UFC 104 Thoughts

I don't think anyone was expecting a fight (or outcome) like we got in the main event. There are a ton of ramifications coming out of this card, and the light heavyweight division just got that much more interesting. Let's not hesitate...

Barry Impressive. I'll admit to not giving Pat Barry the benefit of the doubt going into this fight. He proved me wrong. Convincingly. He used his quickness well to avoid Hardonk's reach and managed to dominate. Hardonk just looked off here. I wouldn't be surprised if he, like the rest of us, took his opponent a little too lightly. It could also be that Barry knew how badly he needed a check in the win column. He didn't disappoint.

Dutch Death Clutch. Stefan Struve looked awesome in his win over Chase Gormley. Unless you're seeing a fight with Nogueira or Mir, it's rare to see any kind of submission attempt let alone a victory in heavyweight contests. Struve has tilted the scales to a 2-1 Octagon record, so he has to be happy.

Spaced by Bader. How Eric Schafer survived the first round with Ryan Bader, I'll never know. The guy must have a Guida-esque chin to withstand that. Bader looked good the first round, but it was clear how much gas he blew during the second. Bader has shown great knockout power, and clearly falls on his wrestling acumen when faced with a guy who won't go down. This wasn't the most exciting fight, but it was an improvement over his semi-final fight on TUF, which I still remember fast forwarding through while yawning. Bader's undefeated thus far, making his immediate post-TUF career the most successful thus far.

Catch This! Anthony Johnson won pretty much how I thought he would: with very heavy hands. It was yet another domineering performance, and honestly, I don't think it'd have been much different if he came in at the proper weight. At least he had a good reason for his failure to make weight. This is, however, his second time he's failed to make weight (the first being his unsuccessful outing against Rich Clementi), and even though he's resolute this won't happen again, sooner or later he really needs to move to 185. Still, I see him being a possible championship contender in either class. As for Yoshida, I don't know what to say. He needs to hope Ed Silva gives him a match with a grappler next time.

Daddy's Home. This was the best I've ever seen Joe Stevenson. I thought Spencer Fisher would be able to control him, but Maestro Greg Jackson is clearly the Jesus Christ to Joe Daddy's Lazarus. If Stevenson keeps on winning like this, it won't be long before he receives his second lightweight title shot. I have a feeling this is in the cards, somehow.

He Finally Made the PPV Broadcast. Can we Shut Up, Now? UFC's resident redheaded stepchild, Yushin Okami, made his first televised appearance since defeating the late Evan Tanner last year. However, he was unsuccessful this go-round. The last guy to beat Anderson Silva looked totally outmatched against a very game Chael Sonnen, who joins Joe Stevenson in having his best career performance to date on the card. Sonnen completely smothered "Lightning," and perhaps quelled the calls of a rematch between Okami and Silva. I hope.

Time for a new Dental Plan. Yes, I know Gleison Tibau came in overweight. However, like the Johnson/Yoshida fight, I don't think it would have affected the result if he was within weight. Tibau's grappling clearly outworked Josh Neer, much like Kurt Pellegrino did back in August. I can't say I'm surprised. I was hoping he'd stick that armbar from the back mount, but no such luck.

Raising Cain. Cain Velasquez looked absolutely dominant in his fight with Ben Rothwell. Color me impressed. Rothwell is no pushover, and he fell prey to a 10-8 round before the stoppage. It's hard to say whether it was premature or not, but I think it was far more justified in the first round. That said, I don't think the outcome would have been any different had the fight went on much longer.

Clearly MMA Judges have Poor Vision Plans. As if to say, "what fight were they watching?" Seriously. I'm not going to say it was an absolute thrashing, because it wasn't. It was close, much closer than this month's spectacular Ben Hendeson/Donald Cerrone fight. But if I were scoring, I'd be calling for a new champion. Like much of the online MMA community, I'm totally baffled by this result. I felt Shogun fought a tactical, strategic fight that should have guaranteed him victory. He easily won rounds 4 and 5. 2 and 3 could go to Machida (though I feel 2 is questionable). That leaves the first round. I found Shogun to be the aggressor for sure. Now I like Machida, and I think he's one of the best out there. But he was outdone Saturday night, plain and simple. Shogun fought wonderfully and became the first fighter to take Machida to the limit. One way or another, Machida lost rounds in Los Angeles, which hasn't happened yet in the UFC. Machida almost looked stunned throughout the course of the fight, as his game had been tactically dissected. For the first time, he looked inferior to his opponent. Some people have said it's not a robbery, but let's be fair... the wrong man won. And he still has the belt that belongs to another. To me, that's robbery. As much as I enjoy Machida's fights, I'll be rooting for the challenger when they meet again. I'm sure I'm not the only one.

Well, let's take a look at my record for this event and how it affects my total standing:

Prelims: 1-1 (0.500)
PPV Total: 3-2 (0.600)
Event Total: 4-3 (0.571)
Career Total: 20-12 (0.625)

For what it's worth, I'd rather Machida have lost than have my average buoyed.

PTN, Minutiae...

Gaining Weight. This is the second consecutive PPV that has featured two catchweight fights. Of course, Franklin vs. Belfort was at least planned in advance.

Get the Stopwatch. If Yoshiyuki Yoshida ever is put into a fight with Thiago Alves, I'll begin wondering what he did to piss off Ed Silva.

Jackson is the Man. Now that Brock Lesnar is out of the UFC 106 event, and Jackson has shown what he can do with an on-the-skids contender like Stevenson, I officially predict an upset at UFC 108 when Shane Carwin takes on Lesnar. He's like MMA's answer to Rick Rubin; taking raw talent that seems past its prime and refining it like Rubin did with Johnny Cash and Metallica.

Seriously... Can we stop bellyaching about Yushin Okami? Please?

Another Mazzaggatti Classic. Steve Mazzaggatti continues to baffle beyond belief with his decisions. It seemed like Ben Rothwell was more worse for wear in the first round than when the fight was actually stopped. He must have the same vision plan as the judges...

Joe Rogan, You've Won Me Over Again. I am now more than ever a Joe Rogan fan after his jabs at the guys from "Entourage." I fell out of love with the show hard this season, and hearing him rag on a couple of one-trick pony actors brought a huge smile to my face.

No Gimmicks Needed. Cain Velazquez has some of the absolute best post-fight poses I've ever seen. I already loved the waggling finger and the folded arms as if to say, "And what!" But his shrug after beating Rothwell was priceless.

I'm no Lip Reader... But I think Ben Rothwell said, "What?"

Ha-do-ken! I love that Joe Rogan compared Machida to a character from Street Fighter. I have to say, I do think half his statements are ripped from the Ryu book of philosophy.

He Shouldn't have won, but... I can't fault Lyoto Machida for anything at all. He didn't say or do anything unbecoming of a champion. While I strongly disagree with his assertion that he was the superior fighter, he was also quick to agree to an immediate rematch. I give him a ton of credit for that. A lot of guys would be quick to push aside their most recent challenger. I even predict Anderson Silva would dance around a rematch. He may not have deserved the win, but Machida is still a class act.

OK. Let it be known. He's back. Shogun looked great. Granted, he didn't go out of his way to finish the fight, but given Machida's counterstrike style, he had the perfect gameplan going in. Not only that, but this was confirmation that the Shogun of old is truly back. He looked sharp as ever, had no trouble keeping his gas tank full, and really fought well. It wasn't a blowout, but it was enough to convince the masses. I'm looking forward to this rematch, and he's given me plenty of reason to root for him. Everyone loves a comeback.

So the biggest story coming out of this is the rematch promised by Dana White and agreed to by both Machida and Rua. Many pundits and fans have spoken out about having this be a free match on Spike. Permit me to throw my hat in the ring. I wouldn't be surprised if they listen. As much shit as people like to give Dana White, he has an excellent track record as far as appeasing disgruntled fans. Whether it was Shamrock/Ortiz III for free or nixing Henderson/Franklin II, he tends to do what's right. Given his personal feelings on the fight, I would put good money on him giving this one away and sparking a dynamite rating. Expect it to happen during a Strikeforce event.

I really, really hope Rua wins.

Oh, and please... enough about Yushin Okami.

Ultimate Fighter Thoughts: Season 10, Episode 6

This show is getting less likable for me every week. Probably because the individuals featured are becoming less likable. Except for Rashad and Marcus.

Can't really write much due to a busy schedule this week, but let's just leave it at another win for Rashad, another poor performance by Team Rampage, more silly jokes by Rampage alluding to Schoonover's chest, and two fighters with tons of baggage.

At least it started off somewhat competitively between both guys, but when Zak got kneed and then used his face for a focus mitt, it signaled the beginning of the end. There is really no reason he couldn't have gotten outta that triangle if he knew the first thing about a good defense. Applying pressure downward is just going to help the guy pull you in, adjust his leg lock and snuff you out. Stupid.

Zak comes off as a pushover in this episode. Sure, he's Wes Sims' whipping boy (why is Sims still talking?), but it's not like he's doing anything to help himself. Schoonover comes off like a borderline headcase between his drinking, scary tattoo and going head-to-head against Rampage. Some people will say he's standing up for himself. It wouldn't be the first time this has happened as DeMarques Johnson got in Michael Bisping's face last season, but there's something scary about Schoonover and his demeanor. He doesn't seem like the nerdy guy in the first episode who got railed by Rampage for his chest.

The jokes are getting stupider and stupider. Jackson and company should spend more time coaching and less time flexing their artistic chops and graffiti skills.

But the ever-polarizing Kimbo is the one who loses the most face in this episode. He's shown jumping for joy when Zak gets cut open. Way to be a team player. Stay classy, Kimbo.

What the hell kinda nickname is "Linderman," anyway?

Well, we have four fighters left. Mike Wessel and Matt Mitrione for Team Rashad, and Marcus Jones and Scott Junk for Team Rampage. It looks like we'll have both first round fights next week... I predict it'll be Wessel vs. Junk and Mitrione vs. Jones, with Wessel and Junk pulling off the exciting fight they're promoting.

I hope next week is more fight-driven. I'm really beginning to dislike these people.

Ultimate Fighter Thoughts: Season 10, Episode 5

Team Rampage is cursed. Either that or there's something to be said for a leader's ability to assemble a team and make it work. Yeah, it's probably the latter. This week's show was rife with crybabies, weirdos and 80's references. It was like an episode from Bizarroworld.

So, let's get right to it and get it outta the way. PTN, thought bullets:

• We start with Matt Mitrione griping about his shoulder and asking his coach if he can have a cortisone shot. I'm glad they aired this segment for practical reasons. It shows how vastly different this sport is from more conventional sports where such things are not only condoned but encouraged. Masking the pain will not eliminate it, and Rashad walks away with another reason to be wary of Matt.

• Hearing Rashad call Matt a meathead made me smile. How Archie Bunker of you, Sugar.

• Did I just call Rashad "Sugar?" I need a drink.

• Rashad and his coaches are filling in big Marcus that he may be the next fight. Marcus is all lit up like a third string quarterback getting put in the game at last. You know this can't end well.

• The focus this week seems to be put largely on Zak, the last pick who almost got ousted for the cameraman. Even his own coach says all he's got going for him are being a big guy and his wrestling. Yikes. Way to motivate your fighters, Lombardi...

• Zak shows a lot of frustration during Rampage's wall walking instruction. He keeps on saying "I can't" like that scared kid at the playground who's made it to the top of the slide but is too nervous to go down. The only things missing are the shakes and tears. If you really can't, you're pretty much shit out of luck in a fight.

• Next we get our first real dialogue from Wes Sims since the season premiere. It's not pretty as he accuses Zak of leaving his "Jensens" in the shower. Zak admits to blowing his nose but consistently denies using the hammerfist on his johnson. I can't believe I'm typing this.

• If he did, at least it wasn't all over a sushi platter. Painful memories from season 8...

• Remember, "Wes Sims never lets the truth get in the way of a good story." I'm just sayin'...

• Rampage says he wouldn't be embarrassed about spanking it in the shower. "Don't slip on it." I guess I'm kinda glad I don't live in the Jackson household...

• Matt continually reinforces his crybaby attitude, or as Rashad calls him, a "drama king." Watching him stand by himself in a ring throwing punches and kicks like a Muay Thai amputee was fairly amusing, especially given his cellophane cast.

• I like Rashad's coach's response to Matt's ongoing antics... ten push-ups--sore shoulder and all--each time he whines. Evans is clearly concerned about his team's sweep. Apparently, the only soft thing he wants on his team is Roy Nelson's gut.

• Scary moment during Team Rampage's session which leads to Zak blacking out in a Wes Sims triangle choke. It's not seen clearly through the camera lens what exactly happened, but the mic clearly picks up the snoring that occurs when trying to breathe through the nose is obstructed. I've heard that sound a couple of times while rolling, even made it myself. But never that loud. I've never seen someone black out from a choke... it's a common rule taught to all grapplers: when you're training, you tap before it gets too much. Same rule applies for a fight. Why endanger your health? It's even stupider during a training session. Zak doesn't look like Team Rampage's greatest hope for a rebound, that's for sure.

• An even scarier thought occurs to me at this moment... with all the focus being put on Zak and Matt this week, are these two duds destined to fight? Sweet Jesus Christ...

• Matt is shown grappling and moving around just fine. My first thought is, "shoulder injury my ass." Mike Van Arsdale speaks with disdain about Matt's "owie," and reinforces it my showing his permanently maligned right shoulder. Goddamn, that looks awful... If there was any hope of Matt receiving sympathy from his coaches or viewers, it went up in smoke with Mike's showing of skin.

• Rashad flat out tells Matt he can't ice his shoulder before drills. I'm liking him more and more as a coach.

• I'm sitting here in bewilderment while Matt literally references He-Man and the Masters of the Universe action figures. What did I just hear? So apparently he played toy surgeon as a child like that warped neighbor in Toy Story, putting Ram-Man's arm on someone else's frame.

• Dude just said he wanted Cringer's arm. Then reneged and said he'd prefer Battle Cat's. Wow. If he wasn't such a toolkit in training sessions, I might actually like the kid.

• Back at the house, Zak is still a target of verbal jabs. Of all people, Kimbo tells him to just laugh it off. Kimbo Slice, voice of reason. Then again, if anyone in the house is used to criticism, it'd be him.

• At the fight announcement, Rashad gleams with evil as he picks the fight. I could see him twirling a Snidely Whiplash mustache at this point. He goes and picks Justin Wren to take on Wes Sims. Marcus looks like he just got laid off. Rashad tries to console "big baby," but big man is pissed. The show seems to be angling that he'll defy some odds and really get aggressive in the cage.

• Back in the house, Kimbo continues to go on about getting another shot on the show. You know these type of conversations had to take place ad nauseum, but let's face it: if it doesn't happen down the line, why show Kimbo mentioning it every other episode?

• God hates us all when Justin and Sims weigh in. I refuse to comment further.

• Justin is an accomplished wrestler, but Wes does have a lot more experience. Thing is, he doesn't have the brains to complement that tenure as a fighter.

• The fight begins, and the folks at Hammerhouse have to be cringing as Wes gets taken town with ease. Team Rampage again shows its total lack of a ground game as Justin passes Wes's guard into full mount and an arm triangle. In a touch of irony, Wes refuses to tap, much like Zak did earlier to Wes's own triangle choke. Herb Dean begins raising Wes's hand to see where he's at... and Goddamn, that is one super-tight choke. Rampage yells for Wes to get out... OK, how, genius? The man's not breathing. Wes pulls a Zak and passes out. The streak continues...

• Rampage references the golden era of the WWF when Hulk Hogan would be caught in a sleeper hold and the ref would raise his arm to check on him. He was hoping for Wes's hand to shoot up on the third drop and result in a big time "Hulk Up." No such luck.

• Wes Sims isn't referring to himself in the third person anymore. This guy belongs on The Real World. Not TUF.

• Rampage again doesn't get in the cage afterward. Wow... Rashad tries to help up Sims who brushes off the advances. Another Rashad/Rampage confrontation leads to Evans calling out Rampage for his refusal to get in the cage after these losses. Rashad calls Rampage "selfish," and for once, Jackson has nothing to say in response.

Well, this is a lofty claim, but Wes Sims officially offered up the worst performance on Team Rampage thus far. There, I said it. Sure, Shivers was unable to keep his wind, but at least he never went down that bad. Even Kimbo lasted a full round before losing by LTKO. That was just sad. Even sadder is Rampage's continuing decline as a coach and likable human being.

Next week, it appears Kimbo gets his big break. And Darrill finally goes ballistic over the titty jokes. Oh boy...

UFC 104 Predictions

UFC 104 kicks off a 3-month stretch of title fight cards for the sport's premiere promotion, two of which are held by current top 10 pound-for-pound fighters, all three of which are very, very intriguing to watch. I'll be perfectly honest, I like the challengers that have lined up for Machida, Penn and Lesnar. Whether or not they can be beaten is the big question.

This card also features the UFC debut of a potential force in the heavyweight division not not named Roy or Kimbo. Considering he's going up against the guy who was slated to fight the current #1 contender at UFC 106, you could see the makings of a future challenger, here.

From top to bottom, I really, really like this card. I think it just offers a good mix of action and technical battles. If it comes off as good as it looks on paper, we could be talking a potential event of the year contender. Factor in another two undercard fights broadcast free on Spike, and you have all the more reason to like this event. Color me excited! Let's get to the main card predictions!

Anthony Johnson vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida: The last time Yoshiyuki Yoshida was seen on an TV screen, he was getting his bell rung by Josh Koscheck in one of the best knockouts of 2008. However, what we didn't see was his first round submission over Brandon Wolff at UFC 98, which took place on the non-televised preliminary card. However, he has his hands full with a guy who has been racking up impressive knockout victories and has only lost to an accomplished BJJ black belt and a series of eye pokes. Anthony Johnson is my pick for welterweight to watch. He has great wrestling, but his greatest strength is his explosive striking. In essence, he's very, very similar to Josh Koscheck. Being a Judoka, Yoshida is very methodical, which doesn't bode well considering Johnson's fire. Johnson by first round TKO.

Joe Stevenson vs. Spencer Fisher: This has potential to be fight of the night, no question. It's a close, close fight to call... Fisher has been on a tear, currently riding a three-fight win streak. Joe Stevenson abandoned a one-dimensional stand-up game that lost him three fights against BJ Penn, his most recent and upcoming challengers. In doing so, he looked like a different human being against Nate Diaz. It's tough to give the edge to either guy in terms of striking, wrestling or submissions. Fisher may have a slight edge in his Muay Thai training. Even their camps are top of the heap, as Fisher fights out of Militech Fighting Systems while Stevenson recently made the leap to Jackson's Submission Fighting. Damn. Short of flipping a coin, I pick Fisher to win this one by split decision. He's been on a tear, and momentum can be huge.

Gleison Tibau vs. Josh Neer: Both guys are coming off of losses. Tibau to Melvin Guillard, Neer to Kurt Pellegrino. On paper, this is a pretty good fight. But I see Neer coming up short. I was present for his fight against Pellegrino, and I saw how he struggled against a guy with advanced grappling. In fact, when it comes to BJJ black belts, he doesn't fare well at all. He's been defeated by both Diaz brothers, so I suspect his wrestling isn't enough to combat good escapes and ground control. Tibau by unanimous decision.

Cain Velasquez vs. Ben Rothwell: This should be an intriguing heavyweight clash. These guys are similar in expertise yet different in approach. The question comes down to whether or not Velasquez's wrestling can smother Rothwell on the ground. Rothwell is the biggest heavyweight Velasquez has faced to date, so I question whether Cain will be able to toss him around or take him down as easily as he did with Cheick Kongo. The other factor you have to acknowledge is the vast discrepancy in experience. Kongo proved tougher to put away than Velasquez expected in his unanimous decision win. Rothwell is yet another guy out of the Militech camp with a well-rounded game in striking, wrestling and submissions. I think he'll be too much for Velasquez, pulling out a win by submission in the third.

Lyoto Machida vs. Mauricio Rua (UFC Light Heavyweight Championship): This is the one everyone's eyes should be locked on, no question. There are, however, plenty of questions going into the fight... will Machida's elusive style neutralize Shogun's aggression? Is this Shogun circa Pride 2006? Or was his last big win due to a legend's continual decline? Will Machida's punching power be enough to floor Shogun? Will Shogun's striking speed be enough to catch Machida? I'm a huge fan fo this fight for a variety of reasons. First off, the UFC is in a no-lose position no matter who wins. Both fighters come in with strong fan bases; Rua's longtime hangers-on from his Pride Grand Prix glory days and Machida's new love affair with UFC fans. Both fighters have extremely credible records on paper. Both have proven to be exciting when the time calls for it. It's the top light heavyweight of yesteryear versus the current king of 205. While Mauricio Rua might not have been the first choice to take on the Dragon (that distinction was to belong to one of our two current TUF coaches), he certainly presents just as interesting a chess match. Perhaps more so than either Rampage or Rashad. To me, the biggest question in all this is which Shogun is gonna show up? Pride's golden boy, or the cadaver that fought Forrest Griffin and Mark Coleman. It's hard to say Rua's back based on his last fight. It was a first round TKO against Chuck Liddell, who is inarguably not the fighter he once was. Now, my thinking is as follows: If the lackluster Rua with bad knees and questionable gas tank shows up, Machida will make quick work of him. But if Pride Rua shows up, you have a fight. A fight that goes to decision in favor of the Dragon. Machida may not be unbeatable as he himself believes, but he clearly has refined his style to work in a cage. I think we'll probably find something in between... Rua has never been in a 5-round war. Neither has Machida, however, Machida has a style that conserves energy and effort until needed. I think Rua goes down in the 4th to a TKO victory, due to a lack of "intelligent defense."

Then there are the two undercard fights we have airing free on spike. Real quick my predictions:

Ryan Bader vs. Eric Schafer: Bader by Unanimous Decision.
Antoni Hardonk vs. Patrick Barry: Hardonk by first round KO.

I'm very, very excited for this card like I mentioned. I think it will have some interesting ramifications all around, especially for the two highest weight classes. Most of all, I like the overall dynamic of fighters on board for this one. You have UFC veterans, up-and-comers in the sport, legends from Pride and the IFL, and even some TUF blood thrown in as well. It's a very diverse card from top to bottom, and I'm expecting it to be one for the ages.

WEC 43 Thoughts

Goddamn, I love this promotion. I really hope whatever financial issues it is encountering are resolved. I can understand how a major MMA promotion not named "UFC" could struggle, and there are a lot of arguments out there for the dissolution of WEC into it's big brother.

If ever there was a statement made to keep this promotion alive and well, it came Saturday night. Even the lightweight division, which I feel doesn't hold the same merit as UFC's 155 lb. division, shone as bright as ever in the way of yet another fight of the year contender.

WEC is an excellent promotion. I'm conflicted about merging its weight divisions into the UFC. Sure, it will give the fighters more exposure, but how much when you have four additional divisions to promote? How do you balance those scales?

A topic for another time. Onto the fights!

Angel of Breath. Cheesy starter, but that's what Damacio Page was as he applied that choke on Will Campuzano. A hot start that ended just as quickly as it started just over a minute into the first round. Page continues to ascend the ranks and make a strong statement for himself as a future bantamweight title contender. He also just handed Campuzano his first career loss. Though coming to a fighter of Page's caliber, that's hardly a slam on the newcomer.

To the Wire. The Assuncao/Jabouin fight was nice and competitive between both guys. Jabouin clearly won the first round by knocking down Assuncao twice, but Assuncao's positional advantages and submission attempt in the subsequent rounds locked this victory for him. Both Rafael Assuncao and Yves Jabouin looked solid throughout. I don't agree with one of the judges giving Jabouin all three rounds, unless he/she really ranks defense above control. Bizarre.

I Could Barely Pronounce your Name Before. Now I'll Never Forget it. Wow, this has gotta be a contender for upset of the year. Mackens Semerzier just made a name for himself by submitting a guy with a 12-1 record (now 12-2), a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, the last IFL featherweight champion, a guy who has trained with Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, taught Georges St-Pierre some BJJ trickery, and also just happens to be the third best featherweight in the world. Y'know, behind the guy with the title and kid from California. That was impressive. Was it a Serra-esque fluke or the arrival of something big in WEC? I can't wait to find out.

The Streak Stays Alive. Dave Jansen and Rich Crunkilton really gutted it out in a solid three-round tilt. Both guys were clearly breathing fumes at the dead end, but man did they stick it out with each other. Crunkilton looked tired at the end, but other than that showed no signs of cage rust after a lengthy lay-off. Good effort by both guys. Incidentally, what was up with the referee missing the obvious low blow/reaction and then standing Jansen up over and over again? Is he trying to top Steve Mazzagatti for bad calls?

Damn. Scott Jorgensen looked absolutely nasty in his TKO win over Noah Thomas. It was short, sweet and brutalicious. Nice escape from a triangle choke that hearkened to Anderson Silva's win over Travis Lutter... only not as effective, clearly.

And that was for the Interim Title! With their sixth title fight this year, WEC managed to produce their third fight of the year contender alongside Miguel Torres vs. Takeya Mizugaki and Mike Brown vs. Urijah Faber II. These guys put on a clinic, utilizing every possible element in MMA's various arts, and pushing each other to the limit. Honestly, this could have gone either way on the scorecards. The second and third rounds clearly went to Henderson, who controlled very well from in the guard and landed some solid shots. The latter rounds were owned by Cerrone, who stepped up his game and got more prolific with his ground game and submission attempts. Who won the first round? Such a tough question, as it could easily be considered a draw... I go with Henderson, though. Why? While Cerrone attempted several submissions, Henderson spent a greater amount of time vertical, trying to rain down blows from above. An argument could be made either way. But even Cerrone himself has admitted he felt Henderson won the fight. I'd be hard-pressed to argue a better fight for the calendar year, thus far. Aside from the aforementioned WEC title fights, the only other one that even comes close is Sanchez vs. Guida. Amazing performances. Amazing resilience. Both guys deserve all the accolades they receive for that gem. As for Jamie Varner... he may not have the Cowboy riding into town, but he still has a fight on his hands.

All in all, a night of very competitive, entertaining fights with some surprising finishes. This is a card that any promotion would be proud to put on, and it makes a massive case for WEC to continue living independent of UFC. I'll be watching that main event over and over for quite a few months to come.

As for the main card fights themselves, I whiffed on the main event but called the correct winners for each of the other fights. Here are the stats:

Event Total: 3-1 (0.750)
Career Total: 16-9 (0.640)

Now with the announcement of WEC's intentions to run monthly fight cards starting with November's card, which is headlined by Mike Brown's third title defense against Jose Aldo, I'm really excited. I plan on soaking up these free fights as often as possible, and stand by my claim that WEC has consistently put on the most entertaining fights this year. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for UFC's little brother, and hope it stays strong.

Especially after a night like this!

Ultimate Fighter Thoughts: Season 10, Episode 4

Finally, a competitive fight. Finding one this season has been like finding a needle in a haystack. The overall theme of the show so far has been one of intrigue and drama. (How will Kimbo do? How will Rashad and Rampage behave? What's the over under on Wes Sims lying again?) That has quickly shifted to the prospect of a Team Rashad shut-out, coinciding with Rampage's frustration. So, let's get to it with...

PTN, thought bullets:

• We pick up where last week ended with Kimbo dejected and Roy Nelson rubbing his "big ol' belly," as Rampage would put it. Nelson goes on the dickhead offensive, trying to hug an angry Jackson. Nelson gets a shove for his troubles and an under-the-breath fat comment. Nelson is well on his way to filling the void left by Tim Sylvia in terms of style and attitude.

• Nelson bumps bellies with his teammates. That just happened.

• Kimbo reflects on his loss and vows improvement. I'll give Kimbo this much, he keeps a positive attitude. This season has done a lot to paint his reputation as favorable. His skills as a fighter, as I've mentioned before, are the bigger question.

• This likable nature is reinforced further when Marcus Jones is found in the hallway drenched. Kimbo immediately tries to nurture the big man and fan him with a towel. This was the big tease of the week: will Marcus be able to compete or will Kimbo take his place? This was a massive letdown in all honesty. We never get an answer as to Marcus' condition, and for all intents and purposes, Kimbo remains in limbo.

• I should copyright that rhyme.

• This is the third time in four episodes we've seen Marcus in questionable condition. It could be the UFC is showing this footage to foreshadow a returning Slice, but after this week's teaser, I'm skeptical.

• Seeing Rashad motivated for a full sweep was cool, especially when it came to the strategic planning session. I don't know how many TUF coaches have planned this far out, but it shows the widening gap between coaching styles in Rashad and Rampage.

• It was interesting to see Justin Wren politely request he not fight Scott Junk as planned due to their friendship. Before Rashad even uttered the name "Jardine," my mind tracked back a few months to the build-up for the Jackson vs. Jardine fight, and Rashad's very public reluctance to fight his friend and teammate. Sure enough, he referenced the same incident himself to the camera. Rashad and his coaches promised Wren they'd reconsider the fight.

• This was also a nice bit of TUF history coming full circle, as Rashad and Jardine were opponents in the Season 2 semi-finals. To see how their bond has grown since that fate-changing fight has been a nice little footnote to the show's canon.

• We get a little insight into two fighters who could be game changers for Team Rashad, namely Scott Junk and Marcus Jones. Rampage sings Junk's praises as being a legit tough guy, and admittedly he does look solid. Rampage also takes time to talk up Marcus' strength. At his size, I don't think that's in question. The bigger variable is "how healthy can he stay?" Shit, if Wes Shivers found himself doubled over and gasping like a fish out of water, how Marcus will fare considering he's A) nearly passed out in training, B) apparently tweaked his knee (though this is questionable) and C) is getting cold sweats for no discernible reason.

• Somehow, Matt Mitrione thinks it's perfectly alright to tell a member of the opposing team about Rashad's planned fight lineup. Speculation runs abound that he's scared of fighting Marcus. OK... so, talk to one of your own teammates, guy! Seriously, the man can't have too much upstairs if he thought this was kosher.

• The loose-lipped Mitrione is quickly bestowed the title of "Snitch" and apologizes to Rashad. Here we see another difference in coaching... Rashad responds with confusion and bewilderment. I get the impression if this were Rampage, the response would be far more explosive.

• We have our fourth fight in Brandon Schaub vs. Demico Rogers. Now this oughta be good. Schaub seems to be a solid overall athlete and Demico is a very good wrestler. Rampage jests that he almost didn't pick Demico because he looks and fights like a bigger version of Rashad. Funny.

• Rampage admitting that he's having really shameful thoughts is kinda telling. There's a lot being shown that adds up to his personality as being fun and affable, yet easily frustrated when things don't go his way. Recall last year when he came unhinged after his loss to Forrest Griffin. Here we see him taking a severe ass-kicking in the competition. You have to wonder how much this played into his decision to focus on acting.

• I'm not justifying the above at all. Rather, I think it's justified in Rampage's mind. This is really jarring to watch because honestly, I love Rampage as a fighter and a character. I guess his negative side comes out just as easily as his comical side.

• Again, the differentiating coaching styles are further emphasized in the locker room. Rampage and crew show up minutes before the fight while Rashad and his coaches are with Schaub from the word go. I'm having flashbacks to Season 7 where Rampage showed up after the fight announcement because he overslept after a night of watching movies. He's a natural fighter, but he just doesn't seem to have the discipline commonly associated with modern MMA.

• Again, this is a precursor of things to come. I can just feel it.

• The above scenario isn't leaving Rogers with a warm feeling... I don't blame him. I have some inkling of what coach support can do. It's huge... I'll explain later.

• The fight is pretty aggressive and Demico looks really, really good in the takedown game. Even on the ground, he looks strong, passing the guard easily into side control and maintaining a good position until he goes for mount. Mount is tricky for big guys... you have to keep your opponent pinned down solid. I'm almost 6'2", and have pretty long legs. In cases like that, it's tough to keep your weight pressed down and still maintain a vertical posture, which looks like it happened hear. Schaub is able to scramble out of the mount and wind up in Demico's guard. From here, he passes and leaves Demico scrambling with a wide open neck. Cue the anaconda choke, and damn... it is tight. A tapout later leaves Team Rampage 0-4. Ouch.

• Rampage asks if he just tapped out to that choke. Yes. It was an anaconda, and I can pretty much verify that with the exception of the D'Arce choke, it's the tightest no gi choke in grappling. Not pleasant at all.

• The scene that follows is disheartening. Now, you could argue that if Rampage were in good grace with Zuffa right now, they'd edit around this somehow. But I honestly don't know how you could downplay it... Rampage doesn't even get off his chair to console his fallen fighter. He stays put and leaves that duty to Rashad. Wow. Just wow.

• In a twist of irony, we have li'l Rashad consoling big Rashad. Something fitting there in a metaphorical sense, but I'll leave that for you to decipher.

• Rampage finally communicates with his fighter outside the cage, gently criticizing him for not sticking with a ground n' pound gameplan. It's not overbearing, but in the first few moments after a loss, I can only imagine what kind of taste that must have left in Demico's mouth.

• Rampage calls a team meeting and vows no more losses, instructing his coaches to focus on the fighters strengths rather than their weaknesses. This seems so counter-intuitive to me, I think I need a scotch.

• I really thought Demico looked good and controlled most of the fight. He made a wrestler's mistake of leaving his neck too exposed and paid for it. But on the whole, he's got a lot of genuine potential. This was the best fight on the show thus far and offers hope for improved contests.

In the second half of this episode, you pretty much forget Kimbo's involved at all. The paradigm has shifted to the dynamic between coaches, and man, is it telling. Frank Hyden at MMA Torch had an excellent analogy in his review that I'll let speak for itself:

"Rampage not consoling Demico after his loss speaks a lot to Rampage's character as a coach. Some people can't coach, Rampage is one of them. Being a bad coach doesn't mean that you're a bad fighter, it just means that you can't teach. It doesn't make you more or less of a fighter. Michael Jordan might be the best basketball player of all time (a debatable topic, to be sure), but he's horrible as a GM. I really, really like Rampage, he's such an entertaining personality. However, the fact is, he can't coach worth a damn."

Couldn't have put it better myself.

Permit me to step on my soapbox and relate a moment to the importance of support. As I've mentioned, I train in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and have been at it for a year. My teacher is a black belt under Renzo Gracie, and is a phenomenal coach. I saw him corner my classmates in a tournament once, and marveled at his technical expertise, ability to communicate clearly and eagerness to support us in both victory and defeat. It makes a huge difference in team confidence for the competitors and spectators.

I cannot for one second imagine him abandoning any of us the way Rampage did with Demico. And yes, I'll use the word "abandon." The role of a teacher, even in disgust, is to be supportive. That's why teaching and coaching martial arts and fighting isn't for everyone.

I foresee more of Rampage coming unglued in the weeks to come. He has very few true studs on his team, and if he does manage to snare any victories, they will be few and far between.

Ultimate Fighter Thoughts: Season 10, Episode 3

Wow.

I'm kinda speechless right now. I have to wonder if the Kimbo Curse has officially followed the UFC and made its way into TUF. The Kimbo Curse, for those of you who don't know, mandates that if Kimbo's name is attached to a fight, two things will inevitably happen:

1. A ton of hype will go into that fight.

2. That fight will never live up to said hype.

I think informed MMA fans would have expected Kimbo to underperform at some level. However, I don't think any of us expected to succumb to LTKO. "Love Tap Knock Out."

I can't credit either guy with a great performance, but let me get to that below... PTN, thought bullets.

• I'm having a tough time following Kimbo's line of thinking displayed at the beginning. His "Enemy/Inner Me" monologue was hardly Shakespearean. Also, it would be nice to know exactly what his inner me has done to wrong his heavily bearded outer me. 'Cause I have no friggin' clue.

• The longer this opening goes on, the more I want to ask Kimbo to leave the Zen speak for Diego Sanchez.

• Kimbo says he'll put Kimbo to rest when he shaves the beard. I'm wondering if anyone in the house is anxious to get an electric shaver and drug him upon hearing this.

• Kimbo's agent reportedly had a clause in his contract that nobody fuck with the man's beard. Wow. I guess he's MMA's equivalent to ZZ Top.

• Team Rashad's coaches still don't know what to make of Roy Nelson. Teaching him has proven tricky at best, and Rashad thinks he may be too independent for his own good. I guess when you don't fit the "traditional" mold of a professional fighter, you could over-compensate by trying to be a bit too individualistic.

• The housemates are probably spot-on in acknowledging that were the fight a PPV main event, Kimbo would get the lion's share of the payday. My thoughts drift to Brock Lesnar's debut as a then-unproven commodity, and more significantly, Gina Carano's oversized purse for her loss to Cris Cyborg.

• In all fairness to Kimbo, it's not as if he demands such ludicrous amounts. We have YouTube and EliteXC for building the pseudonym that used to be Kevin Ferguson into MMA's biggest hype machine.

• It was funny to see how Keith Jardine's presence in the gym set off a chain reaction that almost led to our first fist fight outside the Octagon this season. Jardine wasn't even involved directly, but was rather used by Rashad as a talking point to irk his rival coach. It was interesting to see Rashad seemingly prod then retreat when Rampage began the verbal assault.

• Marcus Jones is not gonna last. That was my first thought when I saw him limping along. I began having flashbacks of this enormous dude huffing and puffing for his life after a basic conditioning drill. More on this later.

• He also seems like the biggest kitten in the house as his sensitivity was quickly pointed out by his coach and his housemates. He must also be the first aspiring MMA fighter/gardener I have ever heard of.

• Kimbo is definitely being painted as very humble this episode. Which is good for him, because in spite of his stigma with MMA purists, at least people can turn around and appreciate his personality.

• Before he goes all thuggish talking about guns and the streets.

• Rampage remains this season's highlight with his one-liners. His trash talk on James McSweeney and Roy Nelson's feet not getting wet in the shower were cliche at best, but his delivery is so spectacular, I can't help but laugh.

• Then he broke out the shaved dome. I legit looked at the screen and said, "Oh, no he didn't..."

• The fight begins tentatively. Both guys feel each other out on the feet and Kimbo begins throwing some stiff jabs. Pressuring Roy against the fence, he's managing to do a much better job of avoiding the takedown than he did with James Thompson.

• And then comes the inside leg sweep. A prophecy is foretold of things to come when Roy Nelson unloads the baby version of Brock Lesnar's hammerfist on Kimbo's dome. I think stubbing one's toe would evoke more pain than this.

• Second round begins and Kimbo comes out with more fire, igniting a one-two combination that stuns Big Country. But one knee attempt later and I'm getting a sense of deja vu.

• It's very hard to get someone in the crucifix once, let alone twice. I attribute this more to the loser's defense than to the winner's offense.

• Thank you Herb. You just saved Kimbo from a fate worse than noogies.

• Roy could use some humility, lest he be lampooned by MMA fans everywhere. He is talented, but he didn't look stunning in this outing by any means.

• He's also doing himself no favors by saying he's ready to go home and have something to eat. I understand character development, but c'mon...

• Yep... sure enough, Marcus looks to be on the outs for next week and Kimbo is positioned to step in and redeem himself. I hope this happens for the UFC's sake. For one, Kimbo is needed on the show worse than ever now that the Rampage/Rashad fight is off. Second, if he goes the distance in a potential second fight, he can be touted as the internet sensation-gone legit, and a huge comeback kid. It's good marketing for the UFC.

Perhaps the most shimmering silver lining in this episode besides the door being cracked for Kimbo is the shift in perception he's likely to receive from the masses. You have to remember this is a guy who hasn't "paid his dues," and is oftentimes questioned if not outright lambasted for his performances. He has largely remained an enigma since the collapse of EliteXC. While in that promotion, he was painted as someone who solely fought for the money.

UFC took the opportunity to show the "softer" side of Kimbo and humanize him. The end result? Some people will view him fondly as a nice, misunderstood guy who really is trying in earnest to become a pro.

Then others will view him as an OK guy who just doesn't belong in a cage. The polarization simply won't stop just because he was painted warmly. There will always be critics who acknowledge a nice disposition in lieu of absent talent.

UFC had better hope they accomplished the former big time if they want this season to be a success.