. Sylvia(?)



While it's not quite Randy Couture, news that pound-for-pound top five heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko will face Tim Sylvia this July is one of the biggest stories of the year to date. Sherdog broke the news, confirming the fight with the Russian champion. Many questions remain, and I wouldn't be surprised if something comes along and torpedoes the fight, but for now Elite XC's CBS deal has a rival when it comes to sport-altering developments.

Sherdog points to Affliction as the likely promoter for the fight, setting a July date in Dallas. Though not confirmed, Sherdog speculates that Mark Cuban's HDNet will broadcast the fight card. Again, the only fact confirmed is that Fedor says he will fight Sylvia. Additional reports have suggested that a fight could be signed later this week, but as of now, Sylvia has not officially signed on to anything.

So how important a fight is this? For hardcore fans, Fedor will finally step in against a top 10 heavyweight, something the former PRIDE champion hasn't accomplished since facing Mark Hunt in 2006 (and, to be fair, Hunt was never really a top 10 heavyweight. You'd have to go back to the Fedor v. Filipovic fight for a true top contender). Ironically, Sylvia will present the same size and reach problems Fedor faced against Hong Man Choi, but with the added MMA skill of a former UFC champion. I've long contended that Sylvia has a real shot at knocking off Emelianenko, so long as he can avoid the flash submission that cost Sylvia against Nogueira.

The big question is whether Fedor will successfully branch out to mainstream MMA fans. His fights with Matt Lindland and Choi didn't exactly set American MMA fans on fire. No matter how much the sport has grown, charismatic figures like Kimbo Slice and Chuck Liddell still draw better than the fighters relying solely on skill. Sylvia brings an instantly recognizable name into this fight, but the knock on the MFS fighter has always been his love/hate relationship with fans. Will UFC fans follow Sylvia to a new promotion? Will fans watching the first CBS MMA broadcast seek out information on Fedor? The ratings for the fight will be a great litmus test for how much the sport has evolved in the USA.

Either way, Emelianenko v. Sylvia was one of the top cross-promotional fights discussed when Zuffa initially purchased PRIDE. The fact that fans may be able to witness the fight on free TV (assuming you get HDNet) is an added bonus. I don't know how Affliction will find the bankroll to support such a card (Fedor and Sylvia could potentially cost the promoters $2.1 million), but whichever group eventually puts on this fight will instantly become a major player in American MMA.

Sources:Sherdog.com

Kimbo to face Colossus

NBCSports has confirmed that Kimbo Slice will main event Elite XC's May 31 show against James Thompson. The fight will be part of the organization's debut broadcast on CBS, the first time live MMA has aired on network TV in the States.

Thompson is a perfect opponent for Slice. The PRIDE veteran presents an even match-up for the YouTube sensation (is that right, he was a "sensation?"). While Thompson has wins over fighters such as Hidehiko Yoshida and Don Frye, his chin is not the most respected in MMA circles. Slice will have every opportunity of walking away the winner without having to hear complaints about his opponent's age or unwillingness to fight. No matter how spotty Thompson's record is, I can be certain the big man will come to fight.

Thompson also presents an intriguing figure for fans tuning into their first MMA show. The man looks like a cartoon superhero and represents the ideal of how an MMA fighter should be built. Thompson also has an interesting back-story (the debt collector v. the bodyguard) that should lend itself to pre-fight hype. Thompson's quite personable, does a great job in interviews, and should represent the company well in front of its largest audience (hopefully).

Thompson's addition to the card makes for another fight that likely won't go the distance. Scott Smith and Robbie Lawler are known for their explosive striking, meaning Elite XC is highlighting fights that should deliver what casual fans want most: knockouts.

.Sources: NBCSports.com


COMMENTARY

MMA Potpourri



Yes, that's a Jeopardy reference in an MMA column. I need a name that doesn't involve "Random," "Miscellany," or "Ten things I thought I thunk" for my "I have nothing to write about" sections…

Let's not head back to Colorado anytime soon… As great as the Fight Night 13 card was last Wednesday, I'm not sure that the UFC needs to make a return to the high altitude of Denver. Watching fighters gasp for air after one five minute round is not exactly my idea of a good night. Conditioning is such an important factor in MMA, I don't think we need to add a degree of difficulty by reducing the oxygen content.

Typically, we equate "cardio" with "heart." If a fighter fails to put the proper work into training to provide him or her with the gas tank to go 15 minutes, we generally look at that as a flaw in desire. Tim Boetsch comes to mind. I hate to criticize fighters for their gameness (I'm not the one stepping in against a standout wrestler), but Boetsch seemed to be taking the proverbial "way out" in his fight with Matt Hamill. Now, that's not to say that the man who destroyed David Heath on short notice is lacking heart. It's just that he knew he didn't have the cardio to finish the fight, so he went for a takedown and turtled.

If it were just Boetsch, perhaps the fighter shape and lack of time to adequately train could be seen as factors. But both Joe Lauzon and Din Thomas, two superior athletes, also seemed to struggle with their cardio. I'm not making excuses for either man, nor am I saying that the outcomes of their fights would have been different at sea level. But I'd prefer not to see the location of an event play any part on the in-ring activity. Chile and Ecuador have an argument in World Cup qualifying, but the UFC has no need to fight at that level.

Will I ever give Kenny Florian the proper respect? Florian has been a thorn in my side since I began this column. For some reason, I constantly pick against the man even though he continues to finish fights. Unlike Matt Serra, I have no personal bias toward Florian. In fact, the fighter was one of my early favorites on the debut season of The Ultimate Fighter. Florian is from Boston (like myself), is an articulate and intelligent representative of the sport, and has maximized his athletic potential by making every tough sacrifice. Plus, he played Division 1 soccer.

Perhaps Diego Sanchez's destruction of Florian at the TUF finals has haunted Florian in my mind. Though he has proven his toughness and well-rounded skill set over and over, I sometimes still remember him as the TUF darkhorse, a more successful version of Josh Haynes. I should have been won over by Florian's ability to last the full 25 minutes with Sean Sherk, no small feat. Yet after each of Florian's recent victories, I've found a way to discredit his success: he overlooked Mishima, Thomas injured himself, Alvin Robinson clearly wasn't ready for the big leagues, Stout and Cope had no ground game, etc.

It looks like Florian has established himself as a top contender again, pending a potential fight against Roger Huerta. Logically, I should side with Florian whenever this fight should take place. In my heart I have a sneaking suspicion that I'll end up touting Huerta "because he looks like a fighter." Either way, Florian continues to put on exciting matches, and a showdown with the energetic Huerta should be no different. As a fight fan, I'm grateful to Florian, even if I continually second-guess him.

Who lost more? Last week, I posited that Frankie Edgar had more to lose at Fight Night 13 than Karo Parisyan. In hindsight, I stand by my suggestion. Even though Karo has lost out on a welterweight title fight, I think Edgar's stock took a bigger hit at the takedowns of Gray Maynard.

Karo will be back. The semi-controversial ending (though it was a completely fair stoppage) gives the UFC the impetus to book him against another top contender in his next fight. If anything, I think this loss might actually help Karo. For years we've seen Parisyan get thisclose to securing a title shot and reaching his potential. Perhaps the loss to Alves will finally be the wake up call Karo needs to focus on his training.

Edgar, on the other hand, has taken a big step back in a crowded division. Maynard isn't the top contender that Alves is, meaning Edgar's loss carries more of a stigma. Additionally, after already besting both Mark Bocek and Tyson Griffin, we thought Edgar had already passed the test of facing a talented wrestler. Both Edgar and Maynard emerged from their fight with huge questions. Some are suggesting Edgar would fit better at 145. I find it hard to believe that a fighter that dominated Spencer Fisher and outworked Griffin needs to drop a division, but perhaps Edgar would feel stronger in the WEC.

Maynard still hasn't fought a jiu jitsu specialist since TUF 5. Maynard's wrestling and ground and pound were known qualities even before his reality TV stint. But has he solved the holes in his game that led to his early exit? Is Maynard now capable of defending submissions from the likes of Nate Diaz, BJ Penn, Joe Stevenson, and the host of other talented BJJ blackbelts in the lightweight division? Those wishing to crown Maynard as the next big thing will have to wait until he faces a jiu jitsu fighter like Din Thomas.

A night of classy acts From "rape chokes" to double finger salutes, from threats of parking lot violence to "glove touch feint kicks," Fight Night 13 was full of surprises. I'm always surprised that live UFC broadcasts aren't filled with more expletives and offensive acts, what with all the testosterone and athletes.

Personally, I wasn't that offended at anything, though Manny Gamburyan's opening fight salvo rode right up along the line of fair play. I understand that a touch of gloves to begin a fight isn't for everyone. I also think that the whole "protect yourself at all times" mantra should be respected. However, for Manny to feign offering up the tap and then to throw the kick was a bit much. If he has just come out and kicked at Cox without offering the tap, I would have no problem with the move (it is a fight after all). But to pretend like you're going to show some sportsmanship is a bit different.

Elsewhere, it takes a lot to truly upset me. I'm a big Nate Diaz fan, and so long as he wasn't disrespecting his opponent, I don't think his antics are anything to get up in arms about. Diaz is true to himself at all times, and I think there's something to be respected in a fighter that takes pride in representing his hometown and how things are done there.

As for James Irvin and Joe Rogan, I'm sure neither man had any sort of negative intent when they let slip with their respective faux pas. I was more shocked at Rogan's name checking of Calvancante and Aoki than calling a choke by its club name. Some are already assuming that Rogan's "unavailability" for UFC 83 is due to his one air remarks, but that would surprise me. Dana White isn't that much of a control freak, right? Anyone? Guys?


CONCLUSION

Next week we'll take a look at UFC 83, and see what develops in regards to Silvia v. Fedor. Stay tuned, take care and keep reading.