UFC 123 - Return to Detroit

UFC 123 will mark the UFC's first return to Detroit since the odd UFC 9 event which featured no closed fist strikes. At that time, just about everything else was legal, including having a 400 pound sumo wrestler fight a 185 pounder. Footnote- Mark Hall crushed Koji Kitao in 40 seconds after breaking his nose.

This event will feature a bigtime fight between enigmatic Lyoto "The Dragon" Machida (16-1) and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson (30-8). Rampage has promised that he is rejuvinated, hoping to channel his Pride Fighting days when he fought more for the love of the game than the money. Word out of the Machida camp points to Lyoto being extremely focused since his first loss suffered at the hands of Shogun Rua.

Rampage brought raw power and energy to the fight game when he burst on the scene in Pride, slamming and crushing just about everyone in sight. When he came to the UFC, he quickly met Chuck Liddell, knocking out the Iceman and claiming the title. He then became grounded, losing the title in a sluggish performance against Forrest Griffin and an apprehensive performance against Rashad Evans.

(Rampage KO's Liddell in Pride)

Lyoto's rise to stardom came first in the Japanese fighting circuit when he used a head kick and punches to TKO Rich Franklin, choked out K-1 star Michael McDonald and scored a decision win over BJ Penn. He soon came to the UFC, where he notched several decision victories, rarely getting hit. In 2009, Machida came into his own, KO'ing Thiago Silva, then Rashad Evans to capture the title.

(Lyoto Machida)

Look for Machida to use his Shotokan Karate style to keep his distance on Rampage. Rampage will stalk Machida, trying to unload his power punches. Rampage will have to try to cut off angles and get a takedown or two to win the fight. The question is, will he eat too many Machida counter strikes before he can do that.

Penn v. Hughes 3 is the co-main event, and should be as exciting as the previous two bouts the men have split. In the first match-up, Penn (15-7)was able to control Hughes (45-7) and use a rear naked choke to win the fight and the belt in the first round. In the second, Hughes seemed to over-power and out-cardio Penn, using a crucifix and punches in the third round to secure a TKO win.

(BJ Penn)

I expect Matt Hughes to utilize the takedown early and often to try to get the fight to the mat and unleash ground and pound. Hughes will again have the power and wrestling advantage in this fight. Penn will try to keep the fight standing, using his superior striking and keeping the distance. Penn does not want to get in the clinch in this fight. While Penn has the BJJ advantage, I don't think he will be using it other than to get up off his back.

(Matt Hughes)

TUF 5 vet Joe Lauzon fights TUF 6 vet George Sotiropoulos (13-2) in a lightweight scrap for a step closer to a number 1 contender match. Sotiropoulous has been on a tear as of late, using his reach during his stand-up and using excellent control on the ground. George with a perfect 6-0 UFC record has wins over Kurt Pelligrino, Joe Stevenson, Jason Dent and George Roop in his last four fights.

Joe Lauzon (19-5) is a gritty fighter with a solid overall game. When Lauzon is aggressive is when he looks his best. In his last performance, Lauzon absolutely steamrolled Gabe Rudieger. Joe has other UFC wins against Jens Pulver, Jeremy Stephens and Kyle Bradley.

MAIN CARD

Quinton Jackson v Lyoto Machida
Matt Hughes v B.J. Penn
Joe Lauzon v George Sotiropoulos
Tim Boetsch v Phil Davis
Maiquel Falcao v Gerald Harris

SPIKE TV CARD

Matt Brown v Brian Foster
Mark Munoz v Aaron Simpson

PRELIM CARD

Dennis Hallman v Karo Parisyan
Edson Barboza v Mike Lullo
Paul Kelly v T.J. O'Brien
Nik Lentz v Tyson Griffin

Video of the Day - Sass v. Johnson

Paul Sass is a up and coming prospect out of the United Kingdom who recently won his UFC debut via triangle choke against Mark Holst. Here is his MMA debut against Dave Johnson at Cage Gladiators 4, which took place on 8/5/07 in Liverpool, England. Sass is in the white trunks.

Video of the Day - Frausto v. Sexton

Here is Zoila Frausto fighting Rosi Sexton in Bellator 23 which took place on 6/24/10. Frausto knocked Rosi out of her spot in the 115 pound Bellator season 3 women's tournament.  Frausto ended up winning the 1st ever Bellator Women's Championship, handing Megumi Fujii her first ever loss in the 5 round affair.

Video of the Day - Aerts v. Sapp

Here is Bob Sapp fighting Peter Aerts in the 2006 K-1 Grand Prix Round 2 which took place on 6/23/07 in Tokyo, Japan. Aerts has qualified for the 2010 K-1 World Open Weight GP by defeating Ewerton Teixeira.

WEC 52 Preview

In its second to last show, the WEC will feature Urijah Faber fighting Takeya Mizugaki. The event will air live on WEC on Thursday night from The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. The broadcast should start around 9 PM Eastern on Versus.

There will be more than a few guys fighting for a spot in the organization as it moves to the UFC. Depending on the contract, I expect most of the losers from the premilinary card to be shown the door.

This will be the first time to 135 pound for Faber, who has been a consistently solid draw for the promtion. Expect Faber to look for takedowns and ground and pound early and often, as he should have an advantage grappling.

Urijah Faber was truly one of the fighters who put the WEC on the map since he won the featherweight title in March of 2006 against Cole Escovedo. During a 13 fight win streak from October of 2005 to June of 2008, Faber defended the WEC belt 5 times, including over current bantamweight champ Dominick Cruz. Faber has since alternated wins and losses prompting the shift to 135.

(Urijah Faber Pictured)

Takeya Mizugaki will be looking to trade strikes early and often, with his quick and accurate kickboxing. The former Cage Force bantamweight tourney champ and Shooto rookie of the year has WEC wins over BJJ black belts Jeff Curran and Rani Yahya.

MAIN CARD

Urijah Faber vs. Takeya Mizugaki
Chad Mendes vs. Javier Vazquez
Erik Koch vs. Francisco Rivera
Joseph Benavidez vs. Wagnney Fabiano
Demetrious Johnson vs. Damacio Page

PRELIMINARY CARD

Raphael Assuncao vs. L.C. Davis
Edward Faaloloto vs. Anthony Njokuani
Zack Micklewright vs. Dustin Poirier
Clint Godfrey vs. Michael McDonald
Yves Jabouin vs. Brandon Visher
Mackens Semerzier vs. Cub Swanson

What to do with the WEC?

The Zuffa controlled WEC promotion will officially merge with the UFC in the beginning of 2011, most likely at UFC 125. What will happen with the WEC promotion is still up in the air.

The WEC promotion was started in 2001 by Reed Harris and Scott Adams. In its infancy, the promotion had all weightclasses with many notable champions. Frank Shamrock held the light heavyweight belt in 2003 before leaving for Strikeforce, later Scott Smith would vacate the same belt to compete in TUF 4.

The welterweight division has seen Nick Diaz, Shonie Carter, Karo Parisyan, Mike Pyle and Carlos Condit hold the belt. The middleweight belt was held by Chris Leben, Joe Riggs and Paulo Filho. In 2006 Zuffa purschased the WEC, and in 2008 all weights above 155 were merged into the UFC.

I have always been of the contention that the WEC should be an official feeder league or minor league for the UFC with all weight classes. That way, young prospects can get a few fights infront of a TV audience and a larger live crowd. Many prospects go from fighting infront of 1,000 people straight to the UFC and 15,000 plus. It isn't surprising that they get the jitters.

In addition, instead of cutting popular fighters to be picked up by other promotions, they could send them to the WEC to pick up a few wins. That would have been ideal for fighters like Gabriel Gonzaga, Keith Jardine or Pat Cote. Also, TUF competitors not quite ready for the UFC could prove themselves in the WEC.

The most plausible scenario is that the WEC will be shut down for good. The promotion will only exist in WEC wreckage replays on Versus and DVD sales. It is a shame, as the promotion always seemed to make money with reasonable fighter payouts, a solid television deal and good crowds.

Video of the Day - Aerts v. Musashi

Here is Peter Aerts fighting Musashi at the 2006 K-1 World Open Weight Grand Prix in Tokyo, Japan on 12/2/06. Aerts won the K-1 GP Tourney in 1998 and 1995 with K-1 wins over Jerome LeBanner, Ernesto Hoost, Andy Hug and Mike Bernado.