UFC 93, Affliction: Day Of Reckoning, UFC 94-Buy or Not?

January kicks off the MMA world with three Major PPV events. With the economy as well as wallets tightening, are these guys really expecting us to drop $150 on PPV this month?

UFC 93

This card is better than a fight night card, but not good enough for PPV, in my opinion. This is one of those cards that makes me wish that HBO deal had gone thru. This is a perfect HBO card.

On to the fights the main event features Dan Henderson vs. Rich Franklin. I call this one the battle that should have taken place a few years ago. Good Matchup of two technically sound fighters that has decision written all over it.

The most interesting fight has to be Shogun vs. Mark Coleman. One has to wonder what Coleman has left, especially at his age and this weight. Funny thing is, one also has to wonder what Shogun has left after numerous injuries and surgeries. I'm picking he who has the most left to win. I think that man is Shogun.

Denis Kang finally debuts in the UFC, and it's about time. I just hope he doesn't get knocked out by Alan Belcher, which could mean hello and goodbye for him in the Octagon.

My recommendation for this card: go to the nearest hooters, get a good table, order a pitcher of your favorite beer, and avoid the hot wings because you'll pay for them later.

Affliction: Day of Reckoning

Fedor Vs. Arlovski. You gotta see this if your an MMA fan. This is a battle of two of the top heavyweights in the world. Forget WAMMA and their ridiculous title, or scepter, or championship ring, or whatever cracker jack prize they are giving out. Fedor is the man until he loses, and I'll be watching until he does.

If this fight were a boxing match, I would be picking Arlovski hands down. He is training with Freddie Roach, the man I believe to be the best trainer in the sport of boxing, hands down. However with the smaller MMA gloves, it only takes one shot to turn out the lights. Fedor has such power, and a better ground game. Give me Fedor by decision, knockout, submission, or TKO. I think that covers it.

Josh Barnett, another top heavyweight, is on this card as well. I really want to see this guy come back to the UFC, whenever Affliction folds that is. I have no idea what Yvel has left, but I suspect I'll find out Jan 24.

Last but not least Tito Ortiz will be announcing for this card, and I for one, think he is a pretty good commentator. I remember his work on a UFC card back before Dana excommunicated him. That makes it worth my money just to hear him talk trash about Babalu, who wants Tito in a bad way.

My recommendations for this one, Buy it if you are a true MMA connoisseur, and appreciate the finer things in life, like Fedor.

UFC 94

Georges St. Pierre vs BJ Penn II. You gotta love this matchup. This one has great fight written all over it. I like GSP to win by taking Penn down and holding him there and doing enough to win a decision, but I'm hoping for some fireworks in the standup.

We all have been chosen to suffer through yet another Machida fight. I just hope Silva brings the fight to him like I suspect he might, and somebody gets knocked out. I really don't want to have to hear Rogan go on and on about Machida being "elusive". Just writing that makes me want to puke.

Karo Parisyan is back. This fight should let us know if he is going to be a gatekeeper for the remainder of his career, or if he plans on making a serious run for a title shot. One thing is for sure, expect to see a judo toss at some point in this fight.

Nate Diaz takes on the tough as they come Clay Guida, and this should be a good little scrap. Hard to predict a winner there, as Guida has good standup and wrestling, but Diaz has the better submission game.

My recommendation for this one: If you only have $50 to spend this month, order this one. GSP Vs Penn II could be the early candidate for fight of the year.