Matches to Make After UFC 126

Foot met face in a violent intersection, and the mixed martial arts world quaked with excitement.

Middleweight champion Anderson Silva defended his crown for the record eighth consecutive time, as he laid waste to Vitor Belfort with a perfectly timed and placed front kick in the UFC 126 main event on Saturday at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. The blow dropped Belfort where he stood, and a pair of follow-up punches from “The Spider” polished him off 3:25 into the first round.

Nearly 1,600 days into his reign as the UFC’s middleweight king, Silva clearly has no equal at 185 pounds. Yushin Okami has long clamored for a rematch, though few give him better than a remote shot of capitalizing on such an opportunity. The last man to defeat Silva, he did so by disqualification five years ago in Honolulu. Silva has since rattled off 14 consecutive victories -- 12 of them finishes -- and has thrown his name into the middle of the greatest fighter of all-time debate.

A closer look at five matches we want to see after UFC 126 follows:

The time has come to make it happen. Some will support the Silva-Okami rematch, but with Silva and St. Pierre so clearly established at the top of their divisions, provided the French Canadian gets past Jake Shields in April, this fruit will never be riper for the picking. With his front kick knockout of Vitor Belfort at UFC 126, Silva went a long way towards hushing his critics, who point to doubts regarding his age and diminishing skills. He has won 14 consecutive fights, 13 of them inside the UFC. Nothing more needs to be said.

St. Pierre, with his impossible-to-stop takedown attack, seems a perfect foil. Silva turns 36 in April, and though he remains as potent as ever, time waits for no man. UFC President Dana White believes it would be hard not to have the Silva-St. Pierre mega fight play out in Canada. Why not let it carry the marquee at the promotion’s August return to Brazil?

Griffin rarely gets the credit he deserves as a world-class light heavyweight. Sometimes, it appears as if his detractors gloss over the fact that he holds two high-profile wins over Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and current UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. The man has skills and the heart to match them. Griffin returned to the cage for the first time in more than a year at UFC 126 and showed no ill effects from the layoff. A monstrous light heavyweight, he controlled one-time middleweight titleholder Rich Franklin on the ground, wobbled him standing and more than held his own when the two exchanged.

Davis finds himself on the same career track as Jon Jones -- the fast one. Provided Davis passes his test against Matt Hamill, a man he dwarfs from an athletic standpoint, at UFC 129 in April, the time will have come to throw him in against one of the division’s elite. There can be no better litmus test than Griffin. Prospects have to pay their way at some point.

Torres vs. Johnson would be a war.

Doubters continue to label Johnson an overblown flyweight. However, after his rousing unanimous decision victory over Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto at UFC 126, it has become clear that the Matt Hume protégé can thrive in two weight classes. Johnson’s blinding speed and tenacity make him a handful for anyone at 125 or 135 pounds. In sports, speed has long been known as the great equalizer, and few can match Johnson in that department. Until the UFC institutes a 125-pound division, he will be forced to ply his trade against bigger, stronger opponents.

Enter Torres. The former WEC bantamweight champion, back climbing the ladder at 135 pounds, was impressive if unspectacular in dispatching Antonio Banuelos in his Octagon debut. Wrestling remains his Achilles’ heel. Put him in the cage with Johnson and see how he handles it.

What could be more fitting than two young featherweights pushing themselves into title contention by going after one another? Mendes has shown sharp improvement and has already established himself as a top fighter 145 pounds. The Urijah Faber protégé fought brilliantly against the resurgent Michihiro Omigawa at UFC 126, outstriking the judoka on the feet and scoring with some determined takedowns.

Nunes, another fighter in his prime, has put together an impressive three-fight winning streak since tasting defeat for the first time, displaying the kind of resilience one hopes to see in a martial artist of his caliber. The 28-year-old Brazilian bested former WEC champion Mike Thomas Brown on New Year’s Day, cementing his place near the top of the featherweight division. Like Mendes, his stock has never been higher.

This one seems like a no-brainer. Two of the welterweight division’s most unheralded standouts, Ellenberger and Pierce deserve a prime spot at a forthcoming UFC event. More importantly, a new world-ranked contender at 170 pounds could emerge from a meeting between them. Ellenberger won ugly against Carlos Eduardo Rocha at UFC 126, but he won nonetheless and passed a significant test in his young career. Exceptional fighters are defined by their ability to win without their best “stuff.” In outdueling Rocha, Ellenberger proved he could.

Pierce has adapted well inside the Octagon, winning four of his five fights. His lone setback came in a unanimous decision to one-time welterweight title contender Jon Fitch, and he had the American Kickboxing Academy star on his heels in the third round. A stout wrestler with heavy punches, he used those skills masterfully in dispatching the previously unbeaten Kenny Robertson at UFC 126.

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Matches to Make After ‘Fight for the Troops 2’

Melvin Guillard (left) file photo | Sherdog.com

With an upset in the main event and a pair of quality heavyweight bouts, UFC “Fight for the Troops 2” reinforced the unpredictability that ensues whenever fighters square off. Below, a look at five matches we’d like to see made in the wake of Saturday’s results.

Tonight was big-time redemption for Guillard, whose pursuit has been defined by flashes of potential followed by tough breaks and underwhelming performances. In his first-round knockout of the favored Evan Dunham, Guillard showed impressive skills, delivering a concussive assault en route to the biggest win of his career.

Melvin’s takedown defense is a splendid thing to watch, as he performs feats of uncanny agility while punishing opponents who try to plant him on the mat. His standup is also top-notch; on Saturday, the “Young Assassin” mixed in punches, knees and the kitchen sink from virtually every angle. Chalk up another career reborn through Greg Jackson’s magic touch -- Guillard should now be considered a Top-15 fighter in the UFC’s packed 155-pound division, and maybe even Top 10.

Lentz would be an ideal next opponent for Guillard. The “Carnie” possesses solid wrestling and a high-pressure style, the type of fighter who would gun for Guillard from the jump. The problem with attacking Guillard is that his takedown defense makes his striking all the more problematic to deal with. As the talented Dunham learned, Guillard is a very effective sprawl-and-brawl artist.

Lentz has progressed nicely since entering the UFC, going 4-0-1, and this would be the kind of elimination match to move one guy solidly into the UFC’s Top 10, which is where the ladder gets insanely tough to ascend.

Long-rumored, this is a no-brainer and is virtually guaranteed after Hominick’s blowout of George Roop. Featherweight champ Aldo is flirting with Georges St. Pierre-like status: he’s probably, at least, a 5-1 favorite over any potential challenger at this point. Hominick’s standup represents the toughest test available for the young Brazilian, however.

Given the status of the 145-pound division, Hominick is also the best available challenger, as well. Contenders Chad Mendes and Diego Nunes still need more seasoning and exposure, and Aldo himself could use some proper build-up so fans can appreciate him as he transitions into the UFC. Hominick has never shied away from a standup fight, and who knows? Maybe he’d actually force Aldo to go for a takedown. Either way, it’s a great first defense for Aldo to make in the big show.

While Guillard showed the promise of a reborn fighter living up to his potential, Edwards showcased the kind of veteran guile and experience one loves to see as a fight fan. It reminds you that the old dog can still bite, and the American Top Team product was his characteristically unflappable self in his second-round submission of the scrappy Cody McKenzie. Edwards -- who found himself in a bit of trouble in the second before taking McKenzie’s back for a fight-ending rear-naked choke -- is always tough when he has time to think, and especially when he can counter on the feet.

Edwards clearly dialed in on McKenzie’s spotty standup game -- which has improved somewhat from its virtual non-existence on “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 12 -- picking spots, varying his right hands and kicks, and picking the Alaskan apart. That’s why Castillo is the perfect next foe for Edwards.

Ever-aggressive, Castillo is coming off a one-round blowout of Will Kerr in WEC. He’s a solid wrestler and probably would be able to take Edwards down, forcing him to defend a hostile ground-and-pound assault. Castillo isn’t afraid to let his heavy hands loose on the feet, either, and is naturally bigger than Yves.

At this point, neither Edwards nor Castillo is among the elite of the crowded lightweight division. With most of the top fighters booked for the upcoming months, this is a fan-friendly matchup that would ask questions of both. Can Yves hang with the new breed and powerful wrestler types? Can Castillo solve a veteran puzzle like Edwards? If either guy wants to move up in the division, they’ll have to answer “yes,” and this fight is a great way to find out.

Mitrione was impressive on Saturday.
Both were impressive on Saturday, and since virtually every other UFC heavyweight seems to have his dance card booked, Mitrione-Barry makes sense on every level. Mitrone continued to show progress, as he displayed sharp striking and patience in dispatching of Tim Hague. Barry, meanwhile, showed off his trademark big kicks and explosive standup in a decision win against the uber-tough Joey Beltran.

At this point in their careers, Mitrione and Barry -- each an emerging commodity with upside -- will be vulnerable to overpowering wrestlers and more experienced fighters.

Mitrione-Barry would be the kind of standup gala that guarantees placement on the televised portion of the card. Both are articulate and somewhat comedic, so the trash talk would be entertaining as well. It’s a can’t-miss matchup that would be a test of both men’s chins and hearts.

These two lightweights are in similar spots: both picked up solid wins on Saturday night, and both are likely one win away from cracking the Top 20 in the UFC 155-pound division. That’s no small feat, since there are approximately 60 lightweights currently on the roster.

Wiman never looked better than he did in his dominating decision win over Cole Miller. “Handsome Matt” used wrestling and ground-and-pound to keep the tricky Miller constantly on the defensive. Lowe is an exceptionally good wrestler and would test Wiman in that regard.

Lowe has rebounded from a tough UFC debut, in which he was knocked out by Guillard with a brutal knee to the body. Since then, he’s put together a pair of decision wins, including his win against former Shooto champion Willamy “Chiquerim” Freire on Saturday’s undercard.

Wiman’s wrestling has improved considerably; Lowe’s power and takedown prowess would answer whether or not the rest of Wiman’s game has improved as much.

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Matches to Make After ‘Diaz vs. Cyborg’

Nick Diaz (left) vs. Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos | Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com

With two rousing title bouts, Saturday’s Strikeforce “Diaz vs. Cyborg” event moved along some key storylines in the promotion.

When you’re the clearly-defined second banana in a market defined by a behemoth rival, fault tolerances are at a minimum. Big upsets in the UFC merely create new rivalries and plot lines; in Strikeforce and smaller promotions, they can imperil matchups vital to the health of the product.

Yet to its credit, Strikeforce continues to match fighters tough and make the most of out of what they have. Here’ s a closer look at five fights we’d like to see after tonight’s action.

In submitting Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos in the second round, Diaz defended his Strikeforce welterweight belt in classic fashion. The Stockton-based battler gave Cyborg the kind of fight the challenger needed, forcing confrontations, eating a ton of nasty leg kicks, and offering exchanges. In a thrilling opening round, it appeared that Diaz might be in for an unexpectedly tougher night, especially considering their skill sets. Cyborg, once a light-heavyweight, was landing some solid shots and giving the champ a tough scrap.

Then, suddenly, in what will rank as one of the worst tactical decisions of the year – along with Robbie Lawler’s decision to jump into Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza’s guard after stunning him earlier in the card -- Santos took Diaz down in the second, and was promptly armbarred. It may have been inevitable, as the pressure Diaz puts on opponents exerts a kind of bleed rate that runs them out of gas, and options, and Cyborg seemed to be tiling in that direction anyways.

That’s why Daley is a fascinating opponent for Diaz. The Briton is a destructive striker, possessing the kind of one-punch, concussive power that can scramble anyone’s senses.

Diaz’ willingness to stand with anyone, along with Daley’s ability to bang and resist takedowns (at least against less than elite wrestlers, which Diaz is not), makes this a natural matchup. Diaz has shown a gameness to force exchanges and let opponents unload and exhaust themselves in the intricate standup game; he looks like he’s getting beaten when really he’s just wearing you down. Against Daley, he’s have to absorb some nuclear-grade punches to implement that game plan. And knowing Diaz, he’d be willing to risk it.

Diaz probably has the best chin in the sport. Daley would certainly test it, and given Diaz’ wiring, it’d be a compelling tactical question for him if he got into trouble against Daley. Because in recent fights, Nick has shown little inclination to force fights to the ground early -- “Semtex” might force him to do just that. What makes Diaz so fun to watch is that he is amazing on the ground, yet is willing to trade punches to entertain fans. And he seems to enjoy breaking people making them slug with him.

Santos was surprisingly competitive with Diaz, and played the part of game challenger prior to his tactical Waterloo. Given Woodley’s blend of potential, and his performance against Tarec Saffiedine, Santos would be a perfect next opponent if he wants a title shot.

That’s because the talented Woodley, while gaining a decision of Saffiedine, largely negated Tarec’s skills while eeking out a takedown-based decision. Santos presented the allure of a threat against Diaz, and style-wise, Woodley would probably be able to handle him and look exciting while winning.

Woodley is exceptionally gifted and the next in line for a title shot against Diaz (Or Daley) and he’ll need a benchmark-style win to make such a bout marketable. Santos would oblige him, and Woodley would probably deliver the goods.

Style-wise, over five rounds, I’d probably lean toward Diaz right now. But give Woodley another fight and a few more months to round out his game, and that’s one heck of a welterweight title fight. This is the match to build it and help him progress on the necessary fronts.

Gracie is special on the ground.Given Strikeforce’s shallow talent pool at light heavyweight, and Gracie’s masterful showing against Trevor Prangley, it is tempting to match Gracie against someone else. Perhaps Rhadi Ferguson (another grappling wizard turned MMA fighter). But realistically, the world’s best grappler (no-gi and submission circuit, thank you), looked fantastic in dominating the usually-durable Prangley.

With a mere four bouts under his belt, Gracie has defeated pretty solid competition, and with Dan Henderson and Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante squaring off for the Strikeforce light 205-pound title in March, Gracie could benefit from more seasoning and exposure. Sobral is a name opponent and the perfect stylistic foil; at this point, Gracie’s ground game applies to MMA so well that the best template for beating him is a huge striker with great takedown defense, which Sobral isn’t. Keep him busy, keep him winning, and good things will happen.

Great grapplers have often had middling results transitioning into MMA. With Gracie as the world’s unquestioned best, “Jacare” is a close second. What makes him a different breed is, despite being Brazilian, he has solid takedowns and willing standup. Souza’s win over Robbie Lawler was a masterpiece of positional tenacity and resilience.

After getting wobbled in the opening round, Souza rebounded with his grappling brilliance, and dominated the second, threatening with a litany of submissions. Lawler, rarely put on his back, escaped a series of sub attempts with admirable tactical awareness; it became clear that the fight had dwindled down to Jacare’s submissions vs. Lawler’s big strikes.

In the third, Souza scored a takedown early, and Lawler expressed disgust once planted to the mat. It was the look of a man knowing his fate. Souza quickly secured the back, then a rear-naked choke, for the win.

Strikeforce’s middleweight ranks are thin, with Souza holding wins over both Kennedy and Miller. However, you have to make do with what you’ve got, and Souza could use the winner of Miller/Kennedy, scheduled for March 5. Either opponent would be a solid foil for him, as his win over the dangerous Lawler showed a resilience and grounding to his game.

In KO’ing Scott Carson, Walker defeated an opponent who hadn’t won since June 2001.

Strikeforce faces a weird conundrum in matching Walker, milking his marketability versus derailing the gravy train too soon, and Carson was decidedly on the safe side of the risk factor. I’m not saying they should throw him in against a hardened veteran, but this kind of card appeal eventually forces a decision.

Maybe someone who has had a win recently and given someone a tough fight. Walker’s a great story. Let’s move it along, as his inclusion on further Strikeforce cards begs for tougher questions to be asked.

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Barry ‘Baffled’ by Beltran’s Resilience After ‘Troops 2’ Bout

Apparently, Pat Barry just can’t get any respect.

Since besting Joey Beltran at UFC “Fight for the Troops 2,” the former kickboxer has been hit by a flood of comments from naysayers regarding his game plan, his performance and his post-fight speech. Barry spoke exclusively to Sherdog.com last week regarding the outcome of his Jan. 22 scrap and the damage inflicted on his opponent.

Leading up to the fight, Barry made liberal use of the term “zombie” when describing Beltran. After battering the leg of “The Mexicutioner” with low kicks for three straight rounds, Barry asserts that his description of his opponent was not as hyperbolic as people may have thought.

“I knew going into the fight that he was a zombie. That wasn’t a joke. That was a factual message. This guy’s attributes are getting hit and not blinking or getting shook. He just keeps walking forward,” Barry told Sherdog.com. “I kicked him in his face five times and he didn’t even stumble, he didn’t back up, nothing. I’m talking about stiff kicks to the face, and he took them. So, the game plan going in was to beat his leg to death until he slowed down or until he couldn’t walk any further.”

Barry began landing low kicks early in the fight, and Beltran seemed affected by them even from the first blow that found his thigh. Among the criticisms received by Barry was that he did not go for the kill in round one by chopping Beltran down as soon as possible. According to Barry, however, it just wasn’t that simple.

“I saw [that the kicks bothered him]. But the game plan wasn’t to get in there and see if I could throw 60 low kicks in the first 40 seconds. Low kicks don’t just land every time you throw them,” said Barry. “You know what happens when you just throw kicks for no reason without any type of strategy or setup? ‘Cro Cop’ blocks them and your foot breaks.”

Chief among Barry’s strategies against his uber-resilient foe was to pick his shots and gradually wear Beltran down.

“Did the first [three] hurt him a lot? Yeah, but he took 37 more of them in the next 12 minutes and was still standing,” said Barry. “It’s called the slow cook. That’s what low kicks do. With low kicks, you don’t just throw two of them and then the guy blacks out. That’s not how they work. Not with a zombie, anyway. A human would have died, but not a zombie.”

During the third round, Barry landed one particularly crushing shot to his foe’s quadriceps that crumpled Beltran and sent him to the mat. As the K-1 veteran followed his opponent to the floor, he utilized some unorthodox offense. Rather than immediately targeting Beltran’s head, Barry threw a spiking hammer fist at his opponent’s thigh.

“I was going to punch his leg off. I was so annoyed that the leg had not been severed from his body that I was going to punch it, elbow it, headbutt it, bite it... I was going to go get a bat. I would have shot him with a gun if I had one,” Barry joked.

Though Barry won the fight, inflicting a seemingly absurd amount of damage to his foe’s left leg, Beltran seems to be no worse for the wear. Not only did the stout heavyweight absorb all of Barry’s kicks and continue to fight to the final bell, but he has since claimed over Twitter that he was back in the gym and training the following Monday. Beltran has even posted pictures of his surprisingly un-bruised legs in order to assure fans that he is fine. Simply put, all of this is a bit frustrating to Barry.

“It was a mystery how he was still standing. It had me totally baffled. When you chop a zombie’s leg off, he comes at you hopping on one foot. I knew that going in. But anybody on earth would become human again after all those low kicks,” said Barry.

“Since the fight, I really haven’t been able to sleep. I can’t stand not solving riddles, and this is a riddle that has got me stumped. I have no idea how he was writing on Monday that he was back in the gym doing squats and running stairs. That’s impossible. That doesn’t even register for me, because my leg still hurts [from landing the kicks].”

Despite what most would consider an excellent performance, Barry has still had to deal with criticism, and not only about the fight itself.

“No one has given me negative critiques about the fight face-to-face, but I read a lot on the Internet, and I’m getting text messages from unknown numbers,” said Barry. “[People are asking me], ‘What’s that gay speech that you gave at the end about your dead pappy? You only did that so you could solidify that you really got the win.’ Right, because the judges have a time machine. They heard the speech, went back in time and made me the winner.”

Barry’s post-fight interview was an emotional tribute to the members of the U.S. Armed Forces in attendance and his deceased father, who was also a serviceman.

“Jan. 17 was the 26-year anniversary of my dad [passing away]. That’s the dog tag that I always wear that everybody knows about. I don’t wear any rings or watches or anything else. I was on an Army base, and my dad was in the Army, so I just wanted to give that shout out and explain. Just to be able to fight in front of the troops was amazing. To be able to honor them, to honor my dad, and put on a show for all of them is why [I gave my speech],” explained Barry.

“Every year, on the date [of his death], we have a day. We say a little prayer -- just go outside and talk to a tree, just to talk to dad, you know? So it was cool that my fight happened to be on an Army base in front of a bunch of Army personnel.”

With the durable Beltran now in his rear-view mirror, Barry declined to call out anyone in the heavyweight division when asked about his future. He did jokingly assert, however, that a cut in weight might be in the cards.

“Actually, I think I’d like to drop down to 107 pounds and fight Scotty Jorgensen,” Barry deadpanned.

While a bout with Jorgensen will stay in the fantasy realm, a matchup with teammate Matt Mitrione is a very real possibility in a competitive heavyweight division. Many teammates refuse to fight one another on the grounds of friendship, but according to Barry, he and “Meathead” have an understanding regarding a potential fight.

“I don’t want to fight him and he doesn’t want to fight me. We’re teammates. But we both agreed that we would do it.”

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Barry Tired of Relentless Criticism After Cro Cop Loss

Patrick Barry (left) | Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com

Patrick Barry doesn’t want to hear it anymore.

At dinner, a fan approached him and said he’d seen him fight. Then the fan whispered that he knew Barry had thrown his UFC 115 bout against Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic.

“I’m still hearing about that,” Barry said Wednesday on the Sherdog Radio Network’s “Beatdown” show. “I’m still hearing people.”

In the seven months since the fight, Barry said he’s been approached every single day by someone who thinks he showed Cro Cop too much respect or simply didn’t want to win.

“My mother’s hearing this kind of s--t. My mother’s hearing this,” Barry said. “People are approaching my mother and making these comments to her. It’s still going on now.”

Barry explained that what really happened was he broke his hand and his foot in the first round. For the next 12 minutes, he fought for survival, eventually succumbing to a rear-naked choke 4:30 into the third round. He’s baffled by people who think he lacked heart in the bout.

“You know what I really wanted to do? I really wanted to go and get kicked in the head and knocked out completely because I like having a headache for three days,” Barry said sarcastically.

Tired of defending himself, he has started telling people that he bet on Cro Cop and made a ton of money on losing the fight. They don’t laugh. They believe him.

The criticism has soured Barry’s mood. With a Jan. 22 UFC “Fight for the Troops 2” matchup against Joey Beltran approaching, Barry hasn’t been his usual pre-fight self.

“This is a feeling I haven’t had in a long time,” he said. “Back in my kickboxing days, I used to have these every once in a while. Just an angry, want to break something, upset at something. I don’t know what it is. I don’t know what it is that’s giving me this feeling, this sensation, but I’m very annoyed. Like I’m extremely annoyed and I feel like I’ve got to break something.”

The last time Barry had this feeling was before a kickboxing bout against Chuck Liddell’s teammate Scott Lighty.

“I kicked him in his neck,” Barry said. “I don’t think I hit any bone. I just hit straight jugular with my shin in his neck, and he was carried out on a stretcher and hospitalized that night.”

Barry believes he’s ready for either a Fight of the Night or Knockout of the Night performance against Beltran.

“Every time I’m going for it,” he said. “No matter what the world may believe or have seen. Even in the last fight, I put it all out there on the line every time. I know that of myself. From what I’ve seen of Joey Beltran and heard of him, he does it too. It’s obvious when you see the guy fight, he’s fighting with his heart.”

Win or lose, though, Barry said he’s not trying to erase fans’ perception of his performance against Cro Cop.

“I’m the one who I’ve got to prove something too,” he said. “The world is either going to be with you or they’re going to be against you. … No matter what, people are going to hate your guts anyway. That’s part of the job. We all know it and expect that.”

Listen to the full interview (beginning at 7:00) with Barry, who also discussed Brock Lesnar, fighting for the fans and the seven months since his loss to Cro Cop.

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5 Matches to Make After UFC 125

Thiago Silva file photo | Sherdog.com

With a rousing comeback after a disastrous opening round, Frankie Edgar pulled out a draw to retain his UFC lightweight belt against Gray Maynard at UFC 125 on Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. While the draw may have been a letdown for some, the bout itself was more exciting than most could have expected.

UFC President Dana White indicated following the event that Edgar-Maynard 3 will happen next, which means WEC champion Anthony Pettis will have to wait for his crack at UFC gold. While it is a bit of a monkey wrench in the wheels, at least it’s one that occurs after an excellent fight.

On the UFC 125 card, there were the expectable developments, a few surprises and winners to sort out among the action. Here’s a closer look at five matches I’d like to see after Saturday’s fights.

It would be tempting to pit Silva against Quinton Jackson; the pre-fight trash talk and testosterone levels alone would be epic.

At UFC 125, the hard-charging Silva was back in top form, dominating Brandon Vera en route to a one-sided decision win. But I like him against unbeaten prospect Phil Davis next. Here’s why.

With Jackson coming off a close decision win over former champ Lyoto Machida, “Rampage” is a lot more marketable than Silva and the title shot queue is pretty long at the top. There’s the Feb. 5 UFC 126 card, with Jon Jones-Ryan Bader and Rich Franklin-Forrest Griffin, in two meaningful 205-pound bouts.

Throw Mauricio "Shogun" Rua’s March defense vs. Rashad Evans at UFC 128, and it becomes clear that the UFC might be better served putting the rising Davis in against Silva, who, despite his win Saturday night, still has two losses against Machida and Evans. Put it this way: if Silva were to win against Jackson, that doesn’t grant him an immediate title shot, while simultaneously eliminating a very viable contender in “Rampage” from the conversation. It’s a match, right now, with little promotional upside, though it’d be fun to watch.

Davis’ wrestling would give him a clear takedown advantage against Silva, but the Brazilian would have the edge on the feet, and in experience. It’s also the kind of match that helps someone like Davis go from being a prospect to a legit top-10 contender in the organization.

The Rua/Evans/Jackson trilogy, followed by the winner of Jones/Bader, will sort itself out in the next year. Throw in Griffin and Franklin, both of whom are still marketable regardless of who wins their bout, and there’s some viable pathways for Silva to keep moving up the ladder. Fair or not to Silva, he also needs to prove he can beat someone that isn’t a hot-and-cold talent like Vera, who was doing great standing until he repeatedly allowed himself to be clinched and caught in takedown range before getting stuck on the ground.

Davis is unbeaten and has some serious fire, though his standup game is still raw in spots. He’ll get better with every fight, and Silva, now that the fire is apparently back, would be the perfect match for both.

Long known for his afterburners-on attack, Guida displayed a stylistic wrinkle that worked out perfectly against Takanori Gomi. Using patient, head-movement-happy standup, he picked his spots perfectly to keep Gomi guessing, and then turned the burners on, putting Gomi on the mat and sinking home a textbook guillotine for a second-round win. It just goes to show you how readily fighters are evolving in today’s game, and Guida showed he’s more than just a perennial “Fight of the Night” candidate -- he can use his head to outsmart guys before applying his talents.

That’s why Henderson is the perfect next opponent for him. The former WEC champ, coming off a thrilling decision loss to Pettis, is very similar to Guida. He’s a high-paced guy, with outstanding wrestling and scrambling ability, along with moderate standup that doesn’t necessarily dictate a fight, and a good chin and conditioning. The amount of harrowing scrambles, transitions and swings of momentum in a Guida-Henderson match would be off the charts.

And in the pecking order of lightweight contenders, it makes sense for both. It’s a stacked division, and both would get considerable cred with the win. The only drawback is they can’t make this one five rounds, but we’d happily settle for three because it’d be a barnburner.

With some fighters, it takes a while for their improvement curve to catch up to the great storyline they possess. And that’s clearly the case with Brian Stann, who registered an impressive first-round stoppage over Chris Leben. Stann, willing to slug, showed a degree of sharpness and evolved tactical acumen he simply didn’t possess in his earlier appearances, especially in the WEC. Training with Greg Jackson his clearly bumped up his game to the next level.

A match against Bisping would be a solid one, though as a caveat, Bisping has Jorge Rivera lined up Feb. 27. Win or lose, Stann-Bisping is perfect for both guys. Neither has a wrestling background or proven takedown defense against elite grapplers, which would be a real problem against a Chael Sonnen or Nate Marquardt.

Both like to slug and have a marketable storyline. Bisping also seems to rankle stateside fans while being a beloved figure amidst the U.K. crowd, so a battle against Stann would be a great opportunity for both to take a jump in popularity while not getting taken down and sat on en route to a decision loss.

Plus, if Stann won, his popularity and profile in the states would jump enormously. As a former Marine Captain who received the Silver Star while serving in Iraq, his improvement seems to be making strides, Bisping would be both a marketable and winnable fight, and one that if he lost, it wouldn’t be a blowout.

As expected (at least in my predictions column), Kim ground out a close decision over Nate Diaz in a bout with few surprises. To be honest, given the lay of the welterweight landscape, he’d be likely outwrestled and outstruck by available top contenders like Josh Koscheck. Kim is sort of in a weird gray area in terms of contention, as he’s tough enough to grind out wins over a certain class and style, but hasn’t shown the all-around game he’ll need to propel himself to the next level.

That’s why I like him against the winner of the March 3 Versus bout of Sanchez/Kampmann. That’s likely to be an exciting bout, and the winner would be fun to watch against Kim. While I’m leaning toward Sanchez to take the duke there, he’s very marketable and wouldn’t necessarily out-muscle Kim; though Sanchez’ ability to force a fast pace and work rate would be interesting. Ditto for Kampmann, whose good striking and wrestling deficits would be a good match for Kim as well, and give him time to work on his standup, which he’ll need against the elite fighters in the division.

Tavares displayed a cool head after a near-disastrous start against veteran slugger Phil Baroni, getting drilled early and surviving the storm en route to a first-round knockout win. Tavares, now 7-0 (he was eliminated in the TUF semifinals against eventual winner Court McGee), is a good prospect with some ability and compelling upside.

That’s why a match against “Filthy” Lawlor is the perfect test. Lawlor is a tough wrestler with solid conditioning and an improving standup game, who always gives a good scrap. It would further test Tavares’ ability to deal with tactical problems and prove he’s ready to take the next step up the mountain, and either way it’d be a fan-friendly bout.

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Baroni Released by UFC After New Year’s Day Loss

Phil Baroni: Dave Mandel | Sherdog.com

Following a technical knockout loss to prospect Brad Tavares at UFC 125 on Jan. 1, middleweight veteran Phil Baroni has been released by the UFC.

“Definitely not how I planned on starting the year,” Baroni said via Twitter on Sunday. “Half the money I expected, unemployed... I stepped in dog s--t.”

The “New York Bad Ass” has lost three consecutive fights, including his return to the middleweight division against Tavares at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on New Year’s Day. Baroni looked sharp in the early going, flooring Tavares with a massive left hook, but the veteran was unable to finish the young buck.

After Baroni accidentally kneed Tavares in the groin, the bout was halted to allow the Hawaiian time to recover. Following the break, Tavares landed a glancing high kick that stunned Baroni, and then followed up with a devastating overhand right which sealed the New Yorker’s fate. With only the fence keeping him up, Baroni ate several punches as Tavares unleashed a flurry of violence. Referee Josh Rosenthal had no choice but to save the 34-year-old from further punishment.

Prior to his loss to Tavares, Baroni had made the cut to welterweight, losing consecutive bouts to Joe Riggs in Strikeforce and Amir Sadollah at UFC 106. Baroni went 3-5 during his first run with the UFC from 2001 to 2005, dropping bouts to Evan Tanner (twice), Pete Sell and Matt Lindland (twice). After competing for Japan’s Pride Fighting Championships, Baroni contended for both the Strikeforce and Icon Sport middleweight titles; he captured neither belt, losing to Frank Shamrock and Kala Hose, respectively.

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5 Matches to Make After UFC 124

Thiago Alves file photo | Dave Mandel: Sherdog.com

UFC 124 delivered some rollicking finishes and settled the long-running feud between Georges St. Pierre and Josh Koscheck. In the wake of the card, let’s take a close look at five matches that make sense following tonight’s action.

Alves’ revamped conditioning yielded obvious results in his fight with John Howard. Not only did the Pitbull’s typically blown-up frame look leaner, but he was beautifully effective in a decision win over the ultra-game Howard. Alves’ muay Thai and pinpoint striking make him an appealing fighter, and his physical strength means he’ll match up well against almost anyone, provided he’s got the stamina and proper stylistic pairing to apply his potent wares.

While it’s tempting to match Alves against another striker in hopes of repeating his meeting with Howard, the welterweight pecking order would benefit more from a rematch with Koscheck. In their first bout, Koscheck came in on short notice, and basically got kicked and stymied en route to a decision loss. However, Koscheck showed a ton of heart and a lot of grit in his one-sided loss to St. Pierre on Saturday.

With Jon Fitch-B.J. Penn slated for February and GSP likely to take on Jake Shields next, the top of the 170-pound division is largely booked up. A Koscheck-Alves rematch would answer pressing questions for both, especially with a fully-prepped Kos. Alves’ striking is great, but he’s been beaten by imposing wrestlers in GSP and Fitch. Koscheck can wrestle beautifully -- notwithstanding the impossibility of outwrestling St. Pierre -- but needs to beat a gifted striker.

With the likelihood that St. Pierre will make only two or three more title defenses before exiting the welterweight division, someone will eventually have to step in to fill the void. Alves and Koscheck are amongst the best 170 pounds has to offer once St. Pierre leaves.

Struve had another impressive win tonight, taking out Sean McCorkle via first-round technical knockout, though I’ll be the first to say the stoppage was a tad quick.

At 6-foot-11 and 253 pounds, the 22-year-old Struve is still filling out his frame, but the guy can fight. Finding himself in a tough spot early with the larger McCorkle on top, the Dutchman executed a nice kimura sweep en route to the ground-and-pound finish.

Struve-Schaub would pit two talented, up-and-coming heavyweights against one another in a compelling match. You’re not quite sure where it would go, or who would do what, but there’s no doubt it would be fun to watch.

With a surplus of top-tier heavyweight talent, this is the kind of sort-‘em-out match that makes sense. Schaub is athletic and has shown improving hands, which is a nice compliment to Struve’s size and grappling prowess.

Jim Miller (above) is on a roll.
Miller is the kind of guy anyone can appreciate, and he was masterful in submitting the previously unbeaten Charles Oliveira on Saturday, using a slick kneebar to force the tap in the opening round. That makes six straight wins for Miller, a hard-nosed type of fighter who just keeps beating people. With a 19-2 record, Miller’s only losses have come to Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard, who just happen to be the two best lightweights in the UFC right now.

Barboza Jr. has only a single win in the UFC, having scored a knockout win over Mike Lullo last month at UFC 123. But what makes Barboza the pick here is that he’s part of the new breed of MMA fighters, blessed with destructive striking power and a ton of experience in another discipline. With a large lightweight frame of 5-foot-11, Barboza Jr. has a listed record of 25-3 in kickboxing, with 22 knockouts.

Barboza Jr. is a dangerous fighter, and right now, Miller is streaking. Put them together and let the combination detonate.

Danzig needed a rousing performance tonight against Joe Stevenson, and he got it, delivering a perfect check-hook knockout. The winner of the sixth season of “The Ultimate Fighter,” Danzig had fallen on hard times lately, losing four of five before his huge win in Montreal.

Danzig was probably going to be released if he hadn’t won against Stevenson. Now, suddenly, he’s back in the thick of things. A fight with Lentz makes a lot of sense for his next match. The hard-charging Lentz is coming off a disputed split-decision win over Tyson Griffin at UFC 123, and has gone 4-0-1 in the organization.

Danzig may not be Peter Aerts in terms of his newly-evolved standup, but he’s always fun to watch in any kind of battle, including one on the ground. Lentz would press him and force his hand, and in today’s UFC lightweight division, you need to represent big-time to move up the ladder. This match would give both the opportunity to do just that.

In taking a close decision over veteran Joe Doerksen on Saturday, Miller upped his UFC record to 5-3, and 13-4 overall. Like his brother, Dan is shoe-heel tough, with all four of his losses coming by way of decision. That’s why Court McGee would be a great match for him.

McGee, the winner of “TUF 11,” is as well-rounded and complete a fighter as most of the “TUF” prospects have been at this point in their careers. His imposing wrestling and high-paced style would be a great match against Miller’s veteran savvy. Like most other UFC divisions, middleweight is logjammed toward the top, at least if you aren’t already one of the elite contenders.

Miller has faltered against the top-shelf 185 pounders, dropping decisions to Demian Maia, Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping. He’s the perfect next guy for McGee to face, because you know it’s no gimme for McGee, and Miller represents a good litmus test at this stage in McGee’s development.

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Megumi Fujii: New Life After A Loss

Megumi Fujii | Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com

Before ending up on the losing end of a split decision to Zoila Frausto in the final round of Bellator’s 115-pound women’s tournament, Megumi Fujii was owner to one of the most impressive undefeated records in MMA. While she’ll tell you that she’s dealt with losses in previous athletic pursuits like judo, sambo, and submission grappling, since her August 2004 MMA debut, Fujii had never dealt with a loss in the way that most fighters in our sport inevitably have to.

She’s had a difficult time coming to terms with her October loss and trying to place existential significance on it. Before it, Fujii was one of Japan’s staunchest supporters of women’s MMA, using her record and international recognition within the sport as leverage to push local promoters into changing paternally protective rules and paying higher purses for female fighters.

While she’s still fervent in supporting women’s MMA in Japan, she admits that a bit of that leverage and appeal is gone now.

“I was shocked when I heard the decision. I thought I'd won my 23rd straight victory, and would continue winning more from there on, getting people to pay attention to women's MMA and broaden opportunities for women in the sport back home,” she says.

“Before this, I always wanted to do things that male mixed martial artists hadn’t been able to and to be recognized for them. That’s something that I think would inspire other women to come to MMA.”

Conceding that it was likely a difficult decision for judges to render, Fujii is nonetheless adamant that the results of her encounter with Frausto should have been different. Though she holds admiration for Frausto as an athlete with heart and great strength, Fujii asserts she was the one that pushed the action in their fight, scored the most significant damage on the feet.

In spite of Frausto’s natural weight advantage and big swinging punches, Fujii also believes she evaded enough punches to counter and win rounds, citing the damage she delivered in swelling Frausto’s left eye, lips, and nose. She admits in retrospect however that she should have been more proactive in pursuing the takedown, which most onlookers expected from her that evening.

“I was told that Zoila's strength was striking, and until that point, people told me that my own striking wasn't good. I wanted to test my striking against a good striker,” says Fujii. “I connected far more than I anticipated, so I got carried away in it that I kept striking.

“There was Vaseline on my gloves too, so I figured I couldn't get a good grip for grappling. When we did clinch in the end however, even though she was bigger, I was surprised that she wasn't as strong in the clinch as I'd expected and that I could grip her alright,” Fujii confesses. “In the end, I think I went by my own discretion a little too much. But, I still don’t regret fighting the way I did.”

The lesson Fujii takes away is an unfortunate one, however. In line with the platitude that certain authority figures in the sport have relied upon to explain away unpopular decisions rather than take issue with judges and their inconsistency, Fujii has vowed to finish fights.

It’s an odd place to be for the former undefeated dynamo of women’s MMA. Fujii will claim otherwise, but it’s obvious she’s still in turmoil from the loss. But, she is still the smiling, ebullient role model of women’s MMA in Japan, diligently training alongside her charges at the Abe Ani Combat Club, warmly offering technical and life advice to her cadre of students. It’s difficult to imagine that just half a year ago, she was seriously broaching the notion of retirement.

“I’m injured and not as healthy as I was before, but I’m very motivated and want to keep fighting. So long as you have the will and motivation, the possibilities are endless. I want to fight for a long time. MMA is my life,” she admits.

She laments the end of her stellar unbeaten streak, but the loss could not have come at a better time. Since returning to Japan, Fujii has taken time off to reflect and heal the injuries accrued over the course of the tournament, ultimately setting an even more ambitious goal for the future: a larger undefeated streak than her previous twenty-two straight wins. She giggles charmingly at the hope of eventually making it into the Guinness Book of World Records for such a feat, but in a serious moment, tabs the woman that defeated her, Bellator 115-pound champion Zoila Frausto, as the first name she wants to notch en route to twenty-three plus consecutive wins.

“[Rematching Frausto] anytime would be fine, but I think it would be better if we were to do it sooner. She’s very big for 115 pounds and it’s hard for her to lose the weight because the cut is drastic. For the sake of her health, I think it’d be better if we could do it sooner than later,” says Fujii.

The road to the Frausto rematch will begin with stalwart Valkyrie veteran Emi Fujino whom Fujii will meet at Sengoku “Soul of Fight” on Dec. 30.

Fujii's run in an international promotion like Bellator has coincidentally boosted her stature in her home country. She not only has a fight in the second largest promotion in Japan, but on its most important card of the year. It's an opportunity she's grateful for, but it continues to reflect the paternal state of women's MMA in Japan and how vital success abroad is for any female fighter to maintain a fruitful MMA career.

"I see Fujino as a very powerful fighter. Her striking is great, though she originally started out as a grappler long ago. She's really a total fighter, capable of everything. But, I plan to play to my strengths as always and submit her anyway," said Fujii.

With hopes to continue fighting primarily in the United States and in Japan during Bellator’s offseason, Fujii finds herself continuing the work she endeavored in for the past six years -- literally putting women on the map for the Japanese MMA world. The contentious loss to Frausto may have taken away some shine on Fujii’s name, but it’s also given her a new lease on life in MMA.

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Ludwig: ‘I Knew I’d Fight Again’ After Injury

Duane Ludwig: Dave Mandel |
As they helped Duane Ludwig leave the Octagon at the 1stBank Center in Broomfield, Colo., some wondered if he would ever fight again. The Grudge Training Center representative had no such doubts.

Ludwig, who suffered a broken ankle in his ill-fated March 21 encounter with Daren Elkins at UFC Live 1, will return to the cage for the first time since the injury when he meets Nick Osipczak in a preliminary matchup at UFC 122 “Marquardt vs. Okami” on Saturday at the Konig Pilsener Arena in Oberhausen, Germany.

“I didn’t have a timetable set, but I knew I’d fight again,” Ludwig told Sherdog.com. “When it happened, I thought I’d just dislocated my ankle. I thought they’d be able to reset it and I’d be able to continue to fight.”

However, reality did little to soften the blow. In March, Ludwig underwent a surgical procedure in which three screws were inserted into his leg. It took him four months to recover.

“I’ve got a good little collection of screws and scars from it,” Ludwig said.

Ludwig will carry a two-bout skid into his comeback fight, and with the pending UFC-WEC merger on the horizon, fewer spots will be available on the Zuffa roster. Another loss could leave him out of work, though Ludwig has done well not to place any undue pressure on himself.

“Every fight is important and has to be taken seriously,” he said.

Like Ludwig, Osipczak will enter the encounter on the heels of back-to-back defeats. The 25-year-old London native last appeared at UFC 118 in August, when he dropped a unanimous decision to Greg Soto at the TD Garden in Boston. A semi-finalist on Season 9 of “The Ultimate Fighter” reality series, he trains alongside world-ranked welterweights Dan Hardy and Paul Daley at Team Rough House. Osipczak will hold a four-inch height and six-inch reach advantage over Ludwig.

“He’s lanky, and he’s got sharp strikes,” Ludwig said. “He’s very similar to myself. It’s an interesting matchup. It’s like I’m fighting a mirror image of myself, only he’s taller. I’m actually looking forward to this fight.”

Ludwig owns a decided experience edge against Osipczak, however, including bouts against former two-division UFC champion B.J. Penn, one-time Pride Fighting Championships titleholder Takanori Gomi and ex-Strikeforce lightweight kingpin Josh Thomson. He plans to test the Brit’s mettle.

“I’ve just got to stay in his face,” Ludwig said. “I’m a vet. I’ve had quite a few fights, and I know what it’s like to fight in the trenches. I want to see if he knows what it’s like.”

The well-traveled Ludwig, 32, has fought outside the United States only once in the last six years, though he has taken the necessary steps to ease the transition between continents.

“I’ve been waking up at 4 a.m. every morning to get used to the time change,” he said. “I’m going to bring my own food. I’ve been to Europe a few times and to Japan. This isn’t my first trip overseas, so I’ll be fine.”

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5 Matches to Make after UFC 121

Cain Velasquez file photo: Sherdog.com

With UFC 121 behind us, here are the five matches we’d like to see made.

Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos
With Velasquez’ punishing performance against Brock Lesnar, the new champ takes considerable cachet into his first defense. With Dos Santos’ pinpoint striking, it’s also a double Latin attraction. You can’t understate the marketing value of Velasquez’ story and his ascension to the heavyweight title.

Given boxing’s inexorable decline, Cain’s championship is a huge marketing coup for the UFC and MMA. There is no Oscar De La Hoya, Julio Cesar Chavez, Carlos Zarate, Bobby Chacon for Mexican fans. But there is Cain Velasquez and Dos Santos is the perfect jump-off point to begin an action-packed title reign.

Namely, because it’s going to be nasty, hard-hitting and intense.

Dos Santos, a Brazilian, showcased great striking and an understanding of range in his one-sided decision win over Roy Nelson. Going into Velasquez’ title challenge of Brock Lesnar, your humble author thought to himself if a Lesnar-Velasquez rematch wouldn’t be inevitable even if Velasquez won; that is clearly not the case, as the American Kickboxing Academy fighter lived up to every bit of the hype on him by destroying the bigger Lesnar with a potent blend of intensity and heavy hands.

Dos Santos, like Velasquez, isn’t a big heavyweight at about 240 pounds. He has crisp hands and what appears to be excellent takedown defense. Velasquez showed a great sense of composure against Lesnar’s early assault, picking his spots and peeling the larger man like an onion. Dos Santos would likely be his equal on the feet, and it’d have a great Latin vs. Latin marketing angle to further capture the demographic that used to exclusively be boxing’s.

Brendan Schaub vs. Jon Madsen
Both scored impressive wins at UFC 121, with Schaub taking a decision win over Gabriel Gonzaga, and Madsen taking out Gilbert Yvel inside of one round. This is a good test of two heavyweight prospects a win away from being legit contenders. Schaub’s athleticism and striking were evident in his win over Gonzaga, while Madsen showed an improved game and intense ground-and-pound in destroying the veteran Yvel. Nothing spells excitement more than a showdown between up and coming heavyweights, and Schaub-Madsen would be a nice striker-wrestler match to produce a new face amidst the heavyweight division’s elite.

McGee was impressive at UFC 121.Court McGee vs. Tim Credeur
McGee was impressive in his third-round submission of tested veteran Ryan Jensen, so another go against a seasoned guy in Tim Credeur would be a logical succession. McGee’s intensity and go-go style against Credeur’s jui-jitsu would present some interesting riddles; ones that would be fan-friendly and revealing for both. McGee still has a good upside and Credeur is always dangerous from his back.

Daniel Roberts vs. Mike Pierce
Both have good wrestling, intensity and conditioning. While the welterweight division seems top-heavy in terms of talent -- with Georges St. Pierre, Jon Fitch, Jake Shields and Thiago Alves -- there are plenty of good welters bucking to get a spot. This would be a good sort-em-out type of match, as each man has shown flashes of high-level talent.

Matt Hamill vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
Hamill showed good takedowns and composure in his decision win over Tito Ortiz, and Nogueira would be a stark departure in style for the steady Hamill. Little Nog’s boxing and solid submission game would prove an interesting test, and Hamill has shown a comfort level on the feet that would make for some interesting exchanges.

The 205-pound division is stacked with talent, and this is the kind of crossroads match that helps sort out the lower tier of contenders, putting the victor a win or two from serious title contention.

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