Sorry for the no show for the past couple of days, had to reattach pieces of my keyboard back together after my son tore a bunch off. Enough about me and my bellyaching how about some mma content.

This sunday will mark the UFC’s second appearance on the Versus network. The card will also feature the same headliner, light heavyweight phenom Jon ‘Bone’ Jones facing the UFC veteran and former IFC light heavyweight champion Vladimir Matyushenko. Tonights event takes place at the San Diego Sports Arena in California, the picks will be main card only.

vs.

Jon Jones vs. Vladimir Matyushenko – It’s hard not to pick against Bones, the man destroys his opponents even when he loses. Going up against him is a solid journeyman in The Janitor, other than his wrestling stifling Jones en route to a decision I see this fight ending in brutal fashion. Barring Matyushenko revealing a weakness or flaw in Jones’s game or a repeat of Jon’s performance against Hammil earlier this year, expect a stunning finish.

Bones – Via Hellbow TKO

Mark Munoz vs. Yushin Okami – This is a really intriguing fight with possible title implications for the winner. Both fighters are primarily bullying wrestlers, Okami has showcased a new found striking acumen in his last fight earning him a tko victory, in stark contrast to his usual unanimous decision winning ways. Munoz on the other hand is usually gets out struck in the stand up department and is more dependent on his wrestling to get his opponents to the ground where he unleashes his most dangerous offensive tool: his murderous ground and pound.

Even though I think Munoz is a pretty cool person, this is looking like a really rough fight for him. If Okami is able to stuff his takedowns and pick him apart with his upgraded pugilism, he may get his long awaited title shot.

Okami – via TKO

Google Images and comic book nerds with photoshop skills FTW

Jake ‘The Juggernaut’ Ellenberger vs. John ‘Doomsday’ Howard
This fight should take an awards bonus if it plays out as expected. Other than a slight edge in the wrestling department going to Ellenberger, these two brawlers will put on a display of destructive reckless abandon that should please everyone. As a fan of both fighters it will suck to see one of them get clobbered but hey, that’s the fight game. Jakes edge gives him options so I will go with The Juggenaut.

Ellenberger – via KO

Takanori Gomi vs. Tyson Griffin In a battle for lightweight relevancy expect to see Gomi throw everything but the kitchen sink at Griffin. But still getting stifled and stymied and losing a decision. Barring an inexplicable return to Pride era form, Tyson takes this easy. On a side note both fighters would be better off and more competitive at featherweight.

Griffin – via Unanimous Decision

2010: The Year of the Powerbomb

Here are the main card results from Watchkalibrun.com. The gif is from Middle Easy the pic is from MMA Fighting.

Main Event

* Shane Del Rosario def. Lolohea Mahe via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 3:48

* Sarah Kaufman def. Roxanne Modafferi via knockout (slam) – Round 3, 4:45. Sarah Kaufman retains Strikeforce 135lbs. Women’s title.

* Bobby Voelker def. Cory Devela via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28).

* Mike Kyle def. Ron “Abongo” Humphrey via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 3:2.

* Caros Fodor def. Thomas Diagne via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).

I could have gone 5-0 if I had the guts to go with my head over my heart in the championship bout. Alas my enjoyment of both fighters made that too difficult to deal with. That being said the bar has been set for female fight of the year with Kaufmans first title defense against Roxy Modaferri. It was a tug of war from the opening frame but as the fight wore on it was Kaufmans athleticism that won her the fight.

Most of the fight was spent jockeying for position in the clinch with Roxy threatening with trips and takedowns, one of which she got in the first round. In the second Sarah go to show of her combo punching in a few stand up skirmishes where she clearly had the upper hand. In the third both fighters spent time on their backs. When the challenger Modaferri was in top position she had a hard time advancing or landing strikes against the champion who did her best to not take damage and kept her at bay.

When the tables were turned Kaufman was wary of the threats inherent in the guard of Modaferri and while defending what looked to be the beginning of an submission (probably an armbar). Sarah Kaufman made good on her word to make a statement for being put on bigger cards by hoisting Modaferri off her back and slamming her unconscious. A finish so dramatic that I would venture it and the Zoila Frausto smashing of Rosi Sexton will both be up for knockout of the year.

The rest of the event was entertaining with only one decision in the Fodor vs Diagne fight at the beginning of the main card. An unexpectedly good night of fights from a sleeper of a card that was a gem for anybody who watched it.

Going to have to rattle this one off quick fast in a hurry. The event starts in less than 10 minutes so this will be main card only

THOMAS DIAGNE VS. CAROS FODOR – Going with the guy whose name is similar to one of the best fighters in the sport. Variable assessment/style match up breakdown be damned.

CORY DEVELA VS. BOBBY VOELKER – Voelker via Clobbering Time

ABONGO HUMPHREY VS. MIKE KYLE – Humphrey is in for a long hard night, he is a good fighter but Kyle is way bigger, more experienced and if he doesn’t gas takes this easy.

Strikeforce Female Welterweight Championship

CHAMP SARAH KAUFMAN VS. ROXANNE MODAFFERI – This is going to be an amazing fight. As a huge fan of both fighters I am seriously conflicted. My head says Kaufmans rock solid boxing fundamentals will keep the fight where she wants it and if it does go to the ground her purple belt bjj will keep her out of trouble. My heart has to go to Roxy’s indomitable fighting spirit and grit, she may not be on Sarah’s level in the striking department but she can hold her own.

This fight as I see it will come down to who is the better athlete and has the better cardio. With that said I CAN’T PICK AGAINST EITHER FIGHTER. I am hoping for a competitive display of mixed martial arts, that is all.

SHANE DEL ROSARIO VS. LOLOHEA MAHE – Size disadvantage aside Del Rosario takes this easy, especially if Mahe doesn’t knock his head off and is dragged into the second frame. Expect either a tko or sub from Shane.

Weigh in stare down. Photos by Ester Lin

The only semi-major event going on this weekend will be Strikeforce Challengers 9 that will feature Sarah Kaufman making her first title defense against Roxanne Modaferri (check out here new highlight vid from Fightlinker.

As a fan of both fighters it will be hard to watch and even harder to pick, but I will be glad for an event this weekend. Not to mention having the site back up is pretty nice too.

A refreshing and candid conversation between Ariel Helwani and Joe Rogan about his views on mixed martial arts and commentating. Say what you will about Rogans bias or errors he makes, but I wouldn’t trade him for some soulless automaton with no visible palpable love for the sport.

Rogan gets in the zone right before he gets called up to do some stand up, here is part 2 when he is finished and they pick up where they left off. If you enjoyed this you should probably check out Rogans weekly podcast and for Candadas gift to mma journalism Ariel Helwani head over to MMA Fighting for his articles and podcast.

From Caposa

Truly brutal stuff here, I am guessing the Sandro and Frausto finishes will be in volume 2.

Props to Fight Magazine for producing these awesome videos of WEC Featherweight champ and one of my favorite fighters Jose Aldo.

The two vids cover the personal side of Aldo, from his tough upbringing and meeting the woman who would become his wife. His first sport of choice soccer/football/the worlds game/the beautiful game and how he eventually got into mma.

Let me preface this by saying “GODDAMN YOU CARWIN FOR FALLING FOR LESNARS HOMER SIMPSON STRATEGY”. Now with my questions.

Leben proving doubters (myself included) WRONG!

- What is Akiyama’s biggest flaw: cardio or fighting in the wrong weight class?

- Is Leben making a case for comeback fighter of 2010?

- We still have to wait for the speculative ppv #’s but was this Lesnars defining moment, unlike UFC 100 he wasn’t sharing the spotlight with another popular champ in Boss Canada or two TUF coaches nor was there a video game coming out. Not to mention there still being some lingering world cup action & NBA Free Agency frenzy (OMG LeBron, what will he do). Did Lesnar pull off the biggest win in his career so far with his second title defense?

Big win or biggest win?

- Does a main event finish define and entire card/ppv broadcast? It seems no matter how many finishes are on the card or even the co main event if there is no definitive exclamation point put on the main event the entire card suffers for it?

- Is there a place for a new, more sensitive, humble and introspective post illness Lesnar. Or is it passe to heel it up since he has come into his own as a fighter?

- Both Lawlor and Petruzelli seem to have the same problem with pasting their opponents in the first rounds then gassing and getting out grappled.

Cage grabbers get slammed. gif via Caposa on the UG

-Did Gerald Harris steal Rampages thunder? And with 5 finishes in the UFC why hasn’t he been moved to the main card yet? As a Team Thirsty member alongside Rashad and King Mo are we seeing another variant of “The Cuban” or is this just how The Hurricane throws down?

WHAT THE HELL DOES THIS EVEN MEAN?!?

Bizarre post fight pose aside, Bonnar proves once again to be nigh unfinishble and a true company man in receiving one of 2
75k fight of the night bonuses. From MMA Junkie

LAS VEGAS – Gerald Harris, Brock Lesnar, Stephan Bonnar, Krzysztof Soszynski, Chris Leben and Yoshihiro Akiyama each earned $75,000 fight-night bonuses for their performances at Saturday’s UFC 116 event.

Harris earned the “Knockout of the Night” award, Lesnar earned the “Submission of the Night” bonus, and Bonnar, Soszynski, Leben, Akiyama all earned “Fight of the Night” honors

You know you are screwed when you can't even tap.

- Is the new grapple savvy Lytle just going for bonuses or is he making a real title run?

- Is the inverted triangle like the 4 minute mile, once one fighter does it is it the new cool sub to wrap people up in?

- A truly exciting (I would even go as far to say WEC level in terms of action) card actually featured bouts in every weight class, when was the last time that happened?

Thanks to Fightlinker doing most of the link work for me, lol.

Photo by the great Ester Lin

At the MGM Grand in Las Vegas this weekends UFC event thanks in no small part to last weeks upset of consensus #1 heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko. Will feature a championship bout that should shake up the rankings even more as current champ Brock Lesnar defends his belt against undefeated interim champ Shane Carwin. I will be focusing on the main card and spike prelim bouts.

Main Card

About as close as were going to get to the real thing

UFC Heavyweight Championship

Brock Lesnar vs. Shane Carwin

I doubt I can offer any special insight into this bout or uncover some unforeseen angle/variable. Since the aftermath of UFC 111 when Carwin won the interim strap people have been salivating over this fight. The similarities between these two opponents are uncanny at best, both have won NCAA titles (Brock D1, Shane D2), have ridiculous reach (Lesnar 81′, Carwin 80′) and both fighters swing the two biggest glove sizes in the UFC (4XL for Brock, 5 for Shane). Both men have relied on their hulking size and nigh superhuman athleticism to overwhelm their opponents.

They will finally come face to face with an opponent who can cancel out their athletic prowess in one another. Lesnar may have a slight edge in wrestling but Carwin is no slouch in the rasslin’ department and is the more multifaceted fighter than Brock who has to get you down and maintain top position before he does his most effective damage. Lesnar is also coming off a 10 month plus lay off due to illness, a major hurdle for most fighters especially one with as little cage time as Lesnar who is competing at the highest level possible. These combined disadvantages do not bode well for the current champ. I expect Carwin to make short work of him

Carwin – via TKO

Co-Main Event
Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Chris Leben

Leben is stepping in for Wanderlei Silva on short notice to face Sexyama. The Crippler is a good company man and will make this an exciting fight. Akiyama on the other hand went from fighting an mma legend/superstar to now having to deal with an iron headed brawler who is can derail his title aspirations. If Leben can pressure Akiyama into a brawl, he may win, but Sexyama strikes me as a guy who knows he needs to win and will do his damndest to grind out a win.

Akiyama – via Split decision

Krzysztof Soszynski vs. Stephan Bonnar

Bonnar is REALLY washed up.

Soszynski – via UD

George Sotiropoulos vs. Kurt Pellegrino

When two seasoned grapplers step in the cage you will either get a ground war or bad kickboxing. Since Sotiropoulos has some professional boxing experience, Pellegrino is a wrestler primarily I will give George the edge in being well rounded and having more tools. This fight is evenly matched and should get an awards bonus (fight of the night or sub) I see Sotiropoulos continuing his flawless UFC career.

George Greek Noise – via UD

Chris Lytle vs. Matt Brown

Another fight destined for a awards bonus is a rematch between two exciting welterweights. I see Lytle busting out his submission skills once again.

Lytle – via Sub

Spike TV Prelims:

Brendan Schaub vs. Chris Tuchscherer

Brocks training partner vs Carwins lol. I like Schaub but Tuchscherer’s wrestling pedigree will come into play. Logic be damned.

Schaub – via Sub

Seth Petruzelli vs. Ricardo Romero

The Kimbo killer returns to the UFC, I hope this new guy isn’t as good as his record makes him out to be.

Petruzelli – via TKO

From MMA Junkie

Two weeks ago, budding female prospect Zoila Frausto (7-1 MMA, 1-0 BFC) wasn’t even a part of Bellator Fighting Championships’ upcoming 115-pound female tournament.

Now – courtesy of a devastating knockout of Rosi Sexton – Frausto is in the tournament and already training for a planned matchup on Aug. 19.

The “Warrior Princess” today told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio) that the promotion intends to match her up against Jessica Pene (7-0 MMA, 1-0 BFC) at Bellator 25.

Now that she has fought her way in, all she has to do is make weight and kick ass in what is looking like one of the more compelling tournaments of Bellators third season.