NGN (Not Good News) for CBS

Media Week shared the overnight figures for Strikeforce on CBS.

CBS Strike Force Saturday Night Fights

9:00 p.m. – Viewers: 2.57 million (#4), A18-49: 0.8/ 3 (#4)
9:30 p.m. – Viewers: 2.55 million (#4), A18-49: 1.0/ 3 (#4)
10:00 p.m. – Viewers: 2.89 million (#3), A18-49: 1.2/ 4 (#2)
10:30 p.m. – Viewers: 2.52 million (#3), A18-49: 1.0/ 3 (#2)

Among males 18-to-49 -- mixed martial arts' core demographic and the only reason networks have any interest in the sport at all -- CBS Saturday Night Fights at various times trailed Cops, The Biggest Loser, Shark Tale and re-runs of Law & Order SVU.

The early figures represent a 31% drop from Strikeforce's November show on CBS, which attracted 3.79 million viewers in the 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. slot.

CBS began promoting the event during the NCAA Tournament, albeit in 5-10 second spots. And beyond the standard promos and affiliate spots that were at most 30 seconds there was nothing to educate the casual viewer on a loaded event and get them excited about it. Why Showtime or CBS - even if they go viral - can't piece together a promotional package remains a mystery.

Spike re-aired UFC 110 opposite Strikeforce. I'm curious about its ratings.

Shields scores

The talk of Saturday's mega Strikeforce show on CBS is dominated by the postfight melee instigated by Jason Miller's challenge to Jake Sheilds for a middleweight title rematch. I'm not defending Miller's actions, which were uncalled for, unnecessary and a serious case of terrible and unprofessional timing.

But besides Miller just living up to his act, is this truly one of the most disgraceful things to ever happen in sports? Didn't Mike Tyson try and bite Evander Holyfield's ear off? Wasn't there a riot at Madison Square Garden that exploded when one of Riddick Bowe's handlers smacked Andrew Golota in the back of the head with a walkie talkie after one too many low blows? How about that incident in Detroit that started when Ron Artest went after a fan that tossed a beer at him? Or when Juan Marichal and Jose Offerman used baseball bats as samurai swords? And didn't Frank Mir's death wish on Brock Lesnar horrify the MMA haters who still look at the sport as a spectacle?

Memo to the MMA haters and stuffy suit and ties: Chill out and get over it. Last I looked boxing, basketball, baseball and the UFC are still in business, and Strikeforce president Scott Coker will nip this in the bud and move on. As for Miller, I'd concern myself about Robbie Lawler this summer before any rematch with the reigning champion.

The big story to come out of Nashville Saturday night was how Shields, already a winner of 12 straight fights, elevated his stature even further with his unanimous decision victory over PRIDE & UFC veteran Dan Henderson. What made it more impressive is how this was supposed to be a bad matchup for Shields facing a guy who has also competed at 205 and his ability to survive Hendo's right hand was in question. Henderson landed a bomb nearly similar to the one that blasted Michael Bisping at UFC 100. Shields not only took it, he overcame the fear that was in his eyes and took the bout to his domain, the ground. The wrestling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu expert dominated with a thorough game plan that frustrated the veteran, who relied on the home run shot the entire fight.

Best of all, Shields' bargaining power is to where both Strikeforce and the UFC will be handing over blank checks. Shields has a one-fight option available with Strikeforce and Dana White has expressed an interest in bringing him to Las Vegas. Posturing on White's part to drive up Shields' price or a plan to add one of his top competitor's biggest pieces to his empire?

"I just want to take some time off, leave the country, and enjoy myself," Shields said after the fight. "We'll talk about that next week. My management team will talk to Strikeforce. We'll see what happens."

In terms of contenders Strikeforce can offer Cung Le, Scott Smith, Lawler, Joey Villasenor, Melvin Manhoef and DREAM import Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza. The UFC could throw Shields a few top middleweights before a showdown with Anderson Silva or Chael Sonnen, or perhaps a matchup with Georges St. Pierre, along with Zuffa's marketing power that will add more pizazz to Shields' name.

Not only did Shields earn the biggest win of his career, he's the hottest name on the market. If White's able to swipe him, the impact will be more profound than when Henderson agreed to go to Strikeforce. Coker's company is still building a program and a Shields defection will rattle its foundation quite a bit.

Lauzon looking at next fight on his turf

I wish I can blog in this space more often. Alas, it's Yankees season and I've put up plenty of commentary here. Of course there's been plenty of MMA work on my plate. No offseason in that sport and it seems like there's been a show every week. Tomorrow night is Strikeforce on CBS with the WEC's premiere pay-per-view a week later.

I chatted with Joe Lauzon earlier and he's looking at his next fight coming in August before his hometown fans in Boston when the UFC makes its debut in Beantown for UFC 118. Health permitting, Frankie Edgar-B.J. Penn II and Kenny Florian-Gray Maynard could co-headline the show. Lauzon, who lost a unanimous decision to Sam Stout in February, stated his preference to compete in Boston and it's looking like he'll get that chance.

"They're saying it's going to happen, so we'll see," Lauzon said. "The UFC is meeting with the commission and all that stuff to make it all happen. It's looking like something's going to happen for August."

A lot of variables will determine his opponent Lauzon split his last two bouts, submitting Jeremy Stephens before falling short versus Stout in what was the Fight of the Night. Stephens and Stout are fighting May 8 at UFC 113 in Montreal. Could a rematch with the Hands of Stone be in the cards? Lauzon had Stout in trouble in the first round before Stout's striking dictated the rest of the fight. Furthermore, ACL surgery kept Lauzon out of action for 11 months. By August he'll be back at peak strength and a rematch on his turf may end up breeding a different result.

I would love to get that one," Lauzon said. "I look at Jeremy Stephens is a more dangerous fighter. Sam is a more polished guy. It'll be interesting to see how that goes. If Sam doesn't get by Jeremy we'll both be coming off a loss so I'm all for doing that again."

Also in Montreal, besides the light-heavyweight title rematch between Lyoto Machida and Mauricio Rua, is a compelling welterweight battle between Josh Koscheck and Paul Daley that may determine Georges St. Pierre's next challenge. My feature on Semtex is in the new edition of TapouT Magazine, Issue 36, Page 86.

MMA fans were disappointed with UFC 112 thanks to Anderson Silva's embarrassing antics, and it's a shame because Silva's decision to act like a clown and make a mockery of the sport overshadowed Edgar's stunning upset of the once invincible Prodigy. Dana White was rightfully pissed off, and to be fair 112 is likely just an aberration, but the door is open for Strikeforce to prove they're serious about competing against the Zuffa monolith. Tomorrow night on CBS is a great, great lineup featuring three title fights, including what may end up to be Jake Shields' final fight with the organization.

Shields' Strikeforce contract expires after Saturday and White has made it clear he will make a play for the stud who's won his last 13 bouts. If he wins Strikeforce will have no choice but to hand him an open check, but will money's pull be stronger than the opportunity to face GSP or the Spider? Of course, Silva will have to cut the crap in addition to defeating Chael Sonnen at UFC 117. White has threatened to cut Silva from the company if he pulls another stunt like he did in Abu Dhabi.

Silva: Jones must earn right to fight me

One week and change later, the MMA world is still buzzing over Jon Jones' destruction of Brandon Vera. Today on FightMagazine.com I suggested five potential next opponents for the white-hot light-heavyweight.

One is Thiago Silva, coming off a loss to Rashad Evans, but competed well enough to retain his high standing in the division. In fact, Silva told my colleagues at MMAJunkie.com that Jones must first get to his level before they fight one another.

"I think [Jones] is a wonderful fighter; he's doing a good job, putting on a good show," Silva said. "But I think he has to prove himself more to get the right to fight me. He’s doing fine, but he has to take a few more steps. I [want to] climb fast to the title shot, so I want people with the high ranking right now."

Silva may have planted a bug in Zuffa's ear. He's looking at a UFC 116 return from a back injury. Last I checked Jones' calendar is open. How about Joe Silva telling Thiago Silva, "Think you're that much better than Jones? Prove it."

Carwin changes the questions

He'd never survive past the first round.

That 11-0 record, with each win coming in the opening stanza, was cosmetic. He never faced anyone the caliber of Frank Mir. Gabriel Gonzaga buckled his knees. Never mind that he showed the mark of a champion by taking it and finding a way to win.

That one-year layoff from competition would come back to hurt him. Mir was going to dice him.

People at Zuffa will never admit it, but they were secretly hoping for Mir to defeat Shane Carwin to set up a rubber Mir-Brock Lesnar match July 3 and build hype based on legit hate.

With an explosive left hand that sent Mir tumbling and a barrage of follow ups that would turn cement into dust, Carwin changed all the questions at UFC 111. To anyone who doubted him because he lacked the big-fight experience of Mir, Carwin proved he's for real. By capturing the UFC interim heavyweight title he actually did Zuffa favor: Lesnar-Carwin lacks the spike fit for a WWE storyline, but Dana White and Co. can turn a 1,000-page novel (with no pictures) on the history of cabinet making into an exciting tale.

And the bottom line is this: Carwin provides Lesnar with the best matchup. For one, Lesnar won't be able to bully Carwin into a defenseless position, like he did Mir. Lesnar's chin has also never been truly tested. I don't care who you are. You get hit flush by a Carwin punch, you're falling. In turn, all of Lesnar's MMA fights took place prior to the diverticulitis that ravaged his body. Not only is Lesnar healthy, he's stronger.

Carwin will also be Lesnar's greatest challenge. Cry all you want about the quality of his opponents. When you win all 12 of your MMA fights, needing no longer than three minutes and 48 seconds, to vanquish 12 of the world's best athletes whose ability allowed them to excel in this sport, you've accomplished something absolutely amazing and remarkable. And this is from someone who at age 35 works full-time as an engineer and is a married father of a newborn daughter. Carwin's got the "it" factor I believed would get him past Mir and it did. And while doing so he forced the first seed of concern behind Lesnar and his smug smile.

*******

If there ever was going to be a fight in which all five rounds were scored 10-8, it was Georges St. Pierre's domination of Dan Hardy. This wasn't scored 50-40, but the judges had it 50-43, 50-44 and 50-45. Hardy earned respect by surviving an armbar and other painful submission attempts that would have forced a lesser fighter to tap, but there's nothing that nether he nor anyone can do to solve GSP. He's just that good ... From what Dana White said after the fight, the winner of Josh Koscheck and Paul Daley in May could meet Jon Fitch. The door for Jake Shields is looking wide open ... All five of the Jersey Boys won their bouts at 111, though I had Mark Bocek beating Jim Miller in a great fight that was very hard to score ... If I were matchmaker, I'd sign off on a rematch between Frank Mir and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. Both are out of the title hunt and both are still steaming over their last fight that Mir won but to whom Minotauro refused to give credit because he got over a staph infection ... It was a fun week in New York City. I hung out with great fans Friday night while reporting on Thiago Alves' next step. The UFC also sold out the Prudential Center and earned a gate of $4 million, more evidence clear to everyone except that clown and idiot, Assemblyman Bob Reilly, that MMA must be sanctioned in New York State.

White dodging Cain-Junior, for now

Updating this morning's post, Dana White danced around reporters' questions following UFC on Versus regarding a showdown between emerging stars Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos. This matchup that will eventually determine the No. 1 contender to the heavyweight crown makes sense, as does White's assertion that he'll wait until after Frank Mir-Shane Carwin Saturday night before unscrambling the puzzle. If the winner of the interim title suffers an injury that forces them on extended medical leave, Velasquez would face Brock Lesnar likely at UFC 116 July 3.

"They're all going to fight," White said. "All these guys in that lineup are going to fight, but we've got to figure out how it's all going to go down. Mir and Carwin are going to get this thing started. We'll see what happens there, and the great thing is, we're a week away from that."

Back in the day, boxing's heavyweight champion was the most recognized athlete in the world. It'll still be awhile before MMA is in that echelon, but a heavyweight division deeper than it's ever been is a great foundation.

The top contenders: Frank Mir, Shane Carwin, Cain Velasquez, Junior dos Santos
Second-tier: Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Cheick Kongo, Stefan Struve, Roy Nelson (fighting one another at UFC Fight Night 21)
Keep your eye on: Pat Barry, Todd Duffee

Jones on track to immortality

Brandon Vera's intent was to crack Jon Jones' aura. He implemented a couple schemes: trash-talking and a heated staredown at the weigh-in that sent the normally tranquil 22-year-old into a rage. Vera walked away laughing, confident half the battle was won.

Then the horn sounded Sunday night in suburban Denver. That's when Vera realized true core cracking in MMA happens inside the Octagon. Three minutes and 19 seconds later, the only things cracking were Vera's orbital bone and the ladder he had been climbing towards a light-heavyweight title shot.

I've written and said this many times: Jones could end up one of the best in MMA - ever. He took another step towards immortality by doing what three former UFC heavyweight champions, including Hall of Famer Randy Couture, couldn't do to Vera, destroying The Truth in a UFC on Versus main event that was hardly in doubt. Jones executed one of his slick takedowns seconds into the fight and it was Joe Rogan's astute commentary that had me concerned when Vera was on his back. It appeared that Jones was leaving his left arm too extended and vulenerable for an armbar. While Bones is already one of the great ones, he's just 22 and the experienced Vera had a plan to make his opponent pay for a rookie mistake.

So much for that. Jones ate an illegal kick to the chin and once Herb Dean - for my money the best referee in the business - deducted a point and ordered a restart from the exact same position, it didn't take long for Jones to end the fight with an elbow so brutal it echoed around the arena and through the TV microphones at ringside.

Think about this for a moment: Vera knocked Couture down and had him staring at the clock in hopes the seconds would move faster. He lost that fight, but his reputation gained in stature and was set up to be Jones' biggest challenge. Alas, Jones made it look too easy - just like he did against Matt Hamill, Jake O'Brien and Stephan Bonnar. And because Jones is one of the most mature 22-year-olds you'll ever meet, he allowed himself to learn another lesson.

“In the future, I’ll deal with trash talkers better and focus on what the task is,” Jones said.

The questions began immediately after Dean stopped the fight, who's next? Couture? Mauricio Rua? Rashad Evans? Quinton Jackson? Not exactly.The UFC is going to handle Jones carefully, despite his success, similar to the Washington Nationals sending top-pick Stephen Strasburg to Double-A despite his 100-MPH fastball, writes Kevin Iole. If I were matchmaker: Jones gets either the winner of Forrest Griffin-Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (UFC 114) or another light-heavyweight on a rapid rise to the top: Ryan Bader.
____

How good is Junior Dos Santos? He toyed with top contender Gabriel Gonzaga before smashing him 3:53 into their bout Sunday night. Four of Dos Santos' five UFC wins have come via a first-round knockout or TKO. This heavyweight division is so loaded a matchup of any of the top guns would be main-event caliber. Again, if I were matchmaker, Cain Velazquez is next for Cigano, with the winner to take on the winner of Brock Lesnar vs. Shane Carwin/Frank Mir.

Launch of a new project

I am now a weekly MMA blogger for FightLaunch.com, a place where fighters, promoters, models, gyms and fans can connect and network. My first entry was posted this morning during which I give my take on the WEC, Jens Pulver, Frank Mir's recent comments and look back at UFC 110.

I'll still be sharing my thoughts in this space, which will include my Yankees coverage and general stuff on my mind. Today in Yankeeland, Derek Jeter was his usual composed self while answering questions - for the first and only time - about playing in the final season of his contract.

Black on black crime will finally happen. Quinton "Rampage" Jackson vs. Rashad Evans is official May 29 at UFC 114. Their dislike for each other on The Ultimate Fighter Heavyweights was heated and hilarious. This showdown after Rampage's win over Keith Jardine is timeless and priceless.

Jersey show a major deal

Think UFC 111 is just another pay-per-view? Think harder. The show takes place in Newark, N.J., in the shadow of New York City, Zuffa's nirvana once MMA is finally sanctioned in the state of New York.

The efforts to hype and market UFC 111 are a message to the suits in Albany that says, "Think MMA is irrelevant? Too violent? A menace to society? Here morons, have this."

UFC's second Primetime special beginning March 10 on Spike is centered around Georges St. Pierre vs. Dan Hardy. The co-main event is Frank Mir vs. Shane Carwin in a battle to decide Brock Lesnar's next challenger. The card as a whole is loaded including Thiago Alves vs. Jon Fitch and a few Jersey boys representing their home state: Jim Miller, Ricardo Almeida and Kurt Pellegrino. Also count on No. 1 lightweight contender, and Tom's River's own, Frankie Edgar, being inside the Prudential Center on March 27. I'm mapping out my next feature for FightMagazine.com on the Jersey fighters competing on this show, and what UFC 111 means to them and for Zuffa, New Jersey and New York.

Speaking of Miller, while he and Dan Miller are recognized by MMA fans, there are a few brother combination who haven't reached mainstream status (though Little Nog is close) and those who never will. My breakdown is on Fight's site and you can check it out here.

If you can't make it to Newark, you can't miss the show if you have a burning desire to see it. There's pay-per-view, of course and your local sports bar. If the crowded, rambunctious bar scene isn't your thing, check this out: Beginning with UFC 111, movie theaters around the country will be showing live events.

The operative words: "Beginning with UFC 111." Coincidence? I think not.

Cain is able: An exclamation point on rebuilt division

Even if you had Cain Velasquez defeating Minotauro Nogueira, no chance I'm believing you if you predicted first-round knockout. Nogueira was the popular pick among fans and media. And while the consensus was that Velasquez was good, and win or lose he'd remain a future champion, Saturday night in Sydney he shocked Nogueira and everyone by proving he's damn good.

Velasquez looked awesome and is no doubt championship material. For now he'll have to wait his turn. The winner of Frank Mir-Shane Carwin next month at UFC 111 will determine the No. 1 contender to Brock Lesnar's title, but if the victor is forced on a lengthy medical suspension, Dana White said Saturday night that Velasquez will step right into the top spot.

The heavyweight division was once on life support. Now with three viable top contenders - the winner of Junior dos Santos vs. Gabriel Gonzaga becomes the fourth - this group is deep and getting stronger. Where in Strikeforce depth is a major problem, the UFC is building a foundation that will keep life pumping into the organization for years. In other words, Zuffa is winning the battle against complacency - at least in 2010

“Five years ago, there is no comparison to the way it is now,” White said during the UFC 110 post-fight press conference. “We had nobody like Cain. Nobody. All we had then was Tim Sylvia and Andrei Arlovski and that was it. The division was terrible. It sucked and [Sylvia] and Andrei kept knocking each other out. Now, you go down the list and you see guy after guy and you go, ‘He’s the real deal. He’s the real deal. He’s the real deal.’ We’re full of them right now. I can’t wait to see some of these fights. It’s going to be sick.”

Nogueira, 33, is finished as a top contender, but still remains a tough out. You can't forget how impressive he was against Randy Couture, who is suddenly a threat at 205. In Velasquez Minotauro ran into a buzzsaw who took a quantum leap. The same can be said about a division once ruled (via an interim title) by the legend from Brazil.

“The young lions are definitely coming,” said Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic, who himself mustered a needed win at UFC 110 over late replacement Anthony Perosh. “The heavyweight division is better than it’s ever been.”

If I were matchmaker, assuming Mir or Carwin emerge from UFC 111 healthy, I'd pit Velasquez against the dos Santos-Gonzaga winner (the two battle on the UFC's debut show on Versus). Seeing that health and injuries can wipe out Plan A (see UFC 112 and Anderson Silva's next opponent), a good Plan B would be Roy Nelson if he gets by Stefan Struve. The bottom line is you don't want Velasquez sitting idle for nearly a year waiting for an opponent of either Lesnar, Mir or Carwin to emerge.

Speaking of Mir-Carwin, UFC 111 is the next UFC pay-per-view. It takes place in Newark, N.J., in the shadow of New York City, where Zuffa is hell-bent on placing its flag by early 2011. It's no coincidence that Mir-Carwin is the co-main event with Georges St. Pierre-Dan Hardy - the focus of Spike's second UFC Primetime special debuting March 10.

Bonnar: Coleman was beaten before battle

I caught up with Stephan Bonnar for a feature I’m penning for MMA Worldwide. It gave me a chance to ask him his take on Mark Coleman’s loss to Randy Couture at UFC 109. It was Bonnar who Coleman unexpectedly defeated at UFC 100 that helped pave the way for a main event bout against The Natural last Saturday.

Unfortunately, the UFC’s first heavyweight champion and the father of “ground and pound” was a shell of his old self before he choked out in Round 2.

“Yeah, it didn’t look like he tried too hard,” Bonnar said. “He’s been fighting for a long time and that’s the only fight I’ve seen in which he didn’t attempt a takedown. I think he was kind of beat before he entered the ring. He kind of conceded like he’ll get paid but won’t win this one.”

As expected, Coleman was released from the UFC today. Cory Brady was the first to report it and Jonathan Snowden – author of the fantastic reference book "Total MMA" – cited a source that said UFC officials felt, in good conscience, they couldn't let Coleman fight again and “we were looking at a potential death in the Octagon.”

Bonnar hesitated to suggest that Coleman is finished and believes there could be a chance to at least go out with his head held high if the right opportunity presented itself.

“If you give him a good matchup against someone he can probably take down and ride out, I think he could win,” Bonnar said. “I’m not one to say he should retire.”

Bonnar is facing one of those infamous “must-win” fights at UFC 110 in Sydney, Australia a week from Saturday when he takes on fellow Ultimate Fighter alum Krzysztof Soszynski. The American Psycho is down in history for his epic contest against Forrest Griffin at the first Ultimate Finale that represented MMA’s breakthrough into the mainstream and helped secure Bonnar a UFC contract despite losing a close decision.

However, Bonnar’s lost four out of his last six fights, including a rematch against Griffin. From Brock Larson to Jake Roshalt to most recently Phillipe Nover and others, the UFC has cut loose fighters who have hit a wall, but Bonnar has been competitive in every one of his bouts. Out of his six MMA defeats, only one has failed to reach the judges, a 2003 bout in Brazil against a young fighter fighting in his homeland named Lyoto Machida. He’s also one of just two of Jon Jones’ 10 opponents (Andre Gusmao) to take “Bones” to a full three rounds.

“Even during my losses I fought my ass off until the very end,” Bonnar said. “If it were for five dollars in a backyard, I’m going to fight to the death. I don’t care what kind of fight it is. To me it’s always the most important. It’s everything and I’m going to fight that way. If I won my last two it’d still be in my mind a fight to the death.”

Soszynski had won his last three UFC bouts, including a submission win over Shane Primm at The Ultimate Finale 8, and five straight until dropping a unanimous decision to Brandon Vera at UFC 102. Unless Bonnar destroys him, Soszynski probably has some shelf life in Zuffa, but a defeat in Sydney would put him on shaky ground.

“He’s bald, covered in tattoos and ugly,” said Bonnar, laughing. “He’s a seasoned veteran, pretty well-rounded and physically he’s strong. I just have to make him fight, put the pressure on him and beat his ass. It’s that simple.”

Couture amazing story, but No. 1 contender?

I'm a firm believer that age isn't measured in years. It's about how you life your life, take care of your body and apply to your craft while making the required adjustments to cope with bones and muscles that tend to bark a bit louder as your chronological number increases. There is a small part of it, though, that's up to a greater power: God's genetic programming.

Mark Coleman is 45 years old. Randy Couture is 46. Saturday night showed that Couture is aging like fine wine while Father Time is demanding Coleman, "Enough is Enough." Coleman is a decorated fighter, the UFC's first heavyweight champion, and a man of dignity. And it's sad to see him go out this way. Coleman offered little to no resistance against The Natural, yet said afterwords he still wants to fight. Dana White made it clear it won't be in the UFC - against Tito Ortiz or anyone. There's an awful lot The Hammer can contribute to the sport, but he no longer belongs inside the Octagon.

Couture is an incredible athlete and an amazing story. He's 2-2 in his last four fights, which includes the stiffest test anyone's provided Brock Lesnar, a heart-and-soul battle against Minotauro Nogueira, and a controversial decision over Brandon Vera. He appears to be on course for a shot at becoming a three-time light-heavyweight champion, a goal that if accomplished would put Captain America on the immortal level.

But is Couture a legit No. 1 contender? On paper, not yet. I'd like to see him in a rematch against Vera; to this day The Truth believes the judges screwed him out of a win at UFC 105. Coleman's heart is admirable, but his tools of today is not the ideal litmus test that Vera or even Jon Jones would be.

That said, does Urijah Faber deserve a shot at Jose Aldo over Mike Brown? I don't think so, but the UFC/WEC at times places a premium on a compelling matchup over merit (unlike Dan Hardy's fair chance at Georges St. Pierre). You can make an argument for Rashad Evans if he defeats Rampage Jackson, but also point out Evans' 0-1 record against champion Lyoto Machida. Then again, Brown is 2-0 against Faber, yet he's on the undercard of WEC's first pay-per-view while Faber-Aldo is the bout between two of world's most exciting featherweights that everyone wants to see.

Couture could benefit from timing. Beyond Evans and Vera (if he defeats Jones), there's no light-heavyweight that's ready for a title fight. If Vera wins he could draw the lucky number, but those convinced that Couture won that fight would probably want more proof out a rematch too. This puzzle can take well into the summer to complete.

UPDATE 12:04 p.m. Dana White confirmed that Couture is in the title picture. Machida's second defense against Mauricio "Shogun" Rua at UFC 113, as well as the Evans-Rampage Jackson showdown expected to be settled at UFC 114 in May, will have to sort itself out.

"There's some unfinished business in the light heavyweight division," White said. "We've got to do Rashad and Rampage. We've got to do the Machida and 'Shogun' fight, and Randy falls in the middle of that whole mess somewhere. We'll see what happens. I've got to see what happens with the next couple fights."

Trigg: Losing to Serra not an option

Frank Trigg makes no fuss about it. His chance at redeeming his first-round TKO loss to Josh Koscheck comes with a caveat: Losing to Matt Serra – a loser of his last two bouts and also on notice – is not an option.

“For sure it’s [a must-win],” Trigg told me during an interview for my UFC 109 piece on FightMagazine.com. “I lost to Koscheck and I’m going to lose to Serra? If I lose two in a row there’s no reason for the UFC to keep me. Serra’s in that same position. You have to start thinking about what’s going to happen.”

First on his mind is Serra, who’s TUF Season 4 win boosted his profile and led to a title shot against Georges St. Pierre (no need to remind you how he fared). GSP dominated Serra in the rematch and after a 13-month layoff to heal an injury to the ulner nerve to his left elbow suffered in the aforementioned rematch he dropped a close decision to rival Matt Hughes last May.

“Serra’s great on the ground and he’s improved his stand-up,” Trigg said. “He has a heavy left hand and body blow and I must be conscious of his big right hand,” Trigg said. “He’s very strong and compact for his weight class and like trying to fight a bowling ball. He’s a former champion for a reason.”

Painfully obvious what will happen if Trigg loses, I began asking him, “What if you win?” He cut me off. “When I win.” Trigg is ready and willing, and insists he's able.

“I’m taller and better looking,” Trigg said. “As much as Matt has improved the last couple of years he’s still pretty much the same fighter. I’ve had to adopt my style.”

Trigg’s experience against GSP at UFC 54 was the polar opposite to how Serra fared in his first fight thanks to humbling a rear naked choke submission defeat in the opening round. The loss would be Trigg's final appearance in the UFC until UFC 103, almost 50 events later, and he used the time away to compile a 7-2 record on the independent circuit that took him to Denver, Honolulu and Satiama, Japan, where he earned a win over 2006 Pride Fighting Championships welterweight grand prix winner Kazuo Misaki at Sengoku 4.

“After I was run over and destroyed St. Pierre , UFC color analyst Joe Rogan called me an amateur,” Trigg said. “I looked like an amateur [and thought], ‘What do I have to do to fix that? Every training came I have to find something new.’ I want to prove that I still have some game left and I’m up for the challenge. After I beat Serra I’m not going to be a contender, that’s not going to happen, but I want to be a contender after the next couple of fights.”

Intangibles the attraction for Couture-Coleman

Jake Rossen is one of best MMA reporters and bloggers in the business. As always his primers serve as a valuable quick-hit information tool to generate interest in an upcoming event. He makes a fair point in his UFC 109 primer over the lack of fan enthusiasm over a card headlined by two fighters in their mid 40s.

"If fan enthusiasm is dull for Saturday's card, it might be blamed on mismeasured expectations: Standards that apply to 25-year-olds should not be heaped on men nearing 50 who have fought as frequently as some athletes have sparred. If you expect to watch Couture-Coleman and be dazzled by radical, hyper attacks, you will quickly grow disappointed; if you accept that two veterans will engage in a game in which nasty tricks and a takedown or two can alter the outcome, you probably will walk away satisfied."

Here's a reason to actually look forward to this fight: Sometimes when two old, great warriors tangle, you watch a war of attrition where ultimately heart and guts trumps any diminished skills. I recall the Thomas Hearns-Sugar Ray Leonard rematch in 1989. Since it was eight long years after the classic contest that Leonard won with a TKo in the 14th round, many fans looked at the ridiculously overdue rematch as one between two dinosaurs way past their prime. What both Hearns and Leonard proved was that, to quote analyst Larry Merchant during the broadcast, "there's no quit in either of these great warriors."

I also look back at Couture's bout with Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. Minotauro is only 33 years old, but a veteran of 38 MMA fights who entered the bout off the TKO loss to Frank Mir that left most to wonder how much he had left in the tank. Not only did Nogueira win, it was UFC 102's Fight of the Night.

Moral of the story: Don't expect to be blown away by Couture-Coleman, but watch it with an open mind and know that you're getting the privilege of seeing two active Hall of Famers defy age and provide a fight not aesthetically pleasing, but a blood-and-guts battle of wills which sometimes turn out the better story to be told.

Next for Cyborg: It's Toughill

After another of Cris Cyborg's victories I asked rhetorically over Twitter who's next. Well after I went to bed, Strikeforce president Scott Coker said Erin Toughill is likely next for the seemingly invincible women's champion.

Junkie's man in Miami, Dann Stupp, has the story. Figure on the fight happening late spring-early summer since it's too early for April's CBS show. I did notice a lack of a buzz during Cyborg's third-round TKO over Marloes Coenen, but that's because Coenen isn't Gina Carano. Neither Coenen nor Toughill is a media darling, but both are tough and relentless, with the latter providing the ideal size and strength challenge Cyborg needs.

As for Coenen, she will be back. Another two wins or so and I see her getting a rematch. There's nothing she did to lose that fight. Cyborg - again - did everything to win a fight.

What we learned from Strikeforce: Miami

EA Sports' tech capabilities needs work. Those not in Miami were denied Jay Hieron-Joe Riggs. Hieron took the decision, but from what I read didn't establish himself as a top contender.

Wes Sims could have walked to the cage without the spare tire and Bobby Lashley still would have wiped him out. Next for Lashley needs to be another up-and-coming heavyweight in the 6-0, 7-0 range. Next for Sims is Tim Sylvia in March. Whoa boy.

Yogi Berra would love MMA. Fights are never over 'till they're over. Ask Melvin Manhoef. Just as I was planning an entry on "No Mercy" being a breakout star in the United States did Robbie Lawler resurrect his career with a Hail Mary overhand right. Lawler won't be able to walk for days, but he's back in the hunt at 185. I'd love to see him tangle with Scott Smith one last time, unless Strikeforce presents Smith a rematch with an angry and embarrassed Cung Le, another who can verify Yogi's most famous -ism.

Herschel Walker can fight into his 50s. God Bless him. Realistically I don't see him becoming heavyweight champion, but so what?

Cris Cyborg is a destruction device. Like I projected Marloes Coenen put up a great effort and gave Cyborg perhaps her toughest test. Cyborg won because she's too quick, too strong and has one hell of a chin. I asked Twitterville who's next for her and the name Erin Toughill was tossed around. MMA Worldwide EIC RJ Clifford thought out of the box and suggested Tara Larosa. There's simply a lack of challengers to Cyborg at the moment and that's something Strikeforce must address in 2010. Get Toughill back in the cage, sign Larosa, leave the door open for Hollywood Gina Carano and perhaps consider Coenen for a rematch after she earns a couple of wins.

Nick Diaz showed why he's one of the best welterweights out there by smashing international superstar Marius Zaromskis. He's found a home at 170 and needs to stay there.

Alright, time for bed. Thanks to Jack Frost turning Long Island into Alaska I'm fighting a sore throat. Next Saturday it's UFC 109. I'll be watching from my local Hooters or Buffalo Wild Wings, so I won't be Twittering, but will have plenty of preview material in this space and at FightMagazine.com starting Monday.

Strikeforce worth watching

I hate winter. Snow and ice is bad enough, but Jack Frost’s weekend gift to the New York metropolitan area – and much of the country, for that matter – is temperatures in the mid to upper 20s with a lovely wind chill to smack you in the face and tense your muscles to where they can’t move.

For that reason I’m hunkering down with the family, save for Saturday morning errands and my weekly Sunday Gymboree trip that helps my two-year-old unleash his energy on something other than household items. It’s also why a small part of me wishes I was in Miami, where natives and transplanted northeasterners enjoy beach weather year ‘round. Miami is the place to be these next two weeks. A strong Strikeforce show followed by the NFL Pro Bowl headlines this weekend. Then South Beach braces for the Super Bowl invasion, and a week of hype and parties leading up to next Sunday’s big game between the Colts and Saints. I was in New Orleans for Super Bowl 24. Even for us commoners it was an amazing time.

The week that was in Yankeeland saw the Johnny Damon saga reach an apparent conclusion. Damon is a goner, though he said on Friday his heart is in New York and is hoping for an eventual return through the back door (you can thank his agent, the commission-hungry Scott Boras, for putting his client in a position where he’s out of work and Jim Edmonds is reporting to Brewers camp on a Minor League contract). Another thing we know: Randy Winn will be a Yankee after he passes his physical. I can only hope he’s employed as the fourth outfielder instead of the everyday left-fielder. Brett Gardner’s best baseball is still inside him. Time to let it out.

I also conducted interviews with Frank Trigg, Phillipe Nover and Phil Davis for various MMA projects. Davis makes his UFC debut at UFC 109, where Trigg, Nover and others will be in must-win situations, which will be explained when FightMagazine.com publishes my five fighters who have to win at 109 Monday morning.

That’s for next Saturday and Super Bowl Eve. MMA’s focus will be Saturday in Miami and a card so good even UFC cult loyalists need to pay attention. Long Island’s Jay Hieron faces former Zuffa standout Joe Riggs in an undercard bout in such heavy demand it’ll be broadcast on EASportsMMA.com. Herschel Walker and Bobby Lashley make their heralded MMA debuts against Greg Nagy and Wes Sims (hookers not included). Robbie Lawler looks to get back on track against Melvin Manhoef, himself returning to the United States. Cris Cyborg makes her first title defense against Marloes Coenen. And in the main event it’s Nick Diaz and Marius Zaromskis vying for the vacant welterweight title.

My editor at MMA Worldwide, RJ Clifford, offers predictions in his first “Contenders and Pretenders” column. I’ll leave it to RJ to provide the analysis. From a storyline perspective it’s a proving ground for both Walker, a Heisman Trophy winner and MMA rookie at age 47 (not a typo) and Lashley, the latest pro wrestler to make the transition to this sport. I’m intrigued to see how Walker, his whole life an incredible athlete, fares against Nagy, who I believe will put up a credible fight. Sims, well, not so much. He’s an entertaining character, but being fed to a lion like Lashley.

To be clear, I have Cyborg winning her fight, but she won’t annihilate Coenen like some have predicted. Like Gina Carano, Coenen has the tools to compete with Cyborg, but Carano gave into fear during Cyborg’s destruction of the female face of MMA. There’s something about Coenen that tells me she’ll survive the battle of wills, but not the skills. Cyborg has that aura of invincibility that will remain uncracked. Still, I see it being a better fight than most think.

Zaromskis made his name on the international circuit, but faces a major challenge on Diaz’ turf. For whatever reason it didn’t work out for Diaz in the UFC. He has a chance to become a lynchpin in Strikeforce and he’ll get it done by finding a way to use his superior wrestling to take the feared striker to the mat.

If half of these fights live up to the hype – you know Cyborg-Coenen will – it’s another feather in Strikeforce’s cap in its mission to not compete with the UFC (yet), but become a major player in MMA. Fedor Emelianenko-Fabricio Werdum and Dan Henderson-Jake Shields are on tap for CBS in April. The momentum of a strong Miami show and Strikeforce’s marketing machine will get its chance to take it to another gear.

Greenland

The week that was, was colored green, as in Jets green and white. Reminiscent of the Giants' march to the Super Bowl two years ago, the Jets have taken New York City by storm and are providing the perfect distraction to the impatient Spring Training countdown. Left for dead at 4-6, and by their coach following a hideous loss to the Falcons, Gang Green has filled the post-Yankees void in this city. The Knicks have played better, but the jury's still out on them even in a week Eastern Conference. The Rangers? One night they score eight goals and are shut out their next two games, the last Saturday's 6-0 whitewash in Montreal - which incidentally was their second 6-0 loss in three weeks.

On Tuesday I wrote why I truly believe the Jets are headed to Super Bowl 44. Their run is different from the Giants' in 2007 in the sense that more people are giving them a legitimate chance on the road against an NFL power. Yet this is similar in that it was unexpected. Enjoy this, Jets fans. As a loyal Giant fan I loved my journey two years ago. And it's cool if you're a Giants fan to pull for Gang Green. Last I checked they share the same venue, do not play the Giants six times a year and don't compete in the NFC East.

Brock Lesnar's recovery and return to MMA training, combined with New York Gov. David Patterson introducing a bill to legalize the sport, created an opportunity for me to publicize Lesnar and MMA through my YESNetwork.com blog. Lesnar reminds me of what Jens Pulver did for the UFC's little guys. In this case, Lesnar's brute skill and marketability is helping MMA earn more mainstream cred. The priority was seeing the man get 100 percent healthy. After that it was great to learn that he'll be defending his heavyweight title as early as Memorial Day weekend. His opponent will be the winner of Frank Mir vs. Shane Carwin - by the way taking place in late March in Newark, N.J.

Lesnar's return also set the course of other heavyweight contenders. Prior to the announcement, FightMagazine.com published my breakdown of the UFC's top contenders in 2010. It's truly going to be a fun year. What will make it better is Strikeforce eventually stepping up it's marketing campaign to remind fans that there's life in MMA outside of Zuffa. If not for Herschel Walker's presence on this Saturday's event in Miami and the media blitz that hit New York last week, who would know to tune into Showtime to see Walker, Bobby Lashley-Wes Sims, Cris Cyborg-Marloes Coenen and Nick Diaz vs. Marius Zaromskis or vacant welterweight title? Here's a novel concept: Work out a deal with Showtime, or maybe CBS, to do a UFC Countdown-type preview show for your April card that will feature Fedor Emelianenko-Fabricio Werdum and Dan Henderson-Jake Shields. Hardcore MMA fans will get excited and watch, but the mainstream audience remains a lot bigger and must be stroked and educated.

Following watching my son play at my local Gymboree, it'll be off to my local Buffalo Wild Wings to watch the Jets. In between, Johnny Damon and the Yankees will continue their waiting game of you can come back, but on our terms. Brian Cashman loves to fly stealth, so expected the unexpected, but he's not stretching the team's outfielder budget, nor trading Joba Chamberlain, for Carl Crawford. That's for 2011 ....

RIP Bob Shamrock, '10's top contenders, Almeida feeling great

Another week nearly in the books and it's actually been (kind of) light in the MMA world. There's actually a break between shows that started after Monday's UFC Fight Night and will end January 30 with Strikeforce Miami. Nick Diaz vs. Marius Zaromskis for the vacant welterweight title, and Cris Cyborg vs. Marloes Coenen in Cyborg's first defense of the women's crown headline a show that also features the Strikeforce debut of Bobby Lashley and the MMA premiere of Herschel Walker. Appearing on the preliminary card is fellow Long Islander Jay Hieron (Freeport) against veteran Joe Riggs.

Sad news hit the MMA world late yesterday with the passing of Bob Shamrock, the adopted father of MMA legends Frank and Ken Shamrock, at the age of 68 due following a long-term battle with various health complications due to diabetes. Bob's impact on the brothers was amazing. He kept the boys out of trouble by turning them to sports and resort to fist fight - provided he supervised it - to settle their differences. Frank & Ken grew up to be fighting champions, and are forever legendary and among the best we'll ever see.

I penned a piece for FightMagazine.com that went up today, which looks ahead at the top contenders in each of the UFC's weight classes in 2010. Lots changed since I filed the original draft earlier in the week. Frankie Edgar is next for B.J. Penn, while Nate Marquardt will secure his middleweight title shot against the winner of champion Anderson Silva vs. Victor Belfort - if Nate the Great gets past Chael Sonnen at UFC 109 in a few weeks.

That night I'm looking forward to also watching two of my favorite fighters and people in the game, Matt Serra and Frank Trigg, oppose one another. Then there's the main even featuring two active legends, Randy Couture and Mark Coleman. The Natural struggled in defeating Brandon Vera, but put together a classic with Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira back in August. When two old, great warriors collide, you usually see something special, and that's what I'm expecting from Couture and Coleman. Heck if Couture wins he may get one last shot becoming a two-time UFC light-heavyweight champion.

Get psyched, Jersey. The UFC's return to the Garden State (UFC 111 in Newark on March 27) is loaded. The top three bouts are Georges St. Pierre-Dan Hardy, Shane Carwin-Frank Mir and Thiago Alves-Jon Fitch. It's also loaded with Jersey boys Ricardo Almeida, Jim Miller and Kurt Pellegrino. I spoke with one of Almeida's coaches this week. He told me Big Dog, 3-1 since returning to the UFC (and that defeat was to Patrick Cote via split decision), is "feeling great" and in awesome shape having worked his way back from a knee injury that prevented him from competing at UFC 106. MMA becoming legalized in New York State is looking inevitable with Gov. David Patterson publicly endorsing the sport. This card is a hell of a way to seal the deal, or if it's done by then allow lawmakers with open minds to tell themselves, "I made the right decision."

Joe Lauzon, off a crushing loss to Sam Stout earlier this month, said in a release that he hopes his next fight will be in his backyard when the UFC makes its Boston debut this August. Lauzon had Stout in trouble early, but failed to finish him and was pummeled by the Canadien in dropping a unanimous decision, but that was his first fight in 10 months after having knee surgery to repair his ACL. Lauzon gutting out the best performance of Stout's career to date earned them Fight of the Night honors.

“I’m obviously disappointed in the result,” Lauzon said. “It was an entertaining fight, but that’s not what I want to be known for. I focused on the health of my knee and it held up. I didn’t concentrate on my overall condition and I was a little rusty. I trained like a maniac six days of the week, twice a day, and then I couldn’t do too much for six months.”

Thanks to everyone for reading and following me on Twitter. I'm still penning my takes on the Yankees and Rangers, and have a story on the boxing/MMA relationship out in this month's edition of TapouT magazine (Issue 34). Though we're still months away, I'm gearing up for working UFC 111 on site at the Prudential Center. Expect a lot more stuff happening until then.

Call answered: Edgar gets his shot at Penn

It's not 100 percent official yet, but when Dana White says something's going to happen, prepare for it. As first reported by ESPN.com's Franklin McNeil, Frankie Edgar has been named the No. 1 contender to B.J. Penn's lightweight championship. Penn recently stated on his Web site that he expected to fight at UFC 112 in Abu Dhabi, whereas it was Edgar's hope that his next bout would be before his hometown fans in Newark at UFC 111 in March.

That's probably not going to happen, UFC 111 already has two title bouts, and I for one am sure Edgar will be more than happy to accept the deal whether it's in Abu Dhabi or the Sahara Desert. Besides enjoying a three-fight winning streak, his latest a second-round submission of Matt Veach at The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale in December which earned "Fight of the Night" honors, Gray Maynard, presumed to be the next in line for Penn by virtue of him owning a victory over Edgar, looked lackluster in defeating Nate Diaz Monday night, leading to White claiming he wasn't "100 percent ready" for the Prodigy.

Maynard is a good fighter who trains under an outstanding camp led by Randy Couture, so his time will come. Right now there's no doubt it's Edgar's time. He's 11-1 (6-1 in the UFC) with a resume that includes wins over Sean Sherk, Hermes Franca, Spencer Fisher and Tyson Griffin. During an exclusive interview that was published in the last edition of MMA Worldwide magazine, Edgar told me he's never been one to seek publicity and proudly billed himself as “the same dude from Toms River, N.J.,” who hangs with the people he befriended in high school. He’s always quick to counter that through hard work and faith your just rewards will be realized.

“If you win and perform well, all that stuff and recognition is going to catch up to you,” Edgar said. “People are going to notice.” Then when asked for a reaction to White’s praise that came after the Sherk win, he looked at it as a happy boss telling him job well done – until he slipped: “And it was good to finally get some recognition.”

Edgar's in the limelight now, but will be facing heavy odds. During yesterday's "Sirius Fight Club," host Randy Gordon and his crew agreed that Penn is on another level and will walk through Edgar. That will be the popular line of thinking. Penn destroyed Diego Sanchez, who I honestly believed stood the best chance of dethroning him, and nobody in the lightweight division can touch him now, if not ever. I'm interested to hear from Edgar how he plans on dealing with the Rocky-like odds that will be stacked against him.

Final answer for Edgar?

Shameless plug alert: Friends or enemies? Issue No. 34 of TapouT Magazine has a feature I wrote on the working relationship between MMA and boxing, and is available on news stands. Also, for hockey fans, I've returned to penning a Rangers column for SNY.tv. Yesterday I posed a question on whether the Rangers are legit contenders (buyers) or destined to flame out (sellers).

On to a few thoughts on a two-day stretch of MMA shows featuring the WEC and UFC.

Gray Maynard needed a win over Nate Diaz Monday night at UFC Fight Night 20 to secure a likely shot at B.J. Penn in April in Abu Dhabi. He eked out a split decision, but there was much more required to winning the fight. Maynard had to look good, had to put on a show, dazzle the audience and the UFC championship committee, and put a bug in Penn’s head (if that’s even possible). Instead he let Diaz’s trash-talking and mind games get the best of him and take him completely off his game.

“Gray learned a valuable lesson in this fight, and it's that you can't let someone get in your head,” said his trainer, Hall-of-Famer Randy Couture. “He can disrespect you with all the verbal crap that goes on in or outside the cage, but you can't allow that to distract you from your goal, your job, what you trained to do.

“I think Gray verbalized that and realizes that's what happened, and that he got caught up in Diaz's attitude.”

Afterwards a contrite Maynard expressed some doubt that his phone will ring with an offer to fight Penn for the lightweight championship.

“The game plan and technique went out the window,” Maynard said. “I'm sorry about that. You won't see that again.”

The reason why Maynard was ranked ahead of Frankie Edgar was because he’s the only man to have defeated “The Answer.” Diaz lost the fight, but it appears as if he took away something from his opponent more valuable than the win at this stage of his career. Edgar looked awesome in December defeating Matt Veach. His dream is to represent New Jersey in March. It looks like the reality could turn out greater than the dream. Early Tuesday morning a source told ESPN MMA insider Franklin McNeil that the UFC has offered Edgar a title shot.

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Admittedly I didn’t see most of UFC Fight Night 20 in its entirety; the King of the Castle, age two, decided to take over. But reading the results I’m able to draw an obvious conclusion: You do everything in your power to prevent the fight from getting beyond your control and into the subjective opinions of the judges. Tom Lawlor put on the finest performance of his career against Aaron Simpson. Alas, Simpson barely survived the first round and escaped with a split decision to the vociferous displeasure of the crowd at the Patriot Center ... Chris Leben held on to his UFC spot with a sorely-needed victory over Jay Silva. The bigger story is the hope that The Crippler finally has his life together for good ... Efrain Escudero tasted defeat for the first time when he tapped to Evan Dunham in Round 3. Fellow fighters and mentors are lining up to tell the TUF Season 8 winner the loss will be the best thing to ever happen to him ... TUF 7 winner Amir Sadollah looked even better than his last fight, a gritty, razor-sharp unanimous decision win over veteran Phil Baroni, this time going the distance to defeat Brad Blackburn. It’s amazing that Sadollah entered the TUF house without a professional record. His striking and Muay Thai are excellently executed and it’s now time for him to swim in deeper waters.

_______________________

I did get to watch WEC 46. The great thing about World Extreme Cagefighting is that you’re guaranteed at least one great fight and/or great performance. Mike Brown, Kamal Shalorus, Urijah Faber and Ben Henderson were fabulous, with Smooth wrapping up Jamie Varner like a tarantula to unify the lightweight title. A rematch between Henderson and Donald Cerrone is a given, while WEC president Reed Harris is talking up a showdown with Faber and featherweight champ Jose Aldo to headline the organization’s premiere pay-per-view event. Look for Brown to compete against a top contender with an impressive victory to assure him a chance at regaining the title he dropped to Aldo in November.

Strikers, new names reign at 108

The next issue of TapouT (No. 34) has a feature I wrote on the budding working relationship between MMA and boxing and how more fighters have implemented the time-honored techniques of "The Sweet Science" into their training regimens. Boxing in the cold gyms of Portland, Maine, built the foundation for Mike Thomas Brown's career. An opportunity to train with Miguel Cotto helped recalibrate Miguel Torres coming off a shocking loss of his WEC Bantamweight title.

The great Howard Davis Jr. is a boxing coach at the renowned American Top Team and works with Brown, Thiago Alves, Kimbo Slice and many others including Chuck Liddell trained with Davis to add new wrinkles to their game. The best wrestlers can neutralize anybody's game like Rashad Evans did in his win over ATT product Thiago Sliva Saturday night at UFC 108, but if one's striking isn't beyond par, chances are it's curtains before it gets that far. (Ask Damien Maia if he remembers what hit him in his ill-fated contest with Nate Marquardt.)

“I always say 85 percent on the ground, but when the bell rings you’re 100 percent up,” Davis told me for the story. “If you don’t have your skills in the first 30 seconds to a minute, you’re going to have problems.”

Joe Lauzon is razor-sharp on the ground, but Sam Stout combined takedown defense with precision striking and Muay Thai that diced J-Lau for three rounds, by far the finest performance of the Canadian's career. Especially impressive was how Stout was popped and bloodied early in the fight and nearly tapped out to a kimura. Once the bout was back on the feet, Stout took a game Lauzon apart to win 30-27 on all three scorecards.

Dustin Hazelett, a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt, was a late replacement for Carlos Condit and matched with striker Paul Daley. Adhering to Davis' words, Hazelett began the fight standing with the powerful Brit and held his own until a vicious left hook put McLovin to sleep at 2:24 of Round 1. I'd love to see if Daley can keep a Josh Koscheck at a vertical base. Daley's takedown defense needs work and if he can't prevent Koscheck from taking him to the ground, the former NCAA Division I wrestling champion will provide the same education he gave Anthony Johnson.

UFC 108 was maligned for the 'injury curse' that robbed it of its star power. Brock Lesnar-Shane Carwin, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira-Cain Velazquez and Anderson Silva-Victor Belfort were all pulled from the event, along with Gabriel Gonzaga, Condit, Tyson Griffin and Rory Markham, for reasons beyond anyone's control. In adversity there's often strength and adversity also opens doors for new names to break down walls. Stout, Daley, Junior dos Santos, Jim and Cole Miller, and Mark Munoz were provided opportunities to shine and they all did. The lower the expectations, the greater the chance that one is surprised and UFC 108 certainly delivered an exciting event.

This is my first blog of 2010 and I'd be remiss if I didn't extend my heartfelt congratulations to MMAJunkie.com (best MMA media source) and lead reporter John Morgan (best MMA journalist) for taking home hardware at the MMA Awards. Lead site editor Dann Stupp gave me the first opportunity to cover MMA and has made me a part of the team, a great team that produces great work. Don't expect us to slow down. Between John racking up world traveler miles and the evolution of George Garcia's entertaining MMA Junkie Radio program, 2010 will be our finest year yet.