The Fightin’ Stance News 08.08.08: Go For The Gold
Posted by Adam Tool on 08.08.2008
Who needs the Olympics when we’ve got MMA? In this edition of The Fightin’ Stance News we’ve got a full preview of UFC 87: Seek And Destroy! Affliction has announced their next show, will Tito be on it? Roger Huerta has said some controversial things about the UFC, but who knows controversy better than Dana White? All this plus tons of fight announcements, the latest on Rampage, and some final thoughts and images from WEC 35!
Hello again. Glad you could join me here at The Fightin' Stance News. I'm Adam Tool and in my humble opinion, the biggest sporting event of the weekend isn't taking place in China. It's actually emanating from a little town that I used to call home: Minneapolis, Minnesota. Of course I'm referring to tomorrow night's huge card from the UFC, and I'll have your full preview before my time here is up. I've also got some final thoughts on last weekend's tremendous card from the WEC, but first…
Quick sidenote: Did you hear that China's government is banning restaurants from serving dog meat while the Olympics are in town? That's step one China, now if you can just get past that whole communism thing you may have a tourism boom on your hands!
What? Oh, right…
Would Everyone Fighting At Affliction's Next Show Please Stand Up? Not So Fast There Tito…
On Tuesday former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz made headlines around the MMA world when he told SI.com that he had signed a "blockbuster" deal with Affliction, and that he would be fighting Renato "Babalu" Sobral on the company's next card.
However on Wednesday Affliction VP Tom Atencio held a press conference to announce Affliction: Day Of Reckoning, and there was no mention at all of Ortiz's involvement. According to a report on Sherdog.com, Affliction officials stated that Ortiz had in fact not signed with the company, but they were very interested in him.
Obviously the company would be interested in Ortiz, as he is one of the biggest stars in mixed-martial arts (with plenty of crossover appeal thanks to his recent "Celebrity Apprentice" appearance). The main problem with signing Tito is that his services certainly will not come cheap. Affliction took a big time bath for their debut event, and Atencio made it clear afterwards that they did that in an effort to make a big impression their first time out. However he said that changes would have to be made, and from the official payouts released after the event it's clear that fighter salaries will be one of the biggest things looked at.
We do know some of the men that will be fighting at Day Of Reckoning on October 11th. Two former UFC heavyweight champions will collide when Andrei Arlovski takes on Josh Barnett in the night's main event. The winner of that fight will go on to face Fedor Emelianenko for the WAMMA heavyweight title at a later date. Also confirmed for the event is a middleweight showdown between Matt Lindland and Vitor Belfort (although Belfort will still need to get medical clearance following an injury suffered to his hand in the fight with Terry Martin).
It's also been announced that several veterans of the IFL will be on the card, as IFL heavyweight champ Roy Nelson will take on Paul Buentello in one of the night's preliminary bouts. It has also been confirmed that IFL light heavyweight champion Vladimir Matyushenko will be taking on Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. One other former IFL competitor that will be a part of the show is Chris Horodecki, who was undefeated in the lightweight division before losing in the lightweight grand prix to Ryan Schultz. An opponent for Horodecki has not been named as of yet.
Dana Fires Back
One of the top stories of last week was the comments made by UFC lightweight Roger Huerta in the latest issue of FIGHT! Magazine, where he blasted his employer for their payout structure in regards to fighter contracts and promotional payments. Now, on the eve of the biggest fight of his career, Huerta is in the news again.
Dave Meltzer of The Wrestling Observer is reporting that contract negotiations between Huerta and the UFC are not going well. Apparently Huerta and his new management team are requesting a guaranteed six figures per fight, plus a percentage of PPV revenue. According to Meltzer, the deal they are asking for is better than the one current UFC lightweight champion BJ Penn has.
UFC president Dana White has been all over the place this week promoting UFC 87, and he has stated that he is very unhappy with Huerta right now. White, who is never one to hold anything back, has called Huerta a "moron" and stated that he hasn't beaten anybody to justify the contract he is demanding.
The most powerful man in MMA was also a guest on TAGG Radio yesterday, and he commented on Huerta's complaints about the UFC's treatment of fighters doing promotional appearances. Here's what he had to say:
"Boohoo. Guys have been doing it the eight years we've been running the company. Oscar De La Hoya weighs in on Friday, then jumps on a plane to California and does Jay Leno and all these other talk shows because that's how you build your name up and become famous, and that's how you make your money. You know what else we have? We have guys in the UFC bitching that guys like Roger Huerta get all the PR and that they don't get any."
That's not all. White also addressed Huerta's statements regarding fighter salaries and contracts:
"Somebody asked me yesterday in an interview, 'Roger Huerta said he's having contract problems.' He's not having contract problems, he's got two more fights left on his contract. If he beats Kenny Florian, it obviously puts him in a real nice position, then he can re-negotiate a new contract. Some of these guys start saying stupid stuff like Roger. I don't get what he's talking about. You signed a contract. You've got two fights left on it. You've got a tough fight with Kenny Florian. You win it? We'll talk."
This story just keeps getting bigger and bigger. I certainly can agree that outside of Clay Guida (who is a lightweight gatekeeper at best), Huerta hasn't beaten anyone in the UFC that could be considered a threat. He's been given several showcase fights, and unlike a lot of UFC newcomers he has been on the main card nearly every time. If he really is asking for the deal that is being reported, he's obviously gotten caught up in his own hype. Of course this situation is far from over, and the result of tomorrow nights match-up will have huge ramifications on "El Matador" and his future in the octagon.
NEWSFLASH: WEC PUTS ON AN EXCELLENT SHOW
It's crazy to think that there are still some fight fans that don't make a point of watching the WEC. Time and time again the "other" Zuffa promotion puts shows on for free on Versus, and they have all pretty much kicked ass. Last Sunday's show was no exception as we got three big title fights along with some other quick and exciting match-ups.
I admit that I thought Carlos Condit would walk right through Hiromitsu Miura, so a lot of credit must be given to the young man from Japan for giving everything he's got in the biggest fight of his life. This fight, much like the bantamweight showdown between Miguel Torres and Yoshiro Maeda, kept me on the edge of my seat for the entire duration. Condit may not be ready for the UFC's stacked welterweight division, but I think he has all the tools needed to rule in the WEC for a long time to come.
Going into his first light heavyweight title defense, everyone knew that Brian Stann was a one-dimensional fighter. Of course, why did he ever need other dimensions when that one worked so well for him? He found out just what it takes to be a great fighter when Steve Cantwell had an answer for everything Stann tried to do. As some fighters have said before, losing can be the best thing that ever happens in your career. This loss will force Stann to become a better fighter, and I have no doubt we'll see these two hook up again in the future. After all Stann is the only man to ever beat Cantwell, and vice versa. If that isn't a great set-up for a rubber match, I don't know what is.
Jamie Varner and Marcus Hicks gave us all the enjoyment of a three-round back-and-forth war, condensed into just over two minutes. Hicks took Varner down repeatedly, but couldn't keep him there. Varner unloaded with punches, and Hicks came back for more. In the end one man can only take so much punishment, and Varner picked up a big win. Both guys looked great and I wouldn't mind seeing them go at it again down the line.
Speaking of guys fighting again, I think it's safe to say that Brock Larson deserves another crack at Condit. MMA's original Brock made Carlo Prater look like a rookie, plowing through him in less than a minute. Larson vs. Condit II. Why the hell not?
In terms of other fighters that could be in line for title shots, I see no reason not to slide Brian Bowles in as the next opponent for Miguel Torres. Both of these guys are known for having exciting fights and the bout could be another potential Fight of the Year candidate.
I also wouldn't be surprised to see Josh Grispi get the next opportunity to fight for the featherweight championship. "The Fluke" looked like anything but, walking right through Micah Miller. After his impressive performance on Sunday it's very likely we'll be seeing Grispi take on Urijah Faber the winner of Faber vs. Brown.
The Facts:
-This will be St. Pierre's first defense of the welterweight title since winning it from Matt Serra.
-St. Pierre is on a three fight win streak.
-Not only is Fitch 8-0 in the UFC, he is unbeaten in his last 16 fights.
-St. Pierre holds notable wins over Matt Hughes (twice), BJ Penn, Sean Sherk, Jason Miller, Karo Parisyan, and Frank Trigg.
-Fitch holds notable wins over Diego Sanchez, Thiago Alves, Josh Burkman, Roan Carneiro, and Shonie Carter.
The Pick: Georges St Pierre has captured the UFC welterweight title and will remain atop the division for a long time. Sound familiar? It's what many people were saying last year, before Matt Serra played the spoiler role to perfection by dominating GSP and taking the strap. Now that St. Pierre has put Serra away, he's going to hold the belt for a long time right? Maybe not, as he'll be facing one of the toughest dudes in the 170 lbs. division tomorrow night. Jon Fitch truly is the total package. He's a phenomenal wrestler, an excellent striker, and he's not too bad at jiu-jitsu either. Still, this is St. Pierre's fight to lose. He wants to prove that he is the best, and that Matt Serra got lucky. What better way to do that then to beat the biggest threat out there? I have played this fight out in my mind and I see both men looking for takedowns, with neither gaining an edge as their top-notch wrestling cancels one another out. When the fight stays on the feet I think Fitch will get caught and GSP will pounce. I like Fitch and would be happy to be proven wrong, but I'm taking St. Pierre by TKO in round 3.
Kenny "KenFlo" Florian vs. Roger "El Matador" Huerta
The Facts:
-Florian is on a four fight win streak since losing in the lightweight title fight against Sean Sherk.
-Huerta is unbeaten in his last 19 fights.
-All nine of Florian's wins have come by TKO or submission.
-After fighting five times last year, this will be Huerta's first bout in 2008.
-The winner of this fight will likely be next in line for a shot at the lightweight championship.
The Pick: We've already discussed the controversy surrounding Roger Huerta, so let's leave that aside right now. It's all talk and none of it matters once the introductions are done and the referee calls for the bell. Looking at the fight itself, I don't know if you could make a tougher match-up to call in the lightweight division. Both men are excellent in their stand-up game. Both fighters possess a tremendous amount of heart and toughness. Florian has the edge in jiu-jitsu, but Huerta is the better wrestler. This is a big fight with a lot riding on it, so you would have to think that each man will be at the top of his game. I have gone back and forth on this one for weeks now, but in the end I'm picking Huerta via TKO in round 2.
Brock Lesnar vs. Heath "Texas Crazy Horse" Herring
The Facts:
-This is Lesnar's third professional MMA fight. His career so far has lasted a total of 2:39.
-This is Herring's 43rd professional MMA fight. He is coming off a win over Cheick Kongo at UFC 82.
-Herring's last four fights have gone to a decision.
-This fight will be taking place in Lesnar's hometown of Minneapolis, MN.
The Pick: There are so many question marks hanging over the mammoth frame of Brock Lesnar. Sure he's big and strong. Yes, he may be the best wrestler in the heavyweight division. But how is his stand-up? Can he take a punch and still come back? We know how tough he is in the first few minutes, but how will he be able to hold up if the fight goes past the first round? Has he gotten any better at submission defense? We may get answers to some of these questions tomorrow night, but I'm not so sure. Herring is a fighter that we're all too familiar with. He's good, but he's never been great. I figure Lesnar will come out much like he did against Mir, taking Herring down immediately and pounding away. If he can do that, and if the fight isn't halted for any questionable point deductions, then I think the result will be Lesnar by TKO in round 1.
Demian Maia vs. Jason "The Athlete" MacDonald
The Facts:
-Maia is unbeaten in seven professional fights.
-MacDonald has 20 career wins, 16 of which came by submission.
-Both fighters are coming off of victories at UFC 83.
The Pick: Make no mistake, Demian Maia is one bad dude. He's won multiple world championships in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and he's got heavy hands that pose a threat to anyone willing to stand in front of him. Jason MacDonald is certainly no chump, as he's been in the cage many times and usually comes out the winner. The biggest problem for MacDonald is that he's always been known as a submissions guy, but Maia is on a whole 'nother level if this one goes to the ground. I have no doubt who will be the winner here, so the hard part is figuring out how and when. Let's say Maia via submission in round 2.
Manvel "Pitbull" Gamburyan vs. Rob Emerson
The Facts:
-Gamburyan is on a two fight win streak.
-Emerson is unbeaten in his last six fights.
-Both men were competitors on season 5 of "The Ultimate Fighter," where Gamburyan was a member of Team Pulver and Emerson was on Team Penn.
-Emerson has never been finished, losing only by decision.
The Pick: In the past I've referred to the cast of "The Ultimate Fighter" 5 as the greatest group of talent to come out of the show (the first season is the only real competitor to that claim, but those guys have had a lot more time to make their impressions felt). Unfortunately this is not the fight that proves that theory. Rob Emerson isn't a great fighter, but he's a tough fighter. Dana White really seems to like the guy so he keeps getting contracts. To Rob's credit he has won each fight since the show (except for that bizarre no-contest against Gray Maynard), but of course so has Manny Gamburyan. The little guy with the big chip on his shoulder is desperate to prove that he should've won the season championship. While he waits for a second shot at Nate Diaz, I think the "Pitbull" will overpower Emerson leading to Gamburyan winning by decision.
The Undercard: Cheick Kongo vs. Dan Evensen Ben "Beserk" Saunders vs. Ryan Thomas Tamden "The Barn Cat" McCrory vs. Luke "The Silent Assassin" Cummo Steve Bruno vs. Chris Wilson Andre Gusmao vs. Jon Jones
The Facts:
-Kongo is coming off a loss to Heath Herring at UFC 82.
-Evensen is on a four fight win streak
-Kongo has gone to a decision in his last four fights.
-Saunders is unbeaten in seven pro fights.
-Thomas is a late replacement for Jared Rollins.
-McCrory is coming off his first career loss to Akihiro Gono at UFC 78.
-Cummo is coming off a decision loss to Luigi Fioravanti at UFC 82.
-McCrory has never gone to a decision, while all five of Cummo's losses were a result of the judges.
-Bruno is on a four fight win streak.
-Wilson is coming off a loss to Jon Fitch at UFC 82.
-Both Gusmao and Jones are undefeated in five fights.
-Evensen, Thomas, Bruno, Gusmao, and Jones will all be making their UFC debuts.
-In a media conference call this week, Dana White made it clear that the winner of the Huerta/Florian fight is not guaranteed a title shot. White said that plans are already underway to pit BJ Penn against Georges St. Pierre, if GSP can get past Jon Fitch. White also said that if the fight does happen, it will probably be in St. Pierre's home town of Montreal.
-Earlier this year at UFC 84, Goran Reljic made his octagon debut and delivered a big win against Wilson Gouveia. Now it has been revealed that Reljic will make the move to middleweight for his next fight against Thales Leites at UFC 90. Leites is coming of a decision win over Nate Marquardt at UFC 85.
-Speaking of Marquardt, the UFC has confirmed the bout between him and Martin Kampmann will be taking place on the main card at UFC 88 next month.
-It looks like Jason Lambert will make his middleweight debut at UFC 88 when he faces Jason Day. Lambert has reportedly agreed to the fight, although it has yet to be confirmed by the UFC.
-Matt Hughes, who is still recovering from recent knee surgery, has announced that the long-awaited fight with Matt Serra will likely be taking place in January. There are rumors circulating that this could be Hughes' final fight.
-Referee Steve Mazzagatti recently commented on the controversial ending to the Anthony Johnson/Kevin Burns fight at Fight Night 14. Here's what he had to say: "I did not see the eye poke as I was on the other side of the action. After he (Johnson) got hit, it looked like he went down from a punch, so I called it the way I saw it. Remember, we only have one or two seconds to make a call, and without any form of replay. I agree, it was a bullshit call, but that's what I saw."
-According to Dana White, Rampage Jackson's mental problems were caused by delirium and exhaustion. Apparently after the loss to Forrest Griffin, Jackson fasted for a week and drank nothing but energy drinks. He was given a pysch evaluation and was found to have no mental problems.
-During his run from police, Jackson sideswiped a woman who was sixteen and a half weeks pregnant. The news came out this week that she has now suffered a miscarriage and lost the baby. Since a fetus is not considered a person under California state law, Jackson will not be charged with manslaughter. However there is the chance that Jackson could be facing a large lawsuit as a result of his actions.
-IFL welterweight champion Jay Hieron is a free agent, and he has already received offers from Affliction, EliteXC, Strikeforce and the AFL (but not the UFC). Hieron's manager Monte Cox revealed to 5 oz. Of Pain that the IFL recently released all of their fighters. There is still no official word regarding the possible sale of the IFL's assets to Zuffa.
-WEC 35 was very nearly a sell-out, as only two tickets went unused.
I Keep My Pimp Hand Strong
Sure I'm great, but why not check out some of our other fine writers?
The Leno to my Conan, Jeremy Lambert has your Cardio Freak News.
Scott Kuczkowski branches out in a new direction in this week's The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.
If you're sick of hearing about Roger Huerta, why not take a closer look at his opponent Kenny Florian in this week's 411 Fighter Profile?
Is it Fedor or Silva? That's the question, get the answer in this week's 411 MMA Rankings when we list the top ten Pound-For-Pound Fighters.
This week's Fact or Fiction features our own Ryan Seymour taking on some schmuck with terrible writing skills.
Speaking of Seymour, he's got plenty of love for Wanderlei Silva in this week's Ultimate eXperience.
Finally, big things are coming your way as we will be expanding our video reviews section. This week Jonathan Solomon tackles UFC 52, while I take a look back at Rumble On The Rock 7.
8/9 - UFC 87: Seek And Destroy
Live on PPV at 10 pm ET
8/15 - EliteXC presents ShoXC
Live on Showtime at 9 pm ET
9/6 - Adrenaline MMA II
Live on HDNet (time TBA)
9/6 - UFC 88: Breakthrough
Live on PPV at 10 pm ET
9/10 - WEC: Faber vs. Brown
Live on Versus at 9 pm ET
9/17 - UFC Fight Night 15
Live on Spike at 8 pm ET
9/20 - EliteXC
Live on Showtime at 9 pm ET
9/26 - EliteXC Presents ShoXC
Live on Showtime at 9 pm ET
9/26 - DREAM 6: Middleweight Grand Prix Finals
Live on HDNet (time TBA)
10/4 - EliteXC Saturday Night Fights
Live on CBS at 9 pm ET
10/11 - Affliction: Day Of Reckoning
Live on PPV (time TBA)
10/18 - UFC 89: Bisping vs. Leben
On Spike at 9 pm ET
10/25 - UFC 90: Silva vs. Cote
Live on PPV at 10 pm ET
It's got a funky beat, and you can dance to it.
Fujiya & Miyagi - "Collarbone"
Compared to July, the month of August is looking downright boring in terms of MMA events. Sure we had the WEC last weekend, but after UFC 87 tomorrow there's next to nothing for the rest of the month (except for ShoXC next weekend, but those shows are usually nothing special). I guess this means I'll have to start coming up with some actual content to fill this column, rather than simply relying on event previews to take up space. With that in mind be sure to come back next week when I'll have…something.
