The UFC Results

Sam Stout def. Per Eklund, unanimous decision
Alessio Sakara def. James Lee, TKO 1:30 R1
Paul Kelly def. Paul Taylor, unanimous decision
Antoni Hardonk def. Colin Robinson, TKO 0:17 R1
Jorge Rivera def. Kendall Grove, TKO 1:20 R1
Wilson Gouveia def. Jason Lambert, KO (punch) 0:37 R2
Marcus Davis def. Jess Liuadin, KO (punch) 1:04 R1
Fabricio Werdum def. Gabriel Gonzaga, TKO 4:34 R2
UFC lightweight title: B.J. Penn def. Joe Stevenson, submission (rear naked choke), 4:02 R2

UFC 80 is almost here and it is time for prefight picks!

BJ Penn vs. Joe Stevenson (Light Weight Title Fight)

Who we want win: BJ Penn
Who we think will win: BJ Penn

BJ Penn’s time has come in the light weight division. It has been five years since his last title shot at this weight and he has been busy. In his last four fights in the UFC he has been crowned Welter weight champion beating Matt Hughes, went the distance with Georges St. Pierre in a controversial decision loss, had a dominant showing in his rematch against Matt Hughes until he separated a rib and lost in the 3rd round and in his last fight redeemed a nagging loss against Jens Pulver. Where as Joe Stevenson has been dominant in his last fights but all against forgettable names. Joe Stevenson’s strengths are listed as “good takedowns and submissions”. If Matt Hughes struggled taking a healthy BJ Penn to the ground Joe Stevenson won’t be able to do it, and Stevenson’s “good submissions” are irrelevant seeing how BJ Penn is the first American-born winner of the World Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournament. With that said, BJ Penn is the next Light Weight Champion.

Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Fabricio Werdum

Who we want win: Gabriel Gonzaga
Who we think will win: Gabriel Gonzaga

This fight can be determined by looking at their performances at UFC 70. Gabriel Gonzaga dismantled one of the most dominant, agressive fighters in MMA (Mirko Cro Cop). If you missed it UFC 70 results. Where as Fabricio Werdum lost a decision to Andrei Arlovski in one of his most lackluster performances. If Werdum can’t beat a passive Arlovski how the hell is he going to beat the beast in Gonzaga? Simple answer to that rhetorical question, he’s not.

Jess Liaudin vs. Marcus Davis

Who we want win: Marcus Davis
Who we think will win: Marcus Davis

Marcus Davis has been on tear. He has won the fight/submission/knock out of the night in almost all of his last fights. He has a decent history building in the UFC and he is facing a relative new comer. I see Marcus Davis coming out on top and will finish the fight.

Jorge Rivera vs. Kendall Grove

Who we want win: Can’t Decide
Who we think will win: Kendall Grove

If Jorge Rivera loses this fight his career in the UFC is in jeopardy. His horribly disappointing 14 sec knock out to Terry Martin had to be a major morale killer, but Kendall Grove is coming off of a very tough knock out loss as well. Both of these fighters are going to come back very focused but I really see Kendall Grove winning. Jorge Rivera is a good fighter but he can’t seem to turn the corner in the UFC where as Kendall Grove is a very unique, difficult fighter and I don’t think that Rivera is going to handle him. Unless Jorge Rivera takes advantage of his puncher’s chance, I see Kendall Grove submitting him.

Is it really a surprise? I ask this questions honestly. Seeing Sean Sherk I would never have said straight out that he was a steroid user. He is ripped and he has incredible cardio but you would think that a guy that talks so much about supporting his family would never risk such a thing. I also wonder why he has never come up positive in the past. Sean Sherk performed exactly the same as he did against Kenny “Let Go” Florian, and has been an incredibly strong fighter his whole career, so, why now?

I think injury may have played a factor this time. Sean Sherk had gotten surgery on his shoulder not too long ago. Who knows how that affected him and his training. His shoulder was hurt before his fight against Florian, but I have seen personally with friends who have played collegiate level sports that their play can be seriously affected by surgery. Maybe since Sherk was such a training freak that he started to get worried when he wasn’t seeing the same results as in the past. We may never know, but it is clear that Sherk had twice the allowed limit of Nandrolone in his system. He simply broke the rules and should be punished.

Steve Sievert over at Brawl Sports wrote an interesting list of reactions the UFC should have in response to this scandal:

1. Strip Sherk of the title immediately. Both his “A” and “B” samples tested positive. There’s no ambiguity here … no cloak-and-dagger mystery that has mired the Floyd Landis debacle in cycling. I don’t see any need to wait for Sherk to appeal to pull the belt. This is too dark of a black eye.

3. Schedule BJ Penn versus Spencer Fisher for UFC 76. The bout would be for the vacant lightweight title and could potentially be one hell of a fight. Both fighters are deserving of the shot. Let’s just hope they can pass a drug test.

I really enjoy reading Sievert’s columns because is usually right on with his commentary. There is no doubt that Sherk should be stripped of his title. He enhanced his performance with an illegal substance and in any sport whatever is won while using that substance is stripped. The fine is a bit subjective to me but it would definitely bring home the point that the UFC is not messing around. His third point is the best. As of right now the only fight that has been discussed as a main even for UFC 76 is Chuck Liddell and Keith Jardin, which would be a total joke of a main event. If a light weight title fight between BJ Penn and Spencer Fisher happened then things would get a whole lot more interesting.

In fact, BJ Penn has already commented on the whole steroid debacle and his yearning to be the light weight champion:

Watch the BJ Penn interview

Hopefully fighters will get the point now, DON’T USE STEROIDS! It’s wrong and illegal and hurts the image of the sport that we all enjoy.

Mirko Cro Cop, who suffered a horrible KO loss to Gabriel Gonzaga at UFC 70, is ready to fight. He is going to face Cheick Congo of France. This is going to be a great fight since both of these fighters are kick boxers that love to strike.

A great thing about Mirko Cro Cop is his humility. He is a very confident fighter, and initially said he didn’t need to train in an octagon, but since his loss to Gonzaga he has installed a cage and is training with it. That change in training shows that he can admit when he is wrong and is willing to change to make up for his past mistakes. Gabriel Gonzaga soundly beat Cro Cop but the next time they face off against each other Mirko will be a different fighter.

Watch the Mirko Cro Cop vs. Gabriel Gonzaga video here

The fact that Mirko Cro Cop is going to be a new fighter poses a large problem for Cheick Congo. In MMA, Cro Cop doesn’t lose back to back. In 2005 Cro Cop lost a decision to Fedor Emelianenko but won his next fight against Josh Barnett. Those are two enormously talented fighters in back to back fights, most fighters would have taken a “get back on your feet fight”, but Cro Cop came out against one of the best and won. Cheick Congo isn’t one of the best MMA fighters in the UFC but he is a very good kick boxer. So this will be a very good come back fight and a defining challenge for Cro Cop. In addition, the internet rumor mill churned up that Cro Cop is apparently asking for a rematch against Noguiera. That would be an amazing fight and is a testament to Cro Cop’s will as a fighter to fight the best and be the best.

Cro Cop’s upcoming fight is going to be huge and if you are fight fan you better start getting pumped now because I think a Frenchman is going to be on the receiving end of a left high kick to the face. Watch for Cro Cop in September at UFC 75 on Spike TV; it’s going to be free!

Here is a clip of Cro Cop against Nogueira. Great fight, I really hope to see a rematch!

Watch this Mirko Cro Cop vs. Minotauro Noguiera video on youtube

Winner: Kenny Florian – TKO – Round 1

The fighters come out and Alvin Robinson comes out fast. Robinson lands an awesome arm throw. They get back to their feet and Kenny Florian tosses Alvin Robinson. The ref strangely stands them up quickly. Robinson closes quickly and lands a good strike that may have staggered him but Florian recovers quickly and trips Robinson. Florian mounts and starts to throw elbows. Robinson bucks Florian but is quickly smothered again and is mounted almost immediately. Robinson pushes him off again and they get to their feet. Robinson closes on Florian but Florian pushes back and takes down Alvin Robinson. Florian mounts again and rains down elbows and punches. Robinson tries to tap but keeps getting punished until the ref stops the fight.

Winner: Anderson Silva – TKO – Round 1

Both fighters come out feeling each other out. Marquardt throws an early leg kick. Marquardt tries to push and throws a jumping knee and Marquardt catches him and takes him to the ground. Marquardt moves him to half guard. Anderson Silva is guarding well from his back. Marquardt tried to pass but it let Anderson Silva get full guard. Silva gets high and almost gets a triangle. They separate and Anderson tries to hit Marquardt coming in with an up kick. Marquardt gets on top again. Andesron pushes him off and catches Marquardt with an up kick coming in again. Marquardt is all right and gets on top but the ref stands them up. Silva comes out with a head kick, Marquardt blocks, then Silva attacks with a hard straight left that forces Nathan Marquardt to try and take Silva down. Anderson Silva defends and then reverses beautifully. Anderson Silva stands above Marquardt and lands a huge right hand that dazes Marquardt. Anderson Silva lands four more punches and John Macarthy calls the fight. Anderson Silva wins by TKO.