Bellator has made the “Bellator Road to the Finals” available to the public. The show chronicles each tournament fight in season 2 and catches viewers up to speed on anything they may have missed.

Bellator XXI will broadcast live on FSN this Thursday at 8pm ET. ( check your local listings for times in your area)

In the following video Franklin breaks down his training, his thoughts on Liddell, and his thoughts on the fight.

Amidst the complaints, boo birds, and increasing number of fans finding reasons to complain, right now is the best time in history to be a fan of Mixed Martial Arts.

It’s amazing looking back a few short years to a time when watching the sport was much more difficult. If you were rabid follower of mixed martial arts ( then commonly referred to as no holds barred fighting) your viewing options were extremely limited, you could travel to your local video store in hopes that the latest tape was available ( of which the store would carry one copy  often 6 month old events), you could search online click the link and begin the tireless operation of downloading a grainy MPEG with your 56K modem and wait 24 hours to watch 3:12 of action, or you could search the back of magazines and order a VHS copy of the latest event many times lacking English commentary, or the ever popular tape trading forums where you too could purchase home video of fights from basements in some foreign country.

Oh how times have changed, I can vividly remember last November was speaking with FiveOuncesofPain.com’s managing editor Cory Brady, the conversation consisted of my amazement that we were moving into uncharted territory. At the time there was an unheard-of nine major events being held in a three-week period.

For both of us a schedule of events like this was unheard-of, as a fan of mixed martial arts in 2010 it is becoming more and more commonplace. For the first time in my many years of watching the sport, the last 10 days of May prove to be the time where I simply could not watch every live event available to me. In retrospect it’s a good problem to have. With TiVo and advances on the Internet fans have the ability to watch the sport, ALL of the sport, virtually anything they want. I look back at the end of May shows us exactly how far we’ve come,

May 19 – The Ultimate Fighter-Spike

May 20 – Bellator XIX – FSN

May 21- Moosin- PPV

May 21- STRIKEFORCE Challengers

May 21- K-1 World GP 2010 in Bucharest

May 22- Jungle Fights – ESPN Deportes

May 26- The Ultimate Fighter-Spike

May 27- Bellator XX- FSN

May 28- M-1 Selection Eastern Europe Semi-Final – Online

May 29- DREAM.14 - HDNet

May 29- M-1 Selection Western Europe Sem-Final- Online

May 29- UFC 114 prelims- Spike

May 29- UFC 114 Rampage vs. Evans- PPV

The list above only includes programming would fights that have never been seen before. It makes no mention of the UFC countdown show, ESPN weigh-in show, Bellator Sunday Fights, ESPN’s MMA Live, WEC on Versus, ESPN Post UFC 114 coverage, Inside MMA,  HDNet fights, Fighting Words,  and any local MMA programming your carrier may provide.  Did I mention that the UFC had a fan Expo that drew 125,000 people the final weekend of May?

While I realize that many fans prefer one organization or another, for those fans who enjoy all things MMA, schedules like the one posted above are slowly becoming the rule rather than the exception. It is a testament to the rabid fan following that we are now showered with any number of choices on any given day. And while many people seemed to find themselves unsatisfied for whatever reason with  Rampage vs. Evans , I’m happy that the sport has progressed to a point where people have the access to watch these events, in real time.   I may not agree with some people’s opinions when the prefer to express their unhappiness with certain events, or specific fights in general, I am very thankful that people care enough to watch the event, and have an opinion.

The little sub culture that is MMA fandom is slowly but surely becoming a thing of the past, as mixed martial arts as a whole begins to set a foothold in the mainstream.

As fans of bat, ball, and puck sports will attest, mainstream sports culture is one of discontent, if championships are not won people want changes, fans boo what they don’t like, and cheer what they enjoy and in that respect MMA has become more mainstream that many would like to admit.  I’ve witnessed Superbowl champion NFL teams find themselves the subject of angry fans who are not satisfied with victory alone.   Much like their mainstream counter parts method of victory is becoming important to the vocal minority on a week to week basis.  Is it right or wrong?   The truth is that it doesn’t really matter, people are talking about the sport, the sport is growing, and our athletes are now being treated much like their peers in other sports.

MMA is becoming a major player, and as I fan I’m enjoying just about every minute of it.  It’s a great time to be a fan of mixed martial arts.

UFC President Dana White, and ZUFFA CEO Lorenzo Fertitta are both confirmed for the conference.

This event, which will serve as a lead in to the 11^th season of  The Ultimate Fighter, will be broadcast LIVE on SpikeTV 8p.m. ET .

“UFC Fight Night 21″ will be going down from the Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina and features a lightweight battle between Kenny Florian and  Japanese Superstar  Takanori Gomi as the headliner, also on the card, former The Ultimate Fighter 10 winner  Roy Nelson will fight Stefan Struve  in a matchup between extreme body types, and much more.

As always, please feel free to put up or shut up and join it by posting a quick set of your own picks in the comment section below.

MAIN CARD

Kenny Florian vs. Takanori Gomi

I waited and waited to make a final decision on this fight.  I think the biggest mistake I’m seeing people make is a focus on Gomi.   Yes he is the former Pride lightweight champion, Yes he is a Grand Prix winner, Yes he was a dominant Shooto champion.  For those of us who have been watching the sport for a long time Gomi has amazed us with his punching power.   Simply put, he is a legend mma’s recent past.

Gomi will have an uphill battle,  it will mark his first time fighting in a cage, and the first time he will contend with the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts which allow elbows to the head of a downed opponent.   Who better to welcome him then Kenny Florian, an ever improving fighter with some of the best elbows in the business.

The question I finally asked myself was this.  All things equal, who wins a fight between  a  prime  Gomi and today’s  Kenny Florian? Nostalgia aside, I still give the nod to Florian.  And unfortunately for Gomi, “prime”  isn’t a word that has been used  in conjuction with his talent for a very long time.

While it’s true Gomi has good wrestling which could afford him some time on the feet and the power to knock out anyone in the division, Florian is too much too soon.

Winner:  Kenny Florian TKO  Round 2

Roy Nelson vs. Stefan Struve

In the oddest looking fight this side of Japan, 6’11”  Stefan Struve will face his toughest test to date in  Roy Nelson.   I look for Nelson to do his best to eliminate what has to be a monster reach advantage by using his superior grappling abilities.   Make no mistake about it, Nelson is among the best grappling big men in the sport, and it will serve him up victories like Burger King does whoppers .   Much like Gomi,  Struve is not without a chance for victory in his match up.   If he can avoid the takedown, and manage to kickbox with Nelson,  it could become a very interesting night for the Skyscraper.

Winner:  Roy Nelson via arm triangle  Round 1

Nate Quarry vs. Jorge Rivera

This has got all the makings for a knock down drag out war.  Both fighters have knock out power and have no reservations about standing and trading with one another.  I think the difference here is going to be technical striking.  Quarry holds the advantage in this department.  Anything can happen and often does, but  Quarry should leave N.C. with the win.

Winner:  Nate Quarry via TKO Round 2

Ross Pearson vs. Dennis Siver

Coming off his recent impressive victory over Aaron Riley, Ross Pearson looks to continue his winning ways against Dennis Siver.   Pearson looked like a totally different fighter in his last bout showing noticeable growth in his young game.  Siver comes into the fight riding a 4 fight winning streak.  While this will be no easy match up for either, I give Pearson the nod based on continued growth.

Winner:  Ross Pearson via decsion

PRELIMINARY CARD  (Quick Picks)

Rafaello Oliveira vs. Andre Winner

Oliveira is the much more rounded fighter with more paths to victory.

Winner: Rafaello Oliveira via decsion

Ronys Torres vs. Jacob Volkmann

Call  Joe Silva the Grinch because he appears to have no love for Christmas.

Winner:  Ronys Torres  via TKO Round 3

Rob Emerson vs. Nik Lentz

Emerson having a 3 year career in the UFC is the big win, but tonight Lentz walks away with the W.

Winner:  Nik Lentz via decision

Gleison Tibau vs. Caol Uno

This fight is not as close as many believe.

Winner: Gleison Tibau via decsion

Lucio Linhares vs. Yushin Okami

Nice guy, great talent, interesting story, but Linhares gets another tough draw in the UFC.   Yushin Okami will out wrestle him for 3 rounds and the decision.

Winner:  Yushin Okami  via decsion

Gerald Harris vs. Mario Miranda

Team GDP member Gerald Harris will continue to grow, and will pull out the victory here.

Winner: Gerald Harris via decsion

Charlie Brenneman vs. Jason High

Tough fight to call, I’m going to side with  Jason High in the nights opening bout.

Winner:  Jason High  TKO  Round 3

UFC:111 will be going down from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey and features a welterweight championship battle between UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre and challenger Dan Hardy as the headliner, also on the card, former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir will fight Shane Carwin fir the interim heavyweight championship, and much more.

As always, please feel free to put up or shut up and join it by posting a quick set of your own picks in the comment section below.

MAIN CARD 10p.m. ET on Pay-Per-View

Champion Georges St-Pierre vs. Dan Hardy (for welterweight title)

Perhaps the most impressive thing about this fight has been Dan Hardy and his legitimate belief that he will win this fight.  St-Pierre has looked like an unbeatable force in the welterweight division. It’s been pretty well documented that most feel Hardy’s one and only shot is to catch St-Pierre with a shot that knocks out the champion.

The prospect of that happening is so remote that a 3 part series needed to be made to emphasize the point.  While it is true Hardy holds  11 career (T)KO’s , the fact is that he has one KO victory in the UFC over Rory Markham, and 3 decision wins.  Hardy has made a living of raising the level of his game just high enough to beat his opponents, but the hurdle that is Georges St-Pierre is just to high.

Look for a repeat of the Alves/Serra II fights with St-Pierre taking the fight to the ground and keeping it there. With the eventually stoppage coming with St-Pierre punishing Hardy from top position.

Winner: Georges St-Pierre  via TKO ( ground and pound) Round 2

Shane Carwin vs. Frank Mir (for interim heavyweight title)

I’ve found it very difficult to pick against the new breed of undefeated fighters.  With the way matchups are made it becomes difficult to tell who is for real and who is manufactured.

Mir is an extremely marked step up in competition for Carwin.  Mir holds more paths to victory in this fight with Carwin’s advantages being wrestling and possibly power. I’m going to side with Frank Mir in this fight for a few reasons, activity and improvement.

My concerns with Shane Carwin in this fight are quite simple, this is his first fight against elite level competition, and his lack of activity over the past 12 months.

Winner: Frank Mir via submission Round 2

Jon Fitch vs. Ben Saunders

With the loss of Thiago Alves from this fight fellow ATT member  Ben Saunders was quick to step up and want this fight.

I’ve felt for a little while that it’s only a matter of time before Jon Fitch takes a fight with a fighter he shouldn’t be fighting and finds himself with a loss to a mid level up and coming fighter.  Saunders could be that guy.  Saunders has looked impressive against competition he should beat, and had faltered against upper level competition.

On the flipside, Jon Fitch is 21-1  in his last 22 fights with his lone loss coming to Georges St-Pierre.  While Fitch has been anything but exciting in his recent fights, he is winning, and I can’t let my boredom be the cause  for my picking against him.

Winner:  Jon Fitch  by decision

Mark Bocek vs. Jim Miller

Jim Miller holds a large advantage on the feet, and has the takedown defense to keep this fight on the feet.

Winner:  Jim Miller via TKO  Round 2

Fabricio Camoes vs. Kurt Pellegrino

Hometown fighter Pellegrino gets promoted to the main card with an excellent chance to showcase improvement over upstart Fabricio Camoes.  Pellegrino is riding a 3 fight win streak coming into this fight while Camoes comes into the fight off a Draw against Caol Uno.

Pellegrino was scheduled to fight Frankie Edgar in December prior to a back injury that caused him to pull out of the fight.  Camoes will serve as a perfect comeback fight for “Batman”

Winner:  Kurt Pellegrino via submission Round 3

PRELIMINARY CARD (Spike TV 9p.m. ET)

Nate Diaz vs. Rory Markham

Nate Diaz makes his welterweight debut. Look for Diaz to do what has never been done and submit Markham.

Winner:  Nate Diaz  via submission Round 1

Ricardo Almeida vs. Matt Brown

Also making the move to 170, Ricardo Almeida debuts at welterweight.  Almeida draws the always tough and gritty Matt Brown.  While I always enjoy watching Matt Brown fight, and he is riding a 3 fight win streak, Almeida’s ground game is at a different level.

Winner: Ricardo Almeida via submission Round 2

PRELIMINARY CARD

Jared Hamman vs. Rodney Wallace

I have had the pleasure to watch Rodney Wallace fight a few times.  Wallace will use his heavy hands  to score the KO victory.

Winner: Rodney Wallace via TKO  Round 2

Tomasz Drwal vs. Rousimar Palhares

Palhares is a beast, riding a 3 fight win streak Palhares looks to move back towards the top of the card with another workman like victory over Drwal.

Winner:  Rousimar Palhares  via  submission Round 1

Matthew Riddle vs. Greg Soto

Riddle will win this fight , it will be boring and the people arriving at the venue should take their time finding  the best parking spot available.

Winner: Matt Riddle  via decision

UFC 110, will  mark the UFC’s debut in Australia. The event is available on Pay Per view and will air LIVE in North America  on  Saturday  starting at 10pm ET.

So without further delay, enough with the sales pitch on and with the show.

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Cain Velasquez

When I’m asked by people how I make my selections while picking fights, the first thing I tell people is the paths to victory.  This fight for me is a classic example of a “paths to victory” pick.

Cain Velasquez is by all accounts a blue chip, top of the line……….prospect.  Yeah I said it.  Prospect.   Having 7 professional fights with not a top contender in sight, I still have Velasquez on the prospects list, despite what the pundits would like to try and sell me.

With the biggest win in his career being a decision win over Cheick Kongo,  Velasquez comes into this fight with more UFC generated hype than one man could possibly live up to.  The fact is in his short career, Velasquez appears to have one path to victory.  Takedown Nogueira, use enough ground an pound to keep the fight from being stood up and manage to avoid submissions in the process.

Can he do it?  Sure.  Cain has an incredible ability to  takedown fighters and land in side control.  It’s quite amazing to watch.  I believe this will be the deciding factor in this fight.  Will Cain Velasquez be able to keep side control on  Nogueira.

What needs to be said about Nogueira?  He is second best heavyweight the sport has ever seen.  He has fought top competition his entire career.  And while I’m not going to go too crazy and say Velasquez has NO shot to win this fight, the fact Nogueira is an underdog is simply laughable.

With the exception of wresting, he is clearly better in all areas of the sport, and has multiple paths to victory.  He is proven against top competition, and the short list of fighters that hold a W over Nogueira are all champions and legends of the sport.

Based on experience, and the fact that Velasquez has never fought an opponent with a ground game (let alone the best ground game in the division), I’m going to pick Nogueira to win this fight via submission.

Michael Bisping vs. Wanderlei Silva

I hate this fight for a number of reasons, not least of which is the fact I seem to change my mind on an hourly basis.

I look for Bisping to try and stand with Silva until he gets hit.  Let’s not forget, he is coming off a victory over Denis Kang.  But if we remember Kang was able to put Bisping in trouble early before folding like a lawn chair. Wanderlei Silva is not Denis Kang.  On the surface it appears Bisping should have the tools to win this fight, however I expect him to play with fire one too many times and get burnt.   I believe Silva will catch Bisping with a big shot and have a successful debut at middleweight.

George Sotiropoulos vs. Joe Stevenson

Since moving to Greg Jackson’s, Stevenson has looks like a new version of his old self.  He seems to have taken his game back to basics, and this will serve him well against Sotiropoulos.  George is a promising fighter with good skills; I just think this is too large a leap in competition.  Look for Joe Daddy to lock on a choke or grind out a dominant victory.

Ryan Bader vs. Keith Jardine

This is a no lose fight for Bader.  If he beats Jardine, people will speak of him with the upper crust of the division.  If he doesn’t, he’ll see exactly where his game needs to improve.  The funny thing about Bader is you can’t really tell where he stands, he is clearly too good for the lower level fighters in the division; however the jump from the bottom to the top of 205 is drastic.  The UFC’s light heavyweight division is really thin at mid level talent.

Jardine is a funny fighter as well.  The man has a habit of winning fights he shouldn’t, and losing fights he probably should have won. (On paper)  He stands in very rare company firmly at the middle of the division.  The  Clay Guida of 205.

I can only see two things happening in this fight.  Bader with a quick  KO,  or Bader grinding Jardine.  The only point of interest in Jardine’s favor is Bader’s questionable cardio.  If the fight goes into the final round, will Bader have used up all his gas winning the first two rounds and get caught???

I’m  picking  Ryan Bader via KO  early in round 2.

Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic vs. Anthony Perosh

Are you kidding me??   Guess not.   Ok  where to start, a Cro Cop win tells me nothing.   For those not so familiar with  Anthony Perosh. He was the victim of a Boxing clinic at the hands of Jeff Monson at UFC:61.  ( No that wasn’t a typo) .

The only thing there is look for in this fight is the number of groin shots and eye pokes that seem to plague  Filipovic  fights of late.  The over under on shots to the apple bag is 2………I’ll take the over.

Winner:  Cro Cop  KO

Don’t be shy,  tell me who you are taking and why.

Strikeforce: Miami takes place this Saturday night live from the Bank Atlantic Center, in Sunrise, Florida.   With live television coverage beginning at 10pm ET (delayed on the west coast) on Showtime with live preliminary coverage of Jay Herion vs. Joe Riggs taking place on EASportsMMA.com at 9pm ET.

With the lion’s share of the media attention focused on Hershel Walker as he makes his mixed martial arts debut, many have overlooked what appears to be another solid card from the San Jose based Strikeforce.

So without further delay, lets breakdown the main card, cut though the hype and get an idea of what we can expect this Saturday.  .

PRELIMINARY FIGHT (broadcast on EASportsMMA.com)

Jay Hieron vs. Joe Riggs

It’s been nothing short of an interesting ride for Hieron, with expectations that he would be the one fighting Nick Diaz for the welterweight title falling through to finding himself on the undercard.  Hieron appears to be rolling with the punches, and with his bout being broadcast live and free on EASportsMMA.com he and Riggs have the potential to have the most watched fight on the entire card.

The Fight: Riggs enters the fight on the heels of a 4 fight winning streak, while Hieron is unbeaten in his last 6.  Oddsmakers have Hieron as a clear favorite in this fight, and I tend to agree with them.   I think Hieron is slightly better in all areas. Riggs however will not go quietly into the night, he is not without the skill and ability to pull off a win.  There is a reason the hardcore audience was appalled by this card not making the television broadcast. It’s a well matched fight with two talented fighters.

Winner:  Jay Hieron  Decsion

Greg Nagy vs. Herschel Walker

What can be said about this fight that you haven’t heard a million times over?  Herschel Walker is a great guy,  a promotional machine, and whatever he is being paid by Strikeforce is not enough.  Walker has brought an unbelievable amount of attention to this card, making the promotional rounds at a break neck pace.  However one question remains unanswered, can he fight?   Greg Nagy has received a modest amount of attention coming into this fight,  a win over Walker will put him alongside Seth Petruzelli in MMA  folklore.

The Fight: With such limited information on Nagy ( a 1-1 record) and nothing on Walker, predicting this fight becomes very interesting.  Following the media hype, and memories of a great football player, the odds on this fight are nothing short of out of hand.  Walker comes in as a HUGE favorite (-350)  based on…………….well no one knows the reason. Most would speculate Strikeforce is not trying to set Walker up for failure, a difficult task when you don’t know what he brings to the cage.   If Walker wins this fight I have a feeling we will see 3 sloppy rounds headed to a decision.   However, I’m going to pick Nagy to win.  He knows what it feels like to fight, and he hasn’t been traveling the country for the last 2 weeks doing 20 interviews a day.

Winner: Greg Nagy  TKO Round 2

Bobby Lashley vs. Wes Sims

And the award for worst handling of a public relations of 2010 goes to…Strikeforce for their colossally bad handling of naming an opponent for Lashley. To say I’m not excited to watch this fight is an understatement.  With what should have been set in stone 2 months ago, Strikeforce went through a vetting of names to find an opponent for Lashley, finally settling on Wes Sims just under 2 weeks prior to the event.

The Fight: The last time we saw Wes Sims fight he was gassing out in the first round, and losing to Justin Wren on The Ultimate Fighter 10.  Lashley comes in to this fight with a perfect professional record with 4 wins over questionable opposition.  With Sims training for years with some of the best wrestlers in the sport, I don’t expect Lashley to out wrestle Sims much before the  third minute of Round 1.  Honestly, Lashley is going to out athlete Sims on his way to a first round stoppage.  I fully expect him to be sold by the announce team as the next superstar, but I will reserve judgment until he finally takes a step upward in competition. The odds on this fight are comedy gold  showing Lashley as much as a ( -1500) favorite in this fight almost tempting me to throw down a few miracle dollars on Sims. ( that is not a typo)

Winner: Bobby Lashley Tko  Round 1

Robbie Lawler vs. Melvin Manhoef

After having his last fight fall though at the last minute Robbie Lawler was vocal about not being pleased . With a prospect of a new baby on the way, Lawler agreed to fight Melvin Manhoef, a brutal Dutch striker with more than enough skill and power to KO anyone in the sport on a moments notice.

The Fight: In my mind there is only one question that needs to be answered.  Is Robbie Lawler coming into this fight with the ill advised plan of standing with Manhoef ?   He says he is.  Lawler has a decided advantage on the floor against Manhoef, must like the rest of the mma universe.  Is he really on standing and throwing with a man who will knock him out?  Will foolish pride cause him to gamble and keep the fight in the one and only area that can pose a danger to him?   I’m not going to be surprised when he does, and it appears I’m not alone.  Manhoef enters this fight as a modest favorite.  Don’t blink, one minute they will be doing the dance, the next someone is going to be sleeping.

Winner:  Melvin Manhoef  KO Round 1

Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos vs. Marloes Coenen

It’s been very easy for me to sing the praises of Cyborg Santos over the past year and a half. She is an absolute monster in the women’s division brings and aggression and power to WMMA that most never imagined possible.  There was a level of confidence in selecting her to defeat Gina Corano that doesn’t exist here.

The Fight: Coenen is a very good technical striker, and good submission fighter.  I honestly feel from a technical standpoint she holds an advantage on both the feet and the ground.  However, in the world of WMMA the power advantage of Cyborg in most cases is going to be way to large a hurdle to overcome. If Coenen can stay patient, and stay out of trouble early she can make a fight of it.   We have seen Cyborg get tired while beating the ever loving crap out of her opponent.  It is in this moment Coenen would have the best chance to pull off the upset.

Winner:  Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos  TKO  early Round 2

Nick Diaz vs. Marius Zaromskis (for vacant welterweight title)

The Fight: Zaromskis is a certified badass.  The DREAM  welterweight champion had one of the best 2009’s of any fighter, with 4 victories ( two by highlight reel head kick). Many are expecting a high flying match up with Diaz trying to avoid a high kick to secure the victory. I’ll be honest,  I don’t think this fight is going to be particularly competitive.  Diaz is going to take Zaromskis apart, it will be up to him to decide if he prefers to punch him in the face 400 times on the way to decision, or take it to the ground and end the fight there.  Needless to say, Nick Diaz is my lock of the night.

Winner: Nick Diaz submission Round 3

Many questions have been posed since Lesnar’s medical condition became public.  Would he ever fight again?  How long would the champion be out of action?  How long would the organization wait for him?  Would they strip him of his title?  Would the UFC create an interim belt in anticipation of a lengthy absence?

At the UFC: 108 post-fight press conference president Dana White advised the media that he expected to have answers regarding Lesnar’s condition later this week.

With the confirmation of an interim heavyweight title coming on January 2, just hours before White’s statement, one might draw the conclusion that White is expecting a heavyweight division without Brock Lesnar for the foreseeable future.

To create an interim title, you would think the UFC would expect that title to be defended.  In most cases championships are defended once or twice a year.  UFC: 111 is scheduled to take place, March 27th 2010 in Newark, New Jersey.  The soonest one could expect the interim title to be defended, would be July.  While admittedly there has been rumors of a July return for the current champion, the creation of an interim title makes that scenario seem unlikely.  If the UFC expected, the triumphant return of their heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar, they would not create the interim title.  Would it really benefit the UFC to have in interim champion for 4 months?

July 11, 2009 marks the date of Lesnar’s last appearance in the octagon.  Many pundits, including former heavyweight champion Frank Mir, have expressed the opinion that if the champion is unable to defend his belt and a 12 month period he should relinquish the title or the organization should strip him of that title.  Mir as many remember was stripped of his heavyweight title after being involved in a serious motorcycle accident that rendered the heavyweight unable to compete.

While the MMA universe waits for definitive answers about the future of Lesnar’s young career recent actions taken by the UFC lead me to believe it may be a while before we see the UFC’s top draw do battle once more.

With all the success and growth, there are still those things I would love to see change in the upcoming year.  This is my 2010 wish list for the sport.  When putting it together I wanted to be careful and try and limit my list to things that are realistic.   While I have included only 5 on my list, feel free to list yours below  I’d love to read them.

A Strikeforce 2010 schedule with fighters that extends farther than 1 week prior to an event.

Let me start off by saying  I really like STRIKEFORCE.  They are hard not to like,  great cards, affordable to watch.  But for the love of god, you are hurting yourself,  your fans,  your media outlets that would like to cover your events, and most of all your fighters.

Can someone please give me a full fight card for January 30^th Miami card?   Let me save you the trouble, no one can.

From Strikeforce.com

MAIN CARD
NICK DIAZ (20-7) VS MARIUS ZAROMSKIS (12-3)
CRISTIANE CYBORG SANTOS (9-1) VS MARLOES COENEN (17-3)
HERSCHEL WALKER (0-0) VS TBA
BOBBY LASHLEY (4-0) VS TBA

We are officially 3 and a half weeks out.  I would love nothing more than to interview the guy fighting Lashley,  or  Walker.  I’m sure the people who you are depending on to purchase tickets might like to know who they will see fight.  I’m pretty certain it might benefit  Lashley, Walker, and your TBD  undercard to have an idea of who they are going to fight.

It’s been reported by Scott Coker you have 20 events coming up this year, with only 2 fights confirmed things appear off to a slow start.

I don’t think I’m asking for a lot here.   I wish Strikeforce would give us a 60 day schedule.

Stop interviewing the losing fighter in the cage.

Nothing good comes from this.   What can you ask a fighter who just lost?  What happened? There is only two ways for the interview to go.   A list of excuses that no one wants to hear  or a “ He was the better man tonight.”  Speech which is better suited for the post fight presser.

I’m tired of the excuses, and I certainly don’t want to hear them immediately after the fight.  When  Fighter A  tells me he entered the fight with a bad back, neck, sprained ankle,  the flu, a feaver, a hangnail ect…..  The only thing that goes through my mind  is  “ I just paid 50 bucks to watch Fighter A  fight at 50 percent”  Stop interviewing the losing fighter in the cage.

Stop saying you are willing to Die in the cage

You’re not, and if you are you should have failed your pre fight medical.   The sport is growing and would like to continue to do so.   Many people watch the events with their children.   There is a  big difference between “ I’ll always fight for my fans and I’ll never give up”  and  “ I fight for my fans and I’m willing to die in the cage.”   One is inspirational  the other a sign of mental illness. Stop saying you are willing to Die in the cage.

Team mates need to fight each other.

I appreciate and respect organizations and the match makers who do their best to be sensitive to fight camps and team mates.  With that said, there are cases where training partners need to return the favor and do themselves a favor in the process.   The first thing that comes to mind is the UFC’s welterweight division and the guys from AKA.    With 3 fighters in the top 6 of the division and 2 in the top 3, nothing good is coming of training partners not fighting.

Guys like Jon Fitch and Josh Koscheck can continue to avoid fighting, but they are going to hurt themselves.   Everybody who follows the sport knows that things happen in the sport, and the more frequently you fight, the better your chance of losing.    I like Paulo Thiago, but at UFC 95 when he defeated Koscheck, it was a no win situation for Koscheck.   A win would have meant nothing. ( at the time) and the loss really hurt.   And Fitch is no better, how many Mike Pierce’s  can Fitch fight before he gets “got” ?

These two fighters are not alone, they are just the most visible current example.  I wish we would see  Fitch vs. Koscheck in 2010

I wish we could have a  NYE show in 2010 held in NYC.

OK, I know I said I wanted to stay realistic,  so we will call this one a long shot.  Nothing would make me happier than for an American company to hold a NYE show to close out the year.    2010  NYE show at Madison Square Garden?   I know there is a long way to go,  we need the sport regulated in New York, and a company to reserve the venue.

I wish for a NYE  show in NYC to close out 2010.

There you have it, my humble list of wishes.  What realistic wish do you have for the sport?

Network TV deal?

Co-Promotion?     List your wish below.

The weigh-ins will take place live at 7pm ET and will be replayed.  For our readers in the area the weigh-ins are FREE and open to the public.

Stay tuned to FiveOuncesofPain.com for continuing coverage of  WEC 45: Cerrone vs. Ratcliff

5. Proper boxing dominates. In both the Florian and Penn fights, it was clear.  Solid real boxing skill will dominate a good “striker” or a wild “brawler”.  There is no substitute for good hands, and the sport is continuing to evolve.  We are on the verge of the day where he who doesn’t have quality boxing will not have a place among the elite in the sport.

4. If John Fitch isn’t fighting Josh Koscheck, Thiago Alves, or GSP I don’t want to watch him fight on PPV.  Nothing against the guy personally, but it’s time.  If Fitch continues to fight the up and coming of the division,  we are going to see him lose a fight or two he shouldn’t.   Top contenders need to fight top contenders.   Especially in the UFC’s 170 division.

3. Diego Sanchez is a tough SOB, crazy and full of class.  Diego Sanchez  held true to his promise, he kept coming.  Sanchez didn’t give up, even after it was clear that he was out of his league.   The kid kept trying.  To be honest,  I’ve been on the fence with Sanchez, but his post fight comments have told me everything I need to know.   Sanchez while crazy, showed grace and class in defeat.   I look forward to his next fight.

2. Kenny Florian needs to fight Diego again.  It’s time for the rematch.  For my money, Kenny Florian is still the number 2 lightweight in the UFC.  I’d like to see my opinion put to the test.  Kenny vs. Diego Sanchez makes perfect sense as the division shakes out.

1.  B.J. Penn is clearly the best 155 ever.  What is left for the prodigy?  Gray Maynard?  Tyson Griffin?  Frankie Edgar?  With all due respect, the road to Penn needs to go though the two fighters mentioned in the number 2 spot.  I have no interest in Maynard vs. Penn, and less for  Egard or Griffin vs. Penn.   It’s time to build a contender, or find someone from the outside of the organization to bring in.   B.J. Penn is the best 155 in the world…..ever.   Try as they might to build a contender from within,  Zuffa is in a real tough spot finding guys to fight for the strap.  Who would you have fight Penn next???

Lucio Linhares

The days of anonymity could soon be gone for the Brazilian as he is set to debut at UFC 107 on Saturday December 12, 2009.  In his octagon debut Linhares is scheduled to fight fellow Brazilian Rousimar Palhares. Reflecting on his opponent Linhares told VOLT magazine, The first time saw him fight I was sure that he will be champion, but now I hope not…(laughes).

Fiveouncesofpain.com recently had a chance to speak with “The Spartan” as he prepares for his Octagon debut in Memphis. Linhares spoke about his beginnings in Kung Fu,  his evolved striking, how he manages to live without a house or apartment, and the state of BJJ in Finland.

FiveOuncesofPain.com: What was your first experience in Martial arts? Did you start out in Jiu-Jitsu?

Lucio Linhares: No, I started when I was 15 years old doing Kung Fu, after that I did little bit of everything  I tried everything from Aikido for Capoeira before Jiu Jitsu.

FiveOuncesofPain.com When did you start thinking that you could fight for a living?

Lucio Linhares: I don’t fight for a living, not yet, I teach.

FiveOuncesofPain.com: Would you say that you enjoyed fighting while growing up?

Lucio Linhares: Yes, I started like every other kid from my generation, watching Karate Kid and Jean Claude Van Dame and wanting to be like them.

FiveOuncesofPain.com: So much has been made of your submission game, and rightfully so, but what can you tell me about how much your stand-up game has evolved in recent months and years?

Lucio Linhares: It has evolved a lot, one my MMA coachs Petteri Maunu was talking to me and said that when I started fighting I was the version 1, only jiu jitsu, after some time in my career specially after I met coach Jarno Nurminen I went to phase 2, starting to incorporate stand up skills to my game, we found out that I have KO power, and now we are working in a version 3, with more technical stand up.

FiveOuncesofPain.com I know it’s been a number of years How long have you been traveling to Finland? And was it teaching and seminar work that took you to the area?

Lucio Linhares: Yes I’ve been coming to Finland since 2001, I was invited to work here for Alliance Jiu Jitsu one of the best schools in the world, if not the best:)

FiveOuncesofPain.com You have become pretty well known for your many seminars in Finland. Some call you the  “godfather” of Jiu Jitsu in Finland, what can you tell me about the evolution of Jiu Jitsu you have seen in Finland during the time you have spent there?

Lucio Linhares: The Finns are hard workers, they have a lots of discipline not to mention the organization level of everything here, Jiu Jitsu has c0me a long way and they have many great fighters  including world champions and  ADCC fighters.

FiveOuncesofPain.com Is  it true that you don’t actually own a house or apartment in Finland? It has to be difficult spending the majority of the year in a country with no place to call home. .

Lucio Linhares: Yes, every 2 weeks or so I take the road to keep seminar in a different place – I travel so much around the country and teach it is unnecessary to pay for a separate apartment.  At this point I have been about everywhere.

FiveOuncesofPain.com: People who have been watching you fight and progress have often speculated about how you would do in the UFC,  how did you come to be signed by the world’s largest MMA organization?

Lucio Linhares: After a great work of my manager Petteri Maunu getting me some really good fights our co-manager Josef Borges made the proper contacts with the UFC and was successful getting the contract.

FiveOuncesofPain.com;  On December 12, you will make your UFC debut against Rousimar Palhares, a fellow Brazilian, are you  familiar with his fighting style and past fights?

Lucio Linhares: Yes, I have seen many of his fights, he is a great fighter, it will be hard.  I am getting ready to fight wherever the fight takes me.

FiveOuncesofPain.com Who are some fighters you like to watch fight?

Lucio Linhares: Fedor, Minotauro, Anderson Silva, Bj Penn, Toni Valtonen, Mikko Suvanto, Jarno Nurminen, Janne Tulirinta, Nikko Puhaka, Markus Vantinen, Mikko Ruponen among many others.

FiveOuncesofPain.com; Best of luck in your upcoming fight Lucio. Do you have any sponsors or training partners you would like to thank??

Lucio Linhares: Yes, I would like to thank HIPKO, SAUNA SESSIO.COM, KIMURA WEAR. My training partners Sune Virta, Toni Liljeroos, Timo Suhonen, Toni Valtonen, Jarno Nurminan, Mikko Suvanto, Ville Rasanen, many others, and from Brazil my conditioning coach Gustavo Carvalho, my Boxing coach Robson Vidal and my Jiu Jitsu master Eduardo Jamelão.

“No one knows what to say in the loser’s locker room. “- Muhammad Ali

It’s becoming a monthly practice at this point; you shell out your hard earned money for the latest MMA pay-per view event, the fight you have been looking forward to has taken place, and we have a winner.  The fight was a battle between two fighters, two competitors who don’t like the thought of losing, much less talking about it before having a chance to even catch their breath.

I really don’t know what type of answer I expect to the obvious questions being asked of losing fighters these days.   “Tell me fighter B , after fighter A managed to control you for the first two rounds, did you have any idea you were behind on the judges’ score cards.”    “ Tell me fighter A, you said you had your  best camp ever leading up to this fight,  Is it possible you over trained?  Did you come into the fight at 100 percent? “   And the list of stupid questions continue to grow, at the post fight presser,  the one on one interview with the major outlets after the presser,  the Monday morning Blog Blitz.

I think the more important question is what type of answer does the organization expect their fighters to give their commentators.  I think all too often, the MMA “media” forgets who is media, and who is company man.   Media should be looking for answers to relevant questions. Company man is painting a picture, weaving a story, entertaining the fans who have spent perfectly good money.  Too often our media is taking our queue from the Company man and just regurgitating the same question hoping to appear to have done their jobs.

Just once, ( and I hope to be the guy) I would like someone to ask the question.  “Fighter A,  in your post fight interview with Joe Rogan, you mentioned you entered the fight with a torn ACL in your left knee, a painful groin pull, a cracked skull.   How did you pass your prefight medical with an injury that severe? If you knew going into the fight this injury was going to put you at risk of no performing well for your fans, why didn’t you  request to reschedule the fight?“

There are a couple of ways we can look at this situation.   The fighter is not being truthful, and is using injury as an excuse in a poor attempt to save face.  The state athletic commission doctors doing prefight medicals seem to NEVER EVER find a problem in prefight medical screenings for major promotions.

Quite frankly I am growing tired of the whole situation.  If a fighter enters a fight with an injury that he is aware of , and it is a contributing factor in why he lost, I don’t care.   You lost, and to blame it on a pre existing injury after the fact makes you appear desperate or stupid.   You have earned my pay per view dollar; I have purchased the event with the expectation to see you perform your best.  When I am informed that it was physically impossible for this to happen, it’s a touch irritating.  It’s insulting to your opponent and disrespectful to your fans who paid to watch.

Don’t misunderstand me, I think this is a horrible position to place these fighters in to begin with. I personally wish the practice of interviewing the losing fighter in the ring/cage would stop.   Let the athlete collect his thoughts, and come to grips with what has taken place.

At what point do these excuses begin to devalue the product?  Between piss poor judging decisions, and fighters entering fights with injuries that impact the outcome, how often does the fan get to see Top level athletes performing their best?

Perhaps something can be learned from Marcus Davis, who after a recent defeat had this to say. “ Thank u to those who supported me. I had the best training camp I ever have had. I don’t know why I wasn’t able to perform. Ben is a great guy and put an ass whooping on me. All I can do is go back home and digest this and try to come back – hopefully better. Thank u all.”  I can’t speak for you as a fan, but for me that works.  In a world full of empty excuses, I find myself having more respect for a man who can give this type of answer.   Humble, professional, and at no point do I feel cheated as a fan.  I know he brought everything he had, and will do so again in the future.

It’s often said “Nobody goes into a fight 100 percent” where does the line get drawn?   If a main event fighter enters a fight at 80 percent, can I pay 80 percent for the event?”

Or perhaps I’m being swayed too much by the interview questions. I went back and watched a recent post fight interview with the sound turned down, and it did appear like a much different interview.

UFC:105 was headlined by five time UFC champion Randy Couture vs Brandon Vera. Also on the card Mike Swick vs. Dan Hardy and Michael Bisping vs. Denis Kang and many more.

The press conference will be broadcast at 1am ET and will be replayed, as well as access to other UFC:105 videos. You can make your selection in the player below.

Stay tuned to FiveOuncesofPain.com for continuing coverage of UFC:105 including the Post fight Press Conference
.

The event is headlined by five time UFC champion Randy Couture vs Brandon Vera. Also on the card Mike Swick vs. Dan Hardy and Michael Bisping vs. Denis Kang and many more.

The weigh-ins will take place live at 11am ET and will be replayed, as well as access to other UFC:105 preview videos. You can make your selection in the player below.

Stay tuned to FiveOuncesofPain.com for continuing coverage of UFC:105 including the Live Post fight Press Conference
.

Good-

The Card itself flat out performed, from Silva vs. Werdum  all the way up to the main event.  With the exception of the Shields vs Miller title fight some might say this card over performed as the long shots  Rogers and Sokoudjou clearly came to fight and faired much better than most could have predicted.  Even with the slow pace of Shields vs. Miller there was still a story being told, and it was dramatic with Miller nearly securing the victory by submission as time expired in the third round. The main event delivered, Strikeforce, CBS, and us as fans could not have asked for more.   A+

Not so good

Johnson, Shamrock, Ranallo really need more time together.  CBS needs to decide who their play by play announcer is going to be.  Johnson often times seems unsure of himself, and incomplete in knowledge. If he is going to be the voice of MMA on CBS he needs to start covering and following the sport with the same dedication as he would College Basketball.  On too many occasions it is clear he doesn’t know what he is looking at, or calling, and is unfamiliar with the fighters he is talking about.  This is magnified by his willingness to go over the top about things he is more familiar with, thus making it clear to the audience at home that he is indeed learning the sport with them.  Ranallo on the other hand has the experience and has been around the sport for quite some time.  Often times instead of providing “color” he is finding himself following behind Johnson and adding the facts that should have been covered by the lead announcer.

I really want to like Frank Shamrock in the booth, and he does many things well, but leaving your partners hanging when asked “How did you score that round Frank.”  Is just inexcusable.  By no means was this the worst commentating ever, but improvement is needed to give people the full “Big Show” feel.   C+

Good

Having the referee’s  mic’d was a very nice touch. It really gave the home viewer a better understanding of what was going on in some situations.  Hearing fighters encouraged to protect themselves, let go of the cage, or to work for a better position goes a long way in making stoppages, stand ups and breaks in action make sense to the less experienced viewer.  A+

Not so good.

The camera work in many cases wasn’t very good tonight, too many shots from bad angles that really need to be fixed.  I can’t count the number of times we got direct shots of the back of the referee, and let’s be honest the  shot of Fedor’s belly panning up to start the main event wasn’t very pretty.( especially in HD)  C+

The future

There are a few things Strikeforce and CBS could do to really improve broadcasts in the near future.  While I think tonight’s debut was a solid effort,  here is my wish list of changes big and small.

1. PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD BROADCAST LIVE NATIONWIDE.

Although MMA is currently being handled by CBS’s entertainment division, this is a sporting event.  CBS doesn’t ask football or baseball fans to watch games via tape delay,  MMA needs to be treated the same.  People are most interested in LIVE sporting events.

1. Devote 3 hours to LIVE MMA.

It’s my feeling a lot is lost by not including fighter entrances. The anticipation of the fight doesn’t seem to build the same coming straight from a Poker commercial to Jimmy Lennon .  I’m all for excellent pacing of events but tonight seemed rushed.  And I have a funny feeling no one would complain if a 5^th fight was added.

1. Improve the Backstage reporter segments.

I don’t dislike the idea, but they seem ill prepared and clumsy at times.  If they were a little more produced perhaps instead of playing “telephone” with the translators, we could have a clean overdub of the answers in English.

Overall the event was nothing short of an excellent debut for Strikeforce who are clearly the big winner of the evening.   And honestly as critical as I may seem towards CBS, they did a fairly solid job based on the number of MMA shows they have produced. I guess if I really get bent out of shape I could always call them and demand a refund.

The biggest myth I see in regards to this fight is the effect of a loss by Fedor Emelianenko will have on Strikeforce as a company.

Of course, many have said that a loss by Emelianenko would be a catastrophic disaster for Strikeforce, and would cause the financial ruin of the up and coming promotion, however I could not disagree more, and let me tell you why….

From Strikeforce’s position, this fight is certainly a win/win, regardless of outcome.

The powers that be at Showtime and CBS have finally arrived at the party. Fedor vs. Rogers commercials are now standard issue on primetime and this past weekend’s crossover promotion with NFL football could prove priceless.

While it would be naive to attempt to water down the roll “The Last Emperor” and his legacy of greatness have played in forcing the ball to begin rolling, Brett Rogers and his mohawk are there for the ride as well, and don’t you ever discredit the draw power of a massive heavyweight with a mohawk. Just look at the box office draw for Rocky III as a quick point of reference.

While most people agree Fedor should win this fight, the benefits of a Rogers victory should not go unnoticed. Let’s forget for a minute all we know about MMA. On the surface, Brett Rogers is going to be a pretty easy sell. Big, intimidating, and most importantly from a marketing standpoint undefeated. The reality is this weekend’s Strikeforce event could easily be the most watched mixed martial arts event in history. To have 6-10 million viewers ( a majority of which who will know as much about MMA as Frank Shamrock tells them) watch an undefeated Brett Rogers defeat the man widely recognized as the best heavyweight ever is not a bad thing for Strikeforce. They will have a homegrown superstar at a bargain price.

So much is made about the finances of signing Fedor, the real question for me is how much would it cost to build a homegrown superstar, a household name that a new generation of MMA fans will know and recognize?

Forget us as hardcore fans, we can complain and make a case against Rogers until we are blue in the face. If we are honest with ourselves, we know we will be watching. Furthermore, we will watch next time as well, and the time after that.

Strikeforce has to have a goal set to create new fans, those who up until now have not purchased pay per view or given the sport a chance. New fans are going to be the life blood for Strikeforce, the group of new fans that will listen to the company line and buy it. Zuffa has their fans, we all know them, those who go to bed at night believing “ if the guy isn’t fighting in the UFC he can’t be very good.”

As hard as it may be to believe, Strikeforce can grow a heard of their own. An army of MMA “noobs” who will happily tell you on a Friday night at your local speak-easy that Brett Rogers would smash Brock Lesnar into oblivion. They will know this is true because they watched with their own eyes as Rogers laid waste to “the baddest man on the planet.”

I’m sure many of you remember the finale of TUF 1, a fight that is regarded by most as the most important fight in the history of the UFC. Depending on when you started following the sport, that fight meant different things to different people. While some viewed it as an all out war, others viewed it as a sloppy fight between two reality show fighters with no future.

Perception is reality, the UFC introduced their product on the biggest stage possible ( at the time) , the fight was exciting, and the entire company did their jobs and a whole generation of “Tuf noobs” were born.

Regardless of outcome, Strikeforce will have a similar opportunity with each passing CBS Primetime show.

Two men will fight in this weekend’s main event , and the story that plays out in the cage can only end one of two ways: Either….

A) Strikeforce has the number one heavyweight in the world and they have brought him to you for free on primetime broadcast television.

or

B) Strikeforce has the hottest up and coming superstar in the mixed martial arts world, Brett Rogers, a man who has defeated Andrei Arlovski, and now the consensus number 1 heavyweight on the planet Fedor Emelianenko. A superstar that speaks English, lives in the USA and is available for comment 24/7.

Not bad for a worse case scenario.

I find it to be very unlikely that Carwin would take a fight with a “late” replacement. Title shots are not handed out like free tickets to UFC 104, and I doubt Carwin’s management team are going to be willing to take any chances.

What fight can the UFC set up as a replacement for Carwin vs. Lesnar, that will also be bigger than Tito Ortiz’s return to the Octagon? Save yourself the headache there isn’t one, so it’s time to find a co-main event.

The UFC could try and pull something from the December 12th card. A card that has a title fight with Penn vs. Sanchez and then a list of notable fights.

• Cheick Kongo vs. Frank Mir

• Thiago Alves vs. Jon Fitch

• Kenny Florian vs. Clay Guida

For my money, I’d take Guida vs. Florian if the choice was mine.

The UFC could also just move Phil Baroni vs. Amir Sadollah to the main card, and still have a nice amount of “Free on Spike” fights to chose from.

In reality it appears with less than a month to go, the UFC may need to rely on Ortiz one last time to sell a main event. Given the chance, Ortiz will certainly be able to whip his fans into a frenzy and the mainstream to some extent. Armed with a video camera, a microphone and a “Run Forrest Run” T-shirt, vintage Ortiz can sell a Pay Per View.  I’m sure he can push the great comeback angle, enough so that the event will not be an epic failure. The truth is Forrest Griffen vs. Tito Ortiz is a fight with two of the UFC’s biggest names, both with appeal to the casual fan.

The last option is a bit of a realistic long shot. The UFC makes a co-main event out of two fighters with big enough star power to pull it off, that are both willing to take a fight on one months notice.

Tell me 5oz’s readers, who available, uninjured,  that is not commited to a fight already? Who would YOU mach up?

In tonight’s main event, UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida defeated challenger Mauricio “Shogun” Rua 48-47 on all scorecards. However most people felt Shogun won the fight. Find out what Dana White has to say. In the nights co-main event heavyweight contender Cain Velasquez bested Ben Rothwell in a fight Rothwell clearly felt was stopped pre-mature.