Why Mir?

Frank Mir is a lot of things; heavyweight contender is not one of them.

The announcement of Mir and heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira as coaches of the upcoming season of the Ultimate Fighter reality series, has been met with a lot of anger, resentment and disappointment from MMA across the world.

Frank Mir does not deserve a shot at the title. Why would the UFC do this?

Look no further than to what’s left of the UFC heavyweight division. The lose of Randy Couture, Tim Sylvia, Mirko Filipovic and possibly Andrei Arlovski have left the division a shell of its former self.

In response, the UFC has started building the division from the bottom-up. Shane Carwin, Cain Valensquez and Brock Lesnar are just a few of the fighters who have been added in an attempt to build a future for the fleeting division. While the future looks bright, the present doesn’t look so hot.

What the UFC needs is time. What better way than The Ultimate Fighter? The popular reality series gives the organization both the time it desires (for the division to work itself out) and the promotion it needs.

Still, why Frank Mir? Other options for the title are simply lackluster; Brandon Vera and Fabricio Werdom have recent, high profile loses, Heath Herring owns three loses to the champion and Andrei Arlovski doesn’t even have a UFC contract.  That leaves Frank Mir.

After making quick work of Brock Lesnar, Mir has positioned himself as a man on the rise. Riding a two-fight win streak over unranked opponents normally doesn’t mean much, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

Due to his high profile victory and high visibility as face of the WEC, Mir was chosen for one reason only, he sells.

The two most deserving candidates are far from appealing.  Fabricio Werdum is a virtual unknown outside of the hardcore MMA community, and Brandon Vera isn’t much more publicized. *

The UFC seems to agree, and has chosen Mir because of his ability to sell more seats and get higher ratings than any other heavyweight on the roster. No, Frank Mir is no Randy Couture, but Brandon Vera is no Frank Mir. (Not saying much, I know)

People forget that Mir is an interesting guy. As a coach of The Ultimate Fighter, the former heavyweight champion will introduce the casual MMA fan to the cocky world of man once considered the future of the heavyweight division.

Will he stand a chance against Big Nog? Doubtful, but that’s not why he got the job. Mir’s got the gig for simply being the guy who was in the right place at the right time.

Fittingly, the show itself has been muddled in controversy from hardcore fans since its debut; this will do nothing to change that. Mir’s presence will incite, where a more deserving coach would simply create a stir.

No, the choice of Mir is not the one that most MMA fans would have made (including myself), but it may be the one that helps move the stagnant division in the right division.

PEACE
Brett ” The Conqueror” Beverly

* Werdum and Vera will get an opportunity to via for position when they face off at UFC 85 in London.

The Future of Matt Hughes

Many thought he was done. The post fight statements of Matt Hughes after his devastating loss to Georges St.Pierre seemed to indicate that retirement was a very lucrative option. Apparently it wasn’t lucrative enough.

Yet, the reasons behind Hughes’ return are unknown. Why would the greatest welterweight champion in the history of the UFC continue? The answer may involve two names: Matt Serra and Anderson Silva.

Season six of The Ultimate Fighter didn’t go as planned. While Hughes was forced to endure the Nanny-like verbal assaults of then-champion Matt Serra, the crowd-pleasing match between the two never materialized. What better time than now?

So why wouldn’t Hughes just step in and fight Serra? For starters, who knows just how good Matt Highes is. Is he washed up? Or is he simply the second or third best welterweight in the world? A win over Alves would state the latter; a loss would push the future hall of famer into retirement.

If Hughes gets past Alves, the fight would serve as a perfect warm-up for Serra. Not only would the fight be a good way of gauging Hughes’ level of competition, but it would serve as a test run for the much larger fight.

Remember, Matt Serra fought just last month. If Hughes remained inactive, he would be facing the former welterweight champion after 8 months or more of inactivity. It is always better to be fully prepared.

The other possible reason for the return of Matt Hughes is a bit of a stretch. Hughes has always been intrigued with the possibility of fighting Anderson Silva. Before writing this fight off, think about it.

If Hughes were able to defeat Alves and Serra, would it really place him in line for shot at George St.Pierre again? Doubtful; Two consecutive loses to the Canadian have ensured that.

The middleweight division needs someone new. Silva has been so dominant that rumors have been circulating that welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre could be his next opponent. Why not Hughes?

If Hughes were to defeat Alves and Serra, his position of contender would be restored. Who better for Silva to fight than a living legend? If Hughes wins, he’s a god; if he loses, he’s (just) a welterweight. Win or lose, the fight would create intrigue, as well as set up a future fight with the welterweight champion. This is the definition of win = win.

Whatever the reason, Matt Hughes’ return at UFC 85 comes with many questions. The man has nothing to prove. But more importantly, the man has nothing to lose. Why wouldn’t Hughes pursue the fights he’s always wanted in a final run? It’s not as if he’s fallen of the cusp of competition (ala Ken Shamrock, Dan Severn). His last fight was for the welterweight title!

The truth is, unless Matt Hughes himself tells us why he’s returning, we’ll never know. Something tells me that if we save all of our questions until the end, Professor Hughes will show us his reasons soon enough.

Monte Cox Must Be Stopped

Recently, Tim Sylvia signed a contract with a new MMA promotion called Adrenaline MMA (formally M-1 Global). The president and part owner of this new organization is Monte Cox.  This normally would be simply news, nothing more, but Monte Cox is also Tim Sylvia’s agent.

With power comes responsibility. This is something Monte Cox has not exercised.  As both the president of a major MMA organization and agent for many of the sports top competitors, isn’t Cox operating under a conflict of interest?

It’s not like we don’t have a precedent for something of this nature. Back in 2001, another one of the sports leading agents, Dana White, became a partial owner and president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

At the time of the deal, White had an impressive list of clients that included (then) UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz, as well as the division’s top contender Chuck Liddell. In order to take his position atop the newly named Zuffa, LLC, White resigned as the fighters’ representative.

MMA is far from the first sport to have experienced such a situation. Major League Baseball and the National Hockey League are just a couple of major sports organizations who have seen player representatives take leadership positions within the league.

Not surprisingly, neither organization has ever allowed these potential general managers, presidents or even coaches to maintain a stable of clients. What if David Ortiz was a client of Theo Epstein? How fair would these negotiations be to David Ortiz? What if the New York Yankees wanted to via for his services?

Think about this: what if the IFL wants to offer a contract Ben Rothwell? They have to go through Monte Cox. Even if Adrenaline MMA allows Rothwell to fight outside of the organization (and they do), which organization would get priority?

What about the fighter’s perspective? Ben Rothwell is relying on Monte Cox to evaluate how much his contract is worth.  Do you think Cox will be slighted toward his organization in a negotiation? How’s would Cox react to a bidding war from a competitor? How is any of this fair for someone like Big Ben? Simple, it’s not.

Monte Cox is the agent of such fighters as Rich Franklin, Jorge Grugel and Rich Clementi, and should not be allowed to be the head of such a fight organization. While it is a good thing that fighters are being given more and more options in a lucrative free agent market, responsibility is something that shouldn’t be abused by any organization.

No one is fired up about this issue. No one seems to care. If Dana White were representing Chuck Liddell, irate fans would come out of the woodwork.

Well, now it’s time to care. Organizations listen to the forums and blogs. MMA media is in its infancy and now is the time to be heard; Monte Cox shouldn’t be allowed to do what he’s doing because it hurts MMA.

Screw Adrenaline MMA. Who cares about them? It’s MMA that I’m worried about. If fans sit back and allow anyone to do anything, the whole sport could suffer. Remember, this is the same sport that was relegated to Las Vegas and was banned from the United States. Change needs to happen in all aspects of the game.

It isn’t that people like Monte Cox are necessarily doing bad, it’s that they’re allowed to do whatever they want. The sport needs regulation and you (and I), the fan, are the only ones that can see to it that change happens.

PEACE
Brett “The Conqueror” Beverly

Book Review: Fit to Fight

 

If your goal is to become a professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, or to just be in shape like one, then the Fit to Fight strength and conditioning program is for you. Author Jason Ferruggia has put together an effective and impressive training manual designed specifically for the aspiring MMA warrior.

What is especially helpful to the MMA practitioner is how Jason structures the program around the specific needs of fighters. As he points out, too many fighters use antiquated training programs that were originally developed for use in bodybuilding or conventional sports like football. Jason clearly delineates the differences between the training required to be a fighter and the training used in regular sports routines. 

Fit to Fight is more like an encyclopedia than a book. Everything a would-be fighter needs to know regarding strength and conditioning is covered in easy to understand detail. Jason lays out multiple exercise routines designed to fit around each individual’s needs, complete with illustrated instructions on how to properly perform the exercises. This guide also covers much overlooked topics such as nutrition and supplementation, flexibility and injury prevention, and even proper rest and recovery.

The bottom line is that Fit to Fight delivers a well thought out, well written, cutting-edge MMA strength and conditioning program. 

 

 

Jason “Fightstalker” Taylor

 

 

Fit to Fight is available at Penguin Group

 

UFC 83 Picks and Preview

At last, UFC 83 is upon us. This should be a solid PPV that hopefully will end the Terra in the welterweight division. More importantly, it should allow to return to my rightful spot atop the FightStalker fight picks. Each UFC Fight card means me and the Stalker go head-to-head; currently we are all evened up at 2-2-2. So, in effect, we’re both losers. That ends today.       - Brett “The Conqueror” Beverly

Welterweight Championship

CH: Matt Serra (8-4) (6-4) vs. Interim CH:Georges St.Pierre (15-2) (9-2)
Conqueror: GSP by TKO in 2. God help us all if this doesn’t happen. Georges St.Pierre is a much better fighter than “The Nanny” and anything less than domination would be absurd. Serra’s reign of “Terra” needs to come to an end. Holding the title for nearly a year with out defending it, regardless of the reasons, is too damn long.
Stalker: GSP by  TKO in 3.Trust me, I wish this fight would end in round one, but I have a feeling Serra is going to make GSP work hard for his win. Do I think GSP will win? Let me just put it to you this way, if GSP doesn’t win this fight, my entire understanding of this world will come into question. I cannot fathom an existence where GSP looses twice to Serra.  

#3 Rich Franklin (22-3) (8-2) vs. Travis Lutter (9-4) (2-2)
Conqueror: Franklin by TKO in 2.I hate to say this, but I have my doubts about Rich pulling this one out. I’m simply having a hard time facing the facts, the Rich Franklin we knew and loved is dead. If he fights like he can, this will be a walk in the park; sadly, this may be Lutter’s night. Either way, I’m going down with the ship.
Stalker: Lutter by submission. That sentence was hard for me to write. Here’s a little insight into my madness: The “Pre-Anderson Silva knees to the nose” Franklin would destroy Lutter, but the new, “Slightly off with a crooked nose” Franklin has lost a step. Don’t get me wrong, this should be a great fight. Whenever it’s a must win for both fighters, anything can happen, but I don’t think Franklin is the same fighter he was when he was the champion. I hope I’m wrong, I like Franklin, he’s a good poster boy for the sport, I just think this may be Lutter’s night.

Kalib Starnes (8-2-1) (2-2)  vs. Nate Quarry (9-2) (4-1)
Conqueror: Quarry by TKO in 2. The man known for being a part of Rich Franklin’s highlight real will be taking on a very forgettable Kalib Starnes. Quarry has something to prove after his last fight. Even though he beat Pete Sell, he needed a virtual Hail Mary of a overhand right to do so. Still, his last fight was his first since a spinal injury nearly ended his career, so I see a sharper Quarry in this one.
Stalker: Quarry by TKO in 2. I actually think Starnes is the more technical fighter here. He has better BJJ & better technical striking skills than Quarry. But when it comes to heart, conditioning, and determination, I have to give the edge to Quarry. It think this fight comes down to whether or not Quarry can keep this fight standing up, if he can avoid the ground game he should be able to pull off the win.

Michael Bisping (14-1) (4-1) vs. Charles McCarthy (10-4) (1-1)
Conqueror: Bisping by TKO in 1. Wow, could the UFC have handed Bisping a more cake opponent? McCarthy is far from a challenge. Odds are, Bisping will put McCarthy out of his misery early and celebrate like he just defeated Anderson Silva for the middleweight title. We may even see a tear or two. I’d like to see Captain Miserable win this one, but I’m not basing my picks on a Magic 8-Ball.
Stalker: McCarthy by submission. I’m going to go out on a limb here and predict an upset. I know most people can’t fathom Bisping losing in his lower weight class debut, but I think McCarthy has a better ground game than the Count. Don’t get me wrong, Bisping is no slouch on the ground, I just think McCarthy is a little better with submissions and wrestling, and I also think Bisping, like everyone else, may be underestimating his opponent. 

Mac Danzig (17-4-1) (1-0) vs. Mark Bocek (5-1) (1-1)
Conqueror: Danzig by unanimous.This is a much closer fight than meets the eye. Bocek is a very talented ground technician who has a habit of submitting his opponents. While it’s unlikely that his ground skills are better than Danzig’s, it should still be an interesting fight. In the end, it comes down to the stand up and takedown defense and Danzig gets them both.
Stalker: Danzig by TKO in 3. Not much to say for this one. If Danzig can keep this fight standing up, he should be able to KO Bocek or pull of a decisive decision. However, if Danzig fails to stay on his feet, Bocek could pull off a submission, or at least keep a dominant position long enough to get the judges nod.

#8 Jason MacDonald (19-9) (3-2) vs. Joe Doerksen (39-11) (1-4)
Conqueror: MacDonald by decision. What do you say about these two fighters. Honestly, I have no idea. All I know is, Jason MacDonald is a better fighter because he has a more solid stand up to go with his ground game.
Stalker: MacDonald by submission.Not sure when, but I see MacDonald submitting Doerksen with a triangle. MacDonald started strong in the UFC with submission wins over Ed Herman and Chris Leben. I think the fight against Rich Franklin came a little too soon for the Canadian. A couple more fights in the big show would have let him develop a little more into a complete machine. I see this fight as the beginning of his comeback leading to an eventual rematch with Franklin.

Alan Belcher (11-3) (3-2) vs. Jason Day (16-5) (0-0)
Conqueror: Day by TKO in 1.Yes, Alan Belcher is talented (as his nickname eludes), but he’s got an issue with not bringing his “A game” to the cage with him. That’s exactly what he’s going to need too, as he steps into the cage with Jason Day. You may remember the name as Day recently defeated former middleweight contender David Loisieau in his last fight. I envision Day bring it, and Belcher leaving it.
Stalker: Day by submission. My money would be on Day in this one. Although this is his first appearance in the UFC, he has a lot of experience, and a lot of wins by submission. Belcher is no punk, that’s for sure, but Day should be up for this one, as it’s his big shot in the major leagues. Look for Day to make a statement, and show the UFC executives that he belongs here.

Sam Stout (13-3-1) (2-2) vs. Rich Clementi (30-12-1) (3-3)
Conqueror: Clementi by submission in 2.No, I didn’t mistype. I got Rich “No Love” Clementi for one simple reason; Sam Stout’s ground game is crustier than Ms.Smith’s apple pie.
Stalker: Clementi by submission in 1. Call me crazy, I never in a million years thought I would say this about a guy who plucks his eyebrows more than the designers on HGTV, but I think Clementi has developed into a complete bad ass. Stout is no pushover, he’s got some powerful hands, but I just think Celemnti’s submission skills are far too superior for the less experienced Stout. If Clementi keeps his head on straight he will win this battle and eventually be a force to reckon with in the division.

Jonathon Goulet (21-9) (3-3) vs. Kuniyoshi Hironaka (11-4) (1-2)
Conqueror: Hironaka by TKO in 1.I don’t need to know anything about Kuniyoshi Hironaka to pick this fight. Until he’s out of the UFC, I’m going to pick against him. I keep dreaming that after the fight, while Goulet is unconscious, Hironaka shaves his head ala Brutus Beefcake.
Stalker: Hironaka by submission. This could be an interesting matchup, but I am not holding my breath. If Hironaka can avoid the TKO, then this one should be quite a ground battle. Both fighters have submission skills, but I see a slight edge in Hironaka.

Brad Morris (9-2) (0-0) vs. Cain Velasquez (2-0) (0-0)
Conqueror: Valasquez by TKO in 2. A lot has been made about Velasquez’s debut. Part of me wants Velasquez to get laid out in record time, but the prospect status seems well deserved and the heavyweight should roll over Brad Morris. Who’s Brad Morris? It doesn’t matter.
Stalker: Morris by Submission. I have never watched either of these fighters fight, and I don’t have much information about them, so I have to revert back to simple 3rd grade math. Morris has a majority of his 9 wins by submission, and Valasquez only has 2 fights, this equals Morris by submission.

Ed Herman (13-5) (3-2) vs. Damian Maia (6-0) (1-0)
Conqueror: Maia by submission in 2.Ed Herman is a head case. Even after losing his first two UFC fights, the red headed step child thinks he’s the man to beat in the middleweight division. Problem is, Herman can’t avoid submission and don’t think Maia doesn’t know that. Something tells me that Herman will be in control for the first 5 to 10 minutes until he’s caught, by triangle or arm bar. God speed Damian Maia, God speed!
Stalker: Maia by submission in 1. Herman is out of his league here. Maia is a beast. The guy is a true old-school Brazilian MMA guy with solid BJJ skills. Maia is officially 6 and 0 with 4 wins by submission. I say official because this guy, like most Brazilian fighters, has a lot of unofficial backroom NHB fights under his belt. Sorry “Short Fuse” fans, but this is a terrible match up for Herman.

Brett “The Conqueror” Beverly
Overall: (34-26)
VS: (2-2-2)
Last Card: UFC Fight Night 13: (5-7)

Jason “Fight Stalker” Taylor
Overall: (33-27)
VS: (2-2-2)
Last Card: UFC Fight Night 13: (5-7)

UFC Title Pictures: Middleweight, Welterweight and Lightweight Division

In continuation from last week, it’s time to look at the title pictures for the middleweight, welterweight and lightweight divisions of the UFC. This isn’t about prospects, this is about fighters who have a legitimate chance of fighting for their respective titles before 2008 comes to a close. Don’t forget to take a look at the UFC rankings at the top of the page of both Fightstalker Originals and the Fightstalker.com for a more in-depth look at each division.

Middleweight Division

Champion: Anderson Silva

Top Contenders: Dan Henderson, Nate Marquardt, Yushin Okami, Rich Franklin, Travis Lutter

Dark horse: Ricardo Almeida, Georges St.Pierre, Martin Kampmann

Few weight classes have ever been so dominated by one man.  To make matters worse, four out of the five top contenders already own recent loses to the champ.  That’s were Yushin Okami comes in. No, Okami doesn’t deserve a title shot. His lose to Rich Franklin assured that, but a lack of competition may get him one faster than he deserves.  Why Okami? The reasoning is simple, he holds a (DQ) win over the champ.  Still, he’ll have to earn it.  The man known as “Thunder” will likely have to fight a top contender, someone like Nate Marquardt, in order to get a title shot.

Other contenders are closer to pretenders; Marquardt, Rich Franklin, Travis Lutter and Dan Henderson are all  fighters who could have a chance of redeeming their loses to “The Spider” before the year is out; none of them should hold there breath (especially Franklin). Each fighter mentioned owns a recent lose to the champion, and aside from Lutter, none even made the contest very close.  All the fighters mentioned above will likely have to prove themselves, with Nate Marquardt and Travis Lutter at a slight advantage. That said, the future is in Okami’s hands.

The dark horse of the division has to be Ricardo Almeida. As a former Pride, UFC and Pancrase veteran, Almeida’s skills pose a legitimate threat to the Spiders crown. The question is whether the aging veteran has anything left in the tank or if he’s just getting started? Before retiring in 2003, Almeida defeated the likes of Nate Marquardt, Kaz Misaki and Ryo Chonan and was in the midst of a two and half year win streak.  His recent return has been impressive but not very noteworthy. Facing last minute fill in (for Alan Belcher) Rob Yundt, Almeida looked unstoppable. Still,  he’ll need a win over someone a little more talented if he wants to challenge for the title before the year is out.

A couple more dark horses needs to be mentioned. It’s possible, although not likely, that Michael Bisping could get his shot if he’s able to put away one of the division’s top talents, but he’ll have to be fast. His fight with the Charles McCarthy will do less for his career than his win over Elvis Sinosic. More or less, it will show that he’s still breathing.  It’s hard to imagine Bisping seeing a PPV main event in 2008.

Martin Kampmann is a more intriguing option. Before any injury sidetracked him a year ago, the Dutch striker was set to square off against Rich Franklin for a number one contender fight (a fight that later went to Yushin Okami). Kampmann’s return will be at UFC 85 in London, and it appears as if he’ll be given an opportunity to work off the ring rust as he faces Jorge Rivera. While Rivera is tougher than most fans give him credit, a victory over the veteran wouldn’t establish Kampmann as the number one contender. It’s likely that Kampmann wouldn’t get any opportunity to prove himself until later this year, a move that would prevent him from fighting Silva until 2009.

Georges St.Pierre Whispers: Rumors have been floating all around the Internet about a possible GSP-Silva showdown for the middleweight championship. These rumors are nothing new, Matt Hughes publicly contemplated taking on Silva in the past. Yet, something dramatic has changed, the middleweight crown has run out of contenders. If Pierre is able to defeat Serra, a fight between two champions would not only show who the best 185lb fighter in the UFC is, but also it would arguably show who the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world is. Still, with Jon Fitch waiting in the wings at 170lbs, it’s doubtful that this fight will take place before the end of the year.
Welterweight Division

Champion: Georges St.Pierre (interim), Matt Serra

Top Contenders: Jon Fitch, Josh Koscheck, Mike Swick, Marcus Davis, Thiago Alves

Dark Horse: Matt Hughes

No matter who wins between GSP and Matt Serra, Jon Fitch is next. Amassing a perfect UFC record (8-0) and defeating the likes of Diego Sanchez and Thiago Alves, the AKA middleweight is eagerly awaiting his chance at UFC gold. It is possible that he’ll have to fight the winner of Mike Swick-Marcus Davis, but it isn’t likely.

His teammate Josh Koscheck, while a unanimous number two contender, is still a few fights from title contention. Assuming that Fitch doesn’t win the belt, it’s foreseeable that the former NCAA National Champion could get his crack before the year is out, but he would need a high profile win , maybe over the loser of GSP-Serra or the winner of Swick-Davis. Still, owning a loss to GSP less than a year ago, the force is weak with this one.

Speaking of Marcus Davis and Mike Swick, these two contenders are at opposite points in their UFC careers. Swick hasn’t looked like himself in over a year, a loss to Yushin Okami and a lackluster middleweight debut have put The Ultimate Fighter alum in a must-win situation.

On the other hand, Davis has been on a tear.  The “Irish Hand Grenade” has been on a six fight win streak in the UFC, and has been victorious in his last eleven fights overall. A win over Swick would put him within striking distance of a title shot.  The possibility of either of these fighters fighting for UFC’s highest glory isn’t likely, but a few injuries could change everything.

Then we have Thiago Alves. After dismantling Karo Parisyan,  Alves is well on his way to title contention. Still, loses to Fitch and Spencer Fisher as well as a suspension for steroid use, haunt the welterweight prospect. It’s unlikely that a title shot is in his near future, but wins over opponents like Marcus Davis, Mike Swick would brighten his future fast. If all goes right, it’s not entirely unrealistic to envision “The Pitbull” in UFC gold in 2008.

How soon we forget Matt Hughes. The man’s a dark horse simply because he’s Matt FREAKING Hughes. He will undoubtedly be true to his word of taking time off, but a win by Matt Serra could change his mind. The two time welterweight champion might be at the end of his rope, but his legacy could put him firmly back into the title picture. It’s highly unlikely, but that’s why he’s a dark horse.

Lightweight Division

Champion: BJ Penn

Top Contenders: Sean Sherk, Kenny Florian, Roger Huerta, Tyson Griffin,

Dark Hourse: Joe Stevenson
Here’s where things get a little hairy. While the Sean Sherk-BJ Penn fight will settle the dispute over who’s the best lightweight in the UFC, picking through the rest is a bit complicated. One thing we do know, Roger Huerta and Kenny Florian are the favorites. Florian has been on a run since losing in lay-and-pray fashion to Sherk, while Huerta impressed even the most cynical MMA fan with his victory over Clay Guida. If Florian’s recent post-fight comments are any indication, these two could be locking horns before the summer of 2008 comes to an end.

After Florian and Huerta, we have Tyson Griffin. By defeating the likes of Clay Guida and Thiago Tavares, Griffin hasn’t been dodging tough competition.  That said, he’s been far from dominant. A close win over Clay Guida and a loss to Frank Edgar have put questions to Griffin’s contender status. Simply put, he needs more wins. A dominate victory over Marcus Aurelio at UFC 86 in July would be a good start, but seeing the current UFC lightweight rankings, he’ll need a higher profile win.

The division’s dark horse comes in the form of former number one contender Joe Stevenson. After the Ultimate Fighter 2 winner was dominated by B.J. Penn for the lightweight title, the MMA community has seemingly forgotten he exists. STevenson may have been dominated, but the step in competition can do that. It’s hard to blame a guy for tapping out after fighting off the ground attack of Penn with blood in his eyes. Anyone thinking Joe Daddy is a push over might be in for a surprise. While doubtful to be in the title picture before 2009, counting Joe Daddy out would be a mistake for fans and fighters alike.

UFC Title pictures: Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight

The FightStalker.com UFC Rankings only go so far to determine who the number one contender in each division truly is; match ups are the key.  In order for someone to prove they’re the number one contender, they have to earn it. So it below is an in depth look at the future dominoes that could far in the UFC future. Remember, this isn’t a divisional breakdown. This is a look at the CURRENT title picture.

Heavyweight Division

Champion: Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (Interim); Randy Couture

Top Contenders: Brandon Vera, Fabricio Werdum, Heath Herring, Cheick Kongo

Dark horse: Andrei Arlovski

The division was dealt a (yet another) major blow with the announcement of Tim Sylvia’s exit. While the former champion isn’t the most popular, a rematch with Nogueira brought an intrigue that is has been lacking in the Randy Couture-less division.

Its looking more and more like the rumored fight between Fabricio Werdum and Brandon Vera at UFC 85 in London (June 7) will become a number one contender match up. While neither makes for a very exciting option to face the champion, it’s about all the division can muster at this point. The biggest downside of all is that the title wouldn’t be defended until August or September at the earliest.

One outside possibility lies in the return of Andrei Arlovski. It has been rumored that Zuffa is interested in bring the former champion back, and a guaranteed title shot would be a good incentive. As an added bonus, an Arlovski return could capitalize on all the bad press the UFC received for placing the former champion on the undercard of UFC 82. This isn’t likely, but it is possible.

Those with dreams of Randy Couture’s return or a Fedor signing shouldn’t hold there breath. For one, Couture’s return is growing more and more unlikely, and Fedor’s signing is heading down the same path. Not only that, but even if Fedor were to sign, it’s not a sure bet he would be given a title shot in his debut; Pride fighters have had a notoriously bad reputation of struggling in their first UFC fight. To make matters worse, Couture has been quoted as saying he wouldn’t return even if Zuffa were able to sign the Russian.

Light Heavyweight

Champion: Quinton “Rampage” Jackson

Top Contenders: Forrest Griffin, Keith Jardine, Chuck Liddell, Rashad Evans

Dark Horse: Lyota Machida

The start of the Ultimate Fighter means more than a new wave of middleweight contenders, it signifies the beginning-of-the-end for Forrest Griffin-Rampage Jackson saga. The light heavyweight title hasn’t been defended since September of 2007. Since then, the division has become muddled with contenders and pretenders alike.

Forrest aside, the rest of the division will start working itself out with match ups of Liddell-Evans and Jardine-Silva. Depending on who holds the title and how impressive the winners of the aforementioned match ups are will determine who gets a shot at the title. For instance, a Liddell-Jackson rematch would be more intriguing further down the road, but a Liddell-Griffin could happen before the end of the year if the former Ultimate Fighter champ can seize the title.

An outside chance for an opportunity resides in Lyota Machida. He simply refuses to lose. A victory over Tito would give the Brazilian a big push, but most likely wouldn’t put him in the title hemisphere just yet. It would take lackluster victories in both contenders fights and/or an injury to see Machida in a title situation before the end of the year. For Machida, 2009 might just me the year for the Brazilian.

NEXT WEEK: Middleweight, Welterweight and Lightweight Divisions

Frank Shamrock’s Narcissism

All the championships, titles and accolades that Frank Shamrock has acquired over his 15 years in the sport have been for one thing and one thing only: himself.

While this is nothing new, the extent of his self-serving attitude has been amplified since his return to the sport in 2006. Never was this ideology more apparent than during his fight with Cung Le for the Strikeforce middleweight championship.

His prefight interviews were typical;constantly referring to himself as a legend, someone who started “this whole thing,” bashing on Ken and other remarks that have become a staple of a Frank Shamrock interview were all in their typical place, including how he planned to finish the fight; by knockout.

In the weeks leading up to the fight, he garnered in spotlight of MMA media by answering questions about on his strategy and receiving praise. He made it clear that Cung Le wasn’t in his league in any way, and he was going to prove it.

Narcissitic Personality Disorder is a pervasive pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and a lack of empathy. Remember that.

It all started with an entrance that would have made Vince McMahan proud. Coming to the cage wearing a San Jose Sharks Jersey and carrying a hockey stick, he walked halfway down the ramp before throwing the shirt into the crowd. The Shamrock spectacle was officially underway.

Seconds into the match, the “me-fest” began. Shaking his fingers, nodding, turning his back to his opponent and so on; the fight resembled more of a professional wrestling match than MMA contest.

Every time Le would connect with a kick, Shamrock would react as witty a possible; sometime during round two, those kicks started to hurt.

Yet, Shamrock kept his promise. At no time during the fight did he ever make a legitimate attempt to take Le down. Even after he ducked under a kick from the kickboxing legend, he simply threw his opponent against the fence in order to gain an advantage. He was going for the knockout.

It soon became apparent that Shamrock was not the striker he thought he was, yet he showed no attempts to adjust his game plan. His ego refused to quit.

As round three started to wind down, he caught Le with a flush jab and seemingly had the Vietnamese fighter in the run. Seemingly. Le responded with a barrage of kicks that would make any Chuck Norris fan proud. Connecting with one after the other, devastation soon followed as Shamrock’s wrist broke in two places.

After the bell, Shamrock collapsed. At first it looked as though reinjured his knee. Why else would he have collapsed? Attention.

Unable to respond to bell, Le was announced the winner. Shamrock then collapsed … again … from his stool. Like a kid with skinned knee, he grimaced and hobbled his way to the microphone with the aid of his corner.

The only problem is, Frank Shamrock is not a little boy, he’s a 35-year-old man. Many fighters have bones in this art of combat; few have begged for the fans pity in such an outlandish way.

No one pities Frank Shamrock. At one time this man was one considered the best fighter in the world, now he’s been reduced to a spectacle who refuses to admit his own mortality. His recent failures in the ring will all be met with simple, rational (to himself) excuses that portray him a mystical light.

The man that was, no longer is. Shamrock will live in MMA history, but his self-righteousness has dampened his impact on the sport he helped to build.

PEACE
Brett “The Conqueror” Beverly

UFC Fight Night 13 picks and preview

The UFC isn’t holding any fights back when they scheduled this one. The final car looks absolutely spectacular and that’s after a couple of fill ins. So, in respect of this momentous fight card, I will completely shut out the Stalker in my fight picks. It’s the least I can do.

#2 Kenny Florian (7-3) (6-2) vs. #10 Joe Lauzon (16-3) (3-0)
Conqueror: Florian by unanimous.To say that KenFlo is on a tare would be an understatement. I was once a doubter, but the man’s skills have made me see the light. So, while Joe Lauzon has been nothing short of spectacular in his short UFC tenor, I can’t see a way he can win. KenFlo’s simply a better fighter at this stage in his career.
Stalker: Florian by submission. If Florian had a little more size and was a bit stronger he would be unstoppable. He won’t need any of that here though, he should be able to out kickbox and out ju-jitsu Lauzon with ease.

#7 Thiago Alves (13-3) (6-2) vs. #3 Karo Parisyan (18-4) (8-2)
Conqueror: Parisyan by unanimous. God help us all. This fight has all the makings of a Karo “the wet blanket” Parisyan love fest. It’s hard not to imagine any Parisyan fight going the distance, and this fight is no different. As much as I’d love to see Alves drop Karo with a right hand, I see another Parisyan “I brought the Heat” post-fight interview in our bored future. Stalker: Parisyan by unanimous. Parisyan has skills, but like the Conqueror alluded to above, the man can’t finish a fight to save his life. Watch for classic Karo on this one, good striking and lots of Judo throws.

Matt Hamill (3-1) (3-1) vs. Tim Boetsch (7-1) (1-0)
Conqueror: Boetsch by TKO in 1. No, I’m not taking anything away from Matt Hamill, but I think we’re in for a surprise with this fight. The wrestling phenom has one major weakness, his head. The man simply can’t take a shot. Look no further than his fight with Seth Perluzzi for a prime example. Fitting he’s in Team Punishment, eh? Just the kind of guy for Tim Boetsch. Even with all the hype from Sherdog and MMAweekly, Boetsch is the underdog and a quick finish would be just what the newcomer needs to establish himself in the light heavyweight division. Stalker: Hamill by TKO. Call me crazy, but if Matt can keep his hands up to protect his face he should be able to land one of his cement truck, albiet sloppy cement truck, punches.

Kurt Pellegrino (11-3) (3-2) vs. #8 Nate Diaz (8-2) (3-0)
Conqueror: Pellegrino by unanimous.The only thing for fun than picking one of Diaz brothers to lose, is seeing them lose and that’s what I expect from this fight. Pellegrino’s ground skills may not be as good as Diaz’s, but they’re good enough to avoid being submitted and maybe even taken down. Without his submissions, Diaz has no game.
Stalker: Pellegrino by submission. The Conqueror is going to get his wish here. Nate is going to get crushed by Kurt. I think Kurt can end this one with strikes, or a submission. A submission will come as a surprise, but I just don’t think Nate is strong enough to use his ground game against a guy like Kurt.

James Irvin (13-4) (3-3) vs. Houston Alexander (8-2) (2-1)
Conqueror: Alexander by TKO in one. Don’t blink, this one shouldn’t take too long. After showing the ground game my mother would be ashamed of, Alexander has an opponent who fits his style. Both fighters have something to prove and can’t afford a loss making this a possible fireworks extravaganza.
Stalker: Alexander by TKO. I often wonder why Irvin is in the UFC, and I don’t think I am alone in those thoughts. Irvin needs a win here to show he belongs with the big boys. I just don’t think that’s going to happen here. A more likely outcome is Alexander sending the “Sandman” to dream land.

Gray Maynard (4-0) (2-0) vs. #5 Frank Edgar (8-0) (3-0)
Conqueror: Edgar by unanimous decision.I’m a believer in Frank Edgar. He may be a nothing more than a spectacular wrestler, but it appears that’s enough. Maynard has better hands, but also relies on his ability to takedown his opponent; something he won’t be able to do to Edgar.
Stalker: Edgar  by unanimous decision. I see Edgar winning in classic Josh “The Blanket” Koscheck fashion: Take the opponent down, don’t let him up, throw some strikes, instant decision. Although to be fair, I think Edgar is a much better fighter than Kos. Edgar has the ability to submit and to TKO his opponents.

Josh Neer (23-6-1) (2-3) vs. Din Thomas (20-7) (5-3)
Conqueror: Thomas by TKO in 2.Din Thomas returns against a very tough Josh Neer. The man known as “The Dentist” is exactly title worthy, but his fights with Melvin Gulliard and Joe Stevenson have shown that his opponents need to bring their A game. With Thomas making his return to action and in need of making an impression to get back into the title picture, an A game shouldn’t be too far behind. Stalker: Neer by TKO. This could turn out to be a great fight. Both of these fighters can pull off submissions, but Neer has the ability to pull off the TKO.

Ryan Roberts (8-2) (0-0) vs. Marcus Aurelio (15-5) (1-1)
Conqueror: Aurelio by submission in 1. Don’t bother looking Ryan Roberts up; it doesn’t matter. The fill in will file out as soon as this match ends and that will be quick. Originally scheduled to fight Spencer Fischer, there’s a chance that Aurelio isn’t taking this fight seriously, but I wouldn’t count on it.
Stalker: Aurelio by submission. I don’t know what round this one will end in, but it will end with the Pride veteran tapping out Roberts. The “experts” claim that Aurelio’s wrestling isn’t up to par, and that may hamper him here, but I would take ju-jitsu skills over wrestling any day of the week, and Aurelio has some great ju-jitsu.

Jeff Cox (9-4) (0-1) vs. Manny Gamburyan (7-2) (1-1)
Conqueror: Gamburyan by submission in 2.Manny Gamburyan should be the Ultimate Fighter and don’t think he doesn’t know that. The little tank shouldn’t have any problems overwhelming the mediocre Cox and should even do what his cousin can’t and finish the fight.
Stalker: Gamburyan by TKO (via ground and pound). Manny got robbed by his own skeletal system. If his shoulder did not dislocate he would have crushed Diaz in the Ultimate Fighter finale with authority. Manny is on a mission to show what he is really capable of, and Cox is in the wrong place at the wrong time.  

Samy Schiavo (10-4) (0-0) vs. Clay Guida (22-9) (2-3)
Conqueror: Guida by TKO in 1.Make no mistake about it., Samy Schiavo has talent. As a veteran of Cage Rage’s Contender series, the French fighter has been nothing short of impressive. Still, nothing can truly prepare him for Clay Guida. The Carpenter’s UFC record is a bit misleading as he’s fought only the best of the best since making his debut and hasn’t looked bad once. I see the fast-paced Guida overwhelming Schiavo for a relatively fast finish.
Stalker: Schiavo by submission. Although I want Guida to win here because he is a very exciting fighter to watch, and the UFC needs more fighters like him, I feel a submission coming on by Schiavo. Guida is an excellent wrestler, but Schiavo is a submission fighter. If Guida can keep the fight standing, it may be a different story, but I see this one on the ground.

Roman Mitichyan (5-1) (1-0) vs. George Sotiropoulos (8-2) (1-0)
Conqueror: Sotiropoulos by submission in 2.The battle of last year’s Ultimate Fighter contestants should be interesting. The edge has to go to Sotiropoulos for one simple reason, his ground game.
Stalker: Mitichyan by submission. I see this as a close match up, both fighters know each other very well. Although they have been bolstering their stand up games, something they will need to survive in the UFC, I think they will both revert back to basics and take this fight to the ground. I am really not sure who will win here, but I always enjoy betting against the Conqueror, so Mitichyan gets the coin toss.

Anthony Johnson (4-1) (1-1) vs. Tom Speer (9-2) (0-1)
Conqueror: Speer by decision.Tom Speer is about as technical as a Bill Goldberg is behind the mic. My apologize to Speer’s parents on that last comment. Still, the UFC knew what they were doing when they matched him up against Johnson. I see a violent takedown, two back of the head warnings and a TKO victory in Speer’s future. Oh, and about 2,111,256.54 farm boy references from Mike Goldberg. Is it normal to get a little dizzy after two different Goldberg references in one sentence?
Stalker: Speer by TKO. Not much to say that hasn’t already been said about this fight. Neither fighter has a ground game to speak of, and Speer seems to be the better striker, so basic math tells me that Speer should come out on top.

Overall VS Last Card
Brett “The Conqueror” Beverly (29-19) (2-2-1) (8-2) Jason “FightStalker” Taylor (28-20) (2-2-1) (6-4)

Anderson Silva’s Moment

Anderson Silva is currently the best MMA fighter in the world.

Yes, he’s better than Fedor, who might have a better record (he does), and he may be a better all around mixed martial artist (who knows), but Silva is the best fighter in mixed martial arts right now.

Great fighters have exceptional win-loss records. Georges St. Pierre (15-2), Rampage Jackson (29-6), and Shawn Sherk (31-2) are considered to be some of the best fighters in the world.

Exceptional fighters also hold championship titles. Fedor, B.J. Penn, and Chuck Liddell have all worn championship gold.

But then there’s the factor that makes Anderson stand out from the other upper tier fighters: dominance. This is the extent to which a fighter hovers over his division – and no one – including Fedor – can match Anderson Silva at this moment.

Silva has obliterated everyone he has faced since April 2006, including the upper echelon fighters of his division on the largest stage of them all – the UFC - the most visible and successful mixed martial arts organization in the world.

Did I mention he vanquished all of them by knockout or submission or in less than10 minutes?

Anderson Silva in the Octagon is the definition of modern MMA dominance.

There’s something about the way in which Anderson Silva dismantles his opponents – in an elegant and inevitable way – that places him in a category of his own.

Just like Fedor in Pride a few years ago.

- Dr. Chris Beverly PsyD