SBNation.com User Blog: IanParkerMMA

Nick Diaz....come on down!!!

IanParkerMMA — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 02:34:20 -0000

The last time we saw Nick Diaz, he had just loss a controversial split decision to Carlos Condit. This unfortunately spoiled the plans of a Diaz vs GSP fight. As Diaz's suspension starts winding down, its time to start coming up with ideas on how to utilize Diaz. One of the best things about Diaz is that outside of being a welter weight, he does not mind jumping up to 185lbs if the money is right. As of yesterday, Dana White stated that Diaz will have to win atleast one big fight before a title shot is granted. Now the question is who do they put Diaz up against to indeed skyrocket him to the top of the division. Well, I have a few ideas.

Nick Diaz vs Jake Ellenberger- Jake is coming off of a win against Jay Heiron and has been at the top of the division for sometime now. A win over Diaz can get him back in the title hunt behind Hendricks and Kampmann. For Diaz, this fight would be against a guy in Jake that is considered a top fighter in the division and a substantial win over Ellenberger could put him close to title contention (would probably need one more fight if he did indeed win this fight).

Nick Diaz vs Josh Koscheck- Both men coming off of losses and both men wanting to make one more run at a title. When it comes to these two, both men will not be shy and will talk more trash then ever before. It would probably be only a matter of time before Koscheck tries to take Diaz down. If he is successful, he should be careful as Diaz is a ju jitsu wiz and is comfy wherever the fight goes. For Diaz, Koscheck still has a name and would be a solid win to add to his resume.

Nick Diaz vs the winner of Hendricks vs Kampmann- IF this does happen, you better believe that Hendricks or Kampmann (whoever wins their fight) will be extremely pissed knowing how hard they worked to get a title shot and diaz just finds a way to slide in there. But truth of the matter is, everyone would rather watch Diaz then 99% of the division. Diaz vs either one of those fighters would be a #1 contender fight and a win over either one would pout Diaz in line for a title shot.

Diaz vs Gsp/Condit loser- Pretty Simple. If Diaz fights GSP, that would be awesome. Whether its for a title or not, its the matchup we have been waiting for. If Diaz fights Condit, its a rematch and a loss that Diaz would love to avenge.

Diaz vs Anderson Silva- This would be probably the most exciting super fight out of all the other potential fights. Diaz would not be afraid to fight anywhere against Silva. Diaz would strike with Silva and if somehow it gets to the ground, we all know how good Diaz is at Ju Jitsu... Just ask Mr. Gomi...

This would be a big money fight for both fighters and a fight that no one would want to miss.

This would be the fight that I would choose.

This would be a big money fight for both fighters and a fight that no one would want to miss.

This would be the fight that I would choose.

Getting TUF!!

IanParkerMMA — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 03:50:54 -0000

The Ultimate Fighter is a great platform for unknown fighters to make a name for themselves in the UFC. It also gives the UFC a chance to market which fight between the coaches that they choose. Over the years, the shows ratings have been decreasing. Unfortunately, it is probably due to the lack of interest in the weight classes selected and potentially the lack of interest in the coaches on the show.

For example, Roy Nelson and Shane Carwin are not the most exciting of personalities in the UFC. Sure, Nelson has a big belly and looks like he lives in the mountains, but that only goes so far. Carwin clearly is not craving the limelight, but is on the show and doing what he is supposed to do.

In order for the show to make a comeback and draw an increasing amount of interest, the UFC can do 2 things.

Option 1:

One thing the UFC can do is create another comeback season.

Bring back a bunch of talented UFC veterans, and give one of them a shot to resurrect their career. Look at what the Comeback season of TUF did for Matt Serra. He went from a mediocre career, to beating GSP in the biggest upset in UFC history and becoming welterweight champion. After winning the belt (eventually losing it back to GSP) Serra had the opportunity then to Coach on TUF as well against his rival Matt Hughes. After the season ( and after Serra got back from injurty) Serra took on Hughes in an exciting veteran welterweight fight.

Option 2- The UFC needs to swing for the fences and elect two of their top marketable fighters to coach against each other on the show. Yes you guessed it!! Jon Jones vs Chael Sonnen. Could you imagine seeing Sonnen on tv for that long and having the chance to take verbal Jabs at Jones? It would be a drama filled season. We would also potentially get a chance to see a little personality out of Jones ( we dont have to worry about seeing Sonnen's personality) Having Jones coaching against Sonnen would not only draw insane ratings, it would give them a long time to promote the fight. Would we see Jones crack? Will Sonnen get into Jones head? All I know is that it would make for some great television!!

Who would like to see Jones coach against Sonnen on the next season of TUF??

In order for the show to make a comeback and draw an increasing amount of interest, the UFC can do 2 things.

Option 1:

One thing the UFC can do is create another comeback season.

Who would like to see Jones coach against Sonnen on the next season of TUF??

Matches to make from here...

IanParkerMMA — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 02:12:47 -0000

Jon Fitch vs Damian Maia Both Fitch and Maia are coming off of very impressive wins at UFC 153. Fitch was put in a position to be a stepping stone and create a real name for Erick Silva. Fitch promised to impress and he did just that. Maia went back to his routes and make quick work of a game Rick Story. A fight between Fitch and Maia would give both these fighters a chance to crack the top 5 with a win.

Big Nog vs Stefan Struve Stefan Struve coming off the biggest win of his career is looking to fight someone within the Top 5 of the heavyweight division. I still dont believe he is ready for fighters of the caliber. I think a legend with credibility like Big Nog would be a great matchup for Struve. Big Nog also coming off a dominant win over Herman, there arent to many guys out there that make sense for Nog in the division. If Nog is looking for one more run, then a young gun coming off a solid win streak in Struve would make a ton of sense.

Glover Texierra vs the winner of Shogun vs Gustafasson or Rashad Evans. Glover is the real deal. Granted he destroyed a non top 10 205lber in Fabio Maldanado, he faught like a contender. Sometimes when fighters fight below their rank, they tend to fight down to their competition. Not in this case, GLover came out and stuck to his plan and absolutely destroyed Maldanado. I would love to see Glover get someone in the top 5 light heavyweight. If not take the winner of Shogun vs Gustaf, then put together Glover vs Rashad Evans. Lets see what Glover is made of and if he is the real next guy to fight Jon Jones.

Anderson Silva vs Jon Jones Truthfully what is left for this man to prove. The answer is none. The only fight I would truly love to see with Anderson Silva is against Jon Jones. It would be truly incredible to see if Anderson would be the one to hand Jones is his first true loss. If the UFC is do a Super Fight, then Jones vs Silva and not Silva vs GSp is the one to make.

Picks for UFC 153- Time to win some money!!

IanParkerMMA — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 04:20:31 -0000

Rick Story vs Damian Maia: Call me crazy, but I happen to like Rick Story as the underdog in this fight. Other then Ju Jitsu, I can not see where Maia has the advantage. I believe that Story's consistently improved striking will be the X factor in this fight. Story has the experience and the wrestling takedown defense to keep the fight standing. Story via Decision

Phil Davis vs Wagner Prado I am predicting that this will win Snooze of the night. Otherwise, I see Phil Davis taking this fight to the ground and grinding out a decision. Not a whole lot here to discuss as most of Phil's fights are similar. Davis via Decision

Jon Fitch vs Erick Silva This is a very intriguing fight. As they say " out with the old and in with the new". This fight will test Silva on a whole other level. We will find out if he is ready to take on the upper tier of the division. Fitch could be possibly fighting for his job. Stylistically, this is a terrible matchup for Fitch. I think Silva out strikes Fitch and stuffs his takedowns with ease. Keep an eye out for that devastating overhand right by Silva. Silva via TKO

Glover Teixeira vs Fabio Maldanado This is Glover's fight to lose. Maldanado is going to be outmatched by Teixeira if every aspect of this fight. Fabio has punches to the body and also has a well tested chin, but after a few bombs from Teixeira, that chin is going to be weakened. After Glover lands a few, he will take Maldanado down and submit him. Glover is on the rise and is the next person that I am excited to test Jon Jones at some point. Teixeira via Submission

Big Nog vs Dave Herman Probably one of the most random fights that the UFC could put together for this card. I am sure I will get some hate for this one but I am going to go with Herman. Granted Big Nog caught Schaub and won as a huge underdog, I just dont see him doing the same to Herman. Herman is bigger, younger, stronger, faster and knows how to PROPERLY use his reach. Nog will try to get inside and hope to clinch and go for the takedown. Unfortunately for him, Herman will either use his front push kick or extend his jab to prevent Nog from getting inside. I think Herman is a very underrated fighter who got unlucky in his fight against Struve. Nog is coming towards the end of a hall of fame career. This is probably going to be the last time he fights for the UFC at his home in Brazil. I just strongly believe that after all the injuries and wear and tear, his body is declining and at somepoint someone younger and faster will put him down. I am going with the +215 on Herman. Herman via TKO

Stephan Bonnar vs Anderson Silva Everyone and their mother will tell you that Bonnar has no chance and that the Goat aka Anderson Silva will destroy him. I think this is a dangerous fight for Silva. He took this fight on short notice, in a different weight class from his, and against a tough guy who will have close to 30lbs and a reach advantage come fight night. Bonnar has never been Knocked out or Submitted and will be more then happy to oblige with Anderson and trade punches. That is where it favors Bonnar. If he can turn this fight into a brawl, he truly gives himself an opportunity to pull off the biggest fight in UFC and MMA History. I am rooting for Bonnar to pull off the upset, but at the same time I know that 10 out of 10 times Anderson due to his extremely high level of skill and fight IQ should take this with ease. But, at +800 I am going with the American Psycho. Winner- Anderson Silva via whatever he wants For Betting Purposes- Bonnar via KO

Matches Made In Hell: Jon Jones Vs Vitor Belfort, Anderson Silva Vs Stephan Bonnar Are Lose-Lose

IanParkerMMA — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 23:33:31 -0000

This FanPost was edited and promoted to the front page by MMAmania.com. Photo of UFC 152's Vitor Belfort by Esther Lin.

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has made some questionable decisions over the last couple of weeks that has left the mixed martial arts (MMA) world in shock and disappointment.

Let's start with the UFC 152 main event between Jon Jones vs. Vitor Belfort, which will take place this weekend (Sat., Sept. 22, 2012) from the Air Canada Center in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

I understand that Dan Henderson had to withdraw from UFC 151 because of a knee injury, but can you really tell me that there isnt anyone else at 205 pounds who is more deserving than Belfort, a bulked up Middleweight? Jones is perhaps the most marketable fighter (See Nike, Everlast, ESPN and more) that the UFC has to offer and it is wasting his popularity on a fight that only "The Phenom" wants to see.

The UFC is calling up a bigger 185-pound fighter to fight for the 205-pound world title? My question to the UFC brass is simply, "Why?"

This FanPost was edited and promoted to the front page by MMAmania.com. Photo of UFC 152's Vitor Belfort by Esther Lin.

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has made some questionable decisions over the last couple of weeks that has left the mixed martial arts (MMA) world in shock and disappointment.

Let's start with the UFC 152 main event between Jon Jones vs. Vitor Belfort, which will take place this weekend (Sat., Sept. 22, 2012) from the Air Canada Center in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

The UFC is calling up a bigger 185-pound fighter to fight for the 205-pound world title? My question to the UFC brass is simply, "Why?"

Why not do what you have done in the past and simply just push the Jon Jones vs. Dan Henderson fight back until when "Hendo" is healthy? If Jones and the UFC do not want to wait for Henderson, then why not move forward and push back the fight with Lyoto Machida? Or simply wait to see if Alexander Gustafsson gets past Shogun?

If the UFC waited for Gustafsson it would then have a new challenger who "Bones" has not yet touched and it could spend quality time building that fight and marketing it the right way. Instead, we have Jones versus maybe the number-three ranked middleweight in the division.

Why?

In my opinion, this is a lose-lose situation for the UFC. If Jones wins, well, he is supposed to win against a middleweight who is considered past his prime. But, what if Jones somehow gets caught by Belfort and, gasp, loses for real this time (sorry Matt Hamill). The UFC just had its most marketable champion lose to a middleweight. Not the best look for Jones and it would certainly taint his image.

Moving on ...

Anderson Silva vs. Stephan Bonnar headlining UFC 153 next month at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in a three-round, "fun" 205-pound bout is another curious call.

Now, don't get me wrong, I am a huge Silva fan (who isn't?), but how do you put the best fighter of all time on short notice against a retired light heavyweight who hasn't even cracked the top five in his division in his whole career? I can't even fathom the thought of why the UFC would even risk the chance of Bonnar potentially getting lucky and catching Silva and winning.

Could you imagine if Bonnar somehow beats Silva?

Regardless of Silva's amazing undefeated record in the Octagon, a loss to Bonnar would 10,000 percent taint his image of perfection and quite possibly the legacy he has worked tirelessly to build as the greatest 185-pound MMA fighter ever.

Again, I ask to the UFC, "Why?"

Why not just have Urijah Faber fight Frankie Edgar on short notice? Or Chad Mendes? I understand the UFC wanted a main event that could generate high numbers and wanted a Brazilian to main event this card, but why waste the best fighter of all time with this match up? And if you are going to have Silva step up, why not have it with a fighter who is deserving of this match up? Nothing against Bonnar, who I am a fan of, but he is not on the level of Silva and has done nothing to earn a fight against him.

To be honest, if the UFC wanted to put together a "super fight" in Brazil that would of saved this card, why not swing for the fences and do the unthinkable ... Anderson Silva vs. Jon Jones?

We shall see this weekend if Jones dismantles Belfort and then wait a few more weeks to see if Bonnar can pull off the biggest upset in UFC History. In the meantime, I'll just continue to shake my head and keep asking the same question over and over:

Why?