This past weekend the MMA community was treated to a new entry into the game, as well as free Anderson Silva. While both events did what they needed to do, neither was a card of the year candidate.
Affliction:Banned
Overall, not a bad first outing for Affliction. The ring evoked Pride memories, the event moved along nicely, and they seemed to know what they were doing. With that said, the lighting was bad, I kept feeling I was watching an 80's rock concert. Then again considering Megadeth was performing, I was watching an 80's rock concert.
The commentary was adequate, not as bad as Elite XC, but not as good as Rogan and that dumb guy Goldberg.
The ring seemed out of place to me, but thats probably from watching too much UFC. In my mind, MMA is just supposed to be fought in a cage.
On to the fights, I wasn't particularly excited about anything until Barnett knocked Rizzo back to UFC 18. Note to Rizzo, stay active buddy. Layoffs can get you laid out.
Andrei Arlovski looked like he was prepping more for his boxing debut than for a fight with Fedor, as he threw beautiful combinations in his fight with Rothwell. I think he would be well served to try his hand in boxing, as the heavyweight division is wide open and really lacking in star power.
Somebody please tell me Fedor is human. I know we have rapped his weak opposition as of late, but after his fight with Silvia, I was left wondering when he was gonna fight someone FOR REAL again. He made Silvia look like a chump.
UFC Fight Night
Brandon Vera needs to stay around 220 if he is going to fight at 205. He looked like he barely made it to the finish line, and that won't cut it against the cream of the crop at light heavy. He is extremely talented, but it wont matter if he has nothing in the later rounds due to cutting too much weight.
Cain Velasquez looks like a monster in the making. I thought Irish Jake would be a good test for him, boy was i wrong.
Looks like the UFC is gonna ride Anderson Silva till the wheels fall off. If he keeps knocking guys out like he did the Sandman, who can blame them?
Random Thoughts
After watching Affliction live and then watching UFC on TiVo, I was left with a thought. I wonder how good Affliction would have been with Rogan on the announce team, the UFC production team, and a cage instead of a ring.
Anybody other than me know that the fight was 4over the minute they showed Fedor warming up? he looked fast, extremely fast. I knew Timmy was in trouble.
I'm starting to wonder why anybody wants to see Fedor fight Couture. Randy hasn't fought in almost a year, is 45, and is extremely beatable. I'm not even sure Fedor is human, let alone beatable, yet.
The UFC hype machine is wonderful. They are hyping Anderson Silva up so much I'm starting to buy in to it. Imagine what they would have done with Fedor.
I've seen WWE's Undertaker at many MMA events recently. Having closely followed his career I can tell you that if the UFC was around in his heyday, he would have been fighting for real, and not in fake casket matches.
Did anyone notice how Affliction saved Tito Ortiz for last when they announced celebs at their show, to give him maximum pop? I think that's a sign they want him, and intend to sign him.
If anyone needs an explanation of how worthless the WAMMA title is, think of this. Tito could defeat Babalu and Belfort, one of which could be for the WAMMA light heavy title. He could then legitimately claim to be the real champion at 205 in the world, since he has a victory over Forrest Griffin.
Final Thought
Why don't promoters realize fans don't need dancers or recording artists to make a good fight card? All you need is good production value, some short, informative fighter intros, good entrances that don't take 8 to 10 minutes, and good fights.
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2 months ago
Tito Ortiz couldn't claim to be a real champion... beating someone two years ago doesn't mean anything. Forrest is A LOT better now. And Belfort is fighting at 185 now and should stay there. I get the feeling he might start capitalizing on all his potential soon. I'd like to see Lindland vs Belfort.
from 2 months ago
Ok Robert, let me educate you bud. Beating someone always means something, no matter when you beat them. Does Tito have to beat Forrest every two years to be better than him or something? Does he need to renew his victory or it expires? I understand your point that guys get better and some guys decline, but a win is a win.
As for Belfort, he should stay at 185, but he wants to renew his lost to Tito that has apparently expired according to how you judge fights. So I say lets let him.
from 2 months ago
I just think it's silly logic. I mean, I know he holds a win over Forrest. Does it mean he's necessarily better than Forrest now? No. Forrest was the one who beat Rua and Jackson to get the belt. If Jeremy Horn or Keith Jardine won the Affliction title would you say they were the real chamption at 205? The logic doesn't flow. If you consider the UFC's belt to be the true representation of best 205'er in the world, then you have to actually win the title to claim it, not win some unrelated title in another organization and hold a win over the UFC's current champ.
Somewhat related thoughts: Rampage would destroy Tito -- way better striking and he has wrestling to keep it on the feet. I'd give Tito a good chance against Rua though... I've never really seen a Rua fight where his takedown defense was tested. Or I'm just not remembering.
from 2 months ago
As an analog to this, BJ Penn beat Takanori Gomi a few years back. If I were ranking top lightweights in the world, I'd still put Penn #1 and Gomi #2, so I do admit the win still means something. In this scenario though, there's a whole 'nother factor to this. Gomi and Penn have both been winning consistently so that is what you use to differentiate the two. But here, Tito is 0-2-1 in his last 3 fights and Griffin is 3-0 in his last 3 fights. Like I said your logic doesn't flow.
from 2 months ago
you missed my point entirely, which was that WAMMA is worthless. You were agreeing with my point, albeit unknowingly because I think I lost you there.
My point was to use an example that is very likely to happen, which is Tito fighting for the WAMMA belt because Affliction is the only organization ive seen go along with this nonsense so far. So if he won the belt, in a match with say, Babalu, he would be the universally recognized champ at 205, or at least that's how they would see it.
I threw in his win over Forrest as a side bar.
from 2 months ago
O. I haven't payed attention at all to that wamma belt and then I lost touch with your point about the pointlessness of it when I saw the Forrest comment attached to it.
2 months ago
Great article. I agree with almost everything that you said. Like I wrote not too long ago get rid of Goldberg. This guy doesn't know anything about MMA and he's been doing this for how long now? Study up or GTFO. One point I still want to bring up and have thought about doing an article on is the wrestlers stalling in matches and all the holding on the fence. This is where PRIDE really had good sense, the yellow card. 10% of the fighters purse gone in an instant.
from 2 months ago
UFC has done a better job of standing fighters back up, but I wholeheartedly agree with yellow cards. they are great in my opinion.
2 months ago
Aside from the Tito debate, good article.
from 2 months ago
one last point on the Tito thing, Id still pick Tito over Forrest. Tito lost to Lyoto, and I think Forrest would too. Forrest beat Rua, and Tito wanted that fight bad. He wanted it so bad the UFC decided to make sure he didnt get it. I believe he would have beat Rua as well. That leaves what, Rampage?
Not only do I believe Rampage won that fight, I believe he was half crazy when he did it.
Not to take anything away from Forrest, but I can bet you they wont be putting him in with Lyoto anytime soon.
from 2 months ago
I think it's really really hard to give Rampage that fight. First round Rampage 10-9. Second round Forrest 10-8 (I don't think Rampage even landed a punch the entire round, got jacked up by a leg kick, then taken down and laid on his back for about 4:40, and the last two minutes of it or so he was mounted) or Forrest 10-9 if you disagree with me. Third round was really close. Fourth round I'll give to Rampage 10-9. Fifth round Forrest because he was more aggressive and landed more shots.
The only way Rampage wins this fight is if you don't see the 2nd round as a 10-8'er which doesn't make any sense to me. Otherwise you could give the 3rd round to him and it's a draw -- that's how I scored it after first watching the fight.
If Tito and Forrest fought again I think Forrest would win. Tito might be able to get him down, but he wouldn't be able to hold him down or effectively gnp him because as Forrest has showed in his last two fights he has a great defensive guard and a good offensive guard. On the feet Forrest would have the advantage. I think Forrest would win by decision or maybe even submission but I doubt that.
I'd probably take Machida over Griffin, but Griffin has a much better shot of beating Machida than Ortiz did (dramatic triangle attempt with 25 seconds left aside).
2 months ago
I am still digesting your article and the confusing comments. Since Tito is no longer with the UFC what is the point on all the speculation? He and Rampage both said they wouldn't fight esch other, so why discuss that now either. If/when Rampage recovers he should get Forrest.
from 2 months ago
speculation, my dear, is why we all write in the first place. If we didn't speculate, what would be the point in writing articles?
from 2 months ago
In that case I guess I am a really big speculator, huh?
2 months ago
I actually think WAMMA is a good thing, and hope the UFC buys into it one day. Even if you agree or disagree with the Tito Logic above, if any fighter beats Bablu and Belfort they deserve a chance at the title. Whether it be Tito or Forrest or even Rashad Evans. But I also agree that Vitor should stay at Middleweight.
WAMMA Heavyweight Champion is Fedor, and there is not a darn thing any heavyweight in the world, short of Josh Barnett, can do anything about it. I think he will destroy Andrei in the 1st round as well. My logic is that Tim knocked out Andrei and is slow and powerful, Fedor knocked out Tim, who is stronger and fast, Andrei should not attempt to strand up with Fedor by that conclusion. Also, I think Fedor has the edge on the ground as well, so I dont think Andrei should take him down either. Actually, Andrei should just not show up and just give Barnett the shot instead.
Also, I hope Randy gets in the ring with someone to tune up for Fedor or he will face the only man that hits harder than Liddell, and Liddell knocked him out, twice.
from 2 months ago
if the UFC bought into it Frank, then WAMMA wouldn't be worthless. I'm betting they won't, and I agree with them.
Clearly Fedor is the best heavyweight in the world, but I would have rather they gave him the belt than make him fight Silvia for it.
As for Randy, who would he fight? it would have to be a soft touch because he really can't afford to lose if he is goint to fight Fedor.
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