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UFC 88: “Breakthrough” was held at The Phillips Arena in Atlanta, GA.  This was the first UFC event ever held in Georgia.  It had a phenomenal fight card with big names such as Dan Henderson, Nate Marquardt, Rich Franklin, and Chuck Liddell.  This card did not disappoint the fans and it most certainly lived up to its expectations.  The card had a co-main event featuring two light heavyweight bouts.  The first fight featured Rich Franklin taking on Matt “The Hammer” Hamill.  The second match was between Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell and “Sugar” Rashad Evans.  Without further ado, let’s get to the action.

The first fight of the night was a welterweight bout between TUF cast member Matt Brown and South Korean Dong Hyun Kim.  Kim controlled the first round by taking Brown’s back early and often.  He put a lot of pressure on Brown, but Brown was able to weather the storm.  The second round started and Brown came out very aggressive.  It was clear to see that Kim was extremely tired and wasted most of his energy in the first round.  Brown was able to dictate the pace and kept the fight standing but could not put Kim away.  The third round began the same way the second round did with Brown coming out trying to push the pace.  However, Kim was able to score a couple of takedowns.  The round ended with Kim landing elbows and cutting the cheek of Brown.  When it was all said and done, Dong Hyun Kim was able to pull out the victory via split decision.

The next fight was a middleweight match between Nate “The Great” Marquardt and Martin “Hitman” Kampmann.  This fight did not last long at all.  Marquardt was able to land a head kick with in the first minute of the fight.  Kampmann was stunned and tried to scramble away, but Marquardt kept the pressure on Kampmann was able to score the knockout win in 1:22 of the very first round.

Next up was another middleweight fight between Brazilian Top Team fighter Rousimar Palhares and former Pride 185lb. and 205lb. champion Dan Henderson.  The first round began with both men a little hesitant.  Palhares tried to take the fight to ground but was unsuccessful.  Henderson was able to land some good punches and was able to knock down Palhares.  The round ended with Palhares finally scoring the takedown, but eventually running out of time.  The second round started and both men stuck to their game plans.  Palhares was able to pick up Henderson and slam him to the mat.   Palhares sunk in two tight heel hooks, but Henderson escaped successfully on both occasions.   Henderson was getting the better the stand up and we went to a final round.  The third round was relatively uneventful.  Henderson was able to land a big shot on Palhares in the final seconds and ended the fight with some good ground and pound.   Henderson’s superior striking and ability to scramble out of tough positions were the difference makers in this fight.  Henderson won by unanimous decision.

The next bout was a light heavyweight bout between Michael Patt and Tim “The Barbarian” Boetsch.  This fight was all standup.  Boetsch was able to put together some really good combinations.  Boetsch caught Patt right on the chin and knocked him down.  He jumped on Patt and pounded him out in 2:03 of the first round.

The next fight was the first of a co-main event.  It featured TUF alum Matt “The Hammer” Hamill and former middleweight champion Rich “Ace” Franklin.  Franklin was able to put together great combinations and pick Hamill apart.  Hamill was able to score a takedown in the first round, but Franklin was able scramble out of danger.  The second round began and Franklin started right where he left off.  He was landing many leg and body kicks that were taking their toll on Hamill.  Hamill couldn’t seem to muster up any type of offense against Franklin in this fight.  The third round started and Franklin once again started to physically dissect Hamill.  Franklin landed a brutal kick to the body that dropped Hamill and ended the fight at 39 seconds of the third round.

The main event of the night was a light heavyweight bout between “Sugar” Rashad Evans and former champion Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell.  Chuck was heavily favored in this fight.  The fight began and both men were willing to trade.  Evans was very elusive and used the stick and move technique, but Chuck was still able to catch him with some good shots.  The first round ended with neither man ahead of the other.  The second round began the same way as the first round did with Evans bobbing and weaving and Chuck looking for the one punch knockout.  Then all of a sudden, Rashad throws a huge overhand right that knocks Chuck out cold and stopping the fight at 1:51 of the second round.

Overall, this was a great night of fights.  All of the bouts were full of action and worth watching.  I believe however, that the main event leaves MMA fans with a few questions.  The first question is does this win put Rashad Evans next in line for a title shot?  At this point I can’t think of anyone who deserves a shot more than Evans, especially with such a devastating finish like tonight.  The next question is what is next for Chuck Liddell?  Right now I don’t see him getting another title fight anytime soon after tonight.  The other problem is that he is 38 years old.  Time is definitely against Liddell and I don’t think he wants to become a gate keeper to the title.  Is it time for him to retire, or is there still more fight left in Chuck Liddell?  Only time will tell.

Here are some significant key changes to recent upcoming MMA events.

WEC 36 postponed to November 5th due to severe weather events scheduled to hit south Florida.  The event, originally scheduled for Sept. 10^th, looks to be an amazing card with Urijah Faber taking on the underrated Mike Brown, and Paulo Filho defending his belt against a surging Chael Sonnen.

UFC announces the cancellation of the Karo Parisyan and Yoshiyuki Yoshida fight scheduled to take place at UFC 88. The official reason for the bout being cancelled was said to be due to medical reasons on the part of Parisyan, more specifically, back problems.  Due to Parisyan’s pulling out so late, no opponent could be found for Yoshida on such short notice.   Since the Parisyan/Yoshida fight has been bumped from the card, the Matt Brown versus Dong Hyun Kim fight has been moved up to the main televised card. 

UFC announces the cancellation of the Thiago Silva/Lyoto Machida fight schedule for UFC 89.  The undefeated Silva has been fighting back problems for a while now, which has led to his pulling out of the fight.  The UFC front office is currently trying to find another quality opponent to fight the All-World Machida.      

By Nicolas Bauer

WEC 36 looks to deliver a solid card as usual. Urijah Faber and Paulo Filho headline the card as they defend their feather-weight and middle-weight titles repectively. “Razor” Rob McCullough and Jens “Little Evil” Pulver add more star power as they are both slated to fight as well. The WEC has managed to string together some good fight cards as of late and this one seems to be no different.

The junior version of the UFC has done a great job of making the most of their opportunities. Fight cards rarely disappoint and fighters looking to make a name for themselves often produce memorable appearances. I almost hate to say it, but the WEC cards have been more well-rounded and entertaining to watch as of late, then some of the UFC’s recent offerings. On to the fights:

Rani Yahya Vs Yoshiro Maeda
There are probably not that many secret strategies being used in this one. Yahya is a talented ground fighter and managed to sub Mark Hominick after eating a decent amount of clean shots from the Canadian kick-boxer. Maeda is coming off a tough loss to Miguel Torres, after an impressive and gutsy showing, in which doctors called the fight due to an eye injury at the end of the third round. Maeda has won the majority of his fights by some form of knock out so he should look to end it similarly.

Outcome: Maeda should take this one. His aggression should be enough to keep the slick Yahya from gaining too great a position. I see Maeda ending the fight with strikes sometime late in the first or early in the second round.

Johny Hendricks Vs Alex Serdyukov
Hendricks is relatively green in terms of his MMA experience, but Serdyukov at 8-4 does not have a ton of experience. However, 3 of his 4 losses are to John Alessio (2) and John Fitch (1), not poor competition by any means. Serdyukov obviously has the edge in experience, but this fight is going to come down to execution, the more prepared fighter will win.

Outcome: Serdyukov should take this one no later than the second round, and I would not be surprised if it came by some kind of semi-basic choke submission.

Ed Ratcliff Vs Danny Castillo
Ratcliff and Castillo are both relative newcomers in terms of total fights, but this fight could be very entertaining. Ratcliff has a tendency to end fights with a bang, and Castillo has most of his wins by submission. This fight gives someone the chance to make a name for themselves in the sport and an impressive ending could mean bigger fights in the future.

Outcome: Ratcliff has the potential to stop this fight in the firs round, but the longer the fight goes, the more it favors Castillo. That being said, Castillo is going to eek out a victory in the second round via submission, after surviving an onslaught in the first.

Alex Schoenauer Vs. Steve Steinbeiss
Schoenauer has been around the block with the UFC and most recently with the IFL, while Steinbeiss is a relatively unknown. Steinbeiss is coming of 3 consecutive wins however, and is looking to make a name for himself. Schoenauer is coming off a mediocre 5-5 stint in the IFL and looking to re-establish himself as a contender.

Outcome: Schoenauer is going to take this one, probably via decision. Steinbess can definitely win this fight, but the it’s Schoenauer’s fight to lose.

Jose Aldo Vs Jonathan Brookins
Aldo and Brookins are both newcomers to the WEC, with Aldo having one fight for the company. Both fighters have impressive records and this fight could produce one of the better endings of the night.

Outcome: Aldo is going to win this one by stoppage in the first round.

Rob McCullough Vs Donald Cerrone
McCullough is coming off an unimpressive victory over Kenneth Alexander and losing his title to Jamie Varner in the fight before. Rob needs to come out aggressive and utilize his variety of strikes to pace he fight. Cerrone is undefeated at 8-0 and a win over McCullough would put him inline for a title shot.

Outcome: Cerrone is going to surprise some people and pull the upset here. He is very tall for a light-weight and Razor might take this fight lightly, and not properly prepare to deal with the reach disadvantage. Cerrone by 3^rd round TKO.

Danillo Villefort Vs Jake Roshalt
Villefort and Roshalt are making their WEC debuts, and both fighters have the opportunity to get on the WEC radar. Villefort is well traveled in his young career, and should carry a slight experience edge into the fight.

Outcome: Villefort’s experience should carry him through and earn him a 2^nd round stoppage either due to strikes to a submission.

Jens Pulver Vs Leonard Garcia
Pulver and Garcia are former UFC fighters and that usually ensures an entertaining fight. Pulver is coming off his win over Cub Swanson, and Garcia is most remembered for his loss against Roger Huerta. Both fighters like to throw their hands and should provide a very entertaining 1^st round. Although Pulver is much more experienced I think Garcia is no slouch and will give Jens a good fight.

Outcome: Garcia is a tough competitor with a good chin, but Pulver provides a good combination of power and technique. Garcia is going to pull an upset in this one. His combination of grittiness and attitude will keep him in the fight long enough for him to catch Jens by surprise, and score the unexpected knock out.

Paulo Filho Vs Chael Sonnen
In a rematch for the middle-weight title Filho is looking to prove his win over Sonnen in their first fight was not a fluke, or phantom tap. Their first meeting was more than competitive with Sonnen winning the stand-up exchanges. Once the fight hit the ground Filho’s superior ground skills were enough to pull off the armbar in the end.

Outcome: Sonnen has every chance to grab the victory in the rematch and if he keeps it on the feet he will win. Filho is going to attempt to get the fight to the ground one way or another, but a game Sonnen will out-pace and out-strike the smaller Filho for the win.

Urijah Faber Vs Mike Brown
Faber is coming off a dominant performance over Jens Pulver, and is attempting to further his legacy as the best feather-weight in the sport. Brown is riding a 7-fight win streak into this fight, but he will need much more than that to come out victorious. Faber has a wealth of experience for a young fighter, along with top level skill and determination.

Outcome: A well prepared Faber should make short work of Brown. His game is constantly improving and unless he takes this fight easy, it should be over before the bell sounds in the 2^nd. Faber could win this fight on skill alone but it may go to decision that way.

In a shocking turn of events, Randy Couture, once thought to be banished from the UFC forever, signed a three-fight deal with the company.  In an even more shocking announcement, the UFC stated yesterday that Couture would fight the flamboyant, and somewhat sideshow-like, Brock Lesnar.   Only a few days ago did it even seem like a reality that “The Natural” would even consider coming back to the UFC, and to that end, it was rumored to be only a one-fight gig.  Many thought that the “one fight” was going to be against the winner of the fight between the interim Heavyweight champ, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Frank Mir, which will take place this December.

In theory, that one fight deal would nullify Couture’s previous disputed deal, and might have paved the way for an amicable exit for one of the top three MMA fighters of all time.  As it is, Couture’s  new three fight deal  will start with Lesnar, and if he wins that he will then fight the winner of the December  Nogueira/Mir fight in order to unify the UFC heavyweight and interim heavyweight titles.  When speaking of the Couture/Lesnar fight, UFC president Dana White said that this fight could possibly be the highest grossing MMA pay-per-view ever.  Given the respect and fan base of Couture, and the sideshow draw that is Lesnar, that may very be the case.  It also may be safe to assume that any fight card boasting Couture’s presence will be a huge draw.    

The fight as it stands, experience and records not included, appears to look great on paper.  This will ultimately be a wrestling lover’s delight.  Couture is as good as it gets on the mat, and we all know Lesnar’s wrestling qualifications, WWE exempt, even.  Couture, while he is definitely a legend, is only 6-5 over his last 11 fights, which can add a little confidence to the self-assured Lesnar, but he should not read too much into those losses, as those losses came at the hands of some of the best in the business.  Nonetheless, Lesnar will use the recent won/loss record of Couture to bolster his case to all who will listen before the fight. 

Ironically enough, Kim Couture, wife of Randy, went on record as saying that Lesnar doesn’t pose any more difficult a challenge to “The Natural” than Gabriel Gonzaga or Tim Sylvia.  We will go on the record as saying that Lesnar is a better pure wrestler and way stronger than either Sylvia or Gonzaga, or both combined for that matter.  With this being said, given Couture’s record and his legend, it is kind of comical to think that an ordinary upstart in the sport could challenge a legend.  Then again, the Legend is 45 years old.  Conversely, the upstart in question is anything but ordinary and isn’t your average newcomer to the sport.

Some call him a hero, some call him a fluke.  Some call him cash cow, golden goose, or even golden boy.  No matter what he is called, Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson is definitely a polarizing figure.  He hasn’t fought many fights that have been sanctioned by the sport of MMA, but already he has dominated legends, plowed through soup cans, and has been tested by questionable talent.  Ferguson is obviously the poster child for a company that is floundering and fighting for its very existence.   To date, Ferguson has yet to be tested by anyone with notable skills and has yet to fight anyone of any significant MMA talent.  That will soon change because on October 4, 2008 Ferguson will face an older, but still dangerous “World’s Most Dangerous Man,” Ken Shamrock.  The event will air live on CBS. 

Some are saying that Shamrock is simply a shell of his former self.  The 44 year-old Shamrock, loser of his last five fights, hasn’t won since he beat Kimbo back in June of 2004.  Yes, that’s right; I said he beat Kimbo, Kimbo Leopoldo, that is, not Kimbo Slice.  If that doesn’t sound bad enough, over his last 10 fights, dating back to August of 2000, Shamrock has a record of 2-8, with 1 loss coming by way of decision (Don Frye) and the other seven losses coming via KO or TKO.  Ken definitely leads with his face, which is why some fans are saying that Shamrock has been hand-picked for the strike-happy/strike-only Ferguson. 

So, who better to throw in front of your punch-happy golden boy who has no ground game, than a man who can’t defend a jab or a right hook?  “Not so fast” Shamrock implied as he told ESPN’s MMA Live that he believes Ferguson has been gift wrapped for him and not the other way around.  Later, when asked by Kenny Florian if he was afraid to stand with Ferguson, Shamrock said that he believed Kimbo Slice was overrated and the guys he (Ferguson) has fought have either “gassed out,” have had limited skills, or didn’t have “the will to want to fight.”  Shamrock went on to say that he didn’t feel that Ferguson was a threat to him anywhere in the octagon.

Any way you paint it, Ferguson has never fought a fighter the caliber of Shamrock, aged or not.  Even creeping up in the years, Shamrock still has a better ground game than all the fighters Slice has faced…combined!  Ferguson was exposed on the ground when a bag of tuna fish and coffee grinds named James “The Colossus” Thompson almost stole the show, and a win, from Kimbo Slice. Look for Shamrock to take Ferguson to the ground and attempt several submissions.  If this fight does go to the ground expect Shamrock to teach Ferguson a valuable lesson in MMA-ology, but if Shamrock continues to consider stopping strikes with his face an actual defense, you can expect the Kimbo Slice legend to grow, at least until he faces another aged, slightly past-his-prime fighter.

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