And here are their stats, I can’t help but wonder how many of these lightweights are actually feather or bantamweights who couldn’t pass up the opportunity to get some prime time reality show exposure. The show begins on September 15, on Spike.

J.J. Ambrose
Fighting out of: Santa Clara, Calif.
Gym: American Kickboxing Academy
Record: 12-2
Age: 23

Paul Barrow
Fighting out of: Tampa, Fla.
Gym: Gracie Tampa
Record: 2-0
Age: 24

Jason Brenton
Fighting out of: Grand Junction, Colo.
Gym: Eighth Street Impact Boxing
Record: 6-0
Age: 23

Jonathan Brookins
Fighting out of: Orlando, Fla.
Gym: Gracie Barra Orlando
Record: 11-2
Age: 24

Mike Budnik
Fighting out of: Broken Arrow, Okla.
Gym: Triton
Record: 8-4
Age: 35

Alex Caceres
Fighting out of: Miami, Fla.
Gym: Young Tigers Foundation
Record: 4-2
Age: 21

Sako Chivitchian
Fighting out of: Glendale, Calif.
Gym: Gokor/Gene Le Bell/Hayastan MMA
Record: 5-0
Age: 26

Joseph Duffy
Fighting out of: Donegal, Ireland
Gym: Falcon Martial Arts
Record: 7-0
Age: 22

Pablo Garza
Fighting out of: Fargo, N.D.
Gym: Academy of Combat Arts
Record: 7-0
Age: 26

Toby Grear
Fighting out of: Los Angeles
Gym: True Warrior
Record: 7-4-1
Age: 30

Dan Head
Fighting out of: Sharpsville, Ind.
Gym: Indiana Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy
Record: 6-2
Age: 23

Michael Johnson
Fighting out of: Springfield, Mo.
Gym: Springfield Fight Club
Record: 8-4
Age: 24

Amir Khillah
Fighting out of: Kalamazoo, Mich.
Gym: Jeremy Horn’s Elite
Record: 6-4
Age: 30

Jeff Lentz
Fighting out of: Lanoka Harbor, N.J.
Gym: Kurt Pellegrino MMA Academy
Record: 6-1
Age: 21

Sevak Magakian
Fighting out of: Glendale, Calif.
Gym: Hayastan MMA/Main Event
Record: 8-3
Age: 24

Steve Magdaleno
Fighting out of: Torrance, Calif.
Gym: VMAT MMA Gym
Record: 5-1
Age: 28

Andy Main
Fighting out of: Boonton, N.J.
Gym: AMA Fight Club
Record: 4-1
Age: 21

Cody McKenzie
Fighting out of: Metaline, Wash.
Gym: Fancy Pants Fight Team
Record: 10-0
Age: 22

T.J. O’Brien
Fighting out of: Prole, Iowa
Gym: Round Kick MMA
Record: 13-3
Age: 23

Spencer Paige
Fighting out of: Watertown, N.Y.
Gym: Central New York MMA
Record: 5-2
Age: 24

Nam Phan
Fighting out of: Garden Grove, Calif.
Gym: Ma Du Academy
Record: 15-7
Age: 27

Mike Richman
Fighting out of: Rosemount, Minn.
Gym: Minnesota Fight Factory
Record: 8-0
Age: 24

Dane Sayers
Fighting out of: Fargo, N.D.
Gym: Academy of Combat Arts
Record: 7-1
Age: 22

Ariel Sexton
Fighting out of: San Jose, Calif.
Gym: Renzo Gracie Academy
Record: 6-3
Age: 28

Marc Stevens
Fighting out of: Lorraine, N.Y.
Gym: Team Balance/Relson Gracie Academy
Record: 12-5
Age: 24

Kyle Watson
Fighting out of: St. Louis
Gym: The Hit Squad
Record: 13-6-1
Age: 30

Ran Weathers
Fighting out of: Albquerque, N.M.
Gym: Greg Jackson’s MMA Academy
Record: 13-5
Age: 28

Aaron Wilkinson
Fighting out of: Manchester, England
Gym: Wolfslair MMA Academy
Record: 6-3
Age: 23

If I had super slick photoshop skills akin to the guys at Middle Easy I would have made a pic of Sagat with Shoguns head standing over the unconscious body of Machida in a sleeveless gi and a red headband. Or a photo of a knight walking away with a UFC belt with a slayed dragon in the background. Last nights title fight was one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had as a fan of this sport. Seeing a fighter who I thought got robbed in his first title bout, to go and win the immediate rematch in such decisive and brutal fashion was a thing of beauty.

That and going 4 out of 5 picks didn’t hurt either. All in all here are my shortened thoughts of the event. I will do a more in depth write up after I let Machidas first loss marinate on instant replay loop for about an afternoon or so.

- Kos vs. Daley went just as expected sans submission finish. Paul can defend himself off his back but Koscheck is too good of a wrestler to let a dangerous but one dimensional fighter do anything but struggle off his back for the majority of a fight. This was also the second fight that had Kos getting let off the hook from a phantom knee grazing his fro. The cheap shot after the fight was inexcusable & cost Daley his UFC contract. Dude would only flounder as a gate keeper at best any & will be better served obliterating C level fighters in lower teir orgs anyway. Maybe the Iron Mike comparisons were a curse?

- Kimbo’s performance against Meathead Mitrione had its moments, namely the 1st round triangle attempts. But in the second Matt started laying the leg kicks on him and it was a wrap shortly after some of the worst full mount ground and pound I’ve ever seen. Slice also gets to join Daley in the cut by zuffa pool after his loss, wonder how fast Strikeforce is going to pick these guys up.

- Stephens and Stout put on a pretty damn good fight. I expected the long lay off to effect Stephens but he was getting the best of Stout on most of the exchanges thanks to Stouts lack of defense and head movement. Hands of Stone is a gamer but was clearly outclassed early on. Still wondering which round Stout won, but I guess hometown advantage gets you an instant 10-9 in the 1st.

- Cote damn near beat Alan Belcher, I was getting a bad vibe on my pick viewing all the footage from Cote’s training. Dude looked pretty good and motivated and was in the fight until the 2nd round DDT/faceplant variant and subsequent throttling. Good back and forth brawl either way.

Still very happy with the event and will now go back to watching the Machida bandwagon implode as I read multiple mma forums of fans desperately evacuate. Props to MMA Junkie for the photo of the new champ.