Hit the Mat 02.16.09: Stike With Force

Posted by Matt McEwen on 02.16.2009

Matt McEwen looks at what a stronger Strikeforce might mean for MMA, and hits the mailbag after proclaiming Lyoto Machida the best fighter in the sport!

My original goal with Hit the Mat was to talk about things that not EVERY OTHER column on the internet was, but rather to hit on something interesting that wasn't beat to death just yet.

This week however, I think I have to talk about the major story everyone has been talking about for the past week and a half or so, and that is the Strikeforce purchase of the ProElite assets.

For the first time, I think we can honestly say that we have a company that could truly be a possible rival of the UFC. Maybe not next week, maybe not next year, and maybe not in the traditional sense, but certainly in the long run. With Affliciton and EliteXC, Dana White has happily pointed out that T-shirt guys and boxing promoters don't know jack about running MMA shows, and one way or another, both those groups have proved him right.

But Strikeforce is different precisely because it isn't a marketing campaign for a clothing brand, and not an overbearing boxing promoter jumping into a sport he thinks he can make a quick buck at, but rather it is an MMA promotion that has slowly but surely built it's market base up and never stepped beyond it's bounds. While it's highly unlikely that Strikeforce is going to be reaching UFC level revenues anytime soon, they do have the opportunity to position themselves as a strong MMA brand, and further crack away at the public's idea that UFC=MMA=UFC. Cracking that perception while turning enough of a profit to stay in business will be a HUGE success for not only Strikeforce, but MMA as a whole.

That should make White and the UFC take more notice of this deal than any other. I think it's telling that we have not heard any profanity laden tirades from White about this deal. It could be that they know that a strong #2 promotion (or #3 if you look at WEC as a separate entity) could make people appreciate just how good the UFC really is. Some rumors exist that the UFC would like to see another company do well to avoid possible government anti-trust laws, but whatever the reason, the silence is telling.

As for Strikeforce themselves, their track record of smart and conservative business practices show that they might make excellent use of their new outlets on Showtime and CBS. Hell, this is a company that with a national profile near zero managed to get on national broadcast tv with NBC. Yes, it was at like 2am on Saturdays, but still it is a feather in their cap.

Now, they have Showtime as a television partner. Say what you want about EliteXC - and you could say A LOT about EliteXC - their broadcasts were of high quality. Not always quality in the cage, but quality in the television product sense. Now, with more experienced matchmakers and strong contingent of fighters at their disposal, Strikeforce gets to relax and know that their TV product is going to take care of itself while at the same time having the confidence of a decent track record of good fights and shows.

How they handle the CBS shows will be telling though. They will have a huge audience available to them, and the fact that CBS still wants to air shows after the EliteXC debacle shows that they have a large amount of faith in MMA, but they will have to avoid the ratings trap. Concentrating on the ratings for CBS shows meant putting their biggest names in big fights on free TV for shows that were apparent money losers. If the idea was to build up to pay per view events, it would not work as none of their top fighters would be available as they were always fighting for free on TV. Strikeforce will have to juggle those priorities as well, but a deeper talent pool will help, and the fore-mentioned track record of putting together good fights and, more importantly, builidng good fights should do them well.

And, most improtantly to a fan like me, is that deeper talent pool that Strikeforce will have at it's disposal. Frank Shamrock, Nick Diaz, Cung Le, Jake Sheilds and Josh Thompson have all become stars of varying levels outside of the UFC hype machine, and with their new television partners, Strikeforce will have the opportunity to build new fighters into stars while using their existing stars on top of their cards. While Frank Shamrock versus Nick Diaz might not be the greatest fight on paper, it will be a match up of probably the two best shit talkers in the sport, and, at the very least, is a catch weight bout that will intrigue hardcore fans to go along with the more casual fans drawn in by the drama. And, with those two drawing the viewers, you can bet that they will take the opportunity to showcase their younger, exciting fighters and expose them to as many fans as possible.

Done right, the Showtime and CBS shows could be a lifeline to any company - it kept EliteXC in business much longer than was probably necessary. But in the hands of a proven company, it's a marketing opportunity you know the UFC would love to have.

And it belongs to Strikeforce all alone.

The Mailbag

Last week's article on my belief that Lyoto Machida is the best fighter in the sport set off an unprecedented amount of feedback for the article, so I thought instead of responding in the comment section, I would instead devote a bit of this week's article to the emails and comments I received. I've got to be honest, I was shocked by the number of people who agreed with me.

Hampage made the following remark in the comment section:

How do you think Machida would fare against Randy Couture?

As far as Dragon never fighting the elite, how would you explain his wins over BJ Penn and Rich Franklin?

Machida taking on Couture has already starting gaining a little bit of steam on the rumor mills, but I doubt that fight will happen. If it did though, I can honestly say that I would be drooling over it. The ultimate game planner against one of the hardest fighters to game plan for. That's the kind of mental game I love to see play out in the cage. It would be nearly impossible for Machida to not end up on his back at some point, so we would get a good look at his ground game, which would be nice, but I don't see any way that Couture could win the fight on his feet. His clinch is good, but Machida is no slouch there either. With dirty boxing negated, I think Machida picks Couture apart on their feet, so the ground game would tell the tale. If Machida's submissions are good, that might be how it ends, but if not, he could get caught on the bottom in a ground and pound clinic. Ok, that's enough breaking down a fight unlikely to happen.

As for whether or not Franklin and Penn equal out to elite wins, yes, they do. Franklin was the hottest UFC newcomer at 205, so Machida putting him out was a big, big win. Penn was outweighed, but he'd be tough for some heavyweights to deal with. Yeah, it's not the same as beating him at 155, but a win is a win. He also has a win over Stephan Bonnar which is quality - Bonnar may not be elite, but he is certainly a strong, solid fighter. And, to be honest, his list of UFC victims is impressive as well. While they may not be all great fighters, Hoger, Heath, Nakamura, Sokoudjou, Ortiz and Silva are all GOOD fighters. Say what you want about his style, but those are each quality wins.

Franz also weighed in in the comments section, with a defense of Fedor as the best in the world:

I agree for the most part, except there's no real proof that fedor can be beaten. Silva and GSP have losses, so yea, they can be beaten, but fedor has found a way to take down every opponent he has faced. Even if hes been in trouble during the fight, Fedor prevails.

I can't disagree with you about Fedor. The man is a beast, and I will have to see someone beat him to believe it can be done....but that wasn't entirely my point. Another commenter made my point for me - while Fedor comes back through damage, Machida never gets damaged. Fedor is most likely tougher than Machida, but I never claimed Machida was the toughest fighter in the world, or had the most heart. I just feel he is the most skilled, and avoiding damage is a huge skill to me.

The Last Emperorer disagreed with me:

You sir have no right writing an MMA column. Machida is great, there is no doubt about it, but BJ Penn gave him trouble and he outweighs him by alot, also I remember Tito nearly locking in that triangle, and he ain't no bjj black belt. Until Machida has fought and beaten tougher competition what you wrote makes absolutely no sense at all. Machida still has to beat the Forrest Griffin, Liddel, Rampage, Evans and Wanderlei. Until he has cleaned out the division you can not even consider him as best fighter in the world, that honor has to go to Fedor. Someone perhaps Evans will take machida down and either submit him or GnP him into oblivion. It's just he is a southpaw and has an Unorthodox Karate Side stance in a sport which at stand up is generally dominated by boxers/kick boxers. Once one man find a blueprint for decking the Kalib Starnes wannabe (Machida, Joking by the way) Machida will be destroyed by the division.

About Machida fighting tougher competition - first, I don't think he's exactly been fighting chumps his entire career, and secondly, it doesn't matter. I still think he's the most talented guy out there.

Now, as for someone figuring out the blueprint to beating Machida and the rest of the division running over him, I strongly doubt it. I'd honestly be surprised if Evans wanted to or was able to take Machida down in a fight, and I think Machida would pick away at him on their feet. Evans has power and is turning into a good counter puncher, but he's almost like Chuck Liddell circa 2004 with the looping KO punches. It is a fight I would LOVE to see though.

And finally, as for me having no business writing an MMA article, if someone was paying me for this, I'd 100% agree. Since it's for 411 though.....(I keed, I keed)....

GTFO also doesn't like me much:

This is the dumbest thing ever written.

This is dumber than Gumbs putting Fedor at number 6 on the p4p list.

This is dumber than thinking Andrei Arlovski can be a successful heavyweight boxer.

This is dumber than believing any of the Gracie's claims about their "actual" records.

This is dumber than reading The DaVinci Code and taking it as fact.

This is dumber than Scientology.

This is dumber than Dumb and Dumber.

Seriously?

Machida?

MACHIDA?

If Fedor, GSP, and BJ Penn were fighting the guys that Machida has looked good against, then they would've never been in trouble, either.

You're basing Machida's dominance based on SPECULATION.

Sure, Chuck hasn't looked all that great lately.

But Forrest? He just actually BEAT an elite fighter in Rampage.

And Rashad? Rashad doesn't need speculations - he's UNDEFEATED. Where I come from, THAT is what we call dominance.

And Rampage? You REALLY want to say that Machida is not only ready for Rampage,but would be a HEAVY favorite against him? What drugs are you on? Rampage has actually beaten several elite fighters - Liddell, Arona, and Silva to name a few - and because Machida beat Thiago Silva, you're ready to annoint him the best fighter on the planet?

Well, you're wrong.

This isn't a difference of opinion. You're just wrong.

In the future, when you're putting your articles together, I want you to think about the advice given to Nuke LaRoche in Bull Durham -

"Don't think son, you'll only hurt the team."

As humorous as that was - and I love the Bull Durham reference - you didn't do much to change my mind. Again, it doesn't matter who's fought who and who's beaten whom, I still think Machida is the most skilled guy in the division and that sport.

And since you never made any mention of that, I'll assume we don't have a difference of opinion on that either.

Gil does like me:

Alot of you really don't seem to know anything about mixed martial arts, your comments easily classify yourselves into the categories 'naive' and 'passive mma fans'. The original post makes a good argument. Machida is the most skilled fighter in MMA today, this statement will be supported by future fights, then we'll see where these criticisms will come from. Alot of passive fans demand sensationalism in order to be satisfied with a bout. Machida offers class, spirit, and technique, which leaves the predictable brawl and wrestle 'excitement' out of the equation. Good. I will surely leave the proverbial mma door open so you superficial fans can leave the sport once Machida becomes champion. Though he's not a marketable PRODUCT, he's a fighter- a much more respectable identity, like Fedor, Fedor has shown considerable holes in his game against Arlovski, and be prepared, once Fedor faces good competition again, something he hasnt done since Pride collapsed, he will lose. Cry babies... cry.

Gil got my point and ran with it......but I'm not sure I agree about Fedor losing next time he fights someone good....it's not like his last two fights have been against chumps. Success does sometimes breed complacency though. And Gil....did you notice 411 is currently hiring writers?

And, I did actually get a couple of emails this week as well. One in relation to Machida, and one that makes me feel like I'm filling out a dating questionnaire:

Brian Mabin sent this along:

This was a very well laid out article and I couldn't agree with you more. Machida is spectacular at game planning and being patient. This last fight certainly showed his under appreciated and under used power against a "killer" (Joe Rogan). I'm looking forward to him fighting Rashad, Quinton and maybe even John "Bones" Jones at some point. Thanks for the article, right on point!

See, some people got what I was saying about skills. Just like you, Brian, I'm dying to see Machida against the best in the division, and his win over Silva should force that into reality. A commenter mentioned a fight against Jardine, and I've got to admit that might be one of the more intriguing fights. Two very different fighters who owe a lot of their success to frustrating and confusing their opponents Another one of those chess matches I enjoy..

An interesting mention of Jonny "Bones" Jones too. While I don't think Jones is near ready for the top guys in the division just yet, the guy is a freak of nature and is likely to be a factor in the title picture sometime in 2010. If he stays as impressive in his next few fights as he was for the opening 8 or 9 minutes against Bonnar, the sky is the limit.

And, finally, [e-mail] wants to know the REAL Matt McEwen:

These questions are just so readers can get to know you. post them in the column if you wish to or you don't have to and just answer me back in email. I only have 5. first: What is your favorite submission? second: What is your favorite Knockout moment. 3rd: What is your favorite weight class. fourth: Who is your favorite fighter. and fifth: What has been your all-time favorite fight as an MMA fan?

My favourite submission? If you mean what I like to work on myself, I'm a big fan of pulling of omaplatas and gogoplatas. They can be difficult and fun, and the look on your opponent's face when you lock them in is priceless. If you mean in an actual fight, Dustin Hazelett's ricockulous armbar on Josh Burkman wins hands down.

My favourite KO....I'm a bit partial to Rashad Evans' head kick to Sean Salmon, but the shock of Gabriel Gonzaga decapitating Mirko Cro Cop is up there as well.

I don't really care about weight classes, just good fights. That's a bit of a cop out, but true.

Favourite fighter is a hard one. GSP is on that list, along with Machida, Penn, Fedor, Silva, Hazelett, Fitch, Faber, Torres and Mac Danzig.....he looks like one of my best friends, so I always have to pull for him when he's fighting. Again, a cop out answer, but I just love fighting, so picking a favourite is hard.

And finally, my all time favourite fight? Right off the top of my head, the Griffin-Bonnar fight at the first TUF finale comes to mind. While it may not have been the best technical fight ever, it had a lot of drama and watching two guys put it on the line like that was great.