100 UFC events. Wow. Okay, its not really 100 UFCs, even ignoring the Fight Nights, what with the couple Ultimate Ultimate cards back in the day, plus the 37.5 event, but so what?
The UFC has hit the century mark, and look how far it has come. I remember when GAF MMA threads 5 years ago would be lucky to get more than a dozen replies, and now they go on for pages.
I think in anticipation of the event, we should share how we became fans of this sport.
For myself, I was involved in the martial arts since I was 12, but I didnt immediately take to watching MMA. So Im not really an old school fan. I was aware of the UFC, but hadnt seen it. Until a couple years later when my karate instructor took a fight in the Canadian UFC in Montreal (actually the UCC, precursor to the now-defunct TKO).
That piqued my interest, and so I decided to catch the next event, which happened to be UFC 37.5 in 2002. The event wasnt particularly special, but I was hooked. It was, of course, much different from my karate sparring. I mean, hardly anyone was throwing any kicks! All I kept hearing about was this amazing martial art called Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and how effective it was. I didnt know it was all about grappling, but I nonetheless intuitively got the idea behind groundfighting and its potential. And I was determined that when I went to university the next year, I would start training it. And the rest is history.
What's your story?
The UFC and the MMA media are all putting on retrospectives that you can find online. The UFC is airing its top 100 fights, starting tonight on Spike, though you won't see any Frank Shamrock fights or fights where Tito Ortiz wins.
Dave Meltzer has been running a series of retrospective articles on past UFC events: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/expertsarchive;_ylt=Al10s_IxnqOrq_3AWvq7lzs9Eo14?author=Dave+Meltzer
UFC history in 4 and a half minutes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmnRF4shbug
This might be the most stacked card in years, with two title fights included. This event looks sick. Lets break down the fights.
UFC WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP BOUT
Georges Rush St. Pierre (18-2) vs. Thiago Pitbull Alves (15-3)
GSP. Along with Fedor and Anderson Silva, he is the marquee fighter of the sport. Probably the most skilled and well-rounded fighter in the sport today. And he will CRUSH Alves.
Okay, in all honestly, Alves is a big challenge for GSP. Hes demonstrated devastating striking, solid takedown defence, and some pretty good groundwork too. If he catches GSP, he could put his lights out.
But everyone knows that Im the biggest GSP homer around, so Im simply going to make the case for GSP smashing Alves.
Put simply, GSP is going to take out Alves because GSP has proven that he can, while there is not much evidence that Alves can aspire to GSPs level. Alves might end up like Fitch: being able to prove that hes damn good at everything, but that GSP is just that much better.
First, the ground game. GSP has one submission loss, and Alves has two. So, not much to take from that, really. In terms of offence, however, Alves has only one submission win on his record, and thats submission from punches. GSP has four sub wins. And GSP has dominated a BJJ world champion on the ground in BJ Penn.
GSPs top game is unmatched. If he gets you down, you ARE going to get fucked up. I think when it comes to ground skills, GSP has to be considered superior.
Now, wrestling. Again, GSP is clearly superior. He is the best wrestler at 170lbs. Period.
But Boogie, I hear you say Alves was able to stop the takedowns of Koscheck and Hughes
So the fuck what? I reply. Matt Hughes is a shell of his former self. And imo, GSP in his prime is a better MMA wrestler than Hughes anyway. Also, Hughes doesnt have the striking confidence or skills that GSP does, or the ability to use his striking to set up his takedowns like GSP.
As for Koscheck, well, again, Koscheck fights STUPID. He came into the Alves fight trying to bang it out on the feet, and only desperately shoot in for takedowns when he was rocked. No strategy, no gameplan, just wildly hoping for a takedown when he was losing the standup. That wont be how GSP fights Alves.
Bottom line: If GSP wants to take this fight to the ground, its going to the ground. Maybe not the very first attempt, but he will get it there.
Finally: striking. While I will grant that Alves unquestionably has greater power, I actually think the case could be made that GSP is a superior striker technically. He mixes up his attacks almost flawlessly. Plus, GSP will have a reach advantage due to Alves' short stubby arms.
Then there's the intangibles, like Greg Jackson's coaching, and the world-class training partners that GSP brings in.
GSP's reign shall continue.
UFC HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP BOUT
Brock I have a penis on my chest Lesnar (3-1) vs. Frank Mir (12-3)
For all that the UFC has done to increase the depth to its heavyweight division, this still seems to be a lackluster championship bout on paper. I mean, there is no way that the winner of this fight will be able to make any claims to be the #1 heavyweight fighter in the world. Nonetheless, I am looking forward to this fight for two reasons.
One is because there is a fascination with the potential of Brock Lesnar. Hes such a freak athlete that I am interested to see if he can truly become some kind of dominant champion. He certainly has the physical gifts. Well just have to see if he can polish his skills.
The other reason is the nature of the bout as a revenge match, which are always fun. Lesnar wants to prove that he can beat Mir, and Mir wants to prove that the first fight was no lucky sub.
My thoughts are thus: If Lesnar fights smart, he wins. In spite of Mir taking out Big Nog standing, I would be incredibly surprised to see Mir win the striking here. Lesnar should use his wrestling skills defensively, pummel Mir standing, and not follow through to the ground until Mir is clearly nearly finished.
Mir wont be able to take him down, and I doubt hell win the striking. That would mean Lesnar wins.
On the other hand, we dont know if Lesnar can fight smart. Hes still green, still has a wrestlers instincts, and, presumably, might still get excited about knocking his opponent down to go in for the kill. Im just not sure if Lesnar yet has the cage sense to keep his wits about him.
We also dont know how hed fare in the later rounds. But then, Mir has a history of poor stamina, so I doubt Mir would beat him in the later rounds.
I think I have to root for the underdog here, so Ill be cheering for Mir. But Im picking Lesnar to win, maybe TKO in round 2.
Jon Fitch (18-3) vs. Paulo Thiago (11-0)
I still think that Thiagos win over Koscheck was flukey, but that doesnt stop this from being an exciting matchup. You have an undefeated fighter with elite submission skills and apparent knockout power facing the near-consensus #2 fighter in the division who is seeking vengeance for the defeat of his teammate.
I think that Fitch will fight smarter than Kos did and take this by decision.
Dan Henderson(24-7) vs. Michael Bisping (18-1)
I dont watch TUF anymore, so I have no idea how much heat has developed between these two. Nonetheless, it should be an interesting bout. Stylewise, Bisping is in trouble here, as he simply doesnt have the wrestling skills to keep Hendo from taking him down. On the other hand, Hendo often doesnt fight smart, he gets right hand heavy, and decides to slug it out. Im rooting for Bisping to win, but I think he only does if Hendo suddenly gets old. Hendo by decision.
Yoshihiro Sexyama Akiyama (12-1) vs. Alan Belcher (14-5)
Sexyama makes his UFC debut against the solid but not spectacular Alan Belcher. I am very much looking forward to seeing whether Akiyama can make a splash in the UFC. I am thinking that he takes this.
Mark "Cardio" Coleman (15-9) vs. Stephan Bonnar (13-5)
There are two facts in this fight. Bonnar WILL get taken down by Coleman. And Coleman WILL gas out. I say Bonnar takes it, probably by decision.
Mac Danzig (18-6-1) vs. Jim Miller (13-2)
Jim Miller is someone who has fought 3 times in the UFC, yet somehow Ive missed all his fights. Hes got some good wins on his resume though, Im going to guess that he beats Danzig.
Jon Jones (8-0) vs. Jake O'Brien (11-2)
Id like to believe that Jones is a true prospect, but Im rather skeptical of his ability to stuff OBriens shot for three rounds. Eh, what the hell, Jones by decision.
Dong-Hyun Kim (11-0-1) vs. T.J. Grant (14-2)
Kim.
C.B. Dollaway (8-1) vs. Tom Lawlor (5-1)
Dont know Lawlor. Dollaway it is.
Matt Grice (9-2) vs. Shannon Gugerty (11-3)
Dunno either guy. Who cares? Grice.
Official event site: http://100.ufc.com
UFC 100: We're Just Getting Started hype video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gP-C_D1sNA
