The lackluster Evans-Silva event was a terrible way to start the new year for combat sports. But with Gayweather and Fuck-yow (stupid money-grabbing boxers) not getting it on this March, the UFC can capitalize and take center stage. They were plagued in 2009 by the absence of big fighters due to injuries (Georges St. Pierre, Lyoto Machida, Brock Lesnar, Shane Carwin and Anderson Silva) and Hollywood (Rampage Jackson shooting for a movie). Now, in 2010, it's funny that these fighters still pose a problem because they are recovering / would be recovering from injuries all at the same time (except Brock, bless your intestinal tract) ,thus creatubg a glut of potential prize fights and title matches.
Well, I guess I'd rather be wet than dry. Rather a surplus than a drought, I daresay. Anyhoo, here's the lowdown on all the MMA action coming your way through Balls TV or Studio 23. Forget the Randy Couture fight on Feb 6. and the Noguiera match after that (although the Australia event has Bisping-Wanderlei Silva on it. Hmmmmrmm...). After February, MMA comes alive!
1. UFC 111 on March 28
Big cards: Georges St. Pierre vs. Dan Hardy, Frank Mir vs. Shane Carwin
Dan Hardy is a talker. He has a mouth that would make fellow Brit Michael Bisping blush.Completely healed from his abductor muscle injury, I see GSP mowing down this Roach-trained boxer. But, still, you never know. Hardy has a way to psyche out people and put them out of their element. Look for him to bash GSP for being a French-Canadian. Or play the steroid card. Another thing to look forward to is Frank Mir's new body. He was hardly tested in his short fight with Cheick Kongo, so we don't know if that buff body is really up to the challenge of bringing down Brock. Shane Carwin would offer a good simulation of that. If Mir wins, that body is for reals man!
2. UFC 112 on April 11
Big Cards: Matt Hughes vs. Renzo Gracie, Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort (still in the works), BJ Penn title defense (if the Silva-Belfort doesn't pull through)
I kinda missed Matt Hughes. I was watching the Ultimate 100 Fights the other day, and I was reminded of how strong a wrestler he is. Though he may be a seasoned veteran, Hughes can still deliver it with thunderous powerbombs and suplexes. Don't forget that he has one of the most murderous rear naked chokes in the biz. I don't know Renzo Gracie. But, anyone with Gracie as their last name is automatically a Brazilian jiu jitsu master. Wrestler vs. Grappler. That should be interesting. Regarding the other two potential fights, I'd rather see Silva-Belfort than BJ Penn mowing down another poor lightweight contender. Both Silva and Belfort would be coming from fantastic finishes, with Belfort knocking out Rich Franklin and Silva shooing Forest Griffin out of the cage.
3. UFC 113 on May 2
Big Card: Lyoto Machida-Shogun Rua II
Rua should be wearing the belt right now. Damn that point system. It's so easy to cheat your way to a win. And, don't even get me started on the Randy Couture-Brandon Vera fight (which Randy questionably won). Machida himself was unconvinced and nonplussed about the win. Rua wants revenge and Machida wants redemption. I want to see how Machida would reinvent himself. He used to rely on his speed to evade kicks and punches. This didn't seem to work on Shogun who caught Machida with punishing kicks to the midsection and punches to the face.
4. UFC 114 TBA
Big Card: (Maybe) BJ Penn title defense
Is there anyone in the world who can beat BJ Penn at 155? It's not just talent anymore. Talent+hardcore strength & conditioning makes Baby J a bad boy! A monster of a lightweight, to put it more accurately. Gray Maynard has good striking. I've never seen Frankie Edgar fight yet. But, I think the best option is to import Shinya Aoki from Japan. This guy is baaaaaad! He's like the 155-pound spawn of Brock Lesnar. You think Brock Lesnar's crass for the "maybe i could get on top of my wife tonight" comment? Well, this guy breaks his opponent's arm with an armbar stopped too late. And then, to rub it in some more, he flips the finger on his pained opponent's face. Skills-wise, though, he's bad in a good way. You know what I mean. Nasty,wicked bonebreaker. Just what BJ Penn needs. (click here for Aoki's shining moment of crassness. You've got to see this.)
Well, there you go. That should make you drool and live until June. A shout-out to Brock Lesnar. Don't slim down just yet. We want more of your bulky ass! (although I heard he weighs only about 245 now) :D
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