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      The UFC Dark Horses

      May 6, 2011 /

      nullEveryone knows who the champions are in the UFC.

      But, to really know MMA is to know which fighters are the future of the sport.

      I don’t pretend to be a psychic, but I do think I know a talented fighter when I see them. So, here is a list of one fighter in each division that is somewhat under the radar. Each of these guys has the raw ability to someday get to the UFC title, if they continue to evolve and strengthen their weaknesses.

      Heavyweight – Travis Browne (10-0-1) – Browne is coming off a draw with Cheick Kongo at UFC 120, but that isn’t a terrible showing for just his second fight in the UFC. It was the first time Browne hadn’t won and he has knockout wins over Abe Wagner and James McSweeney to his credit. He also has five knockout wins that have come in under 60 seconds. If Browne can develop his grappling skills to match his punching power, he will become a very dangerous opponent in the heavyweight division. Browne will be showcased on UFC 130 as he takes on Stefan Struve.

      Light Heavyweight – Matt Hamill (10-2) – In a stacked light heavyweight division, many are forgetting about Matt Hamill. Winner of five straight, Hamill has wins over Tito Ortiz and Keith Jardine, and technically is the lone black mark on Jon Jones’ career, though it was by disqualification. Still, Hamill has some of the best wrestling in the division and his boxing is getting better. He has also shown the ability to take a punch, which will come in handy at UFC 130, when he takes on Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. A win for Hamill has to put him in the top five for title contenders.

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      Fighters, UFC

      Aldo dealt with infection week of UFC 129

      May 5, 2011 /

      nullSomething didn’t look right with Jose Aldo in his final round of his bout with Mark Hominick at UFC 129.

      Apparently, there was something wrong.

      In a report by Sherdog.com’s Gleidson Venga, Aldo was taking antibiotics during the week for a toe infection.

      UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo was taking antibiotics for a toe infection just days before his April 30 title defense against Mark Hominick at UFC 129, Nova União leader Andre Pederneiras told Sherdog.com on Tuesday.

      “He suffered a cut on his toe [on April 23] and it got infected with bacteria,” said Pederneiras. “He went through heavy medical treatment with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory pills from Sunday to Tuesday. He took the heavy dosage so that he wouldn’t have to take more drugs closer to the fight.”

      Rumors that Aldo wasn’t feeling well began swirling during Friday’s “Super Seven” meeting in Toronto, when the Brazilian made an early exit from a Q&A session featuring all of the UFC’s current titlists.

      Aldo actually looked strong early on as his striking was on point against Hominick and clearly he did a great deal of damage to Hominick’s face.

      However, Aldo did stand more flat footed than he has in past fights, we eating punches he normally wouldn’t eat, and he had a terrible fifth round where he basically laid on his back and took a lot of punishment.

      Perhaps Aldo didn’t have the energy to get off his back because of the infection and antibiotics, but he still did get a win and he still deserves to be one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world.

      While the last round did raise questions about Aldo’s ability to fight off his back, if he wasn’t at 100 percent, that round may not be a good example.

      Events, Fighters, News, UFC

      St. Pierre’s camp likes GSP at the size he is

      May 5, 2011 /

      nullIt looks as if Georges St. Pierre may not be moving up to middleweight after all.

      In an interview with ESPN.com, GSP’s trainer, Firas Zahabi, had this to say about St. Pierre putting on more weight for a move to 185 pounds.

      “He’ll be very small for a middleweight,” Zahabi told ESPN. “If I balloon him up to over 200lbs, it won’t do any good. There’s a point where you can have too much muscle, and it’s not a good thing.

      “I think he’s got the maximum amount you can put on his body without it starting to be detrimental.

      “I’d probably push him up to 200lbs for that fight [with Silva],” said Zahabi, who saw GSP enter the Shields fight at around 193lbs. “He still wouldn’t be as big as Anderson and it wouldn’t be natural, but it would be better. If you do get on Anderson Silva, having any extra pounds on you is good.”

      “If he goes up, I would recommend he stay the same size. You don’t want Georges to go in there bulked up and unable to perform in the mechanical way that he does.”

      What Zahabi says makes sense. But if St. Pierre wants to be remembered as the best ever in MMA, he is going to have to take some chances in terms of fighting in other weight classes.

      The only reasonable fight left for GSP in the welterweight division is Nick Diaz. But, after that, it wouldn’t help his legacy to fight the same guys over and over again.

      Hopefully St. Pierre is not shying away from a super fight with Silva, as it could be the biggest fight in UFC history.

      Fighters, News, UFC

      Top 10 Lightweight Rankings

      May 4, 2011 /

      nullFor the most part, rankings fighters in each division starts easy and ends tough.

      That isn’t the case for my lightweight rankings.

      Of any division in MMA, the lightweights are the toughest to sort through. The group is very top-heavy and even the distant contenders are hard to decipher.

      Nonetheless, here is my top 10 list for the lightweights. Feel free to add your take on who should be in the top spots.

      (If you need to go back and find my pound-for-pound, heavyweight, light heavyweight, middleweight, or welterweight rankings, click on the links)

      1. Frankie Edgar (13-1-1) – Edgar is the UFC Lightweight Champion and the lone lightweight in the world to clearly dominate the great B.J. Penn. Edgar will get his chance to put his stamp on the top spot when he faces Gray Maynard for the third time on May 28, but the fact that Edgar pulled out a draw at UFC 125 after that brutal first round is a testament to his abilities. Edgar’s speed, hands, and wrestling are a very impressive combination, especially for a man that could arguably fight at featherweight.

      2. Gray Maynard (10-0-1) – Maynard has yet to lose and if he didn’t put everything he had into knocking Edgar out in the first round of their UFC 125 bout, he would be the champion today. Maynard was once just a wrestler, but is now showing strong striking ability. If he can put forth a full 25 minutes in May, he will become the champion and take over the top spot in my rankings.

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      Bellator, Dream, Fighters, Strikeforce, UFC

      Pettis still No. 1 contender in UFC Lightweight Division

      May 4, 2011 /

      nullIn some news that was swept under the rug this past weekend due to all the excitement of UFC 129, UFC President Dana White confirmed that final WEC Lightweight Champion, Anthony Pettis, is still the No. 1 contender for the UFC title.

      The lightweight division in the UFC may be the most stacked of any and it is starting to get crowded at the top.

      Pettis was originally scheduled to get a crack at the title following Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard’s title fight at UFC 125, but a draw left the whole division wondering what was next.

      White scheduled a third bout between Edgar and Maynard, which takes place at UFC 130 on May 28. Following that contest, Pettis will be the new No. 1 contender according to MMAWeekly.com, who spoke with White.

      “It’s Pettis,” UFC President Dana White confirmed when asked who would be getting the next crack at the championship.

      The confirmation obviously gives Pettis extra motivation going into the June fight with Clay Guida. A win guarantees a title shot, likely towards the end of 2011.

      Pettis won’t focus on the title shot at this time though because the business at hand is beating Guida. Without that, White’s declaration of his title shot doesn’t even matter.

      Pettis meets Guida at the Ultimate Fighter Season 13 Finale on Saturday, June 4. It will be Pettis’ toughest test to date and his first bout in nearly six months.

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      Fighters, News, Strikeforce, UFC

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