Gray Maynard: Merit Over Marketability

Heading into his Ultimate Fight Night 20 Main Event against Nathan Diaz, Gray Maynard knew that a win over the brash TUF 5 winner would most likely mean a chance to challenge BJ Penn for the Lightweight Title.

Almost immediately after the Split Decision results were read in Maynard’s favor, the speculation started. The Internet lit up with fans and media alike asking, “Who Should Be Next in Line for BJ?” or something of that extent.

For many, it comes down to two men: Maynard and Frankie Edgar.

If those are the two in consideration, there is only one answer, and it’s not “The Answer.”

Yes, Frankie Edgar has the bigger “name brand” win in recent memory, defeating former champion Sean Sherk at UFC 98 in a bout that earned each fighter a Fight of the Night bonus. He collected the same bonus money for his recent submission of Matt Veach on the TUF 10 Finale as well.

While Maynard hasn’t cashed any bonus checks or beaten any former champions, he’s rattled off seven-straight wins in the UFC, and remains undefeated in his career. Included in that list of conquest is one Frank Edgar.

Now, it is well understood that the UFC is a business and fights are made as much on marketability and entertainment value for the fans, but choosing Edgar over Maynard would be an indication that records and results are only secondary.

When the two options are equal in virtually every area, picking the fighter who has the greater connection with the fans makes obvious sense. But when there is a clear deciding variable, like say a head-to-head win, the winner should be the one getting the title shot, shouldn’t he?

First, let me say this: regardless of who fights BJ Penn, they’re going to get beaten. Right now, “The Prodigy” is head-and-shoulders above everyone else in the UFC Lightweight division, and it will remain that way until further notice.

Though I understand that Maynard’s style of grinding out close wins and not really having a big connection with the fans plays a part in the decision-making process, overlooking his dominant win over Edgar in favor of a “more marketable” matchup is a mistake to me.

It would be like offering Martin Kampmann a chance at Georges St-Pierre’s welterweight belt, despite the fact that Paul Daley just destroyed him at UFC 103.

If Maynard’s victory over Edgar is less important than how well the UFC Marketing Department can sell the fight, the company risks sending a message that being able to sell yourself takes precedent over results.

Maynard certainly didn't offer up a highlight reel performance or any evidence that he can pry the Lightweight title from the hands of "The Prodigy," but are we really to believe that a man "The Bully" completely dominated would do any better?

The UFC needs to put merit over marketability and do the right thing like Spike Lee.

Give Gray Maynard the next Lightweight title shot.

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UFC 107: 10 Things We Learned Last Night

1. Best. Lightweight. Ever.

If there was ever any doubt (and there shouldn't have been in all honesty), BJ Penn made it abundantly clear within the first 45 seconds of his fight with Diego Sanchez that he is simply on another level than everyone else at 155 pounds.

In each of his last two title defenses, we've heard the build up of the challenger being a great test for the champion, and each time, said challenger was thoroughly dismantled by Penn. There isn't a lightweight in the world who can hang with Penn, and there hasn't been one better in the history of the sport.

Not Aoki, not Pulver, not Gomi, not anybody. BJ Penn is the best lightweight ever and one of the greatest fighters of all-time.

2. Now What?

Each of his last two opponents were supposed to have the skills to be a challenge and potentially end the reign of the kid from Hilo. Both those men were sent home with their tails between their legs.

After dominating Diego Sanchez last night, there isn't a sole lightweight who could honestly challenge BJ Penn remaining in the UFC. Not because there aren't some talented fighters in the division, but because Penn is a transcendent talent.

Where things go from here is anybody's guess.

Personally, I have no interest in seeing BJ Penn move up to welterweight, as Dana White recently said the lightweight champion would have to start at the bottom and work his way to another title shot.

Joe Rogan tossed out Shinya Aoki's name last night, but that isn't going to happen. In addition to being contracted to DREAM, if "The Tobikan Judan" is fighting in the United States, it will be with Strikeforce. And let's be honest: Penn would smash Aoki.

Keep dominating and defending the belt; a year from now, Kenny Florian will be due for another title shot and then we'll see if the third time is the charm.

3. Even in a Bloody Defeat, Diego Sanchez Impresses

For all the jokes and ribbing aside - from the YES! routine to the greatest mean face in the history of mean faces - Diego Sanchez is one tough kid.

Less than a minute into the biggest fight of his life, he was rocked and made painfully aware of what a long and painful night it was going to be. But he just kept coming and coming and coming and coming.

His unbreakable spirit looked broken at the start of each of the championship rounds, yet Sanchez kept walking out to the center of the Octagon. We've seen fighters, including Penn himself, call it quits and give up, but that just isn't a part of Diego Sanchez' makeup.

While he was completely dominated and left beaten and bloody, Diego Sanchez showed the heart of a champion and deserves some recognition today.

4. "Water is Wet"

Yes, Frank Mir quickly disposed of Cheick Kongo, connecting with a big punch before putting the French kickboxer to sleep with a guillotine inside of 90 seconds.

But going into that fight, who didn't know that Frank Mir was going to submit Cheick Kongo pretty damn quickly? Mir is a great submission fighter and Kongo has a pretty horrible ground game, so Mir earning a win by submission is about as shocking as learning that water is wet.

Now, what was impressive and a new development stemming from this bout was the recreated Frank Mir. Holy weight training, Batman!

While I would still pick a 100% healthy Brock Lesnar in their eventual trilogy fight, Mir looks to be a bigger, stronger version of the guy who submitted the current champ in his UFC debut and that could prove problematic, not only for Lesnar, but for everyone else in the division as well.

5. Jon Fitch Needs to Evolve

While partial credit certainly goes to Mike Pierce for putting up a great effort and nearly ending things in the final minute of the third round, Fitch came away with another Jon Fitch victory, earning two-of-three rounds on all three scorecards to move his record to 11-1 in the UFC and 21-3 (1 No Contest) overall.

That said, I don't know if there is a more frustrating 21-3 fighter in all of Mixed Martial Arts. Though his blue collar, Purdue Boilermaker, grind-it-out style makes him an easy-to-appreciate every man, Jon Fitch needs to evolve.

The guy who won last night wouldn't get passed Thiago Alves and his original opponent, Ricardo Almeida, would surely have been a stiff test as well. His boxing needs improvement, from both an offensive and defensive standpoint, as does his overall strength and power.

Interestingly enough, the blueprint has been laid by his teammate, Josh Koscheck. An equally gifted wrestler, though a better overall athlete than Fitch, Koscheck has developed a solid striking game and more power under the watchful eyes of Bob Cook and Dave Camarillo, and Fitch needs to do the same.

6. Lovable? Yes. A Legitimate Contender? No.

Such is life for Clay Guida.

The fans love him and rightfully so; he puts on an exciting fight 99 times out of 100, has crazy hair and energy, let's out monster burps when they're checking his cuts and sings his walkout song on the way to the cage.

That said, he's a gatekepper and nothing more.

Ten fights into his UFC career, he's 5-5 and never beaten a top ranked guy. He's tested them, challenged them and given them fits, but in the end, he's come out on the losing end.

Entertaining the crowd is one thing, but to be considered a contender, you have to beat other contenders and that's not been the case for Clay Guida thus far.

7. Kenny Florian Should Face Diego Sanchez Again

Now that they're both fighting in the weight class they belong in and have grown as fighters, let's get the rematch from The Ultimate Fighter Season One on a card in 2010.

This just makes sense on so many levels.

Sanchez certainly won't want to drop too far down the ladder in terms of his next opponent, and Florian needs to keep beating top level competition if he hopes to earn a third title shot. Mix in their rivalry from TUF 1, and the improvement both have made since their time on the show and you have everything you need to sell this fight.

Besides, I want to see another Florian fight before I officially gush about the improvements that were already noticeable last night. Better boxing, better gameplan, and better execution.

In my opinion, that was the best Kenny Florian we've seen yet.

8. With Time, Stefan Struve Could Be a Handful

While some will certainly speculate about the outcome (I'm not fussed either way...), last night's win over Paul Buentello showed me that with more development and a little added meat on them bones, Stefan Struve will eventually be a very difficult opponent for his fellow UFC heavyweights.

Just because of his height alone, Struve is already a tough test. For starters, it's not like there are a ton of nearly 7-foot MMA fighters with good kickboxing and submission skills to train with in preparation.

What struck me the most was that it has taken this long for Struve to begin utilizing his kickboxing in the UFC, as his barrage of leg kicks in the third round clearly hurt Buentello and could be a very useful tool in not only weakening his opponents, but keeping distance.

Now, he certainly needs to clean up his striking, as a blind man looking the other way would have seen that flying knee coming and it almost got him knocked out. Though he survived, we've seen him (a) get cut up a couple times, (b) be prone to leaving his chin out there to get belted despite having a ridiculous height advantage on everyone and (c) straying from his strengths to stand-and-trade.

He's got room to add 20 pounds before reaching the 265 pound limit, and given that he's just 21-years-old, he's sure to fill out in the future. If he does, and he cleans up his all-around game, "The Skyscraper" could have a very bright future.

9. Dear Alan Belcher...

White boy's with cornrows barely works on Urijah Faber, and "The California Kid" you are not.

Pink shorts don't work on anybody. Period. End of Sentence.

So what makes you think that combining the two is a good look?

You looked like the scrawny, pasty white kid in Take the Lead who put his red-headed afro into 'rows for the big dance competition.

Yes - I've seen Take the Lead and can remember way too many of the details. Tell me something I don't already know...

"The Talent" looked okay in his win over a clearly out of shape, ten-pounds-over-the-limit Wilson Gouveia, but not good enough to warrant declaring he wants that belt with Joe Rogan post-fight.

He gets punched in the face far too much for my liking right now and isn't that far removed from losses to both Jason Day and Kendall Grove for me to take him seriously as a contender.

Personally, I'd love to see Belcher hook up with Mark DellaGrotte and Team Sityodtong. Belcher has a great deal of potential and is just 25, so there is time and room to grow as a fighter. Sometimes all a guy needs is the help of a great teacher, and DellaGrotte would be the right match in my opinion.

10. 5-0 on the Main Card, 2-4 in the Prelims

Clearly, I need to invest more time and energy into picking the preliminary bouts.

Though some will certainly point out that the pay-per-view portion pretty much ended up going down as many believed it would, I'd like to point out my string of three consecutive "dead-on predictions" in the Florian / Fitch / Mir bouts that would have turned into a four-pack had BJ Penn's shin not tore Diego Sanchez' forehead apart.

Yes, this is my Barry Horowitz moment where I pat myself on the back.

Now that it's over - man did my prelim picks suck!

Wilson Gouveia came in fat and got dropped, Matt Wiman dominated Shane Nelson (who needs to drop to '45 immediately), "Toquinho" submitted Lucio Linhares and DaMarquis Johnson fought off a submission attempt to choke out Edgar Garcia.

Still, 7-4 isn't all that bad.

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UFC 107 Fight Week Preview: BJ Penn vs. Diego Sanchez

As great as watching Rampage and Rashad settle their differences Saturday night would have been, the headlining act for UFC 107 is actually a better fight, as Lightweight champion BJ Penn defends his belt against Diego Sanchez.

While people often talk about the "fairness" of different fighters' escalation to a title shot, little has been said of Sanchez' two fight foray into the lightweight division culminating in this bout. Diego Sanchez has won all of two fights at lightweight heading into this bout. Just remember that the next time someone is bashing Brock Lesnar's path to the heavyweight title.

Merited or not, this stands to be a great fight, as Sanchez will undoubtedly bring the fight to Penn. Over the last eight years, everyone who has done so in the 155 pound division has been defeated.

We've waded through the introductory bouts and the build-up to the big dance, but now it's time to tackle the main event in classic Fight Week Preview style.

"The Prodigy" BJ Penn (14-5-1) versus Diego "Nightmare" Sanchez (23-2-0)

Our usual point of origin in the FWP segments is training camps, where Sanchez earns the edge, but with an asterisk.

As a member of The Arena, Sanchez trains under Saulo Ribeiro and works alongside veteran MMA competitors Rani Yahya, KJ Noons, Fabricio Camoes and Xande Ribeiro. Previous to making the move to San Diego, Sanchez worked for a number of years with his hometown team at Jackson's Submission Fighting.

The asterisk comes courtesy of Penn being a bit of a lone wolf when it comes to training and the results that have accompanied that routine.

While there are other fighters who prepare for their bouts alongside Penn in Hilo, Hawaii (like Shane Nelson for example), Penn isn't surrounded by a stable of fighters or big name coaches with list of prized pupils. It's him, brother Jay Dee and The Marinovichs, his new strength and conditioning team.

Normally, solo training and being the clear Alpha male makes me shy away, but it's been that way forever with Penn and the results at 155 show that it works for him.

Strength of schedule is next up and a clear victory for "The Prodigy," having held belts in two weight classes and faced the likes of GSP, Matt Hughes, Lyoto Machida and countless other upper echelon opponents.

Conversely, the five biggest names Sanchez has ever gone up against are Kenny Florian, Nick Diaz, Josh Koscheck, Jon Fitch and Joe Stevenson, and he's come away with a 3-2 record. While every fight could be your biggest win to date, having a proven track record certainly helps convince people of your ability to win the big one.

These two share two common opponents, though one is a bit of a stretch.

The Kenny Florian that Diego Sanchez defeated to become "The Other Original Ultimate Fighter" is a vastly different fighter than the man Penn submitted this past August in Philadelphia.

A win Saturday for "KenFlo" and a Sanchez loss could setup a much-welcomed rematch to help illustrate that point.

However, both also defeated Joe Stevenson; Diego in his lightweight debut and Penn to claim the lightweight title. Comparatively speaking, the two fights aren't even close.

Sanchez outboxed Stevenson in a fight that spent very little time on the mat, earning a Unanimous Decision. Thirteen months earlier, Penn battered Stevenson for just over nine minutes, earning a submission win and the Lightweight title while leaving the former Ultimate Fighter winner a bloody mess.

Tactically, Sanchez has the cardio and energy to push the pace against Penn. While Penn's endurance at 155 has never been a problem, Sanchez is on a different level than most fighters when it comes to the speed at which he fights. That said, he's never been beyond three rounds and never faced a champion before.

In terms of style, Sanchez holds the edge in the wrestling department, though he is facing one of the best in the business at maintaining balance and defending the takedown. And no, getting taken down repeatedly by GSP at 170 doesn't work as evidence to the contrary.

Penn is equal or better everywhere else; his boxing is among the best in the sport, his jiu jitsu is what earned him the name "The Prodigy" in the first place and his flexibility and balance is off the charts.

While the UFC could certainly be giving Diego Sanchez a serious media push heading into this fight because of his TUF ties and with an eye to the future, the other very real possibility is that they've learned something I've only recently come to accept: BJ Penn is the best to ever fight at 155 pound in the history of the sport.

Try selling the opponent with that as your opening...








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Love Me or Hate Me: The 5 Most Polarizing Figures in the UFC

One of the great things about sports is the inevitable debates that come up when certain athlete's names get mentioned.

Best friends can become heated rivals as they take up the argument for and against figures who have as many fans as they do detractors.

Just as every other major sports league has a cast of characters that are equally loved and hated, the UFC is no different.

Here are the Top 5 Polarizing Personalities in the UFC.

5. Kimbo Slice

As his exposure on The Ultimate Fighter continues, more and more people are becoming fans of the man born Kevin Ferguson.

The original disdain for the bearded brawler wasn't even his fault to begin with; blame for the initial opposition to Kimbo belongs squarely on the shoulders of the people at EliteXC, who used an Internet street fighter as a marketing tool in our much loved sport's first foray onto network television.

His lack of experience and fundamentals came shining through, and as quickly as he was built up, Kimbo came crashing down courtesy of a Seth Petruzelli punch. Now he's back on TV and showing himself to be a humble, hardworking man intent on improving his game and learning everything he can to evolve in the sport.

But there are still haters and there always will be. That's just the way it goes.

4. Matt Hughes

On one hand, he's one of the most dominant champions in UFC history; a welterweight Goliath who beat some of the best in the business over seven title defenses and two reigns as champ.

On the other hand, he comes off as one of the most arrogant men to ever set foot in the Octagon. He rarely gives his opponents any credit in victory, rationalizing away his losses because of the mistakes he made, as opposed to getting beaten by a better man.

Currently, he's openly questioning why welterweight up-and-comers are interested in fighting him, despite the fact that he seems more interested in getting his own hunting show than setting foot inside the cage.

Hughes might be the one guy on this list that you can love and hate at the same time without question. Love him for his dominance and stellar career, but hate him for his superior attitude and unwillingness to accept the fact that sometimes, even the best get beaten by a better man.

3. B.J. Penn

It wasn't long ago that Baby Jay would have topped this list. The lightweight champ held down the top spot for a long time, cementing his standing by combining dominant performances in the ring with accusations of cheating and steroid use against the universally-loved Georges St-Pierre.

Whether it was his outstanding performance in defending his title against Kenny Florian at UFC 101 or simply an increase in attention for the two figures to follow, Penn's position in the pantheon of polarizing figures is slipping.

That could also mean that another B.J. outburst is just around the corner, as "The Prodigy" doesn't like being overshadowed by anyone.

2. Dana White

This one is pretty self-explanatory.

Some people praise the UFC President for his business acumen, the impact he's had on the sport as a whole and take no issue with his foul-mouthed rants and occasional lack of tact.

Then there are his detractors, who see him as a tyrannical dictator who is out for one thing and one thing only: his own personal gain.

They despise his frequent use of "The F Word" and the way he ridicules fighters who make decisions he disagrees with, wanting nothing more for the former aerobics instructor and childhood friend of the Fertitta's to fall off the face of the MMA landscape, never to be heard from again.

Somewhere in the middle of the two would probably be best; still passionate and dedicated to the sport, but with a little less cursing and more of a filter from time-to-time would work perfectly.

1. Brock Lesnar

All he does is lay on people. He's not a real fighter. What talent does it take to be bigger than everyone else?

The guy is a freak athlete and the next evolution of the sport. There have been big guys before him and no one had issue with them. Why should Lesnar be any different?

His WWE past has pretty much dissipated from the debate, as Lesnar has been around MMA for more than a minute now and made his mark as a guy who is in this long-term and not just for a quick paycheck.

That being said, he is easily the most polarizing figure in the UFC and probably the sport as a whole. His detractors discredit his wins based on his size advantage and find flaws in his opponents so that his victories are less meaningful in their eyes.

Supporters trumpet him as the next wave of fighters in the heavyweight division, a combination of size and athleticism the likes of which the sport had not seen until the mammoth Minnesota Golden Gopher stepped on the scene.

Let the debates begin...



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Divisional Dominance: Good or Bad for the UFC?

With a win Saturday night, Lightweight champ B.J. Penn pushed his undefeated streak at 155 pounds closer to eight years.

Since reclaiming the gold at 170, champion Georges St-Pierre has destroyed all challengers, including Penn.

Anderson Silva has cleaned out the Middleweight division and begins a second tour through the ranks against Dan Henderson next time out.

While Lyoto Machida has yet to defend his Light Heavyweight belt, he's also never lost a round. That's 17 straight rounds for Machida over the likes of Sokoudjou, Tito Ortiz, Thiago Silva and Rashad Evans.

And though Brock Lesnar lost his first UFC fight, the dominance he's shown in winning and unifying the Heavyweight title has caused many in the online community to call for a new division to be created so smaller heavyweights won't have to deal with the genetic freak of nature.

Five divisions, five dominant champions and one interesting question:

Is having seemingly unbeatable champions atop each division good for the UFC?

First things first: last night's WEC Bantamweight title fight proved that even the seemingly unbeatable can be beaten; all it takes is a short right hook and a follow-up flurry to crown a new champion.

In fact, Brian Bowles' upset of Miguel Torres was eerily reminiscent of another piece of WEC evidence supporting the old MMA axiom that "Anything Can Happen," Mike Brown's upset of Featherweight champion Urijah Faber.

And lest we forget, the aforementioned Welterweight kingpin took one on the chin from ultimate underdog Matt Serra not all that long ago.

But that was then and this is now, and in each of these five champions latest performances, they looked like fighters without suitable challengers.

Penn's most likely next opponent is Diego Sanchez and his two wins at 155. While "The Nightmare" was of the belief that he would handle Florian in similar fashion to their battle on TUF 1, I don't see it that way and think Penn will dispatch Sanchez even quicker than he disposed of Florian should they meet in the cage.

After that, there is talent, but are they really talents that you can see stopping B.J. Penn?

UFC 103 will determine who is next in line to face Georges St-Pierre, but after watching the way GSP has handled Jon Fitch, BJ Penn and Thiago Alves in succession, does anyone outside of the Swick and Kampmann families truly believe either stands a chance?

Anderson Silva is kicking ass and taking names at 205, which shows you the state he's left the Middleweight division in. Has Dan Henderson somehow improved enough over the last 18 months to be able to stop "The Spider" in their second encounter?

Light Heavyweight champ Lyoto Machida might be the most likely to lose his belt, simply because the talent pool at 205 is deeper than any other division. But can you honestly say you expect to see a guy who hasn't lost a round, yet alone a single fight through 15 career bouts suddenly drop his title? Me neither.

Which brings us to Brock Lesnar.

The reason many fans of the sport have been openly lobbying for the creation of an additional heavyweight division spanning 206-240 or so is because they can't see anyone in that range stopping Brock Lesnar, and neither can I.

Shane Carwin looks to me to be the closest thing to a legitimate challenger for Lesnar in terms of size, strength and abilities in the cage, but he was staggered by Gabriel Gonzaga when they met and I would bet dollars to donuts that Brock Lesnar hits harder than the man known as "Napao" does.

If you think otherwise, call Heath Herring. Ask him how his face feels.

So, with the potential challengers covered and the path to greatness for each champion has a rudimentary outline, the question remains: is this good for the UFC?

For me, the answer is a resounding yes on many different levels.

From a marketing standpoint, having a champion who remains at the top of their division is a godsend. It gives you a name and a face to promote and showcase over an extended period of time, rather than having to introduce a new #1 every few events.

The only way people get to know a fighter is by hearing their name and seeing their faces time and again, and the only way you can achieve that is by having a long-standing champion.

As a writer, having an "unbeatable figure" at the top of each division offers the always interesting, always enjoyable underdog angle each time the champion steps into the ring.

What made last night's Torres - Bowles tilt such a major story today was that the unexpected happened and the seemingly unbeatable champion was left looking up at the lights. Having a revolving door atop a division doesn't offer those kind of possibilities.

The same angle applies when looking at the situation from a fan standpoint as well.

While coin-flip fights are fun, we always remember the "shock the world" moments when David beats Goliath.

Epic wars between two evenly matched opponents fade from our memories, but Matt Serra dropping Georges St-Pierre has a nice cozy seat in our all-time database, right next to the first first girl you kissed and where you were on 9/11. Kelly LeClair and interviewing for a job in Barrie, for the record.

Seeing the invincible proven to be mortal is always better entertainment and a better story than determining which of the two solid fighters is better on that particular night.

The draw of Mike Tyson was his indestructible aura, which is why we all remember James "Buster" Douglas nearly 20 years later, even though Lennox Lewis, Danny Williams, and Kevin McBride all beat him too.

So did Holyfield, but you remember that for different reasons.

The same applies to Mixed Martial Arts.

Give me the dominant champions and their extend reigns of power, if only because the eventual fall from the top is far more memorable.

But that's just me ... what do you think?



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10 Things I Learned Last Night from UFC 101

1. Anderson Silva Stands Alone as the P4P King
When you flatten a former Light Heavyweight champion with a quick right jab while backing up after doing your best Ali / Sugar Ray Leonard impression, you're a bad, bad man.

Yes, Forrest has a suspect chin, but the guy who submitted Shogun and chopped Rampage down with leg kicks could barely land a punch, yet alone defeat "The Spider" via submission as some grappling coaches may have predicted.

2. BJ Penn at 155 is a Monster
The win streak keeps going and the questions about his cardio and new training regime have been answered. Kenny Florian did as good a job as any has against "The Prodigy" of late at lightweight, but was simply beaten by a better man.

Now, the key will be keeping Penn on course to defend his belt with regularity as, despite some people's thoughts, 155 is a deep talent pool of worthy contenders including Diego Sanchez, Gray Maynard and Frankie Edgar.

3. We've Still Got Stoppage Issues
Not to take anything away from Johny Hendricks, but that was horrible stoppage in my books. Yes, he shook Amir Sadollah with those uppercuts, but most of those wild attempts to finish when the TUF 7 winner was on the ground were misses before Dan Miragliotta jumped in to wave it off.

I know you have to protect the fighters and I'd rather see fights stopped too soon than have guys get in serious trouble, but man. Besides Hendricks missing half those swings, Sadollah was trying to get back to his feet and Miragliotta was behind all the action. Can he see through people to determine the severity of their injuries?

4. Bring on the Replay
Add the Jesse Lennox - Danillo Villefort stoppage to the growing pile of evidence for the inclusion of instant replay into Mixed Martial Arts.

Headbutts and punches are two very different things.

A headbutt causing the gash that led to the stoppage means a No Contest and no complaints. Ruling the cut Villefort suffered was from a punch means he gets a loss, Jesse Lennox gets a win and we get another glaring example of why we need some degree of replay in MMA.

5. Take Your Beating Like a Man, Forrest
I know you're disappointed and I know you're embarassed, but c'mon.

If you can get up that quickly and run to the locker room, you can stand in the Octagon, congratulate your opponent who was clearly the better man and answer any questions Joe Rogan may have for you.

Running to the locker room is bad form and poor sportsmanship, and coming from the guy who is always promoted as a "heart-and-soul" guy, I was thoroughly disappointed.

6. Tough Night for the TUF Boys
Kenny Florian lost, Forrest Griffin lost and Kendall Grove lost too, giving the UFC's flagship show an 0-fer evening in Philadelphia.

The show has unquestionably been great for the sport and the UFC, but maybe the time for hyping guys and introducing them as the former Ultimate Fighter winner is just about over.

I mean, Mac Danzig is a former TUF winner and no one has any more interest in Mac Danzig, right?

7. We've Still Got Judging Issues
I'm no Thales Leites fan, but Thales Leites got robbed. How does one judge see it 30-27 Leites and the other two score the fight for Alessio Sakara?

Additionally, while all the judges saw Matt Riddle as the clear winner, how can three guys have it so different: 29-27, 30-27, and 30-26?

Personally, even the Ricardo Almeida Unanimous 30-27 was dicey to me. Grove had the second round on my scorecard with the armbar attempt.

8. Speaking of Thales Leites...
PEACE OUT HOMEBOY!

Two straight fights where he doesn't want to fight? While I understand not engaging with Anderson Silva, but when you don't even really want to fight Alessio Sakara, a dude who was 4-4 coming into things, you deserve to be cut.

I mean, Jason MacDonald took on everyone the UFC put in front of him, fought hard to a 5-5 record and got his walking papers. This dude certainly deserves the same fate.

9. UFC at Fenway Would Be So Dope!
More of a "What We Learned at the UFC 101 Post-Fight Press Conference" note, but tell me this wouldn't be absolutely awesome?

So too would an outdoor event at Aloha Stadium when the UFC makes their first foray into Hawaiian sometime next year.

And don't even get me started on shows in Vancouver and Toronto...

10. A UFC / WEC Merger is Coming
This has been discussed before and while nothing was even remotely close to being announced last night, there were signs that this is going to happen.

Rogan and Goldie talked up some of the big name talents in the WEC and the promo for tonight's card got lots of airtime on the broadcast. Besides, it would make total sense.

Some of the best fights of every year come from the Mighty Mights of the WEC and with growing recognition for guys like Miguel Torres, Mike Brown and Urijah Faber, bringing everyone under one umbrella would make sense.

Extra Point: 5-5 on the Punch Drunk Predictions
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FWP: Penn vs. Florian

Stupid job and domestic responsibilities interfering with my daily routine! I've been waiting all day to write this preview...

24 hours before the fight, everyone knows the stories by now, so there is no need to rehash them.

What there is a need for is complete objectivity in breaking down the main event of UFC 101.

"The Prodigy" BJ Penn (13-5-1) versus Kenny "KenFlo" Florian (13-3)

Since BJ's training and preparation is one of things he's often criticized about, that seems like a logical place to start.

You know what you're going to get with Florian.

Training with his brother Keith (congrats on the baby!) and Team Sityodtong's Mark Dellagrote and Peter Welch, Florian has transformed into a visibly different fighter since his loss to Sean Sherk.

His boxing is better. His Muay Thai is better. His cardio and game plans have been better. Essentially, every aspect of his game has improved to a point where he is, as he said when we spoke two weeks ago, at the top of his game in every aspect and ready to prove he can compete with the best in the world at 155.

Then there is BJ.

Reports from the weigh-ins say he looked great; I believe the word Jake Rossen used was "lean," which is a welcome change from "pudgy" or "doughy" when we last saw BJ step on the scale.

The question mark going into this fight is what kind of difference will we see in the champion after leaving Hilo to train in California with Marv Marinovich?

Personally, I think anyone who would push their own flesh and blood (son Todd was an NFL mega-bust) to the brink in pursuit of professional athletic stardom wouldn't have much of a problem putting the boots to a relative stranger and his entourage.

To me, this isn't one of those fights where you can look at each skill category and pick apart the fight from that angle. The totality of the skills of both of these fighters is what makes them as dangerous as they are.

Florian has better all-around stand-up because of his length and Muay Thai, but Penn has outstanding boxing and ridiculous athleticism. On the ground, both hold black belts in BJJ, but only one of them earned a World Championship at the 2000 Mundials.

Looking at mutual opponents, both ran through Joe Stevenson. While Florian managed to finish the fight in quicker fashion, Penn left the former Ultimate Fighter winner an utter mess of his own blood at the close of their encounter.

Obviously, Sean Sherk stands as the only shared opponent and the outcomes of the two fights are polar opposites.

"The Muscle Shark" was left dead in the water at the close of the third round when he challenged Penn for his Lightweight title back at UFC 84, a finish now somewhat famous for Penn licking the blood of his gloves in celebration.

Things went drastically different when Florian faced Sherk for the strap 20 events earlier.

Sherk, then in his prime and dropping to lightweight for the first time, used his superior wrestling to throw the inexperienced Florian from pillar to post in earning a Unanimous Decision and the Lightweight title.

But if anyone believes that the Florian who faced off with Sherk then is the same as the Florian stepping into the cage tomorrow, you clearly haven't been paying attention.

Normally, in breaking down fights, we have no real insight into the minds of the fighters. While we really don't here either, I'd be remiss not to mention the recent quote and subsequent apology from BJ Penn in regards to Georges St-Pierre and steroids.

Personally, if I'm the lightweight champ and anyone other than the fighter I'm squaring off with comes up in an interview, especially my nemesis, I tell the interviewer that I'm focused on Fighter X and move on.

Not BJ; he offers opinions that become major stories, forces himself into a mea culpa situation and gives everyone the opportunity to question his focus heading into a very tough title defense.

Well, that's all of it.

We've covered every inch of this fight and the card in total.

All that's left now is to make some Punch Drunk Predictions and settle in to watch the fights tomorrow night.
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B. J. Penn: "I Think GSP Does Steroids"

Over these last few weeks, I've actually started to find myself defending B.J. Penn a great deal.

As I've stated time and again, I've never been one of the many crazed B.J. fans who thinks he can do no wrong; I acknowledge his talents, but he's always been, well, the way he is that sends the other half of the MMA community to websites and message boards galore to criticize him relentlessly.

But lately, I've been migrating a little towards Team Penn amidst the nonsensical "Kenny Florian is going to kill him because he's a whiner" type logic floating about. And remember, this is coming from a guy who just had the best interview of his life with Kenny Florian not two weeks ago.

However, all of that growing support has now gone out the window with Penn's latest bout with verbal diarrhea. Sorry, I can't cheer for an idiot.

The title quote comes courtesy of "The Prodigy" in Kevin Iole's latest effort asking whether B.J. Penn is misunderstood.

While I know the legions of B.J. Penn supporters are going to stand and be counted in agreement with their favorite Hawaiian, when you follow up a statement - slash - allegation like that with, "I can’t hand you any proof, but that’s my opinion," maybe you should think about keeping your opinion to yourself for once?

Damn editing having me all fooled. Here I thought, after watching UFC Countdown for a second time tonight that B.J. was focused on beating Kenny Florian, silencing the critics and making a dominant run through the lightweight division.

Clearly, that isn't the case.

If it was, he wouldn't be dropping accusations like this two days and change before his fight with Florian.

For a guy who has come out recently and declared that he won't do business with the websites he feels haven't given him a fair shake over the years, making claims like this with absolutely nothing to back it up is what fuels those fires.

And what brilliance reasoning does Baby Jay have for his steadfast belief that St-Pierre uses performance-enhancers?

“In my opinion, he doesn’t play by the rules when it comes to steroids and growth hormones and that stuff. Look at him. He’s the worst. He looks like that every day. That’s cheating. There is a reason why there are rules against using steroids. The rest of us, we get fat, then we train and get skinny and the cycle goes over and over again. He looks the same way all the time. Come on.”

Wow.

Most of us get fat because we don't workout as diligently as we should, eat a whole bunch of crap and spend more time on the couch than we do a treadmill.

Did it ever occur to Penn that while he's hanging out in Hilo following a fight, getting fat so he can train and drop the weight again, GSP is the kind of guy who just trains every day and approaches each day the same way, fight or no fight?

I know a ton of people who are workout freaks that stick to their programs 365-24-7. None of them are ever fat and none of them are in consideration as the best fighter in the business today.

If guys I grew up with are able to maintain a consistent weight and physique through diet and training, is it not entirely possible that a high-performance athlete like GSP could do the same?

Apparently not in the mind of B.J. Penn.

What a strange and terrifying place that must be.


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A Warning to Kenny Florian

I don't consider myself a B.J. Penn fan.

As an athletically-challenged individual without any natural talents in the realm of sports, watching a guy like Penn coast along on the gifts he's been given sometimes leads me to hope his opponents smash him.

That being said, you're out of your mind if you think Kenny Florian is going to beat B.J. Penn come UFC 101.

I'll give Florian all the credit in the world for his evolution as a fighter. He's come a long way since losing to Diego Sanchez in the Middleweight finale of TUF 1 and he's looked pretty good in racking up six straight wins heading into his second Lightweight title shot.

But this is B.J. Penn we're talking about here.

I may not be a fan of Penn, but that doesn't stop me from recognizing and acknowledging great talents when I see them. Dislike him all you want, but there is no questioning the immense skills and proven track record "The Prodigy" has when fighting at his natural weight class.

Penn has five losses in his Mixed Martial Arts career. Three are at welterweight and one is an open weight decision loss at the hands of Lyoto Machida. That leaves just one loss at his natural 155 pound class, coming to Jens Pulver ... more than seven years ago.

The UFC Lightweight champion is 9-1-1 when fighting at 155 pounds, earning a draw against Caol Uno following the Pulver loss. That was in February 2002.

Do the math: BJ Penn is undefeated as a lightweight in the last seven years.

In that time, he made Takanori Gomi tap, did the same in avenging his loss to Pulver, and then destroyed both Joe Stevenson and Sean Sherk in earning and defending the UFC Lightweight title.

He also scored wins over respected veterans Duane "Bang" Ludwig, Rodrigo Gracie and Renzo Gracie outside of the 155 weight class during that time too, not to mention taking Matt Hughes' UFC Welterweight belt.

Can B.J. Penn be an obnoxious complainer and a frustrating fighter to watch? Absolutely, as we learned through "Greasegate" and his portrayal on "UFC Primetime" leading into the second GSP fight.

Can you question his level of dominance in the Lightweight division? Absolutely not.

Going into this fight at UFC 101, don't maintain the beaten and tired image of B.J. Penn losing to Georges St-Pierre in your head. That's not the Penn you'll be seeing.

The guy Kenny Florian is set to face is the human wrecking ball that decimated Sean Sherk, leaving him collapsed against the cage, a bloody mess that was unable to continue.

Maybe I'm going to be proven wrong.

Or maybe this will be the start of B.J. Penn running through the entire lightweight division, erasing all doubts about how great a fighter he truly is ... when he wants to be.



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The UFC 100: The Teenagers

Not going to lie - I'm pretty pumped that we're coming to the end of this series.

My thinking is that since a number of people have shied away to this point, they're waiting until the Top 10 are revealed before chiming in with their thoughts and objections.

Well good people, we're getting closer, as today's installment looks at the cast of characters who make up the teenage segment of the Greatest Fighters in UFC History.

20. Mark Coleman
UFC Record: 6-4
Victories Over: Gary Goodridge, Don Frye, Dan Severn

Don't think of the Mark Coleman who fought Shogun Rua or that will be stepping into the cage all old and exhausted this weekend. Jump on YouTube and watch early Mark Coleman and you'll see why "The Hammer" resides as the elder statesmen of the teenage set. The first ever UFC Heavyweight champion brought the ground and pound formula to the cage and executed it better than anyone at the time, en route to six straight wins, the UFC 10 and 11 Tournament titles and the aforementioned heavyweight crown.

19. Quinton "Rampage" Jackson
UFC Record: 5-1
Victories Over: Chuck Liddell, Dan Henderson, Wanderlei Silva

While many other former Pride fighters have had mixed results since joining (or returning to) the UFC, Rampage has had none of that. Following his debut win, he won the Light Heavyweight title from Liddell, unified the division by beating Pride champ Dan Henderson and fought a very, very close battle with Forrest Griffin. Since then, he's gone crazy for a couple days, but returned to clobber nemesis Wanderlei Silva and grind out a win over Keith Jardine. Next up: TUF 10 and a grudge match with Rashad Evans.

18. Forrest Griffin
UFC Record: 7-3
Victories Over: Stephan Bonnar (twice), Shogun Rua, Rampage Jackson

You're damn right I have Griffin here in part because of his success as "The Original Ultimate Fighter." What keeps him here is his submission of Shogun when he was still considered the best light heavyweight in the world and his upset of Rampage for the Light Heavyweight title. And really, when your three losses are Keith Jardine, Tito Ortiz and Rashad Evans, that ain't too bad either.

17. Jens Pulver
UFC Record: 6-2-1
Victories Over: Caol Uno, Dennis Hallman, BJ Penn

The first UFC Lightweight (then Bantamweight) champion, Lil Evil has fallen on tough times recently with a string of losses that have people (myself included) wondering whether he should continue. Should he hang'em up, we can always look back on his epic first battle with BJ Penn, a fight that, for my money, should be higher up in the UFC's countdown of the 100 Greatest Fights than it is.

16. Pat Miletich
UFC Record: 8-2
Victories Over: Mikey Burnett, John Alessio

Everyone knows him as a trainer - and a damn fine one at that - but Miletich was also one hell of a fighter back in the day. "The Croatian Sensation" won the belt over Mikey Burnett at UFC Ultimate Brazil and held onto it for two and a half years, defending the strap four times before succumbing to Carlos Newton at UFC 31. I'm sure some part of Miletich enjoyed seeing future protege Matt Hughes powerbomb Newton into unconsciousness in his first defense.

15. Rich Franklin
UFC Record: 12-3
Victories Over: Wanderlei Silva, Yushin Okami, Ken Shamrock

I feel for Rich Franklin, I really do. Life was great, cruising along as the Middleweight champ, four straight wins since joining the UFC, including defeating Shamrock and Evan Tanner, preparing for a defense against Martin Kampmann and then BOOM! Kampmann blows a knee, Anderson Silva steps in and now Franklin is forever stuck in limbo, forced to make 205 his permanent home because he's 0-2 against "The Spider" and no one wants to see him get dismantled again.

14. Lyoto Machida
UFC Record: 7-0
Victories Over: Rashad Evans, Tito Ortiz, Sokoudjou

When it's all said and done, "The Dragon" could end up as the best ever. EVER. He hasn't lost a round, barely gets touched and has demolished everyone he's ever faced. And it's not like he's facing stiffs either. Now he's the Light Heavyweight champ, the catalyst for thousands of people's renewed love of karate and lined up to defend against Shogun Rua in the Fall. How long can he remain undefeated?

13. Frank Mir
UFC Record: 10-3
Victories Over: Tim Sylvia, Brock Lesnar, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira

People will surely question this one, but facts are facts. Mir was dominating the division before a motorcycle accident put him on the sidelines. While he struggled initially upon his return, all he's done of late is rattle off three straight wins, including submitting the genetic freak that is Brock Lesnar and being the first person in 38 fights to KO Nogueira. Show the man some respect.

12. BJ Penn
UFC Record: 9-4-1
Victories Over: Matt Hughes, Jens Pulver, Sean Sherk

This one might make some, including Sarah Kaufman, very mad. From where I stand, Penn has the ability to become a Top 10, even a Top 5 fighter on this list in the next few years, but does he have the desire? The interesting thing to me is that cleaning out the lightweight division, which is full of new challengers, would propel Penn into the Top 10 easily and get him the respect he feels he deserves. Let your actions speak for you, Baby Jay.

11. Frank Shamrock
UFC Record: 5-0
Victories Over: Tito Ortiz, Jeremy Horn, Igor Zinoviev

What can you say about the first ever UFC Light Heavyweight champ? He literally beat everyone the UFC ever put before him, including tough challenges in Horn and Ortiz, slammed Igor Zinoviev into retirement and walked away with a fist-full of wins against a goose egg in the loss department. The only thing that I would say is missing is a monster blowout between him and "his brother" Ken. That would have been awesome. Now it would just be ugly.

Only ten names remain and we all know who they are.
But what order will they come out in?
Who will be in the coveted #1 spot?

Patience my children, patience.

The UFC 100: 20's, 30's, 40's, 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's.



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The UFC 100 is Coming

UFC 100 is coming up fast and I for one am thoroughly impressed.

From the early shows dominated by Royce Gracie that helped make a name for Ken Shamrock, Kimo and Tank Abbott to the glitz and glamor that surrounds today's events, the UFC has come a long way, baby.

Back in the day, I never would have imagined the UFC getting to Pay-Per-View #100. There were too many opponents, too many roadblocks and too few states willing to host cards.



But now we're getting close and while the UFC and Spike TV will be bringing you the Top 100 Fights special in the coming month, we here at Keyboard Kimura are going in a different direction.

We're ranking the Top 100 Fighters in UFC History and we want your help. No one man can remember everyone and despite our encyclopedic knowledge of UFC history and willingness to spend hours on the Internet trying to recall who was the first guy to "beat" Royce Gracie, we know we're going to miss someone.

So, send us your Top 5, your Top 10 or even your favorite underrated fighter that you think we should consider. You can either leave your suggestions in the comments section or email them to me directly at spencerkyte@hotmail.com.

Who will be #1? Who will be #100?

You'll start finding out July 1 and we'll deliver 10 a day until we unveil #1 on July 10, the day before UFC 100.

And don't worry, we're still going to be breaking down all the fights on the Main Card too with our Fight Week Previews. Double duty never hurt anyone, especially when they're trying to make a name for themselves.

Get us those fighters and get ready for the UFC 100!

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