411 MMA Fact or Fiction 10.29.08: MMA Better Off Without EliteXC, Sherk a Win Away from Another Title-Shot, Thiago Alves the #1 Contender, and MORE!!!

Posted by Bren Oliver on 10.29.2008

Was Anderson Silva toying with Patrick Cote? Would Josh Koscheck have done better against Thiago Alves with a full training camp to prepare? Was UFC 90 a rip-off? 411Mania writers Jeremy Lambert and Bren Oliver discuss these topics and more in this week's 411 MMA Fact or Fiction!

Hellllllllllllllllllo readership! Thank you for taking a few minutes of your life to give this week's MMA "Fact or Fiction" a onceover. For those of you habitual readers, welcome back to what should be another interesting edition of the column, and to all you first-timers, pat yourself on the back as you've just joined the best looking group of MMA fans in the history of the internet!

I've decided to take a step from behind the curtain and contribute to this week's FoF. Joining me is fellow 411Mania MMA News Reporter, and "Fact or Fiction" veteran, Jeremy Lambert. Each of us has some strong opinions to share in regards to our six savory special ingredients - the topics - so let's not waste time with any more formalities.

Readers...are you ready? Fellow columnist...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. The overall sport of Mixed Martial Arts is better off without EliteXC.


Jeremy Lambert: FACT. This was a tough one and while I enjoyed the EliteXC shows while they were around, I think the sport as a whole took a hit from the mainstream by the CBS shows. The CBS shows headlined by Kimbo Slice were under much scrutiny by the mainstream claiming that Kimbo wasn't a real fighter and shouldn't be headlining such a big show. The show not headlined by Slice went unnoticed but was probably the best of the bunch. This wouldn't be a big deal if it was universally recognized that EliteXC was the cause of a lot of shadiness but it was portrayed that the whole sport was shady, leaving a black eye for the time being.


Bren Oliver: FACT. Though the mismanagement of ProElite was a shame and they deserve credit for introducing the world to Gina Carano and getting MMA on network television, the sport is better off in their absence. They wasted millions of dollars putting on sideshow cards, failed to capitalize on the genuinely talented fighters they had under contract, and created an atmosphere more akin to professional wrestling than Mixed Martial Arts.


SCORE: 1 for 1.


2. Josh Koscheck would have fared better against Thiago Alves with a full training camp to prepare for him.


Jeremy Lambert: FICTION. His striking wasn't going to be at the level of Alves no matter how long he had to prepare and it didn't seem like he was ever going to be able to take him down. I can't see the fight playing out much different if Koscheck had a full training camp unless he did a lot of strength training in order to takedown Alves and hold him there for 15 minutes.


Bren Oliver: FACT. While the result may have been the same, I can't help but believe Josh Koscheck would have been better prepared for Alves with a full camp. Alves is a top Welterweight, not some debuting scrub, and someone with his abilities requires adequate planning time for - and that ain't two weeks. Koscheck was training for a judoka (Yoshida), not someone with Alves' Muay Thai and Jiujitsu skills.


SCORE: 1 for 2.



3. If Sean Sherk wins his next fight, he deserves another crack at the UFC Lightweight Championship.


Jeremy Lambert: FACT. Only because no one is really separating themselves from the pack outside of Kenny Florian, who still needs to get past Joe Stevenson. Sherk's victories over Tyson Griffin and another top contender would cement him over the likes of Edgar (a loss to Maynard), Guida (losses to Huerta and Edgar), Huerta (loss to Florian), Diaz (no real notable wins), and others. It would be a tough sell for a Sherk vs. Penn rematch but if Sherk continues to improve then I think he's really the only person who can contend with Penn in the division.


Bren Oliver: FACT. It makes sense that "The Muscle Shark" would get another title-shot were he to beat the winner of Stevenson/Florian. While BJ Penn smashed Sherk's face up somethin' good in their first bout, I'm fairly certain he'd look a little better were they to square off again as I'd expect him to attempt more wrestling and less stand-up.


SCORE: 2 for 3.


---SWITCH!!!---


4. Thiago Alves is absolutely the UFC's top Welterweight contender.


Bren Oliver: FACT. As I said in my column on Monday, Alves' performance against Koscheck was as dominating (if not moreso) than Georges St. Pierre's pre-title win over "Kos". "The (Non-Belarusian) Pitbull" has proven he can make weight, has a marketable look/style, and is extremely talented for his age. To be honest, I can't think of a current UFC Welterweight I'd rather see fight GSP/Penn than Alves, and that's coming from someone who is a huge fan of Jon Fitch.


Jeremy Lambert: FACT. Who else is there? Fitch and Serra just loss to GSP, Karo and Koscheck just lost to Alves, Hughes has lost to both men, and Sanchez has lost to Fitch and Koscheck. Alves has rattled off seven straight wins in the UFC and three straight wins over top 10 fighters. His takedown defense has improved by leaps and bounds and his striking is second to none. In fact, for the first time in his career, GSP may have to step into the Octagon against someone with better striking than himself. It's an easy fight to sell and it's an intriguing fight to watch.


SCORE: 3 for 4.


5. Anderson Silva's performance against Patrick Cote was more a matter of toying with his opponent than employing any sort of real strategy.


Bren Oliver: FICTION. I felt Silva was a bit apprehensive to engage due to Cote's power and hoped the Canadian would allow him to counterstrike instead of act as the aggressor. It was clear "The Spider" had no problem landing strikes when he chose to do so, and he's never been a flashy fighter outside of his entrances/celebrations, so I don't feel his two-stepping in the first ten minute of the fight was a matter of disrespect towards Cote.


Jeremy Lambert: FACT. I just think Anderson Silva was bored at UFC 90. He seemed more interested in trying to be entertaining than finishing Cote. Silva has never been one to rush in, make a mistake, and get caught but I don't know how trying to help your opponent up or literally jogging for a second is a strategy. If playing DDR is a strategy then I must be ready to knock someone out every Saturday night after having a few drinks.


SCORE: 3 for 5.


6. Buyers got their money's worth from UFC 90.


Bren Oliver: FICTION. On the bright side, fans can say they only paid half-price since UFC 89 was on a week earlier and for free. Then again, I'm not sure the card headlined by Bisping's win over Chris Leben was worth $22.50, so it could be a moot point. I enjoyed the showdown between Tyson Griffin and Sean Sherk, appreciating it even moreso because neither employed a lay-and-pray strategy, and got a kick...or uppercut to be proper...out of "Cigano" upsetting Fabricio Werdum's marshmallowy long-lost twin brother. I also sat in awe of Thiago Alves' ascension in the 170-pound rankings courtesy of Josh Koscheck. However, I like seeing finishes of any variety when I order a PPV, and UFC 90 didn't deliver on that front. The main event left a lasting impression on viewers, but the wrong kind, and it will go down as one of the UFC's least memorable events as a result. Not a bad show per say, but I wouldn't say much was missed by anyone who opted to pass on the subscription fee and read the live results instead.


Jeremy Lambert: FICTION. I wanted to say fact because overall I enjoyed UFC 90 but the fact is, people pay for the main event and possibly the co-main event. Nobody is buying UFC 91 for Catone vs. Sadollah. If Lesnar vs. Couture disappoints, people will be upset. Silva vs. Cote disappointed on a couple of levels and left everyone with a sour taste in their mouth. I know when I turned off the TV on Saturday I could help but feel a tad underwhelmed from what I just saw. A main event can make or break a PPV, I think Silva vs. Cote broke UFC 90. And all of Cote's friends who he told to bet on him.


SCORE: 4 for 6.



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Join us next week when two more participants discuss the future of a few EliteXC fighters, the potential of Strikeforce, Cote "taking" Anderson Silva three rounds, and a few other issues lingering out there in the land o' MMA...