UFC164 Main Card predictions and iPad 4th Generation giveaway.

Before I begin, I should preface this by saying that it is not the purpose of this blog to bring MMA news. That are quite a few great sites that do that. Also, predictions are probably not going to be a regular thing, unless I am unusually accurate.

That said, unto the fun stuff! If any individual can correctly predict the outcomes of the UFC 164 main card in great detail, they will be the lucky winner of a brand new iPad!

Of course there are rules. The cutoff limit is Saturday August 31st, 2013 at 5pm EST.
Every fight must be predicted in great detail, i.e. which round, manner of victory. For example it is not sufficient to say Fighter X wins by submission in Round 2. They type of submission must be specified. Likewise, KOs and TKOs will nt be treated as synoynms.

Without further delay, here are my picks:

Anthony Pettis def. Benson Henderson after 5 rounds via unanimous decision
Frank Mir def. Josh Barnett in Round 2 via shoulder lock.
Chad Mendes def. Clay Guida via TKO in Round 3.
Ben Rothwell def. Brandon Vera via KO in Round 3.
Erick Koch def Dustin Poirier after 3 rounds via split decision.

Good luck to all and have fun! The winner will be announced on Sunday.

As always leave comments and e-mail me at mmaace@yahoo.com with questions.

5 Reasons Dana White and Bjorn Rebney need to play nice

It is no secret that The Ultimate Fighting Championships or UFC is the largest MMA organization in the world and Bellator MMA is a somewhat distant second. Also no secret to fight fans is the intense rivalry, if not borderline hatred UFC president Dana White, and Bellator CEO and founder Bjorn Rebney have for each other. And in a sport based almost entirely on rivalry, competition and one-uppance, their distaste for each other seems like a natural progression to some. Inevitable even.

I for one however, do not feel that way. I believe that there is room enough for them both, and additionally, they benefit each other. Wasting no more time or keystrokes, let's get into it, shall we?

1.)  Don't bite the hand that feeds- This must be a joke or typo, right? No. Truth is, as much as Bellator tries to separate itself from the UFC, they have recently started signing UFC washouts. And though this may seem like a hypocritical move on their part and as much as they've been lambasted in the media for it, it is actually quite the business savvy move. The casual fan is the gasoline that powers the engine of the still growing MMA industry. Attracting casual fans with highly recognizable fighters, albeit past their primes, will at least get more eyes on their venture into the realm of PPV shows. And once those eyes are there, they may like the whole package and return even if they don't see a former UFC fighter on the next card.
       That's great, but why should the UFC care? Because they will do the same. They've already signed former Bellator standout Hector Lombard as well Jessica Eye. Their bid for Eddie Alvarez failed, but they will likely land Ben Askren eventually. By absorbing the best talent from other organisations, the UFC can continually claim that their roster is home to the elite.

2.) It's lonely at the top- As mentioned previously the UFC is indeed the largest MMA organisation in the world. And perhaps yes, if all other MMA organizations ceased to exist, the UFC will march on largely unaffected. However, the number one spot is probably more satisfying than say...the only spot. The existence of inferior brands can only make the UFC brand worth that much more. As for Bellator MMA, playing second fiddle to the UFC can't be pleasant, but it has forced them to be more creative. The tournament style is certainly cool and if nothing else, is certainly more objective for creating title contenders than White's declarations.

3.) They are both passionate about MMA- Regardless of their many differences, Rebney and White both share a passion for mixed martial arts. It is their combined love and dedication to the sport that will continue to push MMA further away from the bloody memories of the days when the sport was oft-compared to "human cockfighting". While the UFC may enjoy the fact that many casual observers don't even know the difference between "MMA" and the the UFC as a brand it is important to the legitimacy of the sport that people understand that difference. The success of a "second rate" organization like Bellator will go a long way to making that happen.

4.) United they could stand- Remember when Frank Mir was supposed to face Daniel Cormier in Strikeforce? That fight was getting quite a bit of buzz, and though they would eventually face off in the UFC, it just didn't have the same novelty and luster. If Bellator MMA and the UFC played nice, the potential crossover opportunities would be a promotional godsend for both companies. Admittedly maybe a little more so for Bellator than the UFC, but still.

5.) Strength in numbers- As it is right now, all rules that govern MMA are dictated by the respective athletic commissions. Dana White is the biggest and most obnoxious voice campaigning change. Now imagine a world were Rebney and White stood united. Their considerable influences combined would yield such incredible power that a hole might be torn in the very fabric of the universe. Or not, but you get the point.

What's your take on the White-Rebney feud? Is White right about Bjorn Rebney? Is he in fact scum? Sound off in the comments below and be sure to subscribe,

E-mail suggestions to mmaace@yahoo.com for future blog topics.

Why Anderson Silva cannot beat Chris Weidman

It's been more than a month and a half since the knockout heard around the world. Anderson Silva did his dance and woke up on his back. The opinions have flowed non-stop since Weidman's left fist connected flushly on "The Spider's" face. Silva's diehard fans declare stubbornly that he was clowning around which allowed Weidman the opportunity to land a lucky punch. While Weidman loyalists will testify that Silva always clowns his opponents and Weidman had the answer.

As often is the case, the truth can probably be found somewhere in the middle. Indeed Anderson Silva was playing the fool, and regardless of how refined your skills are, in the dangerous game of mixed martial arts, that puts one at risk. However, to be fair, Anderson Silva often does clown his opponents and it has never before hampered his ability to totally obliterate his opponent. So, what  gives? Is Chris Weidman just that lethal of a striker? Is Anderson Silva just finally falling victim to father time?

To answer this question let's examine the situation fully. Few will argue that Anderson Silva won the first round. Chris Weidman scored an early takedown and inflicted some damage on his accomplished foe. However Silva was eventually able to get to his feet, and because Weidman failed to even attempt another takedown, Anderson realized that he definitely had an advantage in the striking game...as he usually does.

It was only upon realizing this advantage that Silva started to showboat and taunt his opponent. He knew he was faster and his strikes were more accurate. However his mistake was underestimating Chris Weidman's punching power. In an interview about his first fight with Chael Sonnen, he made the interesting if not self-serving observation that Chael Sonnen had top position for much of the fight and was unable to finish him. A testament to Sonnen's lack of knock out power perhaps.

Chris Weidman is no Chael Sonnen though. Though Weidman's strikes are rudimentary when compared to that of highly versed striking artists such as Carlos Condit, Anthony Pettis or Anderson Silva himself, his punching power is certainly no joke. It is a safe bet that Anderson Silva would outstrike Chris Weidman if  he so chose. But he didn't. He danced, swayed and feigned being hurt. The problem with that was that Weidman timed him perfectly and made his punch count.

Not only did Chris Weidman beat Silva at his own game but he did it convincingly. However the truth that evades most fans is the particular reason why Anderson Silva was showboating. It wasn't merely that he "always does", rather it had more to do with goading Weidman into a kickboxing match. Silva knew all too well that Weidman was capable of grinding him out much like Sonnen did. The key difference being that Weidman was less likely to make the kind of mistakes that Sonnen does from top position that got him submitted.

So yes, when Silva and Weidman square off for a second time my hypothetical dollars will be on Chris Weidman. Not because Chris Weidman is the more complete fighter, because he isn't. But MMA is a match ups game and Weidman has Silva's number. I'm guessing he's going to call again.

Time for Frank Mir to hang them up?

Frank Mir has long been one of my favorite MMA fighters. From his modified shoulder lock on Pete Williams to breaking Tim Sylvia's arm and knocking out Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Mir certainly has his fair share of highlights. More than that however is his indefeatable swagger and confidence. Not to mention his articulate nature.

In spite of all of those qualities however, it is jiu-jitsu for which he is best known. He may not be the best pure jiu-jitsu practitioner in the world, or even the UFC for that matter (Demain Maia), but his grappling skills are well adapted to the diverse artform of MMA. It is this well-honed skill that has allowed him to amass more submissions and victories than any other heavyweight inside the famed Octagon.

This however is a new era. It's a cliche that gets tossed around in the MMA world for one reason. It's true. Fighters like Rory McDonald, Jose Aldo, Cain Velasquez and Demetrious Johnson all truly redefine the term "all-around fighters". Don't get me wrong, Frank Mir is a decent striker, but his wrestling is mediocre at best. What you're left with is a massive man with incredible jiu-jitsu, and knockout power. To take a dimmer view, his striking is powerful but slow and a tad predictable. And neither his takedown accuracy nor takedown defense is what one would call excellent.

This leaves Mir as one of the dinosaurs in the heavyweight division. One better suited for the days of Tank Abbot and Tim Sylvia than Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos. The heavyweights of today are far better strikers and can nullify the obvious advantage that Mir has on the mat. This isn't to say that strikers are superior fighters, but as mentioned previously Frank Mir has mediocre takedown accuracy. If he can't get his opponents to the ground, who can he beat?

Frank Mir's next match-up will see him face another old guard like himself in Josh Barnett. And truthfully, I actually like him in that fight. The fight is an opportunity for him to get another notch in the win column following consecutive losses but still far from a warm-up match.

As Mir ages, even the fighters he would have once beaten will gain an edge on him. And he will fall even further from gatekeeper to has been. It would be sad for Frank Mir to face the same fate as BJ Penn. The longer a fighter prods on past their prime, the more distant a memory their greatness become. As it is already, Mir's record is a pedestrian 16-7. Mir should be remembered as a lethal grappler with devastating knockout power. Those gifts however are insufficient to allow him to keep up with the new breed of fighters though, and it would be a shame for him to be remembered as an inadequate wrestler with rudimentary striking skills.

What do you think? Is it the end of the road for Frank Mir, or does he have another run at the belt in him?

The Benson Henderson myth

With UFC 164 ticking closer every second, MMA diehards and casual fans alike await with beer filled breath for the rematch between lightweight champion Benson Henderson and sensational top contender Anthony Pettis. Anyone who saw their first matchup against each other for the WEC finale was treated to a battle royale, even if the fight was not nearly as close as the media would try to have us believe. An understandable if not predictable sin when promoting a fight.

However the issue for me is the underlying message seeped in promotional ads for their upcoming rematch. Terms such as "an invincible aura" and "going 7-0" are tossed around. The implication here of course is that Anthony Pettis is facing a vastly improved Benson Henderson and would probably be lucky to beat Henderson a second time.

But how true is that really?

Anthony "Showtime" Pettis is portrayed as the flashy and dynamic striker while Henderson is also a talented striker but the superior wrestler. With a noticably higher takedown average this seems to hold true. However a closer look at the stats reveal that Anthony Pettis has an amazing takedown accuracy of 77% versus the 65% of Henderson, Certainly one can argue that it is easier to have a higher percentage with less attempts, which is true but you must still land those attempts though. Moreover, Pettis actually has a very slight advantage in takedown defense.While Henderson has a slim advantage in striking accuracy,

So much for striker versus wrestler.

Let's take a look at another factor shall we? Pettis and Henderson are 26 and 29 years old respectively. There are without question both still in their physical primes and age probably will not be a deciding factor here. So why bring it up? There is constant chatter that Benson Henderson has improved, which is plausible, but certainly hasn't been proven given that many feel he shoud have lost at least one of his title defenses. In the meantime has Anthony Pettis somehow stagnated or even deteriorated between the crucial years of 23 to 26?

The problem I have especially as mentioned earlier is the "aura of invincibility" label attached to Benson Henderson. His two fights against Frankie Edgar is certainly evidence that he is far from a domineering champ that dismantles opponents with ease. His first fight with Edgar was close, but the rematch was so close that even though I initially gave it to Edgar, looking at the stats on paper is remarkable. It appears that two equally trained twins fought each other. But he has "an aura of invincibility"?

Henderson's most convincing win in the UFC was probably against Nate Diaz and even that was no one-sided beatdown. Indeed Pettis is unlikely to catch Henderson with another "Showtime kick" but I have him winning this fight. Probably 4 rounds to 1. This is not in any way meant to disrespect Benson Henderson, who is indeed as disciplined as he is dangerous. However he is merely a fighter who is a little better than most fighters in his division. Not including Anthony Pettis.

*All stats provided by FightMetric*