MMA January Discussion is Awaiting The End of Rampage

[Turd Ferguson]

Also added to UFC on Fox 7 is Matt Brown vs. Dan Hardy. Hell yeah.

And people are ragging on how Cormier let Staring get to the second. Cormier put on a damn good performance that showcased his abilities. Staring is just very tough to put away. Anyone who criticizes Cormier for his performance against Staring is a hater, flat out.

 

[Fizzy]

It's simply because if fans don't know a fighter by name, they assume they are a can who any fighter they see on TV can kill within a minute. Most fans don't understand, B and C league fighters are still that; professional fighters who have trained for years honing their skills to the best of their abilities. They expect Cormier to KO every fighter they deem below his level when in truth, there are some tough, skilled mother fuckers out there that while they may not be UFC level, are still tough outings for even the best.

 

[Richard Blonoff]

The list of guys going from SF to the UFC was released Tuesday. The biggest omission is obviously Barnett. Now I'm not a fan of the guy, but I think his run in Strikeforce proved he isn't the same guy he was during his first UFC run.

HEAVYWEIGHT

Daniel Cormier (11-0 MMA, 8-0 SF)

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT

Gegard Mousasi (33-3-2 MMA, 4-1-1 SF)
Gian Villante (10-3 MMA, 3-2 SF)

MIDDLEWEIGHT

Roger Gracie (6-1 MMA, 4-1 SF)
Tim Kennedy (15-4 MMA, 6-2 SF)
Lorenz Larkin (13-0 MMA, 4-0 SF)
Champ Luke Rockhold (10-1 MMA, 9-0 SF)
Ronaldo Souza (17-3 MMA, 7-1 SF)

WELTERWEIGHT

Roger Bowling (11-3 MMA, 4-3 SF)
Jason High (16-3 MMA, 3-0 SF, 0-1 UFC)
Nate Marquardt (32-11-2 MMA, 1-1 SF, 10-4 UFC)
Champ Tarec Saffiedine (14-3 MMA, 6-1 SF)
Bobby Voelker (24-8 MMA, 4-1 SF)

LIGHTWEIGHT

Ryan Couture (6-1 MMA, 6-1 SF)
Pat Healy (29-16 MMA, 7-1 SF, 0-1 UFC)
Kurt Holobaugh (8-1 MMA, 0-1 SF)
Adriano Martins (24-6 MMA, 1-0 SF)
Champ Gilbert Melendez (21-2 MMA, 11-1 SF)
K.J. Noons (11-6 MMA, 3-4 SF)
Josh Thomson (19-5 MMA, 10-3 SF, 2-1 UFC)

 

[jmt225]

I truly believe the top Strikeforce guys will have similar success in the UFC that the top WEC fighters has had. I'm really looking forward to it.

That said, it really fucking sucks Barnett and Feijao aren't being signed from the looks of it. They're both great, exciting fighters and would no doubt be title contenders in their respective weight classes.

 

[braveh]

I'm actually excited for Bellator.

I've been a MMA-fan since 2008 and whenever there was secondary promotion, Affliction, EliteXC or Strikeforce, it was just something that was there that I didn't care for and had not followed. So I never rooted for or knew the backstory to any of those promotions. The only time we paid any attention to those promotions was when Fedor had a fight.

But Bellator is actually something I've been following for years on MTV2 and when UFC signed with Fox and bought Strikeforce it was set in stone that in this month, this year Bellator would become the second MMA promotion in the world.

This season is going to be great. Their heavyweight division is a real stinker but other than that it's not that bad.

I did watch IFL years and years ago but back then I hated MMA and I watched that as a spoof

 

[Fizzy]

I think Barnett will make his way to the UFC. Remember, that is a list of fighters set in stone. I know Dana has been on the fence, and hasn't made his mind up in Barnett, but I think we'll see him in the UFC eventually.

 

[Turd Ferguson]

I would say that the following who weren't mentioned by Ariel will make the jump.

Heavyweight
Josh Barnett (especially where Bjorn said he had no interest)

Light Heavyweight
Feijao
OSP
Guto Inocente (6-0, only 26, why wouldn't he be)

Middleweight

Adlan Amagov (10-2, 26 years old)
Yancy Medeiros (10-0)
Maybe Keith Jardine?

Welterweight

I had no idea Jorge Santiago was on the roster. Regardless, I can't see him getting a chance at a third tour of duty.

Quinn Mulhern
Chris Spang
Nah-Shon Burrell
Yuri Villefort

Lightweight
Jorge Masvidal

 

[Fizzy]

Barnett's name has been added to UFC.com. They were probably still working out a deal with him when the concrete list was made. Same probably goes with a few others as well.

 

[Fizzy]

I just learned that, when JDS spoke of personal problems he experienced leading up to the Cain fight, he was talking about his divorce with his wife of 10+ years.

Not making excuses, but that could really fuck with your mindset leading up to such a huge fight.

 

[jmt225]

I just learned that, when JDS spoke of personal problems he experienced leading up to the Cain fight, he was talking about his divorce with his wife of 10+ years.

Not making excuses, but that could really fuck with your mindset leading up to such a huge fight.

Nah, I think the real excuse was that he was enjoying his fame a little too much, severely underestimated Cain, and didn't prepare himself properly for the fight. A divorce confirms that for me. He was probably fucking around and partying and thought he had this fight in the bag since it was so easy the first time. Of course, he'll never admit this; it's easier to say he had a lot of personal problems then it is to say he didn't take the fight as seriously as he should have.

 

[Richard Blonoff]

Really was my head. I had some personal things going on, a bit of my attention was lacking because of it. And another thing. Soon after the fight I went to the hospital and had a scan, which showed my creatine was too high. The normal level is up to 300, mine was in 1400. I also had trouble in the urine and kidneys.

The explanation of the doctors is that I pushed over the line, I over trained, and problems could have happened even before the fight… I was so good that I ended up crossing the line. That was the explanation of doctors. Mine is that I was not good with my head, was having personal problems and did not go well mentally in the fight.

That is from JDS himself. I've yet to hear that the personal issues are divorce outside of just now, but I'm just going to treat this one like I do when most guys come out with excuses after a fight. You still lost, just come back strong next time. Unless you are Tito Ortiz, because if you are Tito keep coming up with excuses because they are hilarious.

Chad Griggs and Yasuhiro Urishitani were among a fairly long list of cuts in the past few days.

 

[Papa Pillman]

I don't know about everyone else, but I was extremely impressed by the look of the product Bellator put out last night.

I thought the production value was on a level playing field with the production value of any live event that UFC aired on Spike.

It was an improvement on the overall visual presentation/production that they used to air on MTV2(which I always thought was of good quality to begin with).

 

[jmt225]

Hey guys, we already know about Cormier vs. Mir and Gil vs. Bendo, but what are some other fights you'd like to see from the Strikeforce crew for their UFC debut?

Mousasi vs. Gustafsson is the first fight that comes to mind for me. Both guys are basically the biggest non-champion hype guys in the Light Heavyweight Division. Let's see who the real deal is and who isn't. (Edit: this fight is apparently happening)

The second fight is KJ Noons vs. Nate Diaz. Rivalry match-up and a fun stand-up bout. Would be a good fight to add to the Gil/Bendo Fox card IMO.

Jacare vs. Chris Weidman. This should be a #1 Contender fight. Jacare's earned it before Luke Rockhold due to remaining active.

Speaking of Rockhold, him vs. Lombard would be fucking awesome and is another fight worthy of being for a shot at the MW Championship.

Roger Gracie vs. Shogun. Good fight to see if Roger is really a UFC caliber fighter, and if not, then it just gives Shogun an easy victory, something he could use right now.

And that's all I got for now. What about you guys?

 

[BaconBits]

I'd like to see Tarec Saffedine vs. Martin Kampmann. Two kickboxers going at it would make for a fun fight.

I'd like to see Gegard Mousasi vs. Rashad Evans (provided Rashad beats Lil' Nog, which I think he should rather easily). Mousasi talks a big game and should be thrown in the deep end of the pool right away because Bones needs new contenders badly. Let's see if his wrestling has improved.

I'd like to see a rematch of Nate Marquardt vs. Demian Maia, now that they're both at 170. It'd be an easy fight to hype, and the start of contendership for the winner.

Josh Thomson vs. Jim Miller would be a quality fight.

Luke Rockhold should fight the Bisping/Belfort winner. Again, Anderson needs some new contenders and they need to throw Rockhold in the deep end of the pool to put him on the fast track.

Roger Gracie should fight Chris Weidman. We hear so much about how epic Weidman's jitz is. Lets give him the guy with the nastiest jitz in the business to see if the hype is real.

Jacare Souza vs. Hector Lombard would be a ball of fun. And, considering Jacare won't fight Anderson, this is about the highest profile fight for hm.

Ryan Couture needs to fight an experienced guy on the lower end of the cale to see where he really is in his career. Mac Dazing would fit the bill here.

KJ Noons vs. Melvin Guiliard should be fun. Although, the risk of it turning into the crapfest that was Guilard vs. Stephens is high, so maybe Nate Diaz makes more sense. Plus that fight is easily hyped. Yeah, KJ-Diaz makes more sense.

Tim Kennedy deserves a mid-level fight and I think somebody like Mark Munoz fits the bill here.

 

[Turd Ferguson]

I'd like to see Gegard Mousasi vs. Rashad Evans (provided Rashad beats Lil' Nog, which I think he should rather easily). Mousasi talks a big game and should be thrown in the deep end of the pool right away because Bones needs new contenders badly. Let's see if his wrestling has improved.

Mousasi is definitely getting thrown in the deep end right away. His UFC debut will be against Alexander Gustafsson in Sweden in April.

I see Gustafsson taking it. Gegard should probably be fighting at Middleweight. Gustafsson is going to be too big for him and should dictate the fight with the clinch and probably have his way with him on the ground in the later rounds

 

[Papa Pillman]

I would have preferred to see Mousasi make his debut against Phil Davis, but Gustafsson is a good choice as well.

The fight I really want to see... Joe Lauzon v. Josh Thomson
Both are coming off a loss. They could make the fight very soon if they wanted. And it has fight of the night written all over it. It would really let us see where Thomson stands back in the UFC instead of starting him out against a top six or seven guy in the division.

 

[BaconBits]

Mousasi is definitely getting thrown in the deep end right away. His UFC debut will be against Alexander Gustafsson in Sweden in April.

I see Gustafsson taking it. Gegard should probably be fighting at Middleweight. Gustafsson is going to be too big for him and should dictate the fight with the clinch and probably have his way with him on the ground in the later rounds

Gustafsson is taller than Mousasi by a few inches, but they're reach is nearly the same. I don't see the size difference meaning as much as you think, considering Mousasi has fought at heavyweight in both mma and kickboxing.

 

[Fizzy]

Mousasi vs Davis would have been an absolute horrible way to start off his UFC career. Mousasi is a young, exciting guy who the UFC should build up. Why feed him to a boring ass wrestler who would likely lay on him and destroy any hope of building Mousasi up? Gustafsson is a great first fight because both are great, technical strikers who will put on a great fight. Is Mousasi wins, he becomes an instant contender. He loses, we have a new challenger for Jones and Mousasi would have lost to the number one contender to the title. That's much easier to salvage than if he got laid on by the guy go beat a nobody in his last fight. Also, sorry for the format of my predictions, Guy. I only had time to do it on my phone and I have yet to figure out how to skip entire lines while typing.

 

[Richard Blonoff]

Gus has short arms for a guy his height, but he is a big guy who cuts a decent amount of weight to get to 205. Unless he gets nerves fighting in front of a home crowd I see him taking it. I don't think he will finish Mousasi, but I bet after the fight Mousasi looks like Rocky Dennis.

 

[Papa Pillman]

I know they are to be expected to support their own, but the Brazilian crowd was absolutely right on their reaction to the Dolloway/Sarafian decision.

C.B. did not win that fight. A draw wouldn't have been out of the question, as I wouldn't have blamed a judge for scoring the second round at 10-8 due to the fact that the ref easily could've stopped the fight at any point in the last five seconds of the round. But- that doesn't change the fact that Sarafian won both the first and third rounds.

This wasn't a flat out robbery or even necesarily "controversial", its just another in an increasingly long line of habitually incorrect decisions by the judges. Sarafian deserved better after having lost his chance to fight for the Ultimate Fighter crown.

 

[Richard Blonoff]

Just another in a long line of reasons to dislike C.B. From his time on TUF all the way to now.

I will say there is something satisfying seeing Bisping lose, especially in that fashion, after all the shit talking he did.

 

[Richard Blonoff]

Bellator is doing something right. No more non title fights for champions. The champions also won't be allowed to fight outside the organization.

 

[wrestlingfan]

Bellator is doing something right. No more non title fights for champions. The champions also won't be allowed to fight outside the organization.

How do you feel on Alexander Volkov?

 

[braveh]

I think Chandler is more talented than Henderson. He could be better already. He is a better boxer, he is a better wrestler, I guess his guard is his weakness. He takes risks in his stand-up game.

Mousasi vs Davis would have been an absolute horrible way to start off his UFC career. Mousasi is a young, exciting guy who the UFC should build up. Why feed him to a boring ass wrestler who would likely lay on him and destroy any hope of building Mousasi up? Gustafsson is a great first fight because both are great, technical strikers who will put on a great fight. Is Mousasi wins, he becomes an instant contender. He loses, we have a new challenger for Jones and Mousasi would have lost to the number one contender to the title. That's much easier to salvage than if he got laid on by the guy go beat a nobody in his last fight. Also, sorry for the format of my predictions, Guy. I only had time to do it on my phone and I have yet to figure out how to skip entire lines while typing.

It's a win-win for UFC. Either Gustafsson becomes the big european hope and they will get a huge ppv out of it or Mousasi becomes the fighter who dominated Japan and Dream, dominated Strikeforce and now takes on Jones.

It could be boring fight though. Neither Gustaffsson and Mousasi take risks and won't mind winning by decision

 

[Richard Blonoff]

How do you feel on Alexander Volkov?

I don't know a whole lot about him. I saw him beat Bret Rodgers in person, that fight was average. He is a more entertaining heavyweight than Cole Konrad was, I do know that. I think he is young enough that he can grow into a really good fighter, because right now outside of Bellator, he doesn't have the most polished record to judge.