(Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
The Ultimate Fighting Championship will reach a historic milestone on July 11—UFC 100——and while some of the sport's original critics labeled mixed martial arts as a passing fad (like rap music), 16 years later, fight fans are religiously tuning in for monthly pay-per-views and the weekly installment of Spike TV's The Ultimate Fighter series.
UFC 100 has been billed as premier event this year, but in reality, its an average fight card with a memorable three-digit number attached to it.
UFC 94 in January, for instance, featured George St. Pierre vs. B.J. Penn as the main event, and I have never seen such support for MMA amidst a Super Bowl weekend in Las Vegas. Sure, there were Cardinals and Steelers jerseys to be seen around the casinos, but in reality, it looked like a civil war had been moved to the desert. Lines were clearly drawn between Hawaii and Canada.
During that trip, I met two Montreal fight fans, who told me that they'd bought one-way plane tickets, two passes to UFC 94, and then emptied the rest of their wallets at the sports book with a $1,000 each on "GSP." Now, that's dedication!
UFC 100 is more about the number than the matchups. It proves to everyone that MMA is not "human cockfighting;" it's a sport that deserves as much respect as the "major" sports.
It features athletes from the United States and abroad, and it is one of the only sports which can truly claim to crown "World Champions." I've never seen the Yankees play a team from overseas in the World Series, but I've certainly watched men from the United States face the toughest in the world (Brazil, Russia, Canada, etc.) while defending the coveted UFC Championship.
Breakdown of the fights for UFC 100 on July 11 in Las Vegas, Nevada
UFC Heavyweight Championship: Brock Lesnar vs. Frank Mir
Interestingly enough, despite defeating Lesnar before he became champion, Mir is the underdog going into this fight. It's disgraceful that Lesnar received a title shot against Randy Couture so early in his career.
While every one else from Rashad Evans to Thiago Alves had to earn their way to the top, Lesnar got to cut in line due to his pure size and popularity from World Wrestling Entertainment. He has a long way to go before he gets the respect that a UFC Champion deserves. Knocking out Randy with a toaster-sized fist to the back of the head does not impress me.
Prediction: Frank Mir by submission, Round Two
UFC Welterweight Championship: George St. Pierre vs. Thiago Alves
A year ago, I said that Thiago Alves was only welterweight in the UFC with a shot at beating GSP; now, we see if I was right.
Alves has exceptional jiu-jitsu skills, yet since he's so exposive on his feet, he really needs them. Since Alves is every bit as dangerous a striker as GSP, I don't see him being taken down as easily as B.J. Penn. Plus, Alves has no neck, so if he and St. Pierre get into a headkicking contest, I don't see Alves getting into trouble there.
Prediction: Thiago Alves by TKO, Round Two
Dan Henderson vs. Michael Bisping
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