A look at what's happening in MMA
Sunday, 8:35 p.m. ET -- Notes on the UFC 97 media conference
• Dana White began by announcing a crowd of 21,451 people at the Bell Centre in Montreal, all of whom pitched in to amass a $4.9 million gate. (At the depths of political animosity a decade ago, a Depression-Era UFC drew as few as 1,000 in Midwest, and likely profited more in concessions than in ticket sales.)
• Matt Wiman and Sam Stout earned $70,000 each for Fight of the Night. Wiman was exhausted and sloppy -- "Heart of the Night" might be a more accurate label for the bonus. Mauricio Rua earned $70,000 for knocking out White's friend, Chuck Liddell. That must be a bummer check to write.
• Stout discussed having a six-hour warm-up. He and Wiman expected to fight first, but wound up getting switched to the near-midnight slot.
• Much of the media/White chatter revolved around Anderson Silva's newly-created position of Reluctant Champion. White began by saying he "wasn't thrilled with it," but grew less ambiguous in his disappointment as the conference wore on. At one point, Chuck Liddell became visibly upset at a reporter chastising Silva, telling him that it's difficult to strike with a guy "flopping to his back." (That was true for the later rounds, but doesn't explain Silva's narcolepsy for the first 15 minutes.) Retired or not, a ticked Liddell is a very unnerving sight.
• "We all turn 40," White said of Liddell's probable finale. He promised Liddell would retain a role in the company, but to be frank, that future probably doesn't involve being a color commentator. Liddell is a somnolent personality.
• White was intrigued by the prospect of a Georges St. Pierre-Anderson Silva meeting, possibly in Toronto, to decide who really is the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world today. St. Pierre, though, has to pass a fairly tough test in Thiago Alves in July. If it's like most fantasy match-ups, it won't happen until both men are in their mid-40s, broke, and missing an ACL.
• According to White, David Loiseau "looked old" against Ed Herman. Loiseau, bounced from the UFC in 2006, amassed a 4-2 record against unheralded opponents in the interim. Aside from his obvious standing in Canada, there was little reason to have him back in the first place.
• A bemused-looking Silva promised White he would "do better" in the future. Silva is hard to dislike, but performances like Saturday's are going to harden hearts against him.
Sunday, 5:30 p.m. ET -- Maynard, Mayhem and more
The UFC monolith tends to dwarf the rest of the MMA world on a big fight weekend. But -- surprise, surprise -- life goes on outside the Octagon.
The weekend's mentionables:
• Kyle Maynard's opponent won't be named until the weigh-in, per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Maynard, who fights April 25 despite not having any hands or feet, is apparently a tough sell for opponents wary of PC backlash.
"It's not exactly a win-win situation for someone who wants to fight me," Maynard told the paper.
No kidding. Either you beat a limited-limbed opponent or he beats you. Either way, nothing worth celebrating at Pizza Hut afterward.
• Slightly unhinged Jason "Mayhem" Miller beat Kala Hose via rear-naked choke to win something called the "Kingdom Middleweight Title" in Honolulu, Hawaii, on Saturday. Miller's victory comes on the heels of a hosting stint on MTV's "Bully Beatdown," a reality series that enlists professional fighters to spar against society's delinquents.
• Promising Judoka Hector Lombard was successful in his Bellator Fighting Championships debut, knocking Virgil Lozano cold less than 90 seconds into the fight. The win advances him into the promotion's middleweight tournament bracket; Lion's Den alum Alex Andrade dropped a decision to James Damien Stelly in the same division.
Andrade, you may or may not recall, delivered an obscene number of low blows to Krzysztof Soszynski in March 2008, earning him the DQ.
Sunday, 4:10 p.m. ET -- Conspiracy theories: Anderson Silva edition
Paranoia and the Internet go together like … things that go together. If you have a logically bankrupt theory to disseminate, do it online: No one can call you a family embarrassment to your face.
The latest conspiracy to make the rounds: that Anderson Silva is sabotaging his UFC fights in an attempt to be released from his contract so he can box Roy Jones.
This is so patently absurd that it's almost believable.
We know Silva does indeed want to box Jones, a contest that might be considered a very painful form of hero worship. We know the UFC is not about to dull the shine of its product by allowing a champion to get knocked around in a boxing ring. We know this peeved Silva to some extent. The perfect way to passively-aggressively "get back" at brass? Show up to a fight and not fight, leading to your eventual dismissal.
In addition to any non-compete clauses that may or may not be inserted into Silva's contract, this theory ignores the legal jiu-jitsu Zuffa has bought a black belt in. There's no end of mayhem to create in accusing a champion of not meeting his responsibilities, acting in collusion with rival promotions, and a dozen other real or artificial charges that would keep things tied up in court until Jones is well into middle age.
The UFC would sooner relegate Silva's title defenses to the undercard than release him; worse, successive poor performances by Silva in the Octagon would only dilute the fan interest in seeing him box.
There's no grand plot -- just fantasy to help escape the boredom of the fight's reality. Leites did not attack, and Silva was content to sit back and wait for a moment that never came. Against Michael Bisping or Cung Le, he probably won't get that luxury.
But the UFC has a real problem in Demian Maia, the next middleweight in line for a shot and a man who shares Leites' preference to take the fight to the mat. If he refuses to come into Silva's range and Silva refuses to come out of his shell, there's real potential for "The Spider" to become the most unlikely heel in the sport's short history.
Sunday, 2:20 p.m. ET -- UFC 97 post-mortem: Liddell-Rua
AP Photo/Ryan RemiorzWhere to now? Chuck Liddell's best days are obviously behind him. In his prime, Chuck Liddell had a "tell" that was probably used to profitable effect by gamblers. If Liddell was relaxed, fit and confident, he would smile broadly both during the weigh-in and on his way to the ring. Each time he fought Tito Ortiz, you could not get him to stop beaming.
Liddell had that look Saturday; had he fought anyone but a resurrected Mauricio Rua, it would've been a likely tip-off that things were about to shift in his favor.
But this was a pushing-40 Liddell, with a chin softened by two fairly severe knockouts in two years. And this was Rua, displaying a return to form that had him threatening with eight different blunt objects (elbows, knees, etc), mixed up and served with the ambition of a 27-year-old with a lot to prove to his employers.
A sharp Rua is often too much to handle for athletes in their prime. Liddell, a veteran of the 1998 fighting season, was just a half-step behind. In MMA, that might as well be a mile.
What's Next: Rua will have to oblige the Lyoto Machida-Rashad Evans-Quinton Jackson dance card before his title opportunity snaps into focus. Considering that situation won't be resolved before the end of the year -- and that fighters who sit on the shelf tend to rust -- a fight with Luiz Cane would be welcome.
For Liddell, all signs point toward retirement. But this is a sport that offers opportunity for reinvention, and it's worth pointing out that Liddell himself delivered knockouts to Randy Couture that forced him into heavyweight contention. Liddell is a large light heavyweight with power to spare. It gets the wheels turning.
If only the heavyweight scene in 2009 didn't resemble a Toho monster movie, with 250-pound maniacs the size of buildings colliding into one another. Liddell would make for an intriguing fight against Antonio Nogueira; against Brock Lesnar or Cain Velasquez, it's likely asking too much.
The UFC is notorious for not allowing its marquee attractions the option of leaving on a high note; you typically get beat up by someone a decade younger, raked over in the postfight presser, and then deposited at the nearest seminar.
If I'm the boss, I give Liddell a last lap against Mark Coleman, guaranteeing that at least one pillar of the Octagon gets a graceful exit. It's the least they deserve.
Sunday, 1:37 a.m. ET -- UFC 97 post-mortem: Silva-Leites
Ed Mulholland for ESPN.comThales Leites, left, wanted nothing to do with Anderson Silva's strikes.Being one in the Octagon somehow misses the point.
Anderson Silva, we were told, was looking to erase the bad taste left by a non-effort against Patrick Cote in October. But what was treated as an anomaly may have been the beginning of a very eccentric title reign.
Against challenger Thales Leites Saturday, Silva looked alternately bored, annoyed, and frustrated. Many of his fans must have felt the same way: despite Leites' increasing fatigue and tempered stand-up, Silva never got hydraulic in his offense. He was content to swim in, land a few push kicks, and then swim back out, unmarked with the exception of the boos cascading around him. Leites was often so leaden that he'd flop to the ground rather than waste fumes on a takedown attempt.
He should have been a piece of red meat to Silva's wolf. He didn't bite.
Joe Rogan greased the situation by articulating that Silva was under no obligation to put himself in jeopardy, but Silva's job description would indicate otherwise. Silva is a professional combat athlete, and while it may not be a contractual mandate to get clocked in the head, one assumes to absorb a modest amount of punishment in the process of trying to crack the other guy.
If all participants fought the way Silva did -- striking only when there was virtually zero chance of reprimand -- a UFC telecast would be indistinguishable from "Dancing with the Stars."
At fight's end, Silva seemed to be involved in a deep conversation with the Octagon floor. The performance netted him the winner's purse, retention of his title, and a record for most consecutive victories in the Octagon (nine).
Measured against the fans he alienated, Silva still might be running at a deficit.
Sunday, 12:51 a.m. ET -- Anderson Silva Def. Thales Leites (Unanimous Decision)
Silva and Leites bow to one another. Silva's feeling-out process lasts a full minute, drawing the ire of the crowd. Two minutes pass, and still nothing. Silva backs Leites up, but doesn't attack. Three minutes in, barely three strikes have been attempted in total. Leites tries a high kick; Silva digs into the body. Silva sweeps Leites. Back on the feet, Silva is admonished for using foot stomps, a no-no in Canada. Round one might be the worst in recent UFC memory.
Round 2 sees Leites successful in a takedown, landing in half-guard.
Silva gains full guard and delivers elbows from the bottom. Silva gets up, and Leites is slow to follow him. Leites likely won the round based on his brief ground effort.
In Round 3, Leites is tiring -- he misses a takedown. Silva pokes him in the eye, but Leites regains composure while on the ground. Leites begins flopping to the mat, but Silva doesn't bite. Joe Rogan and Mike Goldberg begin discussing hockey. This one is for Anderson purists only.
Round 4: Silva accelerates uses of a push kick that lands solidly against Leites' knee and thigh. Leites tries to get it down, but he's simply too tired to outhustle Silva. Silva attempts a punch to Leites' foot. Despite having a near-stationary target in front of him, Silva refuses to put together an offense. An absolutely bizarre performance.
Round 5: Leites lands a last-ditch single, but he can't maintain control and Silva winds up on top, delivering punches. The crowd chants profanities. Leites is trying, but his gas tank won't do him any favors.
Silva wins the decision to make UFC history with a ninth consecutive victory.
Sunday, 12 a.m. ET -- Sam Stout Def. Matt Wiman (Unanimous Decision)
Wiman is working a "Rocky IV" look. There's no feeling-out process, as both men wade right in to trade. Wiman lands a takedown, but Stout gets up. Wiman attempts a guillotine, but Stout slips out. The two are busy, but rarely landing flush. In Round 2, Stout lands a nice left hook. Wiman is dogged, and Stout appears to be perplexed by his wilder approach. A crumbling body shot sends Wiman down. In Round 3, Stout connects with a loud body kick. Wiman gets into the backpack position, riding Stout's back and trying to squeeze him with a body triangle. Stout turns into him. On the feet, Wiman connects in the closing seconds, but it's not enough to steal the round or the fight.
• 12:01 a.m. ET -- Channing Tatum Def. High-Quality Cinema (TKO, 2:01 of "Fighting").
Saturday, 11:35 p.m. ET -- Anderson Silva vs. Thales Leites (185 pounds)
What It Means: For Silva, a chance to make UFC history with a ninth consecutive win -- and more importantly, to erase the bad taste left by his confusing and irritating performance over Patrick Cote in October. For Leites, a chance to render slobbering Silva fans incontinent in a victory.
Precedent: Leites dispatched another savage striker in Drew McFedries that same October evening, but McFedries is far from the technical wizard Silva is; Silva hasn't fought a dyed-in-the-Gi Brazilian black belt since the beginning of his career.
Watch Out For: How much damage Silva can inflict when Leites goes for a takedown.
Saturday, 11:30 p.m. ET -- Mauricio Rua Def. Chuck Liddell (TKO, 4:28 of R1)
Ed Mulholland for ESPN.comFour out of five ain't bad -- unless your talking about losses. Sorry, Chuck Liddell.Rua appears to be in the best shape of his UFC career; Liddell looks homicidal. Rua opens with low kicks, then goes high. Rua nails a takedown, but Liddell is a coiled spring and won't stay put. Liddell hits a takedown of his own to even things up.
Liddell lets him up, but that proves to be a mistake: Rua charges in with a left, dropping Liddell and punctuating it with hammerfists -- and a blunt-force forearm -- for the victory.
Saturday, 11:15 p.m. ET -- Chuck Liddell vs. Mauricio Rua (205 pounds)
What It Means: The future of Liddell as a crowd draw. The Iceman has been a perennial hitman for the UFC, but the losses are building and picky fans have the memory banks of lobotomy patients. If he doesn't look good here, it'll take a spectacularly unique fight -- vs. Anderson Silva -- to warrant another main event slot.
Precedent: Liddell dispatched former Rua teammate Wanderlei Silva, both of whom share similar attack-attack-kill-kill philosophies, though Rua tends to be slightly more patient.
Watch Out For: Whether Liddell has corrected a tendency to remain predictable in his stand-up, and if we might finally see some of the offensive Cal-Poly wrestling pedigree he's kept hidden for the majority of his career.
Saturday, 11:08 p.m. ET -- Krzysztof Soszynski Def. Brian Stann (Submission, 3:53 of R1)
Ed Mulholland for ESPN.comSee you later -- Krzysztof Soszynski, right, had little trouble disposing of Brian Stann.Soszynski looking very relaxed. They trade some light stand-up before Soszynski moves into a Thai clinch. A big double-leg takedown by Soszynski, who then lands in the mount. Stann bucks him off, but Soszynski winds up in side control. Stann again pops up, and Soszynski tosses him. He secures a Kimura, adjusts, and forces Stann to tap.
Saturday, 11 p.m. ET -- Krzysztof Soszynski vs. Brian Stann (205 pounds)
Josh Hedges/Zuffa/UFC Brian Stann's last time out in the cage didn't go over so well.What It Means: For Stann, a chance to reclaim some of the patriot act the WEC used to good effect -- until Steve Cantwell TKO'd him last summer. Stann was criticized as a green fighter being pushed too soon, and that chatter is only going to be amplified in a UFC debut.
Precedent: Soszynski can take a heavyweight shot, having competed in the IFL's unlimited-calories division. (But not too heavy: Bear-man hybrid Ben Rothwell put him away early.) Stann, meanwhile, has yet to be folded into knots on the mat.
Watch Out For: Stann 2.0, which may negate the preceding blather: He's been training at Greg Jackson's for the past several months.
10:54 p.m. ET -- Cheick Kongo Def. Antoni Hardonk (TKO, 2:29 of R2)
Ed Mulholland for ESPN.com"Say uncle!" Cheick Kongo overcame a slow start to pound out a victory over Antoni Hardonk.Both men are very cautious of the other's striking. Hardonk moves forward and starts working his leg kicks. Kongo catches a body kick and lets Hardonk fall to the mat, where he toys with kicks to Hardonk's thighs before the referee stands him back up. Kongo clinches and gets him down, trying to unload, but Hardonk ties him up nicely until the bell. In Round 2, Kongo knocks Hardonk down and peels off hammerfists. One gets through that touches off Hardonk's panic button; he covers up, folds, and the referee calls it.
Saturday, 10:35 p.m. ET -- Cheick Kongo vs. Antoni Hardonk (206 pounds and over)
What It Means: Kickboxer Hardonk has been working covertly in the UFC, running up a 3-0 streak to minimal fanfare and press; Kongo is slightly harder to miss, a rangy striker who looks like he eats concrete for breakfast carbs. Similar styles and similar deficits on the ground likely mean a K-1 contest. Winner goes on to another rung in the heavyweight title ladder, only a degree or two removed from title contention.
Precedent: Kongo played the striking game against declining striker Mirko "Cro Cop" to a win in '07.
Watch Out For: Kongo's ability to dictate where the fight lands, with wrestling and base informed by a stint with Quinton Jackson at the Wolfslair Academy in the UK.
Saturday, 10:34 p.m. ET ET Luiz Cane def. Steve Cantwell (Unanimous decision)
Ed Mulholland for ESPN.comLuiz Cane, right, had little trouble finding Steve Cantwell's face with his fists.Cane takes Octagon control early, stalking Cantwell and hunting for his head. Cantwell can't get comfortable and eats shots. Round 2 sees the tide turn slightly, as Cantwell moves forward and finds success with combos and body kicks. Round 3 is mostly Cane, who unloads and finds Cantwell's chin often -- but fatigue has him swinging big late in the round. By fight's end, Cantwell is bleeding and Cane is on his camp's shoulders. Decision is academic.
Saturday, 10:18 p.m. ET -- Four highly unreliable predictions for UFC 97
Ric Fogel for ESPN.comIf Chuck Liddell couldn't stop Wanderlei Silva, how will he stop Mauricio Rua?Jumping in the DeLorean to grab tomorrow's headlines today. It's just like that show "Early Edition," except I won't stretch this out to an unbearable 44 minutes. And no pandering moral lessons. Deal? Deal.
• Chuck Liddell defeats Mauricio Rua via decision. They say power is the last thing to go, but Chuck Liddell was unable to finish off Wanderlei Silva in their December 2007 meeting -- even though Silva had been neutrally softened by both Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic and Dan Henderson, and was shortly thereafter crumbled by Quinton Jackson. Considering Liddell's previous slaughters, it should've been an easy punctuation mark to make. Liddell will outhustle Rua, MMA's newly crowned poster boy for emphysema, landing flush but unable to finish. He will then sit out for the remainder of the year, earmarked to fight the current 205-pound titlist during Super Bowl weekend. And lose. (This psychic stuff can get pretty grim.)
• Krzysztof Soszynski submits Brian Stann. Stann hits hard. Very, very hard. He's also playground-bully aggressive, which works well sometimes (see: Houston Alexander) and not so well other times (see: Houston Alexander). Soszynski is too seasoned for the adrenaline-spaz-out strategy to work, and Stann has yet to meet someone with appreciable submission acumen. Soszynski via taking an arm home, mounting it and charging the neighborhood kids admission to see it.
• Jason MacDonald vs. Nate Quarry makes the broadcast. "May not be broadcast" is a disclaimer that is often PR-speak for "If you want to see this fight, buy a ticket, cheapskate." There should be little concern about MacDonald-Quarry being restricted to burial in the eventual DVD release: Quarry has yet to have a boring fight and he'll have to scrap like an upended cat against the bigger, stronger, better MacDonald. Definitely a recipe for mayhem. MacDonald in less than two rounds.
• Anderson Silva is in for a surprise. I'm not going to be the nut who calls for the upset special in favor of Thales Leites during Saturday's main event, but I would consider this: In the majority of Silva's UFC bouts, opponents have more or less played his game. (I believe Silva calls it the let's-see-who-makes-it-to-the-ER-first contest.) The one truly competent jiu-jitsu black belt who didn't -- Travis Lutter -- had him mounted and was landing shots to his chin before the clock and his own cardiovascular deficit failed him. It will be very interesting to see how Silva responds to a submission machine on the order of Leites.
Saturday, 10:15 p.m. ET: Steve Cantwell vs. Luiz Cane (205 pounds)
What It Means: Cantwell retired as the WEC light heavyweight champion -- a weight class dropped by the promotion -- and had a successful UFC debut in December, defeating Razak Al-Hassan in a military tribute event. A win here further solidifies the placement of WEC castaways in the bigger-brother promotion, though both Cantwell and Cane have yet to log victories against any top-10 competition.
Precedent: Cane is aggressive, but so is Brian Stann -- whom Cantwell dropped in a WEC rematch, avenging his only loss.
Watch Out For: Cane's patience under fire, allowing strikers to tee off until their lactic acid begins working for his corner.
Saturday, 10:05 p.m. ET: Five ways to impress your friends during UFC 97
There's something about violence that really brings people together. Your average street fight usually has a crowd of people surrounding it. And who doesn't love a good mass riot? It's a bonding experience. Naturally, you'll be hosting a throng of people for tonight's pay-per-view event, the wife or girlfriend exiled to a screening of "17 Again" and recoiling in horror at the compressed, squishy face of a rapidly aging Matthew Perry. The preferred scenario is as an attendee, spilling beer on someone else's new carpet. (Hint: Small house pets are very absorbent.) Whatever the case, some key factoids you can use to impress your friends:
• Anderson Silva hasn't lost in nearly five years, save for a DQ "loss" via an illegal strike to Yushin Okami in 2006. He hasn't gone the distance since 2004, when he found himself unable to put away notorious future bank heist man Lee Murray. (The cops, however, did.)
• Silva's opponent, Thales Leites, has never been knocked out. If someone brings this up before you do, you can retort by reminding him that neither had Nate Marquardt, and Silva performed an archaeological dig into his skull.
• Chuck Liddell and Mauricio Rua have four common opponents: Each of them defeated Alistair Overeem and Kevin Randleman, but Rua lost to Renato Sobral (whom Liddell thumped twice), and Liddell lost to Quinton Jackson (whose ribs Rua snapped in half).
• Liddell is 2-0 against Chute Boxe alums Jose Landi-Jons and Wanderlei Silva. He is 0-4 against cold medication.
• According to his Web site bio, Iraq vet Brian Stann found himself "taking on over 30 rocket-propelled grenade attacks, multiple machine guns firing and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) detonating" during an operation in 2005. If Stann doesn't seem to flinch in the ring, well, there you go.
Saturday, 6:55 p.m. ET -- Lashley's third fight in May
Fightwireimages.comExpect more of this from Bobby Lashley when he returns to the ring on Friday.If you breathe through your mouth, you're likely aware of Bobby Lashley, a former WWE performer who has recently transitioned into MMA. Now HDNet's "Inside MMA" reports that Lashley will enter his third fight on May 15 for the Maximum Fighting Championships, to be televised on HDNet.
Lashley's amateur wrestling pedigree and absurdly inflated physique are intriguing, but a March fight against Jason Guida ended with Lashley unable to mount much of an offense. He needs finishing skills, but credit is due for skipping the big-fight, big-money paydays most cross-pollinating athletes would entertain.
Saturday, 6:50 p.m. ET -- Silva on Silva violence
Sherdog.com's Marcelo Alonso is helping Wanderlei Silva stir the pot for a pending move to 185 pounds and a possible fight with current (as of this afternoon, anyway) middleweight champion and former training partner Anderson Silva.
"I should have to have many fights before facing him," Wanderlei Silva said. "But concerning his last statements, I think the way is open and the war is declared … If he beats Thales, we will meet and we will see if he will be able to do everything he says."
While a Silva-Silva bout might be the most exciting three minutes on pay-per-view that doesn't require proof of age, Wanderlei might be getting slightly ahead of himself: The last time he fought a top-shelf 185-pound fighter in Dan Henderson, he went horizontal. And a June bout at a 195-pound catchweight against Rich Franklin is a bizarre anomaly that doesn't really do anything for anyone.
Saturday, 6:45 p.m. ET -- Rumor Control: ToeGate
Next to Wikipedia, I can't think of any source more trustworthy than a random Internet message board. Where else can we get early word of fabricated celebrity deaths and pages of colorful libel?
Today's attempt to curb crippling loneliness and parental neglect comes from posts declaring that Chuck Liddell broke his toe while inspecting the Octagon; trainer John Hackleman told Sherdog.com's Loretta Hunt that the story is false, but Liddell does have a blister on his hand.
Points for creativity, though.
Saturday, 10 a.m. ET -- Silva war?
Jon Kopaloff/Getty ImagesBring it: Wanderlei Silva has thrown down the gauntlet and made clear his intentions of fighting Anderson Silva.By Marcelo Alonso -- Anderson Silva discussed former teammate Wanderlei Silva's move to 185 pounds last week, calling it "pretentious." Wanderlei hasn't taken too kindly to Anderson's remarks.
"I thought it was excellent being quoted by the champion without having had a fight in [Anderson's] division," Wanderlei told Sherdog.com. "It's a sign that I'm already bothering him. Nobody kicks a tree that is not able to give fruits."
Wanderlei also criticized Anderson for discussing Chute Boxe training sessions.
"Anyone who is a man knows that training shouldn't be talked about. That's a basic rule for any fighter: Training is training. I'll not say that I already knocked him out in training. … What happens in training has to stay inside the gym. Training is training, and a real fight is a real fight."
Wanderlei wasn't done yet.
"He is too cocky," Wanderlei said. "I hope he can read this. … I never talked anything bad about him; I always respected him. He has always been my friend, always respected me, but now he came with that statement. I can't understand that. I didn't come down to 185 to face him. Actually, I didn't have that intention. … Changing divisions and fighting the champion would be too pretentious. I should have to have many fights before facing him, but concerning his last statements, I think the way is open and the war is declared.
"If he beats Thales [Leites], we will meet and we will see if he will be able to do everything he says. … He knows me; I know him. We trained a lot together. He knows my failures, but I also know his failures, and I know nobody has given him a hard time. Nobody has beaten his face badly. I believe the future is pretty promising. Let's wait and see."
While Wanderlei declared war on one former teammate, he opened the doors of his gym to another, Rafael Cordeiro, who recently left Chute Boxe.
"Besides being a great friend, Rafael is one of the best MMA trainers in the world," Wanderlei said. "I can say that because I was trained by him for more than 10 years. The doors of my academy are open to him. It would be a pleasure to be trained by him again."
Guilherme Cruz contributed to this entry.
Ed Mulholland for ESPN.comBetter late than never: Chuck Liddell and Mauricio Rua meet in a long-awaited showdown on Saturday. • 6:30 p.m. ET: Thales Leites enters to a funereal atmosphere compared with the Liddell/Rua reception. 185 on the potentially broken nose. Anderson Silva is all smiles. He removes several layers of clothing, wipes his nose, then steps on the scale -- 182 pounds, not an ounce of it ego.
• 6:24 p.m. ET: Chuck Liddell and Mauricio Rua get big cheers despite not being able to say "aboot." Rua looks to have been using the Thighmaster. He's a fit and lean 206 pounds. Liddell comes out to a bigger chorus of cheers. His belly is slightly engorged, but it's been worse. He's 206. Upper body looks extremely sinewy. If these guys come in as their '06 selves, it's the fight of the night.
• 6:23 p.m. ET: Big, scary kickboxing animals Antoni Hardonk and Cheick Kongo are 249 and 232, respectively.
• 6:20 p.m. ET: Steve Cantwell, who beat Brian Stann in the WEC, comes in at 205; Luiz Cane looks slightly soft at 206.
• 6:19 p.m. ET: Vowel-hating Krzysztof Soszynski is 204; WEC exile and Captain America look-alike Stann weighs 206.
• 6:17 p.m. ET: Eliot Marshall -- 205 pounds. Vinny Magalhaes: 204 pounds.
• 6:16 p.m. ET: Xavier Foupa-Pokam and Denis Kang are both 185.
• 6:14 p.m. ET: Jason MacDonald looks like an anatomy chart at 186; Nate Quarry weighs the same, give or take the metal Steve Austin stuff used to fix his back.
• 6:11 p.m. ET: Local hero David Loiseau is received like the cure for cancer. He weighs 185. Ed Herman, roundly booed, logs 186.
• 6:09 p.m. ET: David Bielkheden is 157. Time to get into a Glad bag. Mark Bochek is 154.
• 6:08 p.m. ET: TJ Grant clocks in at 169; Ryo Chonan uses the 1-pound allowance to make 171. Hair is average.
• 6:07 p.m. ET: An unkempt Matt Wiman, looking like the Unabomber, weighs in at 155; opponent Sam Stout is the same.
• 6:05 p.m. ET: Organizers have replaced the analog scale with a digital one for reasons unknown. Big turnout to ogle the dehydrated guys in their underwear.
Friday, 6 p.m. ET: White: That Liddell retirement thing? Yeah, uh … scratch that
Something happens to Dana White when a microphone is placed near his mouth. At this point, he must feel an overwhelming compulsion to say something provocative, controversial or offensive, lest listeners feel let down. It's like going to a Bruce Springsteen concert and he doesn't play "Born to Run."
At a news conference for UFC 97, White paved over his previously concrete statements on a Chuck Liddell loss Saturday leading to his retirement. Now -- shock of shocks -- White says it's up to Liddell when to walk away.
One thing that's beyond discussion: If Liddell does hang it up in the UFC, it won't be to retreat to a series of special-attraction fights in Strikeforce or overseas. Liddell and Matt Hughes are among the promotion's most loyal employees.
Friday, 5:57 p.m. ET: Joe Rogan's struggle with technology
Detours into sensory deprivation tanks aside, Joe Rogan is one of the best assets this sport has ever had: passionate, informed and rabid in his delivery. He still does not embrace the concept of not having to scream into a microphone in order to be heard.
The microphone yells for you, Joe. It's an awesome example of human ingenuity. Please don't abuse it.
Friday, 5:55 p.m. ET: Ryo Chonan's hair
One-two in the Octagon, Chonan appears miles away from a rematch with Anderson Silva -- a fight where he jumped into a flying heelhook to execute the most embarrassing moment in Silva's career.
A guy like that, he looks for crowd support however he can get it -- up to and including suffering skin reactions to hair dye. I'm thinking red streaks with Hello Kitty punching Garfield from the mount shaved into the temple.
Friday, 5:53 p.m. ET: Anderson Silva's reach
Height statistics are traditionally the most scrambled of any MMA factoids; two guys can both be listed as 6-foot-1, but when they finally face off, it could look like an NBA forward staring down a horse jockey.
Keep an eye out for Silva's reach compared with challenger Thales Leites'. If his knee looks like a good fit for Leites' nose, maybe back off on that underdog wager a little bit.
Friday, 5:50 p.m. ET: Chuck Liddell's gutsy performance
As seen on Spike's "Deadliest Warrior" series, Chuck Liddell suffers from central obesity. If he weighs in with some muffin-top spillover, it should not necessarily be seen as a sign of poor conditioning or preparation.
Having said that, a streamlined torso would add credence to Liddell's claim that he's been working hard to put on a late-inning performance Saturday. Watch the gut. The gut tells all.
Friday, 5:45 p.m. ET: Faux-live bloggin' from UFC 97 weigh-Ins
Disclaimer: I'm not physically in Montreal. Canada has yet to issue me an official apology for exporting Howie Mandel; until then, we're not on speaking terms.
Things to look out for as events unfold, with live updates as body-fat percentages warrant.
Friday, 4 p.m. ET: "Best ever in the history of … ever" status
From Thursday's news conference comes trademark Dana White hyperbole: If Anderson Silva defeats Thales Leites this weekend at UFC 97, he is, without a doubt, the best pound-for-pound UFC fighter ever. (I'm paraphrasing. Add your own helping of profanities.)
He's excellent. No debate needed. But the best champion the UFC has ever had? What about Matt Hughes' eight title defenses (compared with Silva's four)? What about Randy Couture circumventing decomposition on multiple occasions to beat young punks, oftentimes at their own game, in a "prime" that lasted 11 years?
During his UFC tenure, Silva has fought three truly elite fighters: Dan Henderson, Rich Franklin (twice) and Nate Marquardt. All decorated champions, all formidable. Patrick Cote, Chris Leben, Travis Lutter, while all are dangerous in their own way, aren't likely to occupy any substantial chunk of MMA history.
So, four tippy-top-level fights, assisted by the fact that Silva looked sensational in all of them.
Compare his tenure to that of Hughes, who fought top-level contemporaries Carlos Newton, Hayato Sakurai, Frank Trigg, Georges St. Pierre, B.J. Penn and Sean Sherk. Or even St. Pierre himself, who fended off Jon Fitch, Hughes, Trigg and Penn.
MMA operates in a decidedly what-have-you-done-for-me-lately climate. Silva is on TV right now, in front of huge crowds, and backed by a PR machine that runs on rocket fuel. Any discussion of best-ever-ever status probably is best held after careers have ended and there's more room for perspective.
Of course, tomorrow's pragmatism doesn't sell today's tickets.
Friday, 3:55 p.m. ET: David Menne is tired
"Ultimate Fighter"-weaned fans might not remember David Menne, who posted lackluster performances against Josh Koscheck (untelevised) and Luigi Fioravanti in 2006.
Menne was part of the original breed of Midwestern attrition guys who would wear you out with their sheer relentlessness, dragging opponents into the quicksand of an endurance run. It didn't make for flashy highlights -- there's no "Ultimate Dave Menne" special planned -- and his lone replay-value fight was a demolition of Phil Baroni in 2002.
Larry Vollmer Jr.'s LoHud.com MMA blog reports that Menne is set to make a return in tonight's Bellator III after spending several years suffering from Lyme disease, which is often caused by rolling around in the woods near a bunch of ticks. Fatigue and general malaise are the most common symptoms, though the same might be experienced by some spectators during one of Menne's fights. (That attrition thing? Not always sports nitrogen.)
Vollmer writes the disease is "sometimes" fatal, but that's a bit of an exaggeration. You'd probably have to already be in an iron lung. Or Mauricio "Shogun" Rua.
All the same, here's wishing Menne a successful return.
Friday, 3:40 p.m. ET -- Can Silva make history?
Ross Dettman for ESPN.comCan Anderson Silva make it nine wins in a row in the Octagon? The MMA world awaits.Sports fans love statistics. I've seen guys rattle off the RBIs of obscure ballplayers born in the late 1800s. (I've noticed these same men are oblivious to the mustard stains on their shirts, but that's another story.) There are maniacs who can tell you how many times Michael Jordan has dunked while wearing blue Nikes. It's fun. For them. I guess.
I prefer the broader strokes, which is why Saturday's bout between Anderson Silva and Thales Leites carries a bit of extra intrigue. Should Silva use Leites' head as a percussion instrument, as most expect, he'll notch his ninth consecutive win in the Octagon, breaking a tie with Royce Gracie and Jon Fitch for the record. (Fitch ran into Georges St. Pierre.)
The qualifier "in the Octagon" is important, as it's relatively easy to chalk up a streak in smaller shows against local air-conditioning repairmen. Silva has fought a murderers' row in the UFC and finished all but Patrick Cote -- unless you argue he used Combat Ki to bum up Cote's knee.
It'll be just his fifth title defense, though: Travis Lutter didn't make weight after earning a shot on "The Ultimate Fighter," and James Irvin weighed in at 205 pounds for his fight against Silva. He could tie Matt Hughes, who defended the title five consecutive times.
Or not. Hughes regained the title and defended it three more times. That's a helluva thing to do.
Friday, 3:30 p.m. ET: Shamrock/Miletich back-burnered?
From FightHype.com comes informal, unofficial word that discussions were recently taking place for a Frank Shamrock-Pat Miletich summer scrap in Strikeforce. (Hey, at least somebody wants to go retro for UFC 100.)
With Shamrock losing to Nick Diaz, talks may have stalled -- and I have no idea why. It's a terrific fight for both men, who peaked at roughly the same time in the late 1990s. Miletich actually expressed a desire to fight Shamrock then; Frank had other plans, some of which included wearing a ceremonial tribal headgear and reinventing himself as "Frank Juarez Shamrock" in Japan. There was also a full schedule of spending the next nine years gushing a vomitorium's worth of smack.
I've long petitioned promotors to cease the pointless pairings of aging pioneers and modern-day killers. There's very little suspense in watching a young man beat up an old one. Not everyone can be Randy Couture. Let's move on already.
Friday, 9:45 a.m. ET: On why Dana White gets so awfully upset on a semi-daily basis
Dave Mandel Would you welcome Fedor to your promotion if he was doing this to your fighters?It's not easy being Dana White. Not only are you called out on your misogynistic, homophobic comments en masse, but a press tour means you have to deal with something even more upsetting than political correctness: dopey media outlets.
Via BloodyElbow.com comes discovery of something called a "Carmichael Dave Show," wherein White is interrogated to the point of near insanity by an interviewer obsessed with carb-loading consensus numero uno heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko.
Choice cut:
Carmichael Dave: Neither of you "need" each other; you're both doing just fine. But you always say you want what the fans want. Why not at least a one-fight deal … Fedor versus the current UFC heavyweight champion?
Dana White: Because that would be stupid business! Is that what the fans want? If everyone thinks he's so great, why would they only want to see him fight once?
Carmichael Dave: Because once is better than not at all, bottom line.
Now, look: Emelianenko is an epic talent. He would be a tremendous addition to the UFC. There's a surplus of tough fights for him there, and it would be gratifying to watch him ply his trade against a genetic freak who can fight (Brock Lesnar) as opposed to one who can't. As a free agent on the MMA scene, his one intriguing fight -- against Josh Barnett -- appears to be mired in contractual preamble and some misguided belief that it's The Biggest Fight of All Time. I'd love to see his hands get a little dirtier.
But to imagine White signing Emelianenko to one fight -- with the highly feasible possibility of the Russian coming in and punching a hole through the current champion's head, only to raise the stock of whichever company Emelianenko runs to next -- reeks of an absentee brain. Why produce a three-hour commercial for Emelianenko and fail to profit from it in the long term? Why bend reason to the point of company damage for a guy who looked ridiculously human against Andrei Arlovski? Why set a precedent for every other Next Big Thing to come along that the UFC will sing you to sleep if you merely appear to be "special"?
Emelianenko is a great fighter. But if he continues to fight elite competition, he eventually will lose. White recognizes how thin that veneer of invincibility can be; we saw it evaporate from Chuck Liddell, Antonio Nogueira and dozens of others.
If he feels Emelianenko just isn't worth the trouble, I'm sad to say he's probably right.
Friday, 9:30 a.m. ET: Don Frye: Passing the old guard
Stephen Martinez/Sherdog.comDon Frye's favorite pastime is absorbing unreasonable amounts of punishment. First Ken Shamrock and Tank Abbott, now Don Frye. The last of the badasses has taken a feeder-show bout for the Shark Fight promotion, a May 2 descent into obscurity against former national and Pan-American judo champion Rich Moss in Lubbock, Texas.
The stats aren't handy -- actually, none exist -- but I'm fairly confident Frye has absorbed more punches to the face than any human being in the history of civilization. (See: fights against James Thompson, Mark Coleman and Jerome LeBanner.) He'll be 44 this year. Unless someone cares to put together a revisionist UFC tournament with his peers -- Coleman, Shamrock, Moses -- I fail to see the point in going out on the ol' shield. How much glory is there to be had on an Internet broadcast?
Ancillary shame on the UFC for not booking at least one old-school fight for UFC 100, particularly because Frye would be barker-show gold.
Thursday, 6:40 p.m. ET: Dream and Affliction: Snuggle partners?
The Croatian press -- as frightening a phrase as any I've come across this week -- has circulated word that Japanese promotion Dream and part-time money-flushers Affliction might be planning a card in collusion with each other this summer. (Money + sadistic matchmaking = instant snuff movie.)
Most rumors with any kind of Japanese tether tend to be outlandish at best, bald-faced fairy tales at worst: Matt Hughes being advertised for a Japanese tournament at the same time he was fixing a tractor engine in Illinois, or Mike Tyson announced as a participant when he wouldn't even be legally able to enter Japan because of his criminal convictions.
Skepticism in place, it's worth noting that Affliction VP Tom Atencio is said to be meeting with both Dream and M-1 officials next week in Japan.
If it happens, I hope Atencio is prepared to take an even bigger bath than he's used to: tape-delayed events from foreign countries have the buyrate appeal of a test pattern.
Thursday, 6:15 p.m. ET: Arlovski's plans
Jon Kopaloff/Getty ImagesPerhaps Andrei Arlovski's delicate chin would benefit from a move to boxing. Despite being a rumored participant in the hypothetical Dream/Affliction event -- possibly headlined by Josh Barnett versus a guy in a Stormtrooper outfit -- Affliction heavyweight Andrei Arlovski is concerned instead with June 27. That's the date when Arlovski intends to make his professional boxing debut on a Golden Boy card at the Staples Center in Los Angeles (four rounds, opponent TBA).
It's a coin toss for Arlovski: On the plus side, he has some of the best boxing skills in MMA and was making Fedor Emelianenko look a touch silly in their January fight. On the other hand, his jaw appears to be made out of paper mache. Maybe 16-ounce gloves will help squelch that handicap.
Thursday, 6 p.m. ET: Kyle Maynard's webcam
You'll be hearing plenty of commentary leading up to armless, legless Kyle Maynard's MMA debut on April 25 in Auburn, Ala., an event simultaneously hailed as both an inspiration and a black eye on our fine sport of sanctioned assault. Adding fuel is the recent announcement that the bout will be aired via Internet stream, a barely ambulatory technology that still appears to be using tin cans on a string to transmit data.
I've yet to make up my mind on Maynard: on the one hand (sorry, Kyle), anyone who appears of sound mind and is over the age of 18 should be granted the freedom to participate in any legal activity he or she chooses. But that contrasts with my stance on athletic commissions' needing to do more to protect the safety of their athletes, even if that means overruling personal motivation.
But is Maynard being punched in the face inherently different from a full-limbed participant dropping his hands and eating glove? In either case, an unanswered attack would result in a referee intervention; Maynard just may not be granted the leeway of someone who can use his forearms as a shield.
Collective debate will gain momentum as the date draws closer. Until then, I can safely say I'm appalled only by the "special guest" for that evening, Junie Browning. Was Puck not returning phone calls?
Thursday, 1:30 p.m. ET -- From the department of foot-in-mouth disease: Machida on Anderson/Fedor
Mark J. Rebilas for ESPN.comLyoto Machida should stick to fighting and forget about making predictions. Lyoto Machida spoke to Sherdog's Marcelo Alonso on Wednesday to analyze Saturday's upcoming fight between associate Anderson Silva and Thales Leites. (Spoiler alert: He thinks Anderson will win.)
On a fantasy matchup between Silva and reigning lightning rod for controversy Fedor Emelianenko, Machida said he believes Silva would emerge victorious via "being way superior technically." He also cites only a mild weight differential between Emelianenko and Silva when the latter isn't cutting weight.
Silva is no doubt a big piece of real estate, but there's a very large gulf between offseason bulk and the Russian's natural size. And though he may indeed be a more technically proficient stand-up fighter, Silva's takedown defense sometimes resembles that of someone standing on an ice rink. If the fight ended in any way other than Emelianenko using Silva's head to paint an abstract on the mat, I'd be shocked.
Then again, I'm shocked that Machida is successfully applying karate in MMA.
Thursday, 1 p.m. ET: Diaz: Busiest fighter ever?
Who says marijuana makes you lazy? From CompuStrike and first reported by AOL Fanhouse: In the second round of Saturday's near felony against Frank Shamrock, Nick Diaz recorded one of the busiest MMA rounds in recent memory, logging 181 strikes (79 landed, 62 of which hit Shamrock directly in the ego).
CompuStrike is still a nascent organization, logging fewer than 200 fights since beginning operations in 2007, so there's no telling which fighter might have exceeded that total in the previous 14 odd years.
Wednesday, 11:50 p.m. ET -- White to Liddell: Retire if you lose Saturday
Scott Cunningham/Getty ImagesA loss on Saturday for Chuck Liddell might leave him looking for another line of work. Say what you will about Dana White -- hair-challenged, prone to FCC fines, offensive to Howard Stern -- but he clearly doesn't allow friendship to muddy the waters when it comes to the timing of someone hanging up the gloves.
Talking to Michael Landsberg on TSN's "Off the Record" Wednesday, White claimed that pal Chuck Liddell "will retire" if Mauricio Rua should happen to hand him his fourth loss in five fights.
Heady statement, and one that probably needs revision: It isn't so much Liddell losing, but how it happens, that should determine his fate. An even fight followed by a late KO or decision? Let Liddell do what he likes. A one-sided mauling with Liddell succumbing to a flying heelhook? It's probably time to enjoy a relaxing retirement of punching out inebriated degenerates in the California club circuit.
On the polar-opposite side of humanity, Kazushi Sakuraba told reporters Monday -- translation courtesy of BloodyElbow.com -- that he may return to the ring in July. Maybe Dream officials could keep some vultures in the rafters to pick at his bloody carcass, since that's where his career is inevitably headed.
Wednesday, 5:30 p.m. ET: Coleman: Licensed to remain still
Courtsey of Sherdog.comIs Mark Coleman really fit to climb back in the Octagon? We think not.MMAJunkie.com reports that the delay in announcing July 11's Mark Coleman/Stephan Bonnar oddity was getting the Nevada State Athletic Commission convinced Coleman should be allowed to fight, following his gutsy, oxygen-deprived performance against Mauricio Rua in January.
He's been granted a one-fight license; the NSAC might have opted to take it on a round-by-round basis.
Barring any injuries or undisclosed medical conditions, it appears Coleman's running-on-fumes-of-fumes performance was attributable to the strain of cutting weight at 44 years old. To add insult to exhaustion, light heavyweights are frequently faster, more agile and more prone to outlast you than the heavyweight division's slabs of concrete.
Those variables should be taken into consideration when evaluating a fighter's licensure, regardless of whether a fighter is moving up or down. Both can be equally dangerous. Coleman's fans -- and his career -- might be better served if he remained a heavyweight attraction.
Wednesday, 4:30 p.m. ET: The Fulcrum: Liddell/Rua
Handicapping fights in mixed martial arts is a miserable business. Too many ways to win and lose, and no accounting for split-second lapses in judgment. (Really -- a spinning elbow, Urijah Faber? Really?)
Fights often come down to one athlete's failure to cope with the other's judicious use of talent and timing. For Saturday's Chuck Liddell/Mauricio Rua bout, it's likely to be whether Rua's knee woes have allowed him to test his cardiovascular conditioning in training camp. If he has the lungs of a 28-year-old again, it's likely he can outpoint and outhustle Liddell, who may regain some measure of elite performance but probably can't reverse a sluggish offense brought on by his advancing years.
The Big Right Hand (copyright Liddell, 2005) might as well have a neon sign flashing on it; to his credit, Liddell likely hasn't lost the ability to pop up like a champagne cork when wrestled to the mat. That leaves a striking contest measured by speed (Rua) and counter-fighting (Liddell).
If Rua shows up in a shape other than round, he'll win.
Wednesday, 1:30 p.m. ET: Shamrock: It pays to talk
In compensation that can be attributable only to his ability to drive San Jose fans into a lather, Frank Shamrock netted $370,000 for a cringe-inducing performance against Nick Diaz last Saturday.
Though his payday was higher than many guarantees for UFC's headliners -- who often bank a $250,000 ballpark base pay -- Shamrock couldn't profit from any pay-per-view revenue. He did, however, profit from nine years of crowing about what turned out to be a very lackadaisical skill set.
Hitomi Akano, meanwhile, pocketed a measly $1,450 for sustaining a wolverine-level mauling at the hands of Cristiane Santos. Does that pay for even one day in the ICU?
Wednesday, 1 p.m. ET: UFC 97: Xavier Foupa-Pokam tries to make a name for himself
Xavier Foupa-Pokam. Rolls right off the tongue, doesn't it?
Foupa-Pokam, a French kickboxer who logged an impressive stint in the UK's Cage Rage promotion, debuts in the UFC this Saturday against Denis Kang. (Kang, you may recall, entered the Octagon in January propelled by substantial hype, only to be submitted by Alan Belcher. You could almost hear the pffft noise that a nearly exhausted whoopee cushion makes.)
Foupa-Pokam and Kang are mixed martial artists, yes, but they also represent the purest style-versus-style match on the card. On the ground, it's difficult to imagine Foupa-Pokam sticking around long; on the feet, Kang is in real danger of needing a drool cup for hours afterward.
The Frenchman's style is reminiscent of Gilbert Yvel, minus the growth spurt. And though his ground game is reputed to be getting better, I kind of hope it's not. There are few guarantees in MMA, but a kickboxer with limited mat skills is usually anything but boring. He'll knock you out or spend a few weeks with his arm in a cast. Either way, there's not much of a lull in the action.
Wednesday, 12:30 p.m. ET: Jason MacDonald's action plan
Jason MacDonald, with a streak of red hair that makes him look not unlike a sinister Opie Cunningham, takes on Nate Quarry at UFC 97 on Saturday. (Though it's often difficult to predict fights, I would wager that his ability to do everything better than Quarry works slightly in his favor.)
It's a big week for the Canadian: The Fight Network reports that MacDonald has signed a deal with Round 5 to create a collectible action figure in his likeness.
One more time: a Jason MacDonald action figure.
I am sure MacDonald is a nice guy. I know he's a good fighter. I cannot imagine a single youth asking Santa for a toy bearing his likeness, and I would expect any child granted one by ignorant parents who grab the first MMA-themed thing they see in their shopping haste to burst into a flood of angry tears.
Decisions like these are why KB Toys went out of business. (That, and those Gary Oldman figures from "Lost in Space.")
But I'd happily buy a Junie Browning figure if it came pre-decapitated.
Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. ET: "Shogun": The greatest poor-performance excuse ever
Caught the UFC Countdown show that aired Monday evening -- as usual, a professional, polished attempt to get you emotionally wrung out over the fates of the co-headlining athletes. (Thales Leites has a baby on the way -- just try to root against him.)
The standout segment, though, belonged to the profile of Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, the heavily dimpled Chute Boxe alum who's logged two mediocre performances in the Octagon since his debut in September of 2007. The reason for his lax attacks?
He's too busy being a landlord.
Because of his "businesses" in Curitiba, Brazil, including renting out several apartments, Rua claimed he would sometimes miss training sessions because of fatigue. "It takes away my focus a little bit," he said.
In summation: Shogun is too busy to be a successful UFC fighter because he's unclogging someone's shower drain and playing phone tag with exterminators. Sensing impending doom against Chuck Liddell Saturday, he moved his training camp to Sao Paulo to minimize distractions. Expect a better performance. Unless a tenant calls about a water leak.
Wednesday, 9 a.m. ET: Coleman/Bonnar added to UFC 100; fans sigh, shake their heads
January's fight with Mauricio Rua proved two things: Mark Coleman is as tough as a petrified leather boot, and the only way he should ever see 205 pounds again is via tapeworm.
Exhausted after only a minute, Coleman's saving grace in the fight -- one that led him to nearly see out the distance -- was that Rua could barely lift his own arms up. It was a performance that can only be described as an extremely honorable display of very poor conditioning. I haven't decided if that's a compliment. Probably isn't.
Now Coleman has signed to fight Stephan Bonnar at UFC 100. In addition to making no contextual sense whatsoever, it's another example of the UFC failing to recognize the inanity of pitting aging first- or second-generation athletes against modern multidiscipline guys.
It's UFC 100, fellas. Can't the nostalgia nuts get a break? Was Oleg Taktarov not available?
Tuesday, 4:20 p.m. ET: De La Hoya retires while he can still remember where he put his car keys
Only tangentially related to MMA, but still very much worth a mention: Oscar De La Hoya announced this afternoon that he is exiting professional boxing after over a decade of being one of the sport's top draws. (Having Scrooge McDuck levels of cash might have had some small measure of influence on the decision.)
De La Hoya's exit might prove to be a strong influence on other combat athletes who stick around long enough to become little more than glorified Pez dispensers.
Cognitive functioning: still very much a useful tool in life.
Tuesday, 3:05 p.m. ET: Support for MMA in New York
Brought to my attention via Zach Arnold and FightOpinion.com: The Albany Times-Union ran a pro-MMA letter to the editor in yesterday's paper, accessible here.
As a native of the state for the better part of my underwhelming life, it chafes to see state assemblyman Bob Reilly and other oat-brained stiffs decry MMA like it was the resurrection of the Christians and the lions. Anyone who forms an opinion on the sport without (a) having at least watched one event in its entirety, (b) talking at length with its participants, and (c) displaying even a modest knowledge of its safety record is an invalid voice.
Harlan Ellison once wrote that the everyone-is-entitled-to-an-opinion chestnut is a bunch of baloney; everyone, he says, is entitled only to an informed opinion. Harlan Ellison: smart man.
Tuesday, 2:15 p.m. ET: Is "the Spider" Spinning in Place?
UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva faces a legitimate test of his skills Saturday, taking on jiu-jitsu craftsman Thales Leites at UFC 97.
Only problem? It comes roughly six months after Silva's last title defense, a bizarre ballet against Patrick Cote. Silva allegedly went to UFC brass last year to express his desire to fight more often; there were no reports of any lingering injury (other than to his reputation) coming out of the fight. So why has it taken so long to get him back in, especially in light of the UFC's tendency to run dozens of shows per calendar year?
It can't be a lack of opponents: Demian Maia is 5-0 in his UFC tenure; Nate Marquardt is perhaps one or two wins away from earning a second shot; there's a surplus of one-off fights at 205 pounds.
Un-torqued coming out of the Leites fight, Silva in a bout with the winner of the Maurico Rua-Chuck Liddell co-main that same evening would be a welcome addition to UFC 100.
Heck, charge me an extra five bucks if you have to. It'd be worth it.
Tuesday, 1:30 p.m. ET: "Babalu," Ortiz Jaw at Strikeforce
A brave soul from Sherdog.com zoomed in on an apparent verbal altercation Saturday between long-dormant Tito Ortiz and a clearly agitated Renato "Babalu" Sobral. Sadly, the footage cuts out before the Great Muta jumped in between them and suggested they both enter the Royal Rumble.
While Strikeforce probably believes that exaggerated heat would make for an interesting fight, I'm a little confused as to who the protagonist would be: Ortiz is roundly booed whenever his Macy's parade balloon-sized noodle fills the screen, while Sobral turned himself into an MMA pariah by holding a choke too long against David Heath. Whom exactly would we be rooting for, again?
Monday, 11:30 p.m. ET: Counter-programming UFC 100 'all rumors'
From the department of common sense: In an interview with MMAJunkie.com, Affliction vice president Tom Atencio shot down reports that he would be looking to "counter-program" (PC speak for "implode") his event against July 11's UFC 100 card.
There was slight, sadistic logic in the move: If Affliction could net a broadcast deal, then perhaps a small portion of the UFC's audience would see the appeal of saving their $50 and catching a Fedor Emelianenko fight for free. It could have conceivably cost the UFC thousands of dollars. Seismic.
If this was ever a possibility, Atencio's latest statement could be read to mean that a network deal was broached and didn't come to fruition. That, or the Internet took a questionable premise and ran it into the ground. Two guesses where my chip is going.
Monday, 11 p.m. ET: Diaz vs. Jones discussed
Disclaimer: Graciefighter.com is not quite the tower of reliability that is The New York Times -- or even Modern Bride. But it's worth mentioning that the site -- spearheaded by Cesar Gracie's camp -- has issued a provocative statement that Nick Diaz would be happy to fight Roy Jones in a boxing match.
Close your jaw. You're letting flies in.
I would be lying if I said that watching Diaz against an aging Jones would not be immensely entertaining -- possibly in the same way I watch with a wrenched gut every time Johnny Knoxville sets his privates ablaze -- but it would also be fraudulent not to express my urgent demand for several EMTs and possibly a funeral director on standby.
Perspective check: Nick Diaz outstruck a hobbled, slightly crippled, middle-aged (for a fighter) Frank Shamrock. Against a 160-pound K.J. Noons, a pro boxer-hyphen-MMA fighter with an undistinguished record, Diaz's face was turned into tomato puree. A man has to know his limits. Having a pro boxing match against one of the all-time greats, even one in decline, is begging for permanent delirium.
It almost certainly won't happen. Diaz, one suspects, is simply making noise and eyeing a decent payday if Jones takes the bait. And if he does, is the fight even sanctionable?
And is "sanctionable" even a word?
Monday, 6:15 p.m. ET: Shamrock's ribbing
The Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer reports that Frank Shamrock sustained cracked ribs prior to his mauling at the peppering hands of Nick Diaz on Saturday and was advised to pull out of the fight.
Shamrock has been a walking, talking ad for calcium supplements for years, but I think the biggest detriment to his performance was simple inactivity: Diaz was in only his third fight in two years, a slothlike schedule for a sport that evolves by the day. Sparring -- even brutal gym sessions -- is no match for the reality of someone trying to take your head off for a prize purse.
One possible spin to the situation: His "legend" chipped, Shamrock may now be more active and less suspicious of doing anything to tarnish his perceived invincibility.
It's still a young year. If Shamrock has two more fights before 2010, I'll believe he's willing to drop the diva routine and get down to the hurt business.
Monday, 5:55 p.m. ET: Randleman's return
Jeff Sherwood/Sherdog.comWake up, Kevin Randleman: It's time to get back in the cage.A couple of years ago, I posted an editorial on Sherdog.com, "The Disappointments," that dressed down athletes who didn't live up to their physical or technical potential. It earned a few nice notices and more than a few responses that advised me to die painfully. (Thanks, Dad.)
Looking at it now, little has changed, save for Vitor Belfort's seeming reincarnation as a 185-pound buzzsaw. And now the No. 4 entrant, Kevin Randleman, is set to debut in Strikeforce after spending the past several years dealing with a host of health issues. (He competed only once in 2007-08, a win over Ryo Kawamura overseas.)
Randleman's understanding of MMA has always been rather incomplete: He's an explosive, violent wrestler, but if you have an answer for that, he doesn't pose too many other questions.
That hasn't stopped him from being an attraction: Randleman is cut from the Tyson mold, where the promise of spectacular destruction is often just as appetizing for fans as the reality. One hopes he's used the time off to gather a more formidable and well-rounded game.
Monday, 5 p.m. ET: Is Le incomplete?
AP Photo/Jeff ChiuCung Le might be a one-trick pony, but what a trick it is.Fighter and recreational philosopher Nick Diaz followed his win over Frank Shamrock on Friday by expressing doubt that Strikeforce middleweight champion Cung Le has a total package of skills.
"Cung's not a complete fighter," Diaz told gathered press. "He's never fought anybody." (That his comment instantly vaporizes any substance to his win over common opponent Frank Shamrock was of no apparent concern.)
Is he right? Maybe: Le's ground game is untested, but with good reason. He's extremely adept at stopping takedowns. Despite the surge of true multi-hyphenates like Georges St. Pierre and Fedor Emelianenko, we still have a surplus of athletes that do one or two things well enough to make up for what they can't do.
Anderson Silva has mediocre wrestling, but that hasn't stopped him from going for a record ninth consecutive victory this Saturday at UFC 97; Brock Lesnar's submission arsenal is low on supplies, but he's still a terrifying, horrible monster -- Lou Ferrigno minus the green paint.
Diaz would likely handle Le on the canvas, but Le's ability to possibly prevent it from getting there deserves his respect.
Monday, 1:35 p.m. ET: Scott Smith is plenty tough enough
I've been aware of Scott Smith the same way I'm aware of character actors: I recognize the face, I appreciate the work, but in the end both often take a back seat to the bigger, more bombastic personalities.
That's changing rapidly. Smith is responsible for one of the best finishes in UFC history: a last-second haymaker delivered to a charging Pete Sell just before Smith himself collapsed to the canvas. Two wars with Robbie Lawler came next, and they were the kind of fights that made me reconsider the humanity of four-ounce gloves.
All that was apparently just practice for Saturday, when Smith turned in one of the gutsiest, grittiest performances of the past several years in besting a dangerous Benji Radach. Dazed, knocked down, possibly nearly out, Smith just kept coming: a T-1000 in Affliction shorts. He eventually caught Radach, hugged his kids and walked off like storybook endings were just another day in the office.
The sport is full of "tough guys," but every so often one comes along that redefines that term for another generation. Don Frye did it in the '90s; Smith is doing it now.
Monday, 1:30 p.m. ET: Shamrock = old soldier
Jon Kopaloff/Getty ImagesAt 37 and with more wear and tear than a beat-up Pinto, Frank Shamrock's best days are well behind him.As someone who wore out his VHS copy of UFC 22 back in the day -- with Frank Shamrock finishing his UFC career in style versus Tito Ortiz -- Nick Diaz's deconstruction of that mystique was a little hard to bear.
Shamrock, looking considerably slower than he did against Phil Baroni in 2007 and Cung Le in '08, had no answer for Diaz' reach or ground methodology. He huffed, he puffed, but it was Diaz who blew his house down.
Frank has always had trouble with jiu-jitsu specialists: A 1998 bout with Jeremy Horn, considered a throwaway fight for the then-champion, saw Horn dominate before Shamrock converted to Catholicism in mid-fight, praying for and getting a miraculous kneebar; Renzo Gracie controlled him with relative ease in '07; otherwise unimpressive Elvis Sinosic gave him a competitive fight in 2000.
At least one big-money match is out the window: a sequel to the Le/Shamrock fight, which was a popular pick for the scrap of '08. Could it still happen? Only if Strikeforce wants to abandon any semblance of integrity and hand title shots to undeserving contenders.
Better for Shamrock and the promotion is a 10th-anniversary rematch with Ortiz, which would guarantee at least one marquee attraction comes out with a win. (That assumes Ortiz signs, which is far from a certainty given his masochistic relationship with the UFC.)
Depressing as it was, the Diaz/Shamrock fight at least gives a sedative to the notion that Shamrock could go for a run in the UFC's current climate. If he couldn't handle Diaz's swarm of strikes, the violence he'd suffer in a fight with Anderson Silva is beyond comprehension.
Monday, 1:15 p.m. ET: On Strikeforce: Scenes from a class struggle
Nick Diaz didn't exactly morph into Cary Grant on Saturday, but the show of respect and affection he displayed after a one-sided win over lethargic legend Frank Shamrock might have earned him a few new followers.
Diaz, characteristically brash in the buildup to the fight, embraced Shamrock, raised his hand and told the crowd that Shamrock was an influence growing up. (That, and dog-eared copies of High Times magazine procured from a Stockton 7-11.) His ire was raised only briefly, when the arena crew momentarily misplaced his shoes. A search party for his Vans was dispatched, and order was restored.
While they were canvassing, it might have been a good idea to try to find out exactly what the win means for Diaz. If he's comfortable fighting at 179 pounds, he's cornering the market on a weight class recognized by no one. It was an impressive performance, but if he intends to allow his natural weight gain to influence a move to 185 pounds, he should be prepared for far tougher challenges and much, much bigger men.
• With the Diaz brothers failing to incite a riot, Strikeforce's first show was a substantial improvement over the gaudy, tacky veneer of EliteXC, the company whose talent it absorbed, "Highlander"-style, several months ago. Only minor gaffes remain: a booming in-house soundtrack that made frequent and creative use of rap's favorite word -- rhymes with sucker -- was picked up over the air; two creepy CGI sparring partners displayed techniques while missing all of their skin, giving the show an aura of Discovery Channel ick; announcer Mauro Ranallo pronounced "saga" as "sega," which resulted in a Coke Zero going airborne at my screen.
• The good: Pat Miletich offered considerable insight without sounding as concussed as some of his fighting peers put in a similar position; and no giant dragon, which means fewer people mistook the event for an anime convention …
• … unless you count Hitomi "Girlfight Monster" Akano's Godzilla-style mauling at the vicious hands of Cristiane "Cris Cyborg" Santos. An awful mismatch and a poor representation of the depth of talent in the women's division. If fights can't be made without one athlete giving up a terrific amount of weight, I wonder what the future holds for the class after Santos and Gina Carano finally meet. Right now, it's looking like tumbleweeds.
Jake Rossen is the editor of Real Fighter magazine and a contributor to Sherdog.com. He began covering mixed martial arts in 1998.
