411 MMA Fact or Fiction 09.10.08: Liddell Done Beating Top 10 Opponents, Rich Franklin a Legitimate LHW Contender, Evans More Deserving than Jackson/Machida, and MORE!

Posted by Bren Oliver on 09.10.2008

Will Yushin Okami fight Anderson Silva before Marquardt or Henderson earn a rematch? Is Fabricio Werdum being too nice in regards to waiting for a twice-promised title-shot? Should WEC 36 have been rescheduled closer to the event's original date? It's John vs. Jon this week, as 411Mania columnists John Curry and Jonathan Solomon mix it up in the newest MMA Fact or Fiction!

I know Evan Tanner's untimely passing will be the focus of countless future submissions from MMA writers, 411Mania-based and otherwise, so I want to try and keep this week's "Fact or Fiction" fairly Tanner-free. However, it goes without saying that, whether due to his offbeat personality, unique backstory, or performance inside the ring, Tanner affected the lives of thousands if even on a minor scale. I was certainly a fan of Tanner's, and I will absolutely miss his insightful, often poetic, writing and the spirit he embodied as a fighter; as a man.

Moving on to bluer skies, it's Wednesday and once again time for another helping of FoF goodness! We're less than a week removed from UFC 88 and Chuck Liddell kissing the canvas, meaning there are plenty of different storylines to discuss stemming from the night's results. Joining the column this week are two regulars, John Curry and Jonathan Solomon. Curry's weekly feature, "The Ground and Pound", can be found here on Fridays, while Solomon is a busy-bee, penning both "Jon's MMA Juggernaut" and a number of MMA-related TV Reports. Each has some strong opinions to share in regards to our savory six special ingredients - the topics - so let's not waste time with any more formalities.

Readers...are you ready? Fellow columnists...are you ready? Then, America, with an enlarged heart and an empty skull, I say unto you the words of my Uncle...


ALLEZ FACT OR FICTION!!!!!!!


1. Chuck Liddell will never again beat a "Top 10" Light Heavyweight.


Jonathan Solomon: FICTION. The only way this could become true is if Chuck retires in the near future and I don't see that happening. There are still fights out there with Wanderlei Silva and Keith Jardine for Chuck. If you're telling me that Chuck can't beat "The Dean of Mean" or even Sokoudjou, why the hell not? Chuck still has KO power and great takedown defense. He's no Ken Shamrock, either so why the hate on Chuck? He beat Wanderlei just nine months ago. It is far too early to be asking this question.


John Curry: FICTION. As much as I hate to say it, Chuck's best days may be behind him. I picked Evans over him by TKO in my Ground and Pound column. That being said, to say who is the top ten light heavyweight at any given time makes saying that he will not beat any of them is tricky. The simple truth here is that to say NEVER is way too much of a finality considering that it is possible for any fighter to beat any other fighter on any given day.


SCORE: 1 for 1.


2. Rashad Evans should receive a shot at Forrest Griffin's UFC Championship before "Rampage" Jackson or Lyoto Machida.


Jonathan Solomon: FICTION. I know the UFC has booked Evans and Griffin for December, but I thought that would have been delayed until the Rampage/Silva fight. I understand Evans just beat one of the top draws and most popular fighters, however I felt Rampage still was going to get the return title shot. I'm not going to bitch about rankings here though because that's far from the deciding factor in booking these fights. Plus, we get to see another title fight before the end of 2008, nothing wrong with that. The Rashad/Forrest winner can fight the possible Rampage/Wanderlei winner or Machida if the cards fall right.


John Curry: FICTION. I think that Dana White confirmed this (Rashad Evans will recieve a title shot) during the post fight press conference. However, he may have just said he will get a title shot, without saying when. Either way, the person that should be up next for the title shot is Lyota Machida. No one else deserves it based on his wins. The guy has wins over BJ Penn, Rich Franklin, Tito Ortiz, David Heath, Sokoudjou, Sam Hogar, and Stephan Bonnar to name a few. Yes he is not the most exciting fighter but he is the epitome of what a well rounded MMA fighter should look like. I think that although it wouldn't be most exciting fight, a Machida vs. Griffin would be a good fight.


SCORE: 2 for 2. I believe Dana White originally said Evans would be getting a shot in the "near future", but may have since clarified it as meaning he's next in line for a crack at the Light Heavyweight gold. I don't think he's more-deserving of the fight than Machida or Jackson, but it's hard to argue with the selection after "Sugar" 'Shad caused a heavy makeout session between Chuck Liddell and the Octagon's canvas.


3. Based on his performance against Matt Hamill, Rich Franklin has shown he can be a legitimate contender at 205-pounds.


Jonathan Solomon: FICTION. There is no doubt that Franklin dominated Hamill in their fight, but did he show anything that would make me say he could step right in there with Rampage, Machida, Silva, etc. and beat them, not exactly. Franklin's stand up is superb and his kicks were highly effective against Hamill (who for some reason, was not looking to take the fight to the ground). However, what will happen if he's in there with an even better striker like a Rampage or Wanderlei? He may be able to go punch for punch, but I didn't see it in the Hamill fight. Franklin had a nasty cut over one of his eye's, against a more refined and accomplished striker, that would have become a big story in the fight. Instead, Franklin brushed it off and went about his business. Hamill, at this point in time, is not the test to determine if a fighter can step in with the best of the best at 205 and compete on any given Saturday. I'm a Hamill fan, but that's what I take away from the UFC 88 fight. Franklin did finish the guy, so he gets respect for that, but it was not the type of performance that blows you head over heels, ask Heath Herring about that.


John Curry: FICTION. I say false only for the simple fact that while I am a diehard Matt Hamill fan, he really isn't the marker for proving that you are ready for the 205 lb division. I mean for those who watched the fight, there can be no argument that Hamill did not play to his strengths. If he had, could the outcome of the fight have been different. I say the same thing now I said when I made the picks, if Hamill would have used his wrestling ability instead of looking to show off his striking improvement he would have most likely won. I will have to see Franklin fight against another 205 pounder before I say he is a legitimate contender for the 205 belt.


SCORE: 3 for 3. I don't see Franklin beating any of the top fighters at 205-pounds, though I'd love to see bouts featuring "Ace" and opponents like Wanderlei Silva, "Rampage" Jackson, Chuck Liddell, or even an opportunity to avenge an earlier career loss to Lyoto Machida. However, I still think Franklin would be wise to focus on a few of the more-marketable fights he has left at 185-pounds. Just because he'd need Jorge Gurgel to "Nancy Kerrigan" Anderson Silva's knee in order to obtain the UFC Middleweight Championship doesn't mean Rich can't face Dan Henderson, Nate Marquardt, or Michael Bisping.


---SWITCH!!!---


4. Dan Henderson or Nate Marquardt will receive a rematch against Anderson Silva before Yushin Okami receives his first shot at the UFC Middleweight Championship.


John Curry: FACT. Sorry to say this but either one would put on a better fight, money wise, than Okami would. I know that it would be much easier for the UFC to market a pay per view main event with either Hendo or Marquardt than it would be for Okami. If the UFC is willing to use Anderson Silva as the co-main event then the odds of the Okami fight would greatly increase, say added to the massive Couture vs. Lesnar fight. That isn't going to happen so I say one more fight for Okami against a household name on free television then we see him vs. Silva.


Jonathan Solomon: FICTION. I am not sure how Okami's hand is healing so I assume it's doing well. With the Karo Parisyan history, you would think Okami would lose his title shot for the foreseeable future. However, the middleweight division hardly has the quantity of opponents the other divisions do. I'm not sure the UFC would book Hendo vs. Silva II after Hendo's first win in front of this new audience. Marquardt? They can do better in the current sense. Yushin Okami is one of the few men alive with a victory over Silva (sure, it was by DQ, so what?). Redemption, revenge, they equal money. Unless Anderson has fights outside of his weight class, I'm thinking they will book his title defenses on a first come, first serve basis. I guess all this rides on Okami's health.


SCORE: 3 for 4.


5. WEC 36 should have been re-scheduled for a date closer to September 10th, when it was to originally air, as opposed to early November.


John Curry: FACT. Moving it almost 3 months away? Come on. There is no justification for that. I understand that the worry of hurricanes forced the move but there is no reason to move it that far away, especially considering the amount of training and work that the fighters have put in to make the event. Now you are only adding three more months of potential injuries. Just shameful. Two more weeks would have made sense.


Jonathan Solomon: FICTION. I hope Ike and any other potential storms don't do as much damage to the Gulf Coast as some may predict. With that said, I have no issue with WEC changing the date to November. UFC has two show's set for October so why double up on a weekend and risk burnout from your already limited audience? I'm not sure how tickets were selling so this also gives them more time to sell more and build more interest (if possible). Besides, the early November date will still give them about a month off before the December show featuring top bantamweight, Miguel Torres. Anyway, who knows whether the building was booked solid throughout September and some of October. I don't think booking the show in early November will have a negative effect one way or the other.


SCORE: 3 for 5. Sorry, Curry, but there's absolutely justification for waiting two months to put on the show. It's a service to the fans of Hollywood, Florida who are dealing with the reality of Ike, as well as something the company likely needs to do based on the amount of money they've invested promoting the show in that particular locale. How do we know there aren't already contractual agreements in place forcing the WEC's hand? The only problem I have is with the fact a number of competitors on the card were expecting to get paid tonight, win or lose, as opposed to in November. They have bills like everyone else, and it isn't as if even the top WEC guys are making six-figures per fight.


6. Fabricio Werdum is being far too cordial about being skipped over, once again, for a shot at the UFC Heavyweight title.


John Curry: FICTION.


Jonathan Solomon: FICTION. I really wanted to say "FACT" to something, but I cannot do it here. Werdum appears to be a smart man from the limited comments we have read. Werdum/Couture is hardly the big PPV event that Couture/Brock is. Simple as that. For Werdum, he could be pissed off about not getting a title shot, and privately, perhaps he is. But that accomplishes nothing. Unless he injures himself or loses a fight, he is all but guaranteed to get the first shot at the mini tournament winner. Now, if time comes and Werdum never gets a shot, that would suck. But, as I have said in the past, the UFC is in business to make as much $$$ as they can. They are not about pass up one of the biggest potential shows of the year to satisfy Fabricio Werdum and his fans. As harsh as that may sound, it's good business. Besides, Werdum defeated Gabriel Gonzaga and Brandon Vera since his loss to Andrei Arlovski. How does that earn him an automatic shot at the gold? Think of it this way, Fabricio could publicly have a hissy fit over this and fall out of favor with his bosses. Or, he can accept their decision and chill, train, improve, study for his future fight.


SCORE: 4 for 6. Really what is Werdum (it's pronounced Where-doom, had to clarify that because of some ass at the local bar telling me it was Were-dumb.) going to do? Go on strike. As much as it pains me to say, the reality is outside of Hardcore MMA fans, if Werdum were to disappear from the UFC, no one would notice. As a result of that, he just has to keep on keeping the management happy, winning fights, and being patient. Sooner or later he will receive his fight.

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Join us next week when two more participants discuss the memory of Evan Tanner, the DREAM 6 card, and a few other issues lingering out there in the land o' MMA...