The question that many people have following Rampage jackson's decision loss to Forrest Griffin is what is next for the outgoing UFC light heavyweight champion?  There are many people that feel that Griffin should not have won the fight and many people scored the fight either a draw or for Jackson.  However, that is not what happened, Griffin won and is now the champ.  Rampage vowed never to stay out of the octagon for as long as he has again.  So, we will probably see Quinton again by year's end, but against who?  And where does he stand as a contender in a stacked divison?  First off, I believe that Quinton is the number one contender in the divison today.  As to who he will fight, the most likely candidate is that he will re-match Forrest Griffin.  A lot of what Rampage does next will depend on his leg and I think that there are several scenarios out there for Rampage and 3 fights that could take place for him before the end of the year.

1. The Re-Match.  Many people willc all for the re-match with Forrest.  I wouldn't be against this as I thought Jackson won the fight anyways, however the light heavyweight strap has been on hold for a long time due to the Griffin/Jackson fight and the Ultimate Fighter stints.  I have a feeling that the UFC may look to market Griffin vs. Someone not named Jackon.  More on this later...  Both guys said they would like the re-match and Dana isn't against it, and the fight could happen, but the question is will they make Rampage win a fight to get another title shot?

2. Wanderlei Silva.  This is the fight I want.  This has to be a fight Rampage wants.  Wanderlei is a top 5 light heavyweight, but he wasn't next in line for the title, so if Jackson would have won the fight would have been hard pressed to take place as the next title defense.  With Jackson losing this fight could take place as the fight for the title shot.  The line is long in contention at 205.  You have Machida, Liddell, Wanderlei Silva, Anderson Silva, and Rampage all in the mix for the next title shot with Thiago Silva, Brandon Vera, and Rashad Evans looking to get into contention.  I am sure the Wanderlei fight would be huge, and Rampage wants to avenge those losses to Silva.  This fight really could happen.

2. Shogun.  Shogun should come off his injury and be ready to fight in November or December.  That would give Rampage plenty of time to recover and be ready.  Also, it would be a chance for Rampage to avenge a loss in his career.  I don't look for this fight to happen although it would be great with both at their best.  It won't happen because it is too dangerous for both of them.  Shogun is 0-1 in the UFC.  He needs a win and I have a feeling he may get a good, but beatable opponent next.  Rampage is very important to the UFC and him losing his next fight would drop him out of the top 3 and move him towards the back of the line for the title.

In my opinion, although a Rampage fan, I think he needs to win a fight to get another title shot.  I hope Dana gives someone else a shot at the belt as there are so many people who could be deserving.

The UFC has been busy.  Not only is the new UFC Fight Night 14 ton July 19th taking shape, but more rumors are swirling for UFC 89.  Anderson Silva is scheduled to fight at both UFC Fight Night 14 against James Irvin at Light Heavyweight and at UFC 89 to defend his belt against Yushin Okami.  It has been reported that Silva will fight at both weight classes and will continue to defend his middleweight belt.  I am assuming that the fight with Okami at UFC 89 is conditional on how Silva comes out of his July 19th fight.  It should be plenty of time to recover though and get ready for Okami barring no injuries.  However, it is also rumored that on that card Michael Bisping will fight Chris Leben.  The fight was originally scheduled for UFC 85, but Leben was pulled due to his incarceration.  That should be an exciting fight as Leben has a strong chin and Bispin has looked incredible at 185.  It will be a great test for Bisping.  Also it is reported that newly signed English fighter, Dan Hardy will be debuting on that card which takes place in Birmingham, England.  Fighters Only Magazine reports:

Recent UFC signing Dan Hardy will make his debut for the organisation at UFC 89 in October, it is being rumoured. Several MMA sites are also reporting that middleweight champion Anderson Silva will be fighting Yushin Okami at the event. Highly-touted British welterweight Hardy is apparently being pencilled in for the event, which is allegedly heading for the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, UK. The aborted fight between UK MMA superstar Michael Bisping and Chris Leben, originally intended for UFC 85 in London last weekend, is also rumoured to be on the card.

Should be interesting.  Anderson Silva will be a busy man.

Promoted from the FanPosts by Brent Brookhouse

It was recently announced that Chuck Liddell would in fact headline the UFC 88 card in September in Atlanta, Georgia. When rumors began swirling about Anderson Silva jumping up to Light Heavyweight bloggers everywhere salivated, hoping for a super match between the two. It looks like the two will not fight, but Chuck Liddell will fight Light Heavyweight up and comer Rashad Evans. According to ESPN the Magazine:

Evans will have his chance to break through in September. According to a UFC source, he will be Chuck Liddell’s mystery opponent in the organization’s debut in Atlanta. The fight has been agreed to in principle—the only thing left is the paperwork. Any kind of win over the Iceman would probably vault Evans into light heavyweight title contention and be a defining moment for him and MMA fans. They’d have to embrace him, right? Right?

We knew that Liddell was fighting in September, but there were many rumors as to who he would fight. Some people suggested that he would fight his original opponent in Mauricio "Shogun" Rua. Others expected a Liddell vs. Silva II fight. I think both of those fights could eventually happen, but now it appears it is Rashad Evans. I am not sure about this one. Rashad is good and this may be a dangerous fight for Chuck due to his hamstring injury. Perhaps he could learn something about the left kick from Keith Jardine. However, a win here gets either guy into the title picture quickly. The problem with this fight is that it does not remove the crowded top 5-6 of the division. Evans is a top ten guy and a win moves him into that heap. If I was the UFC brass, I would want to un-crowd that loaded top 5 or 6 of Jackson, Griffin, Wanderlei, Lyoto, Chuck and Shogun. I would guess they are looking to cement a few guys at the top. This may help or it may confuse matters even more.

I saw on MMAPayout that the Wrestling Observer Newsletter is reporting that the UFC is going to begin some type of new reality show.

UFC is going to do a new reality show. I don't know the details of the show itself, but my impression is it involves Matt Hughes in a big way.

One may wonder, is this the big news that is being announced to the UFC employees today and to the rest of the world on Wednesday? I guess the answer to that may depend on the scale of the reality show. I don't know what the reality show would be. The Ultimate Fighter format works great as a reality show and showcases young MMA hopefuls trying to get into the big leagues of mixed martial arts. Here are my thoughts on what it could be....

1. Some type of look into the life of a fighter. This would make some sense that the first season feature Matt Hughes as he is at a crossroads of his career. It could showcase the fighter's life as he prepares for a fight and maybe they could show Matt Hughes as he prepares to fight Matt Serra.

2. Some type of look into the UFC office. Perhaps a show like the Apprentice with people comepting for a chance to become a UFC employee...in the office.

3. Some other type of fighter reality. Perhaps they are taking a no name guy with no MMA experience and trying to train him quickly into a MMA fighter. Perhaps they are taking a boxer, maybe a big name boxer and training him for MMA, could this be the Mayweather link?

Either way it is hard to imagine what rout a new reality show could go.  I guess we will see.  This could be the announcement and explain why Dana White has rejected the other possibilites.  This could be linked though with a network deal. 

This is my blog so I will state my opinion here (you can comment and argue with if you want).  every year I watch TUF and the same thing is seen in the house.  This week it was Jesse Taylor drinking way too much and peeing on himself again.  I think it is a shame that these guys portray themselves like they do.  You can think what you want about drinking, but I think that not only should TUF be looking for new talent, but also should strive to display to the viewers what mixed martial arts is all about.  Every season has shown the same thing: drunkeness, drunkeness and more drunkeness.  Frankly, it ticks me off a bit.  People like Jesse Taylor should have been sober and preparing for a fight.  They should have more respect for property.  That $20,000+ of damage that they senselessly caused could have gone to pay fighters, or better yet could have gone to some people in need around the world.  What a waste.  I just think that many times what we see on TUF is not indiciative of how an MMA fighter should act.  Mixed martial arts has enough critics and enough people against it.  Mixed martial arts has enough stigma to it, and the fighters already are stereo-typed by many as brutes and violent people.  I think the UFC and other MMA organizations need to do better emphasising character of fighers.  I am all for second chances and realize people mess up sometimes.  I also understand not everyone has the same ideas and standards that I have, however there needs to be some punishment for people who act out outside of the octagon.  If I was in charge of UFC rosters thugs like Rob Emerson and Jon Koppenhaver wouldn't fight in my organization, not because they cannot hack it in the octagon, but because they are poor representatives of the sport.  For me, the one problem I have with watching MMA is the constant foul language from fighters and the emphasis on the party life.  Go ahead disagree with me if you want, this is just my opinion.  I love MMA and think that MMA fighters need more guys who are a postive example, a good role model, and someone that parents can feel confident letting their children look up to.  MMA needs more Matt Hamills, Matt Hughes, Georges St. Pierres, Anderson Silvas, Randy Coutures, Kenny Florians and Wanderlei Silvas and less Matt Serras and Tito Ortizs.  One thing I really love about many of the true mixed martial artists, especially your Brazilian and Japanese fighters is their love for fighting, their respect for their opponent, and their incredible sportsmanship (even in defeat).  To them they are not just fighting it is a sport to them.  Okay, enough of my soapbox.  All I am saying is that if the UFC wants to market to people they will have to consider that not everyone lives a Vegas style life.  All the cussing is an issue for some people, even with Dana White.  Goodness, you listen to Dana White on SPIKE and you don't hear anything except a long "beep".  Sometimes I get confused and think it is a warning fromt he emergency broadcast system and then I look and realize it is just the president of the UFC talking.  Right or wrong, the character often (not always) displayed on TUF turns some people off, keeps parents from letting their kids watch and puts a bad taste in the mouths of some.  I believe MMA fighters should go an extra step to show the world that they are not thugs with no restraint, but that they also have a little character.

It was rumored that UFC 87 would feature a bout between Mac Danzig and Clay Guida.  However, on Mac's website  it says...

Forget what you heard! Mac is NOT fighting at UFC 87, or in August at all! Mac will most likely fight in September, and the fight has not yet been signed.

Well, if that is the case then what has become of Danzig vs. Guida.  It makes sense that this would not occur at UFC 87.  There are already two lightweight bouts on that card that may be on the main card in the Florian vs. Huerta fight and the newly announced Edgar vs. Franca fight.  Could the Danzig vs. Guida fight be the headliner or co-main event of Ultimate Fight Night 14, which will kick of the Ultimate Fighter 8? 

One question I want to know the answer to is what is next for “The California Kid” Urijah Faber following his strong performance against Jens Pulver.  Faber is by far the best featherweight in the world.  The question is who is he going to fight next.  He has beaten some good opponents in Jeff Curran and now Jens Pulver.  I think there are a couple of options for Faber. 

1.  He could stay in the featherweight divison of the WEC and keep defending his belt.  There are still a few guys he could beat, but I do not know who can compete with him seriously.  Perhaps Cub Swanson or someone else would make sense, but I don’t think it would be much of a fight.  I just don’t know what else he has to prove in the featherweight divison.  The only talent that can compete with him is not in the WEC.

2. He could move up to lightweight in the WEC.  He is big enough to do it and I think would do well.  I think he would destroy guys liek Rob McCullough or Jamei Varner. 

3.  He could move up to lightweight in the UFC.  He has said he would like to avenge his loss to Tyson Griffin, and Tyson is in the UFC.  That would be an interesting fight, which I suspect will be a reality sooner than later.   I would like to see how Faber would stack up against other UFC lightweights.  I think he would do just fine.  I think he could plow through the Roger Huerta’s of the UFC, but some guys would be tough for him.  A B.J. Penn fight would be a smash hit and huge draw from a marketing stand point, but that isn’t likely yet as Penn will probably next fight the Florian vs. Huerta winner and then move up to fight St. Pierre if he still has the belt. I don’t know the logistics of how it would work, but I look for the Faber vs. Griffin fight to happen and I suspect Faber would have to move up to 155 for one fight at least.  Perhaps by the end of the year the UFC will plan a interpromotional fight card with the WEC.  How would you like to see fights like…Georges St. Pierre vs. Carlos Condit, Brian Stann vs. Jackson/Liddell/Wanderlei, Faber vs. Tyson Griffin, Paulo Filho vs. Anderson Silva ??  I am not saying the WEC guys would win, but it would make for marketable fights and an interesting card.

4. He could do some inter promotional fights with other featherweights.  Perhaps a fight with Kid Yamamoto or another top featherweight. 

Faber is young and still has a lot of fight in him.  I don’t know who else he will fight.  To me Faber defending his belt against some other WEC opponent would be a let down from the huge Pulver fight.  Perhaps a Faber vs. Pulver II is possible, but Faber was so dominant that I cannot see the logic behind that.

The Good:

·         Brett Rogers was impressive with his striking and quick KO of Jon Murphy and I think Kimbo will be up next for him.  I’d like to see that fight. 

·         Joey Villasenor looked far superior than Phil Baroni and could be a serious contender

·         Gina Carano unfocused and under trained is still one of the best women fighters in the world

·         Robbie Lawler and Scott Smith had an exciting fight going on

·         Kimbo Slice proved he can be a MMA fighter.  I don’t think he was great, but he showed some ground game, he had a good reversal or two.  Most of all I liked that he said afterwards that he knew he had a lot to learn.  He is a work in progress, but showed he is a serious MMA fighter.  I don’t have a problem with that stoppage as I think Thompson was on his way out. 

·         I thought the commentators did a pretty good job, and I liked the way Frank Shamrock covered the MMA basics for potential new viewers

The Bad:

·         I thought the show was tasteless.  From the nasty dancers who I have no idea why they were there, to the Busta Rhymes performance.  Phil Baroni led the way in tastelessness with his entrance.  He showed exactly what mixed martial arts is not about.  I was sickened by him coming in dancing with women dancing all around hum while they rubbed him down.  And could someone please tell me what was with all the fat guys in red after Rogers’ win.  It was way showier than I would have liked.  Joey Villasenor said in his post fight interview that Baroni was a good entertainer and I think he is right.  What a difference in how the two took the fight in their own minds, and look who won.  I would have liked more focus on the fights and less talk and less show. 

·         I thought the stoppage of the Laweler/Smith fight was sad.  Yes, I think Smith was doomed to be KO’d as Lawler was starting to pick him apart, but that stoppage nearly ruined the night.  I wanted to see it finish.  I think the stoppage was premature and Smith could have continued. 

·         Gina Carano, although she looked good needs to decide what she wants to do with her life.  She spent a lot of time videoing American Gladiators and too little time training.  If she trains more she will be dominant.

·         I didn’t like that Gary Shaw seemed to have his thumb on everything.  He stood over every fighter’s shoulder during every interview

·         Did anyone else notice that the former UFC sponsor “Mickeys” was a sponsor at this EliteXC event. 

The Ugly:

·         James Thompson’s ear.  That thing was nasty before the fight can you imagine it now?  I would have to get that thing fixed somehow. 

·         When the fans were booing the Lawler/Smith fight I was frustrated.  What a sorry bunch of fans!  They must not know anything about MMA, that was shaping up to be a great fight.  There was great action and good striking. 

·         The bottom line is that this show came nowhere near a UFC show and proved to me that UFC is far superior to EliteXC.  I argued constantly that EliteXC could compete with the UFC and now I am proven wrong and I will go eat crow.  They emphasized the show to the loss of the fights; they could have gone quicker and showed an undercard fight.  They could have pulled Phil Baroni aside and taught him that this is Mixed Martial Arts and now a Wrestling league. 

·         Overall, I think the show was only so-so.  I thought there were a few good fights and some good KO’s.  There was some good stand up fights, but I would have liked to see some technical ground fighting and jiu jitsu on display for America and MMA newcomers to see.  I thought the lack of class of the dancers, Baroni, and Rogers’ big boy posse proved that point and I am sure left a bad taste in some people’s mouths.  People will now think of WWE when they think of MMA.  I would like to see different guys next time like Jake Shields, Nick Diaz, Antonio Silva, or Paul Daley.  In other words, EliteXC on CBS I made it, but not as grand as it could have been. 

To me the most interesting match ups come at the light heavyweight divison.  There are really 10 to 12 serious contenders in this divison.  I will attempt to make match ups which I feel could happen.  These match ups are based on fighters popularity, desire of the fans to see the particular fight, the logic of the fight, the potential story line behind the fight, and the potential fight after.  Obviously the goal with the light heavyweight divison is to clear up the mess and make a clear top 5 with a clear number 1 contender.  The way I see it there are 12 guys in the hunt for the belt: Quinton Jackson, Forrest Griffin, Chuck Liddell, Wanderlei Silva, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, Lyoto Machida, Thiago Silva, Rashad Evans, Keith Jardine, Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou, Matt Hamill, and possibly newcomer Goran Reljic.  Here is how I would match these guys up (assuming Jackson beats Griffin)…

Thiago Silva vs. Rashad Evans

Keith Jardine vs. Forrest Griffin

Matt Hamill vs. Stephan Bonnar

Wanderlei Silva vs. Chuck Liddell

Quinton Jackson vs. Lyoto Machida

Goran Reljic vs. James Irvin

Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou vs. Shogun

• The winners of these fights move up the rankings and the losers slide
• The winner of the Wanderlei vs. Chuck II match would get the title shot and be the clear # 1 contender
• I gave Machida the title shot although Jackson may want and very well get his re-match with Wanderlei Silva next. 
• Most likely of these fights to happen: Forrest Griffin vs. Keith Jardine and Sokoudjou vs. Shogun
• I expect at some point we will see Wanderlei vs. Chuck II, and you cannot keep Machida from a title shot for long.  He may need one more win though. 
• I believe right now there are three guys that could see the title shot next and it will depend on the Jackson Griffin fight, they are Machida, Wanderlei, and Chuck Liddell.  Chuck won’t get Jackson next. 
• Closely behind them though are contenders Thiago Silva and Shogun.

Affliction looks to be doing great.  They have a host of recognizable names under contract and Affliction: Banned on July 19th looks to be a good card.  I cannot guarantee much, but I can promise half the guys on their card will win their fights.  Affliction seems to have signed two more notable guys to fight on that card in Andrei Arlovski and Vitor Belfort.  Just look at who they have signed it looks like an all star cast: Fedor, Tim Sylvia, Ben Rothwell, Josh Barnett, Arlovski, Belfort, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Babalu, Mike Pyle, Mike Whitehead, Matt Lindland, Fabio Negao, Pedro Rizzo, and Aleksander Emelianenko.  They may not be done either.  I think they could sign Tito Ortiz.  Here are my thoughts.  Affliction's roster kind of reminds me of the senior circuit of professional golf.  If ten years ago you looked at a senior gold tournament you may have seen names like Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Gary Player along with a host of other well known guys, but they are in the senior circuit because they cannot compete with the younger guys anymore.  Now, I know some of Affliction's guys can compete with anyone still, but none are up and coming.  They are all here and going.  Even their best guys are beyond their prime.  Don't get me wrong they will attract crowds and make interesting match ups.  I will order it and watch with excitment, but I still think they are overrated.  Look at who they have signed...

Fedor: Universally ranked as the best heavyweight in the world, but refuses to fight top level competiton.  Sylvia will be the best guy he has fought in a while.  He could be the best heavyweight in the world, but he hasn't proven it yet.

Sylvia:  Lost to Nogueira and Couture.  Is probably past his prime and when he gets on the ground he is done for.  He is over the hill. 

Lindland: More interested in politics then fighting now, and that is not an insult.  He is still a top 10 middleweight, but he isn't going to be forever. 

Barnett: He isn't old, but he has fighter mileage on him.  How much longer can he go

Pedro Rizzo: 5 years ago this would have been huge

Arlovski: Has been fairly boring in his last few fights. He isn't the Arlovski of old. 

Belfort: Way past his prime.  Still can probably fight though.

Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Aleksander Emelianenko: In the shadow of their brothers.  Both are good and maybe underrated, but neither are their brothers.

Okay, so their guys will win fights.  Some are top ten guys for now, but the fact is they won't be for much longer.  These guys are all on borrowed time.  Perhaps Affliction will attract more fighters and compete well with the UFC, but right now they are nothing more than the sernior circuit of MMA.   Go ahead sign the MMA stars of five years ago.  Go sign Cro Cop and Ortiz.  You may put one some good cards and make some money.  I will watch and see some good fights, but I am not watching to see the stars of MMA, I am watching because I am nostalgic.  If Affliction wants to do great it needs to develop talent.  These guys they have signed are just a band aid and will keep them going for a while, but not forever.

I have several thoughts about UFC 84: Ill Will.  Here they go…

• I was stoked to see the UFC show so many cards on pay-per view.  I believe 9 fights were aired.  I liked it a lot.  Of course it was because there were notmany drawn out decision fights.  I was gald to see Sokoudjou and Carwin’s fights.  It helps the UFC and their careers to get the attention.
• B.J. Penn looked amazing.  We didn’t even see his jiu-jit su.  He looked crisp in striking.  He was quick and he wore out Sherk with striking.  His cardio looked great too.  B.J. called for the G.S.P. fight and that could be interesting.  Could B.J. hold two belts at the same time?
• I don’t know what Sherk was doing.  After the fight he said he stayed standing because he was doing well striking.  What fight was he watching?  He could’t reach B.J.  He should have used his wrestling more.
• How about the show of class between Penn and Sherk.  After many heated words B.J. hugged Sherk and invited him to train in Hawaii
• Wanderlei is back.  He rocked Jardine.  Jardine was out cold.  And what a classy individual is Wandy.  He is what makes MMA special.  You cannot help but to like him.  He was really concerned for his opponent.  He is humble.  I am a Wanderlei fan.  I will root for a Wanderlei vs. Rampage fight in UFC.  It could happen and the UFC could market it as Rampage’s revenge.  That opens up many scenarios.  If Wandy wins he could get Chuck again for the title.  Still possible he drops down for the Silva vs. Silva match.
• Lyoto Machida was great against Tito.  Some accuse him of running, but he was elusive.  He was smart.  Tito couldn’t hit him.  He was fast.  He picked his shots well against Tito.  Lyoto is the real deal and will get a big fight next.  He beat Tito bad and I am glad.
• Who knows what all realyl went on in the UFC after fight press conference with Tito.  Tito is a loud mouthed jerk. 
• Thiago Silva has a tough chin.  Mendes may be for real, but Thiago is really for real.  He is a top 10 light heavyweight and is in the mix for a title.  He will get a top tier guy next. 
• Goran Reljic looked great.  He can kick hard.  He has KO power.  If he can learn to vary his kicks more he is a contender.  I moved him into my top 15 from that fight.  I’d like to see him vs. Hammil.
• Palhares is a force at middleweight.  What an amazing arm bar!  He better improve his striking though. He should have thrown some punches while trying to sink in that choke.  Nevertheless, oen of the best jiu-jitsu guys in the UFC
• Shane Carwin’s KO of Wellish was sick.  His bread and butter is ground and pound and he didn’t even show it.  He will be a heavyweight force.
• Yoshida looked great against Koppenhaver.  That choke was textbook.  We will see how he does against more serious competition.
• Kim will also be a force at welterweight, wow what elbows!!!!!  The fight is worth ordering on UFC's website. 
• Sokoudjou won…yay!  He didn’t look great, but he won, apparently with a hurt knee.  He called for Shogun, but I hope he doesn’t get him.  I want both those guys to do well in the UFC.  One of them losing would hurt their UFC careers bad.  I’d give Shogun someone like Wilson Gouveia or Stephan Bonnar to get a win under his belt.  And Shogun wants Liddell.
• This may have helped the UFC roster cuts.  Look for Salaverry, Koppenhaver, and Tan to be canned.  Also, Nakamura may be done as could Etim. 

One of the things that most excited me about UFC 84 was the display of new talent.  What a job by Dana White and the UFC finding new talent.  UFC 84 was a great display of hopefuls. I am stoked about it. Not only did 5 newcomers win their fights, but 2 guys who hadn’t won yet in the UFC won (Wanderlei and Sokoudjou). These newcomers won me over and I became fans of theirs.  The UFC has some top level new talent.  I liked rooting for these new guys and like seeing new talent coming in.  While we can be critical of the UFC losing some talent (Couture, Arlovski, Sylvia, and Ortiz), there are some new guys to replace them.  Let’s face it while the UFC has lost 4 or 5 stars in the past year, they have gained some future ones.  The guys they lost were past their prime anways.  Whata  job replacing lost talent.  The UFC needs to market these guys.  Put them on Spike’s UFC unleashed and put them on a fight night for people to see.  They all got good exposure at UFC 84 except Dong Hyun-Kim.  Let me say a word about the new guys in the UFC.

Shane Carwin: Out of the newcomers on the UFC 84 card Carwin was the most hyped.  I now know why.  He very well could hold a belt in the UFC one day.  I guess his back health is the one worry.  He is said to have great ground and pound and weaker striking.  He had one of the sickest KO’s I have seen with the mouthpiece flying out.  Shane Carwin is going to be super talented.  Can’t wait for his next fight.  Perhaps against the loser of the Vera vs. Werdum fight or a guy like Justin McCully or Collin Robinson.  Wuth an all around game like he has, the wrestling background, the athletic ability and the KO power he could be a glimmer of hope in a weak, weak divison.  The UFC has three bright stars up and coming in the heavyweight divison (Carwin, Lesnar and Velasquez) and somehow they have to delay them fighting each other and fighting top 3 talent as was learned in the Lesnar vs. Mir experiement. 

Yoshiyuki Yoshida: He very well could have killed Jon Koppenhaver in that fight.  That judo throw and the gator roll anaconda choke was awesome.  Usually your Japanese fighters have proven to be less than exciting and have not faired well in the UFC with the exception of Okami.  Yoshida will do fine and he is exciting.  I want to see him against slighly better competition because Koppenhaver was no match for him. Yoshida looked far superior in every way.  I wish he’s learn a little English though.  The post fight interview with Rogan was slightly awkward and a little English could help his marketability.  Perhpas he could fight a Burkman, Hazelett or maybe the Chonan vs. Carneiro winner is a good idea.  Yoshida will do fine in the UFC, great addidition and he and Kim could make UFC big bucks in the Asian market a la Bisping in England.

Dong Hyun-Kim:  Okay, so I watch Kim fight Jason Tan and all I can say is wow!  He is exciting, strong, and has vicious elbows.  He will be a serious force in the UFC.  He very well could be pitted against a guy like Karo next and I would consider picking Kim to win.  The UFC needs to decide if they think Kim can be something great in the welterweight divison, if they think he can they need to give him two more fights that he can win handily.  The flip side of that is beating a top 10 guy gives you instant credibility.  I know Jason Tan isn’t top level UFC talent, but man Kim looked amazing.  Why aren’t more people talking about that fight?  In my opinion, Kim could very well be the best of the newcomer bunch.  UFC 84 showcased some serious new talent and I am excited about Kim.  I liked him and am disappointed he wasn’t on the televised card.  I still hurt from watching his elbows.

Goran Reljic: Is the guy going to be mini-Cro Cop?  His kicks made me cringe.  Of course my knock on him would be all he showed was striking with the left side, but ouch those kids were hard.  Did you see how red Gouveia’s shoulder was?  I had Wilson Gouveia as ranked 12th in a stacked, stacked divison.  Reljic beat a top tier guy.  I don’t know how he would do against a guy like Thiago Silva or Machida, but he can strike with anyone.  He can take a hit too!!  Relijic has serious promise is this divison and does remind me of a slightly smaller and younger Cro Cop.  The Croatian can improve.  If I was him I would get with some different trainer for a bit to diversify.  I would think Xtreme Couture would be a great idea for him.  However, he is a contender right now!  My question will be how can he handle a aggresive striker or a wrestler like Matt Hammil?  Time will tell.  His future is bright.  I think a Sokoudjou match would be interesting, but I reckon he won’t get that highly ranked of a guy next.  Perhaps the Cane vs. Lambert winner. 

Rousimar Palhares: I know Ivan Salaverry isn’t what he once was, but that arm bar may well have been the best submission I have seen in a while.  He controlled Salaverry from start to finish.   He may be one of the best jiu jitsu guys in the UFC.  I wonder how he would do against another jiu jitsu guy like Demian Maia?  My question will be striking for Palhares.  I wondered why he didn’t soften Ivan up with strikes to the face while he was trying to sink in that choke.  He seemed pretty one-dimensional.  That dimension is top level and then some though.  He was a bright spot on the great card.  Can’t wait to see him in action again.

Antonio Mendes: He is the lone newcomer that lost at UFC 84.  Let me say just two things though.  First, he lost to in my opinion the most underrated light heavyweight and a guy that may well hold the title one day.  Second, he did very, very well.  He rocked Thiago.  His striking looks great.  I hope the UFC saw that and gives him another chance against a slighly less talented guy.  Give Mendes a chance to win against some poor sacrifical lamb in the light heavyweight divison.

Other New Talent:

Cain Velasquez: Many people say the UFC Hevayweight divison has collapsed.  I have said that.  The UFC has lost its champ in Couture and two of it’s top 5 talents in Tim Sylvia and probably Andrei Arlovski.  Mir isn’t what he used to be.  Cro Cop just didn’t work out well.  However, Carwin, Velasquez and Lesnar I believe are a step up in the long run.  Couture was great and I am a fan, but he in 44.  Sylvia is past his prime and Arlovski hadn’t shown consistency.  Cain Velasquez is going to be a star in this divison and it is prime for the taking.

Brock Lesnar: Lesnar is the one of those three new guys in the heavyweight divison to lose, but he lost to Mir and in that loss he showed he can fight.  He is the one of the three guys also that can draw a crowd more than anyone.  He could be UFC’s next biggest star.  We will see how he does against Herring. 

Chris Wilson: Wilson looked good in his loss to Fitch and I believe can do very well in the UFC.  I think he can be a top level guy.  Time will tell with Wilson.