Strikeforce: Evolution takes the stage on Saturday, but in my latest effort from Heavy.com, it's the January show tentatively scheduled for Miami that has my interest. Specifically, the debut of 46-year-old former football star Herschel Walker.

There is no denying that the former Heisman Trophy winner, Pro Bowler and two-time Superstars champion (remember Superstars on ABC?) was and still is a tremendous athlete, but one question I can't get out of my head is this:

I just wonder if people would be as quick to accept a 46-year-old Tae Kwon Do black belt with zero experience stepping into the cage if his name wasn’t Herschel Walker.

There is a lot more to it than that - obviously - and I think just about every angle is covered, from his training program with Bob Cook at American Kickboxing Academy to being the same age as Randy Couture.

Herschel Walker is coming to Mixed Martial Arts.

How it turns out is still to be determined.

Strikeforce: Evolution takes the stage on Saturday, but in my latest effort from Heavy.com, it's the January show tentatively scheduled for Miami that has my interest. Specifically, the debut of 46-year-old former football star Herschel Walker.

There is no denying that the former Heisman Trophy winner, Pro Bowler and two-time Superstars champion (remember Superstars on ABC?) was and still is a tremendous athlete, but one question I can't get out of my head is this:

I just wonder if people would be as quick to accept a 46-year-old Tae Kwon Do black belt with zero experience stepping into the cage if his name wasn’t Herschel Walker.

There is a lot more to it than that - obviously - and I think just about every angle is covered, from his training program with Bob Cook at American Kickboxing Academy to being the same age as Randy Couture.

Herschel Walker is coming to Mixed Martial Arts.

How it will all turn out is still up for debate.

Since today is my wife's birthday (Happy Birthday Sarah!), it means we have just ten days left until Christmas.

While I've circulated my list of desired presents to the people who need it, I'm sharing my MMA Wishlist with everyone at heavy.com. Instead of asking for a bunch of things that benefit me directly, I've gone with a more universal list this year, getting an early jump on my New Year's Resolution to be less selfish.

For instance:

1.    A Healthy Return for Georges St-Pierre, Anderson Silva and Brock Lesnar

Three of the five UFC champions are currently dealing with varying degrees of illness and injury, and a healthy return for this trio of talents is vital for the organization and the sport.

There really is a silver lining to every cloud.

While we’ve been faced with somewhat lacklustre cards and uninspiring main events lately and in the next couple of months, we’ve forged ahead since August without any of these three champions. Eventually, they will return and those star-studded cards with championship main events we’ve grown accustomed to will come back with them.

Get well soon – these and all the injured fighters out there.

In addition to checking out the rest of my wishlist, we want to know what you're wishing for from the world of Mixed Martial Arts this holiday season.

Better judging?

An Alistair Overeem title defense?

UFC on Network TV?

Let us know... and happy holidays!

After watching BJ Penn dominate another "toughest challenge yet" on Saturday night, it became undeniable that "The Prodigy" is without equal in the UFC Lightweight division, and that doesn't look as if it will change any time soon.

Penn's position at 155 pounds is similar to those of arch enemy Georges St-Pierre at welterweight and Anderson Silva at middleweight, where the champions sit atop divisions they have effectively cleaned out of contenders.

With 60% of the UFC titles in the hands of truly dominant forces, my latest article at heavy.com follows the course of the titular question above from the perspective of both the UFC and the fans.

For the UFC:

Despite the hard sell the UFC consistently and understandably delivers with each instalment of the UFC Countdown series, they are starting to feel a little disingenuous and there is little the company can do to remedy things.

Though there is always the possibility of a Matt Serra-type upset, the hype and praise heaped onto Sanchez felt forced before hand, and looks worse in the wake of Saturday’s destruction at the hands of BJ Penn.

For the Fans:

As fans, the situation is a Catch-22: while we’re getting to watch some of the best fighters in the history of the sport dominate their respective divisions, the title fights we normally turn to for suspense and intrigue are becoming foregone conclusions.

Ultimately, the real question that needs answering may not be whether or not a title will change hands in 2010, but how fight fans would feel about such a situation?

After watching BJ Penn dominate another "toughest challenge yet" on Saturday night, it became undeniable that "The Prodigy" is without equal in the UFC Lightweight division, and that doesn't look as if it will change any time soon.

Penn's position at 155 pounds is similar to those of arch enemy Georges St-Pierre at welterweight and Anderson Silva at middleweight, where the champions sit atop divisions they have effectively cleaned out of contenders.

With 60% of the UFC titles in the hands of truly dominant forces, my latest article at heavy.com follows the course of the titular question above from the perspective of both the UFC and the fans.

Continue reading this post »

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UFC Lightweight Champion "The Prodigy" BJ Penn (14-5-1, 10-4-1 UFC) vs. Diego "Nightmare" Sanchez (23-2-0, 10-2-0)

The Story So Far

After just two wins in the UFC Lightweight Division, "The Other Original Ultimate Fighter" Diego Sanchez gets an express trip to a title shot against BJ Penn.

All the standard promotional lines and angles that apply each time BJ Penn defends his title are being rolled out for this fight as well.

Sanchez will push the pace, test his cardio, and is the most serious threat to take Penn's belt that he's faced thus far, just as Kenny Florian and Sean Sherk were before him.

Continue reading this post »

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Paul "The Headhunter" Buentello (24-10-0, 3-1 UFC) vs. "The Skyscraper" Stefan Struve (18-3-0, 2-1 UFC)

The Story So Far

Re-signed by the UFC when Affliction closed their doors, Buentello was originally slated to meet mammoth prospect Todd Duffee, but an injury forced the knockout record holder to withdraw.

Fresh off a second consecutive submission win, the young and improving Struve stepped in right away and takes a serious step up in talent.

An interesting wrinkle developed earlier in the week when it became known that Buentello had been suspended from training at American Kickboxing Academy for going outside the AKA ranks for representation. Though I can't be certain, something tells me that getting barred from your long-time gym in the week before your fight isn't very helpful.

Continue reading this post »

Over at Heavy.com, E. Spencer Kyte tosses BJ Penn's name into the discussion of the best ever in advance of his UFC 107 title defense against Diego Sanchez.

As much as it pains me to say this, B.J. Penn might be the best ever.

Before my fellow Canadians begin cursing me en francais and demanding I be deported, and MMA fans the world over start shouting about their favorite fighter and some of the legends of days gone by, hear me out.

And remember, I said might be...

Love him or hate him, Penn's accomplishments in the sport are numerous, and they are well-detailed in the piece. Kyte offers up a great deal of respect for "The Prodigy's" numerous fights outside of his 155-pound comfort zone, while leaving the ultimate decision a personal one:

While the results haven’t always been favourable, few fighters have even shown the willingness to risk a loss for the sake of a challenge and that is part of what makes BJ Penn so special.

Whether that makes him the best ever is for you to decide.

Let the debating begin...

Earlier this week, Heavy.com & Watch Kalib Run's E. Spencer Kyte sat down with former Pride and current Strikeforce broadcaster Stephen Quadros.

In addition to confirming that "87.123666 % of Chuck Norris Facts are undisputed and true, [while] the others are also true under the right lighting," the man commonly known as "The Fight Professor" offered up an interesting series of answers to Kyte's patented matchmaker question:

Heavy.com: If you could play matchmaker for one day, regardless of organizational ties or anything like that, what three fights would you make and why?

Stephen Quadros: Anderson Silva vs. Gegard Mousasi, BJ Penn vs. Jose Aldo, Georges St. Pierre vs. Tyron Woodley one year from now.

Quadros is the first person not to say Anderson Silva vs. Georges St-Pierre, and while the matchups for both Silva and BJ Penn are interesting, the most intriguing answer is the high praise earned by Qaudros' selection as the best prospect in the game, Tyron Woodley.

Now that we've got you interested, feel free to surf on over to Heavy.com to check out the rest of the interview.