Video of the Day - Chlewicki v. Daley

Here is Paul Daley fighting Lukas Chlewicki at Cage Warriors 57 which took place on July 20, 2013 in Liverpool, England.

The 30 year old Paul Daley has won 4 straight since a split decision loss to Kazou Misaki in Strikeforce, and is 10-3 since his release from the UFC.

What Can Boost TUF Ratings?

Despite awesome fights, dynamic story lines and being "live," Ultimate Fighter 15 scored the lowest ratings after moving to FX.  The 12th episode came in with 875,000 viewers and the 11th episode drew 821,000, the two worst totals in series history.  So, what can be done to perk up the ratings?  TUF: Comebacks - USA v. World on Wednesday Nights, winner gets $100,000!  Here are some changes I would make:

Move back to Wednesdays

The easiest change would be to moving the series back to Wednesday nights.   The average guy is sitting around Wednesday night with nothing to watch besides the occasional 6 episode run of South Park.  That same South Park episode is replayed at 11 PM.  Friday night usually means a night out for many fans, and while bars love playing UFC PPV's, they aren't going to tune in for TUF.

Bigger Prize

Lay out a $100,000 bonus if you win the show.  That will help you attract bigger named talent.  The biggest prize for current TUF'ers is publicity.  The fighters make $8,000 to show and $16,000 to win to start upon entering the UFC, usually with an escalating pay grade.  Zuffa recently kicked in bonuses for Fight of the Show, KO of the Show and Submission of the Show.  While that is fine and dandy, a fighter entering the UFC through the normal route typically makes $8-12K to show and $16-24K to start.  They also can earn the same bonuses.  What incentive did emerging stars Michael McDonald and Rory MacDonald have to give TUF a try?

Go Worldwide for Talent

The next change would have to be getting more talent in untapped markets.  Last time I checked, MMA fans are able to read closed captioning.  A TUF: USA v. World series could be very intriguing.  Have 16 guys from Japan, Korea, Brazil, Canada and the UK try out for a team of 8.  How great would it have been if Charles Oliviera was on TUF?  He just smoked TUF 12 winner Jonathan Brookins.

Another Season With Heavyweights

The biggest draw for the UFC and TUF have been heavyweights.  TUF 10 featured heavyweights, featuring Kimbo Silce, Roy Nelson, Brendan Schaub, Matt "Meathead" Mitrione and Marcus "Big Baby" Jones producing steller ratings.  The Heavyweight division dominated at UFC 146, as it is generally regarded as the most entertaining card of 2012 so far.  The division currently has the least talent as well, only having 29 current fighters on the UFC roster.

Another TUF Comebacks Season

TUF 4 churned Matt Serra who pulled off one of the largest upsets in UFC history defeating Georges St. Pierre for the welterweight title.  What draws more than fighters with name recognition?  Nothing!  If the UFC can land some big names, the ratings will return.

Bracketology

The main reason the NCAA basketball tournament is such a hit is the brackets.  Since TUF is an MMA tournament, why not have the fighters seeded and placed in fillable brackets?  We could fill out our brackets on UFC.com, have pools with friends, and so forth.  The UFC could capitalize on fans wanting to watch to see if their picks win and how their bracket shakes out.  

What Does it All Mean?  TUF Comebacks- USA v. World!

Move TUF back to Wednesdays and put $100,000 for the winner of each tournament.  Have one bracket of heavyweights, one bracket at 170.  Here is potential cast list:

HW - Team USA

Tim Sylvia (30-7)- Former UFC Champ 

Heath Herring (28-14)- Former Pride star 

Todd Duffee (7-2)- 7 second KO in the UFC

Jeff Monson (45-13)- former title contender

Joey Beltran (14-7)- 3 UFC wins

Eddie Sanchez (13-6)

Chris Tuchscherer (21-4)
Wild Card- Tank Abbott (10-14)- 8 UFC wins

HW - Team World

Andrei Arlovski (17-9) - Belarus- Former UFC Champ

Pedro Rizzo (19-9)- Brazil- Former UFC Champ

Rolles Gracie (6-1)- Brazil

Marcio Cruz (7-4)- Brazil

Soa Palelei (17-3)- Australia

Gilbert Yvel (38-16)- Holland

Tim Hague (14-6)- Canada
Wild Card- Semmy Schilt (26-14)- Holland- K-1 Legend

WW - Team USA

Karo Parisyan (20-8)- 8 UFC wins

Gerald Harris (21-4)- 4 fight win streak

Ben Saunders (13-5)- 4 UFC wins

Marcus Davis (21-9)- 9 UFC wins

John Howard (16-7)- 4 UFC wins

Frank Trigg (21-9)- Former title challenger

Tamdan McCrory (13-5)- 3 UFC wins
Wild Card- Nate Marquardt (31-10)- Former title challenger, now with SF

WW - Team World

Paul Daley (29-12) - UK- Former title challenger

Jonathan Goulet (23-12) - Canada

Yoshiyuki Yoshida (14-6)- Japan- 3 fight win streak

Keita Nakamura (24-5)- Japan- 7-1 in last 8 fights

Ryo Chonan (20-13)- Japan

Roan Carneiro (13-5)- Brazil
Jorge Patino (27-13)- Brazil

Wild Card- Carlos Newton (16-14)- Canada- Former UFC Champ

Video of the Day - Daley v. Shirai

Here is Paul Daley fighting Yuya Shirai in Bamma 5 which took place on 2/26/2011 in Manchester, UK.

Daley will next fight Kazuo Misaki this Saturday in Strikeforce.

Video of the Day - Kitaoka v. Daley

Here is Paul Daley fighting Sataoru Kitaoka in Pancrase: Blow 6 from 8/27/06. Paul Daley is rumored to fight Josh Koschek at UFC 113.

UFC 103 Review

UFC 103's preliminary card might have been loaded with slow decisions, but the Spike TV teaser matches and the PPV card was loaded with fireworks. Vitor Belfort, Junior Dos Santos and Josh Koscheck all pushed their way up the UFC contender ranks.

Vitor Belfort def Rich Franklin via TKO (strikes) R1, 3:02- Vitor Belfort looked fast and precise as he picked apart Rich Franklin for the TKO victory. Belfort landed what looked to be a glancing blow, but threw punch after punch as Franklin hit the canvas. With Franklin turtled up, the ref had to call the fight.

With the victory, Vitor Belfort has pushed his name directly to the top of the challengers to Anderson Silva. An ecstatic Belfort thanked Jesus before saying he missed the "UFC vibe" and that he would fight anyone Dana White and Joe Silva put in front of him.
*MMA Blaster readers choose Franklin incorrectly 20-25

(Vitor Belfort pictured)

Junior Dos Santos def Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic via sub (verbal) R3, 2:00- Dos Santos pushed his name up the heavyweight ladder as he picked up a huge win against MMA legend Mirko Cro Cop. In the beginning of the fight, Dos Santos did his best work in the clinch utilizing his dirty boxing. After a big knee and a couple punches found their mark Cro Cop had no choice but to verbally submit.

Paul Daley def Martin Kampmann via TKO (punches) R1, 2:31- Daley rocked Kampmann early and often, blasting him with devastating hooks. After taking a nasty combination that had Kampmann stunned the ref called the fight. While Kampmann was still standing, the stoppage was justified as he couldn't defend himself.

Josh Koscheck def Frank Trigg via TKO (punches) R1, 1:25- Koscheck worked through Frank Trigg with ease in this fight, pushing him back in contention at 170 pounds. A big right handed landed flush, knocking Trigg to the canvas. Once he was there, Koscheck threw punches until the ref jumped in to save Trigg.

Tyson Griffin def Hermes Franca via KO (punches) R2, 3:26- Tyson Griffin looked like the stronger fighter, utilizing his strength and boxing to win this fight. In the second, a ruthless display of ground and pound by Tyson Griffin ended Franca's night.

(Tyson Griffin pictured)

Efrain Escudero def Cole Miller via TKO (punches) R1, 3:36- After a feeling out process for the first two minutes, TUF 8 LW champ Efrain Escudero landed a big 1-2 punch combination sending Miller to the mat. Escudero put together more punches before the ref saved Miller from more punishment.

Tomasz Drwal def Drew McFedries via submission (RNC) R2, 1:03- In the first, both fighters were content throwing punches on standing. Near the end of the round, Drwal laid down some serious punishment on McFedries before attempting a submission. With McFedries looking a little dazed to start the second, Drwal landed a big left hand and followed McFedries to the ground before he got his back and locked in the fight ending rear naked choke.

Jim Miller def Steve Lopez via TKO (injury) R2, 0:48
Nick Lentz def Rafaello Oliveira via unanimous dec
Eliot Marshall def Jason Brilz via split dec
Vladimir Matyushenko def Igor Pokrajac via unanimous dec
Rafael Dos Anjos def Rob Emerson via unanimous dec
Rick Story def Brian Foster via submission (arm-triangle) R2, 1:09
*Story wins Submission of the Night bonus. Each fighter wins Fight of the Night bonus.

Elite XC Weigh-In's

*Multiple sources are reporting that the main event of Kimbo Slice v. Ken Shamrock has been scratched due to a cut suffered by Shamrock. Many have been rumored to replace the injured Shamrock including Shamrock's brother, Frank, Seth Petruzelli and Aaron Rosa.

In the video below is the weigh-ins for Elite XC. Due to them needing ratings to stay afloat on CBS, try to tune in tonight. I'm excited for the Roy Nelson v. Andrei Arlovski fight. Nelson is the reigning IFL Heavyweight Champ while Andrei Arlovski is the former UFC Heavyweight Champ. Expect this to be a slugfest.

Elite XC WW Champ Jake Shields and Paul Daley have an interesting staredown. The start by laughing and ends in some pushing. Ken Shamrock came in at just 206, giving up nearly 30 pounds to Kimbo. They also have the Gina Carano weight incident.

Gina Carano proved again that she has a tough time making 141 pounds.



Get more pictures like this from SHERDOG.COM
*picture from Sherdog free sharing, check out Sherdog.com

Elite XC - Heat Preview

Elite XC - Heat will take place this Saturday, October 4th in Sunrise, Florida. I applaud the recent addition of hard hitting heavyweights Andrei Arlovski and Roy Nelson. This show will be broadcast on CBS.

Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson vs. Ken Shamrock- This match-up pits UFC Hall of Famer and MMA Legend Ken Shamrock against the ever popular Kimbo Slice. Kimbo has proven that he has power in his three fights, which have all ended in KO or TKO. However, Kimbo looked bad giving up take-downs to James Thompson, who is not known for his wrestling.


Ken Shamrock is an MMA Legend with wins over Bas Rutten twice, KOP Champ Masakatsu Funaki twice, UFC Champ Dan Severn, UFC HW Champ Maurice Smith, Pancrase vet Yoshiki Takahashi twice, Kimo Leopoldo twice, Patrick Smith and Ryushi Yanagisawa. Ken has not looked good since his return to action in 2000, going 3-8.

Ken will have to get Kimbo against the fence using the clinch and go for a body lock takedown. From there he has to try to get a submission of some sort. Ken has said he will break Kimbo's leg, we will see if he can do it.

Andrei Arlovski vs. Roy Nelson- Former UFC Heavyweight Champ Arlovski (13-5) comes to the fight on a four fight wins streak, last defeating Ben Rothwell via 3rd TKO. After standing and trading with Rothwell, Arlovski will likely stand and brawl with the robust Roy Nelson.

The reigning IFL Champ Nelson last defended his belt in a nasty KO over Brad Imes during his five fight win streak. Nelson at (13-2) is an accomplished grappler in addition to being a devastating striker. I wouldn't be surprised to see Nelson go for a take-down in this fight with ground and pound.

Jake Shields vs. Paul Daley- EliteXC WW Title- 170 Pound Champ Jake Shields will defend his belt for the first time since his first round destruction of Nick Thompson. Daley has explosive hands and dominated the English Cage Rage circuit. Shields, the BJJ Blackbelt, will get a submission quick if he can geta takedown. Daley will have to defend the takedown and land as many strikes as possible.

Gina Carano vs. Kelly Kobold- Carano comes in at 6-0, looking crisp in his last two victories over Kaitlin Young and Tonya Evinger. Carano, the former American Gladiator, has a superb muay thai and boxing backround and will likely look to keep the fight standing. Kobold has lost her last two fights, but sports a record of 16-2 with a victories over Shayna Baszler and Adrienna Jenkins. Kobald has 8 submission victories, and may look to get the fight to the ground.

*Gina Carano on photobucket

Benji Radach vs. Murilo "Ninja" Rua- Former IFL MW Champ Radach (18-4) will look to bounce back since a KO loss to Matt Horwich. Ninja Rua, brother of Shogun Rua, has two wins in a row over Tony Bonello and Xavier "Professor X" Foupa-Pokam.

Undercard
Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos vs. Yoko Takahashi- May broadcast.
Edson Berto vs. Connor Heun
Seth Petruzelli vs. Aaron Rosa
Lorenzo Borgomeo vs. Mikey Gomez
Jorge Bouchat vs. Nicolae Cury
David Gomez vs. Brett Jackowski

Video of the Day - Daley v. Morgan

Paul Daley rebounded from his loss to Jake Shields with a smashing of John Alessio via TKO in the second round at MFC 19 in Alberta Canada on December 5, 2008. Daley is an absolute beast standing, with raw power and precision strikes. He needs to keep working on his takedown defense and ground game.

Here is Daley v. Sammy Morgan from January of this year. At around the 3 minutes left in the fight Daley lets loose some nasty knees then the big elbow.