The Ground and Pound 08.15.08: The Top 10 UFC/WEC Fighters with the Most Potential

Posted by John Curry on 08.15.2008

This week the Ground and Pound takes a look at 10 of the UFC’s/WEC’s fighters that it believes has the highest potential to succeed in this sport 3-5 years from now, a look at the new Ground and Pound T-shirt, AND YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A PRIDE BUSHIDO DVD FROM THE GROUND AND POUND




I guess it's about that time of the year again where I realize how old those who are huge in the sport are now and begin to question exactly who will fill their gloves and take their spots at the upper echelon of fighters in the UFC/WEC? It is in my humble opinion that the following fighters are the most likely to succeed the current crop and be at the top of the sport in the next three to five years.

10. Cain Velasquez
Age: 26
Record: 4-0

Velasquez is one of those fighters who has all of the skills and is slowly putting them all together. If you want to see a hell of a fight just wait and see when Cain goes against Lesnar. The future of the Heavyweight Division lies within these two fighters.

9. Goran Reljic
Age: 24
Record: 8-0



8. Frank Edgar
Age: 26
Record: 9-1



Frank or Frankie Edgar is one of the most dominant fighters that no one is familiar with. He has beaten some of the best in his division and at only 26 years of age could very easily go through the division again before he is thirty.

7. Sokodjou
Age: 24
Record: 5-2



Were you surprised that Sokodjou is only 24 years old? I know I was. If you have seen Sokodjou fight before, especially prior to his UFC days you will understand why he is on this list.

6. Demian Maia
Age: 30
Record: 9-0



Maia is the next Royce Gracie. Yes that is right. Every generation has the submission master. I believe Maia will become the next master of submissions. I made the mistake of betting against him twice. I will not do that again.

5. Martin Kampmann
Age: 26
Record: 13-1


Kampmann is that under the radar kind of fighter that you bet against out of sheer ignorance only to realize that after he knocks out his opponent in brutal fashion that you made a mistake. Kampmann will only go up in this sport. The question that I am waiting to see answered is how well does his submission game match his standup game.

4. Thiago Alves
Age: 24
Record: 21-4



Alves is a beast and has already beaten some of the sport's greatest fighters in dominating fashion. The only thing that prevents Alves from being higher on the list is the simple fact that he did not make weight for his fight against Hughes. If you are ever going to be considered a top contender in this sport consistently, you must show the respect to yourself, your opponent and sport of making weight. If Alves can begin to take himself a little more seriously and not become so wrapped up in the sport's glamour then he will have no problem succeeding at the top.

3. Roger Huerta
Age: 25
Record: 22-2-1


Sorry Dana, but the truth is Huerta IS worth what he is asking for. Don't lie to yourself, you know it as well as everyone else does. If you don't believe it, cut him. Cut him from the UFC. Watch and see how fast he does get the money he seeks from a rival company. You won't and there is a reason why. Huerta is the future for you. Anyone who saw either Florian vs. Huerta or Huerta vs. Guida knows that he is exciting and will hold the title one day.

2. Brock Lesnar
Age: 31
Record: 2-1


Holy mother of Bono the saint of Ireland. Brock Lesnar made me realize after watching him just abuse Herring for a full 3 rounds that there really isn't anyone who is going to stop him once he gets some BJJ under his belt. He is a beast. A freak of nature and a nightmare for any opponent. I am telling you right now if he fought Mir again the results would be extremely different.

1. Dustin Hazellett
Age: 22
Record: 13-4


Maybe I am a little biased as I have spent some time with McLovin at Jorge Gurgel's gym outside of Cincinnati, but the truth is this guy is only 22 years old and possesses great standup and absolute top notch submission skills. If you don't believe that McLovin will be a champion sooner rather than later you must be watching different fights than I am. I am 100% certain that in the next 3 to 5 years he will hold a title.


Now on to my new Ground and Pound T-shirt

This shirt was made for me as a gift from the guys at Lejit Industries. Let me know what you think.

MY CONTEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DO YOU WANT TO WIN AN UNOPENED COPY OF PRIDE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIPS BUSHIDO VOLUME 6 FEATURING FIGHTS FROM FEDOR, DENIS KANG, DEAN LISTER, ALEKSANDER EMILIANENKO, PAULO FIHLO AND MORE? SURE YOU DO. HOW DO YOU DO IT YOU ARE ASKING YOURSELF. IT'S REALLY SIMPLE. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS TAKE A PICTURE OF YOURSELF WITH THE WORDS GROUND AND POUND IN IT SOMEWHERE. DO THIS AND SEND IT TO ME AT [e-mail] ALONG WITH THE BEST EMAIL TO CONTACT YOU WITH. EVERYONE WHO ENTERS WILL BE PUT INTO A DRAWING. THE WINNER WILL RECEIVE THE DVD AND A LETTER FROM MY DUMB ASS. YOU CAN ENTER AS MANY TIMES AS YOU WANT AS LONG AS YOUR PICTURES ARE SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT. THE WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN NEXT WEEKS COLUMN AND THEIR PICTURE WILL BE SHOWN SO ONLY SHOW WHAT YOU ARE HAPPY TO HAVE ALL OF THE INTERNET SEE.

Until next week don't forget to leave your top ten list with your comments and head over and join my Ground and Pound Army at John Curry's Myspace. NO ONE IS DENIED!!