News of the salary was released by the Arizona State Boxing Commission and reported by MMAJunkie.

Tate’s opponent in the tournament championship, Hitomi Akano, earned $4,900 for her efforts at the show. Akano was paid $2,800 for submitting Carina Damm in her semi-final bout and an additional $2,100 for making it to the conclusive fight against Tate (which she ultimately lost via unanimous decision).

Meanwhile, event headliner Joe “Diesel” Riggs made $15,000 for his third-round submission-by-strikes win over opponent Louis Taylor. The victory was Riggs’ 33rd as a professional and the fifth in his last six bouts.

Here is a complete rundown of “Strikeforce Challengers 10” payment information made available including event-specific bonuses:

Liz Carmouche – $2,000 (includes $1,000 win bonus) def. Colleen Schneider – $1,000
Chris Gruetzemacher – $2,000 (includes $1,000 win bonus) def. Ryan Diaz – $500
Miesha Tate – $8,000 (includes $4,000 win bonus) def. Maiju Kujala – $1,750
Hitomi Akano – $2,800 (includes $1,400 win bonus) def. Carina Damm – $2,100
Ryan Couture – $3,000 def. Lucas Stark – $1,000
Miesha Tate – $18,000 (includes $5,000 final bonus, $5,000 win bonus, $8,000 semi-final salary) def. Hitomi Akano – $4,900 (includes $2,100 final bonus, $2,800 semi-final salary)
Joe Riggs – $15,000 def. Louis Taylor – $2,000

Also set to unfold from Phoenix’s Dodge Theatre on Showtime at 11:00 ET / 8:00 PT, Ryan Couture makes his professional MMA debut after notching a number of wins in his amateur career with opponent Lucas Stark looking to prevent the 27-year old from following in his famous father’s footsteps. Also, Joe “Diesel” Riggs will face 6-1 striker Louis Taylor in hopes of rebounding off a decision loss to Jay Hieron in his last bout.

Before I get into the actual “pick em” part of this article let me preclude the breakdown of bouts by saying one of the things about Mixed Martial Arts I’ve always loved is its unpredictable nature. I’ll do my best to steer you in the right direction with a little insight/opinion included in the deal, but readers would be wise to avoid laying down money on my attempts to glimpse into the future. Beyond that, please don’t hesitate to share your own thoughts on any or all of the scheduled fights in the “Comments” section below, and let’s get this show on the road…

Miesha Tate vs. Maiju Kujala (Tournament Semi-Final)

Kujala is a relative unknown, as are the four opponents she’s beaten in her career, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing where her success is concerned. If it’s difficult to find tape on her, then it’s difficult to know exactly what to expect then the cage door closes. However, I think Tate is experienced enough to handle anything her Finnish adversary offers and will at minimum use her wrestling ability to take Kujala down, then look for submissions while smothering her for the duration of the bout if necessary. I’m positive she’ll try to finish things as quickly as possible to both avoid damage and reserve energy rather than letting either affect her in the tournament final.

Winner – Miesha Tate via Submission Round 1

Carina Damm vs. Hitomi Akano (Tournament Semi-Final)

The result of this bout will depend on where the bulk of its action takes place. Damm has a definite advantage where striking is concerned while Akano is a solid grappler. That being said, the Brazilian is more apt on the ground than Akano is on her feet, and I believe her jiujitsu ability and takedown defense should be enough to make the overall difference in eventual outcome. I don’t expect her to finish Akano, as six of the Tokyo native’s seven losses have come by way of decision with the lone exception being a third-round TKO to Cris “Cyborg” Santos, but I do think Damm will do enough in all facets of the game to win a very close decision.

Winner – Carina Damm via Decision

Ryan Couture vs. Lucas Stark

Couture will clearly be the fan-favorite based on his last name and success as an amateur. However, Stark shouldn’t be dismissed simply because his father isn’t a Mixed Martial Arts legend. He may only be 2-4 in his career but six fights’ worth of experience still counts for something when considering Couture is only making his professional debut. I expect Couture to play it fairly safe in hopes of grinding out a decision win, though it’s possible he could attack with basic jiujitsu since Stark has shown a past vulnerability to ground-based submissions. Look for him to stay active with jabs while looking for takedowns to play off his wrestling pedigree without ever pressing the action to the point he’s at risk of catching a clean shot on the chin.

Winner – Ryan Couture via Decision

Miesha Tate vs. Carina Damm (Tournament Final)

Like most one-night tournaments, this bout will likely be influenced by which of the two fighters escapes the semi-final match less-scathed than the other. An earlier knockdown, cut, broken bone, or even cardio-testing battle could spell disaster for either talented lady. Based on how I predict their previous fights unfolding, I definitely think Tate will have an advantage where her general physical state is concerned. I expect “Takedown” Tate to focus on taking Damm down (surprise, eh?), working from the top, and trying to press the pace in order to soak up the last of Damm’s conditioning. It might even be enough to open up an opportunity for a well-timed, TKO-inducing combo in the third round or submission on the ground.

Winner – Miesha Tate via Decision

Joe Riggs vs. Louis Taylor

Taylor will be looking for his third consecutive win but has yet to face an opponent with Riggs’ familiarity of the ring or overall skill-set. Riggs is 4-1 in his last five bouts and beat a number of respectable opponents earlier in his career like Chris Lytle, Kendall Grove, Joe Doerksen, and Nick Diaz. Don’t surprised if Taylor tries to keep things upright as often as possible based on Riggs’ wrestling ability in addition to his previous success on the TKO-front. Taylor’s last three wins have come by way of knockout and if his head-kick of the ironically-named Ryan Sturdy at Bellator 14 last April was any indication of his overall ability it’s clear his best chance for beating Riggs is in the stand-up department. However, I think “Diesel” will be able to score enough takedowns to do damage from the top and either pound Taylor out or cover him for the bulk of the bout’s fifteen minute time limit.

Winner – Joe Riggs via TKO Round 2

In an unveiling of the queens from a deck of cards, Hitomi “Girlfight Monster” Akano and Carina “Beauty But The Beast” Damm picked the red heart and diamonds, respectively, meaning they will fight in the first semifinal and Miesha “Takedown” Tate and Maiju Kujala picked the black spade and clubs, respectively, meaning their 135-pound match-up will follow. After the pro debut for Ryan Couture and Lucas Stark in a three-round lightweight (155 pounds) bout, the semifinal winners will meet for the first Strikeforce Women’s Welterweight titlet, which was on display Thursday.

In the main event, Joe “Diesel” Riggs (32-12) meets Louis Taylor (6-1) at a catch weight of 182 pounds.

“Our game plan is to go back to the hotel and plan a game plan,” said Tate, who said she will confer with her boyfriend, fellow MMA fighter Bryan Caraway. “We will go over (Kujala’s) weaknesses and make them fresh in my mind. I don’t feel stressed. I feel great. I’ll get a little nervous but I came here to do a job so it’s all business right now.”

Kujala was also happy to finally settle in on an opponent. “It’s going to be nice to have to just think and plan for one fighter now. I’m just so confident and so excited about this opportunity.”

Damm said she loved the matchup she drew fighting Akano first. “We have the same style so it should be a good one,” she said. “I didn’t really care who I fight. Now that I know, I can focus more. The next 24 hours I will think only of fighting Akano.”

Said Akano, “I need only two wins to be the tournament champion. First I must get past Damm and then I will see who I face. The tournament is an exciting format and I’m happy to be a part of it.”

Current Strikeforce Women’s Welterweight Champion Sarah Kaufman made her first-round picks immediately after the draw was announced. “I think Miesha’s ground game is too strong and that she gets past Kujala,” Kaufman said. “In the first match I think it’s a toss-up but I think Akano has a little bit more experience so I think I’ll pick her.

“In the final it just really depends on what they do in their first fights. If it’s Akano vs. Tate it’s a tough fight to call. It’s just too tough to call.”

Brazilain Cris Cyborg, the Strikeforce Women’s Middleweight (145 pounds) champion, was also on hand to sign autographs for fans. “I want my fellow countrywoman (Damm) to win the whole thing,” she said “They will all be good match-ups. I’m rooting for Carina all the way.”

The opening rounds of the tournament will be contested over two three-minute rounds with the final round featuring a three-round contest consisting of three-minute rounds. The judges will be required to determine an outright winner in the opening round bouts, regardless of whether the women each win a round, and draws are not allowed.

The official results of the main card weigh-ins are as follows:

Joe Riggs (181.6 lbs) vs. Louis Taylor (181.2 lbs)
Ryan Couture (155.6 lbs) vs. Lucas Stark (153.2 lbs)
Miesha Tate (134.2 lbs) vs. Maiju Kujala (134.4 lbs)
Carina Damm (134.8 lbs) vs. Hitomi Akano (135.0 lbs)

Though the two would later go on to face each other at the event per Akano’s willingness to compete, the fight found itself in jeopardy when Santos originally tipped the scale at 152 pounds and was unable to meet the weight requirement within the allotted time frame.

In an interview published today on CNNSI, Akano’s manger, Shu Hirata, stated Mrs. Santos requested to step on the scale without clothing after weighing in a second time at 150 pounds and was granted an opportunity to do so. Hirata goes on to say “Cyborg” and her husband remained alone with the scale while a male CSAC representative left to find a female member of the commission and Akano’s camp left to discuss strategy outside of the room. When the female CSAC representative returned and “Cyborg” had removed her clothing for another weigh-in, the scale read that she was six pounds lighter than what it had listed a few minutes earlier. After voicing his concern about the dramatic drop in weight over such a short period of time, Hirata sought an explanation from Santos’ camp and was told that it was due to her bikini being wet. Unsatisfied with their account of the situation, Hirata said he had the California State Athletic Commission re-calibrate the scale and weigh her again. After the adjustments were made it once again showed Santos weighing 150 pounds.

However, it appears as though there are conflicting stories about what exactly took place in San Jose. When contacted by FiveOuncesofPain.com seeking clarification on the issue of whether or not Santos (or her representatives) had ever been left alone with the scale, CSAC Executive Officer Bill Douglas stated, “The scale malfunction occurred in the presence of CSAC. A weight drop of that magnitude is unheard of which is why the scale was re-calibrated and reflected the correct weight. A female CSAC staff member was present at all times because of the fact that Akanoand Santos were both going to provide steroid samples and a male staff member could not collect the sample.”

FiveOuncesofPain.com will continue to monitor this story and update readers as new information becomes available.

In a press release issued by Spike TV, the male-oriented basic cable network claims that UFN 14 averaged a 2.1 household rating with an average of 3.1 million viewers.

The telecast peaked at 11:30 p.m. ET during the Anderson Silva vs. James Irvin main event, with the broadcast topping out at 3.8 million viewers.

According to Spike, UFN 14 was number one during its time slot compared to all basic cable and broadcast networks in the males 18-34 (903,000 viewers); males 18-49 (1,550,000); males 25-34 (622,000); and Male/Females 18-34 (1,326,000) demographics.

When comparing the UFN 14 rating to other programs that aired over the weekend, the event attracted more viewers that Fox’s baseball coverage on Saturday afternoon. According to Spike TV, UFN 14 also did better in the males 18-34 and males 18-49 demos than ESPN’s Sunday night telecast of the ESPY awards.

During the bout, Johnson had been on the receiving end of several eye pokes from his opponent, Kevin Burns. In spite of multiple warnings, Johnson still received a severe poke during the third and final round of the fight. After taking the finger to the eye, Johnson retreated to the canvas and covered up. Referee Steve Mazzagatti then called a stop to the fight and later ruled Burns the winner via TKO.

I would be remiss if I didn’t file a complaint and seek recourse for the outcome of the Anthony Johnson  fight results this weekend,” Pavia stated during a forum post in the Underground forum at MixedMartialArts.com.

“Anthony Johnson has accepted what has happened and has shown nothing but class through the process,” Pavia added towards the end of his post. “This was most evident in the first round when he inadvertently kick Kevin Burns in the groin and backed off and apologized.  He didn’t not call Kevin Burns out for the six or so eye gouges with and open hand or for pouncing after putting three of his finger print on the back of his eye socket.  Rumble told me he thought his eye popped out.”

Whether Pavia will have any success in trying to get the decision overturned remains to be seen, as fight outcomes are rarely changed after the fact. Complicating matters is the fact that the Nevada State Athletic Commission may not even allow a decision to be overturned. Pavia expressed that he still believes the commission may take action.

“While there may not be a code section that affords the opportunity to overturn a decision as (NSAC Executive Director Keith Kizer) informed me, he has always considered all input and done his best to effectuate justice,” said Pavia.

MMAjunkie was able to obtain salary figures for UFC Fight Night 14 from the Nevada State Athletic Commission. These figures also include official win bonuses:

Anderson Silva: $200,000
Brandon Vera: $200,000
Frank Edgar: $26,000
James Irvin: $20,000
C.B. Dollaway: $20,000
Hermes Franca: $17,000
Tim Credeur: $16,000
Reese Andy: $15,000
Cain Velasquez: $14,000
Rory Markham: $12,000
Jake O’Brien: $11,000
Kevin Burns: $10,000
Brad Blackburn: $10,000
Anthony Johnson: $9,000
Jesse Taylor: $8,000
Cale Yarbrough: $8,000
Nate Loughran: $8,000
Shannon Gugerty: $6,000
Johnny Rees: $4,000
Brodie Farber: $3,000
Dale Hartt: $3,000
James Giboo: $3,000

• Frankie Edgar and Hermes Franca added an extra $25,000 to their payday for the Fight of the Night. Franca and Edgar fought a three round war that had Edgar controlling the fight but Franca not going away quietly and dropping bombs on Edgar throughout.
• C.B. Dollaway earned a $25,000 bonus for Submission of the Night. Dollaway’s Peruvian Necktie submission on Jesse Taylor was a thing of beauty.
• Rory Markham padded his wallet with an extra $25,000 bonus for Knockout of the Night. Markham’s head kick to end the fight against Brodie Farber is right up there with some of the best knockouts all year.

Overall which event did you like better:

UFC Fight Night 14 Silva vs. Irvin
or
Affliction BANNED Fedor vs Sylvia??

VOTE now, our latest poll is located in the left-hand column of the site. Also share your thoughts about the overall events here.

Over the last several weeks, 5 Oz of Pain had been running a poll asking readers how they would be watching the fights this past weekend:

39% (910) readers responded:  I’ll pay to watch Affliction, and TIVO the UFC.
32% (748) readers responded:  I’ll watch UFC and catch Affliction on the internet.
23% (539) readers responded:  I’ll only watch UFC free on Spike.
6% (147) readers responded:  I’ll only watch Affliction on pay-per-view.

As the fights took place, did you flip back and forth?  Did you watch Spike then catch Fedor vs. Sylvia online?

Check out more Silva vs. Irvin content here and Fedor vs. Sylvia content here.

(Photo courtesy of CombatLifestyle.com)

Steve Cofield has a new blog post on Yahoo! Sports that indicates that middleweight Jesse Taylor could once again be in hot water with the UFC.

Cofield spoke with Taylor on his ESPN Radio show in Las Vegas this week and asked him to share his thoughts about the recent arrest of UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. During the most recent season of “The Ultimate Fighter,” Jackson was critical of Taylor’s conduct, which got him kicked off the show and cost him a spot in the TUF 7 middleweight final.

“What goes around, comes around, I guess,” an unsympathetic Taylor was quoted as saying to Cofield in regards to Jackson. In Taylor’s defense, he issued his comment before it was learned that Jackson’s behavior could potentially be attributed to mental health issues. He also backed off his initial comments after Yahoo! caught up with him for a followup.

“I feel bad for the guy,” Taylor is quoted. “Being on top of the fighting world and then not being there is going to destroy you. I think it was tough to handle for the guy. I wish he gets better, I didn’t know he was in this situation. He’s in a lot worse situation than I was in.”

But the apologetic comments may have come too late. According to Cofield, an unnamed UFC official revealed to him that they were none too pleased with Taylor speaking out against Jackson earlier in the week. Cofield also indicates in his report that Taylor’s stock within the promotion might also be hurt by the fact that there are rumors he may not have cleaned up his act to the extent he’s portrayed in interviews.

To make matters worse, Taylor lost to C.B. Dollaway during this past Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 14 fight card when he submitted to a Peruvian neck tie at 3:58 of round 1.

While nothing is official, Cofield gives strong indications in his article that it could be quite some time before we see Taylor in the UFC again.

But a big storyline that hasn’t gotten as much play as it deserves, and likely because MMA media sites only have so much staff and space to devote to coverage, is Kevin Burns’ controversial third round TKO victory over Anthony “Rumble” Johnson.

First, the fight between Burns and Johnson was excellent. Burns proved his win over Roan Carneiro was no joke and that he belongs in the UFC. Credit goes to UFC V.P. of Talent Relations Joe Silva for unearthing yet another diamond in the rough.

That said, the outcome of the bout should be appealed by Johnson’s camp and overturned by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

Throughout the course of the fight, Burns kept getting his fingers caught on Johnson’s face. Johnson pointed this out several times and referee Steve Mazzagatti warned Burns multiple times about the infraction. However, that did not stop Burns from poking Johnson in the eye in the third round as he put out his hand to jab. Just like any normal human being taking a direct poke to the eye and feeling blinding pain, Johnson hit the deck and covered up. From the live angle, it almost looked as if Johnson went down from a punch and was truly TKO’d. However, replays from a better angle clearly showed that Johnson had taken a direct poke to the eye.

The fight was called to a stop and there was a delay. Mazzagatti was talking to several officials at cageside and the Spike TV showed zoomed in replays of Johnson taking the poke. It seemed like a done deal that Burns was going to lose via disqualification but when it came time for the official announcement, Burns was pronounced the winner via TKO.

I was shocked and amazed at the outcome. I can understand why there might be some initial confusion after Mazzagatti called a stop to the fight. But why did he get the decision wrong even after conversing with people around the cage? It makes little sense but something needs to be done. Rarely does it make sense for a fighter to appeal the outcome of a fight but in this case, it does. If Johnson raises hell, I don’t see how NSAC doesn’t overturn it.

My biggest problem might be with Burns’ repeated use of his fingers. After the fight was over, Burns said during the post-fight interview with Joe Rogan that he has to jab with an open hand because he’s fractured the hand three times in the last 18 months. That’s a valid excuse, except for the fact that I thought open palm strikes were illegal? Why was he allowed to routinely attempt an illegal punch? Maybe Burns has a medical reason for using the method, but rules are rules.

To Burns’ credit, he was contrite about the infraction and said he believes Johnson deserved a rematch. It almost sounded as if he had a problem with the outcome as well. Hopefully the commission gets involved and justice is served.

MMA Mania has learned the recipients of the UFC Fight Night 14 bonuses for Fight of the Night, Submission of the Night, and Knockout of the Night. They are as follows:

• Frankie Edgar and Hermes Franca added an extra $25,000 to their payday for the Fight of the Night. Franca and Edgar fought a three round war that had Edgar controlling the fight but Franca not going away quietly and dropping bombs on Edgar throughout.
• C.B. Dollaway earned a $25,000 bonus for Submission of the Night. Dollaway’s Peruvian Necktie submission on Jesse Taylor was a thing of beauty.
• Rory Markham padded his wallet with an extra $25,000 bonus for Knockout of the Night. Markham’s head kick to end the fight against Brodie Farber is right up there with some of the best knockouts all year.

The UFC handed the bonuses out to the correct people. Dollaway’s submission was one of the best of the year, Franca vs. Edgar was the clear cut best fight of the night, and Markham’s knockout of Farber was one of those moments where you hit rewind six or seven times and each time it gets worse. Anderson Silva’s knockout of James Irvin was devastating but it didn’t deserve the knockout bonus.

Anderson Silva took care of business.

And really, that’s what he was supposed to do, right? Maybe it would have benefited the UFC a little more if the fight had lasted longer but they gave America a free dose of the most dominant mixed martial artist in the game right now and he gave them the knockout that everyone was expecting. Other than that, the fight was more or less meaningless. It was used to try and build Silva as a draw as well as compete with Affliction’s card on the same night by putting the consensus #1 fighter in the world on basic cable. As for this win helping solidify Silva’s pound for pound status, I guess you can say that it only helped. But because he cuts so much weight to get down to 185 lbs. and because James Irvin is, well, James Irvin, I don’t put too much stock into it. Now, if Silva were to beat a top level 205 lbs. fighter? Then you might have my attention.

James Irvin underestimated Anderson Silva’s power.

James Irvin talked all week about how he’d faced harder hitters than Silva and how he’d take thirty of Silva’s punches to land ten of his own. I said earlier in the week that underestimating Silva’s power is an extremely bad move because even if the guy doesn’t look like he has devastating power, his technique, his speed, and his accuracy combined allow him to generate a ridiculous amount of power. All it took was one good shot and Irvin crumpled like a piece of tissue paper. Even Mario Yamasaki was stunned, as he let the fight go on maybe hoping that Irvin would be able to come back from that one punch but that’s all it took. One solid punch on the button from Silva will put even the best fighters in the world to sleep. To sleep on Silva’s power and leave your hands down against him is to ask to be napping on the mat soon after.

Brandon Vera will be fine at light heavyweight.

I personally thought Vera looked very good in round one of the fight and looked extremely comfortable at the new weight class. As the fight wore on, however, Vera looked to be tired and it was pretty clear that the weight cut really affected him. Once he perfects the weight cut and gets used to being the bigger guy at the smaller weight class he will be a dominant 205 lbs. fighter. I truly believe that. Tonight certainly wasn’t his best showing but you have to give the fighters some leeway when they drop a weight class and have to deal with cutting weight. Vera never had to cut weight before at heavyweight and cutting weight is a pretty big deal. Once he gets the weight cut down pat, he will shine at light heavyweight.

Frankie Edgar is back on track.

Edgar looked very good tonight against a very tough opponent in Hermes Franca. Edgar looked as if he’s put on some muscle mass and was bigger and stronger than he’s ever been before. The fight tonight reminded me a lot of Edgar’s fight with Mark Bocek except that Franca actually had some pop to his standup. Edgar was able to impose his will with takedowns, defend submissions, land some vicious ground and pound, and protect himself from taking too much damage when Franca would land a big knee or a big punch. This is a very quality win for Edgar and should be a great confident booster that he can hang with some of the best at 155 lbs.

Cain Velasquez emerged as a true heavyweight contender.

On paper, Jake O’Brien was supposed to be Cain Velasquez’s toughest fight to date but it ended up being just as lopsided as Cain’s previous fights. Even Andrei Arlovski, a former UFC heavyweight champion, had a tough time with Jake O’Brien. Heath Herring lost to him. Cain Velasquez steamrolled O’Brien and never looked back. This was a very good thing for the UFC tonight. Their heavyweight division is lacking and they should be looking for that sparkplug to light a fire under the division’s ass and make it entertaining again. I believe Velasquez is that sparkplug. If Cain can rack up a couple more victories in the division I don’t think it will be long until we see him competing for the heavyweight strap. If the UFC can build him up as well as Shane Carwin, a fight sometime down the road between those two could be a big time matchup.

Anthony Johnson got robbed, but he might have contributed to his own demise.

Anthony Johnson won that fight against Kevin Burns tonight, ladies and gentlemen. There are no two ways about it. Burns poked him in the eye multiple times, the last time being the most ridiculous as the replay showed Burns’ finger pretty much disappearing into Burns’ orbital socket. That being said, the way that Johnson reacted I think had a lot to do with the way the end of the fight was handled. Had Johnson not fallen down and Burns not jumped on top of him like he was going in for the finish, Mazagatti may not have called it. As it stands it looked as if Mazagatti thought an uppercut landed and that Johnson was crumpling to the mat from taking a big shot. As such, he stepped in to wave it off as a TKO stoppage when in reality it was the fourteenth poke in the eye that caused Johnson to fall down. Had Johnson simply reeled back from the poke and held his eye, he may have been able to either continue, have a point taken away from Burns, or even have had Burns disqualified for the continual eye pokes. Either way, it was an unfortunate turn of events for a fight that was very entertaining and clearly going Johnson’s way to turn out like it did.

C.B. Dollaway’s Peruvian Necktie submission is right up there with some of the best submissions this year.

That submission is right up there with Dustin Hazelett’s transition from a whizzer to an armbar against Josh Burkman as well as Aoki’s reverse gogoplata against Nagata. I doubt that the Peruvian Necktie would work against a higher caliber of fighter but Jesse Taylor fell right into the trap. It was an extremely slick submission by Dollaway and one that I had to rewind a couple times just to enjoy its beauty. Good shit, C.B.

Other notes..

• Rory Markham put himself right up there as a candidate for knockout of the year with his head kick KO of Brodie Farber. That was just sickening.
• The UFC seems to have spent some coin on some new graphics for their broadcasts. The Fight Night logo, the time clock, and the “Tale of the Tape” graphics were all brand new and looked really slick and professional. It’s nice to see the UFC making some changes to their production as it’s something that people like myself have clamored for for a long time.
• “Corner Cam” is great. Between rounds one and two of every fight we got to hear the corners of each fighter. Not only does this give you more insight into the fight but it also means less commercials. In previous broadcasts, during every break between rounds, they were going to commercial. Listening to the corner in between rounds is how MMA should be presented on live television. It adds to the drama. And less commercials is an absolute plus.

Anderson Silva vs. James Irvin

Adam Morgan: What is there to really be said about this fight other than it’s Anderson Silva, the pound for pound best fighter in the world, stepping up in weight to face one of the 205 lbs. division’s gatekeepers? I really don’t expect it to be much of a fight and I think Silva will likely rock Irvin on the feet early and either KO or him or use his strikes to wobble Irvin and set up a submission on the ground. Silva’s faced much tougher competition in his day, 205 lbs. or not. Anderson Silva via TKO, round one.

Paul Balsom: As I’ve mentioned before, I am a huge Anderson Silva mark, but I don’t even think my bias has me in full tilt toward “The Spider.” Huck was right in this week’s DUEL, skills outweighs size more often than not, and Silva’s really not giving up much size here. I’m sure Irvin walks around a bit heavier, but Silva walks around upwards of 220. It’s not like he’s not going to be cutting off any weight before weigh-ins. This allows Silva to build muscle mass during training and to come out looking unlike the Anderson Silva we’re used to seeing. Silva said it best on the countdown show, “If he wants to stand with me and try to clinch with me, it will be funny.” This will be funny, and a total owning. Anderson Silva via TKO in round 1.

Brandon Vera vs. Reese Andy

Adam Morgan: Either someone finally talked some sense into Vera or two losses at heavyweight in a row have finally sobered him, but either way this is the weight class at which he belongs. Reese Andy is no slouch for a first fight at light heavyweight and his wrestling could pose some problems for Vera but I doubt that Vera will let that happen. Vera’s Muay Thai is sick, his jiu jitsu is very, very good, and his Greco is pretty top notch as well. Reese Andy is one dimensional whereas Vera has the tools to put together an all around well fought matchup. Brandon Vera via TKO, round three.

Paul Balsom: I’m very interested to see how Vera looks at 205 in this bout. I don’t even think it matters that he’s facing Reese Andy. This will be a gruesome display from Vera, much like the Mir or Eilers outings. Andy does have the potential to make this a boring one though, if he just runs out and goes for the double leg and gets it to the ground quickly. That is a very small possibility in my eyes, but a possibility nonetheless. I still have Vera via nasty KO in round 1.

Hermes Franca vs. Frankie Edgar

Adam Morgan: Frankie Edgar should be coming into this fight a little bigger and stronger than we’ve ever seen him before and I really think that spells doom for Hermes Franca who has been out of the cage for almost a year. Edgar is facing someone more his size this time around, he’s been working on his jiu jitsu and has shown in the past that jiu jitsu fighters don’t bother him. As long as he stays away from Franca’s wild bombs that he throws, Edgar should dominate this matchup from start to finish. Frankie Edgar via unanimous decision.

Paul Balsom: Jiu jitsu aside, Edgar has Franca’s number in this fight. Edgar has the polished and crisp boxing, whereas Franca throws wild and undisciplined overhand punches with hopes of eventually landing. This fight has the potential to be outstanding, but I still say it goes the distance. Frankie Edgar via unanimous decision (30-27).

Cain Velasquez vs. Jake O’Brien

Adam Morgan: Velasquez has been the talk of the town for some time now and this will be the toughest test of his young career. O’Brien is no joke when it comes to wrestling and he also has very good boxing skills as well, he just has yet to show them. That being said, I don’t think we’ll see any different O’Brien than we’ve seen before and that’s unfortunate for him because if the same old Jake O’Brien shows up then I think Velasquez squashes him. His wrestling is better, his speed is crazy, he has knockout power, and he’s not afraid to let his hands go. I’ll take Cain in this one all day. Cain Velasquez via TKO, round two.

Paul Balsom: O’Brien quickly goes for takedown… Velasquez knees and punches O’Brien a lot in the face and body. O’Brien goes down, and gets pounded on for almost an entire round before the rep steps in to stop the onslaught. Furthermore, O’Brien does not get another fight in the UFC. Velasquez via TKO in round 1.

Anthony Johnson vs. Kevin Burns

Adam Morgan: Kevin Burns caught lightning in a bottle when he triangled Roan Carneiro at UFC 85 but can he do it again against the fast-rising Anthony Johnson? “Rumble” has been on a tear recently, just absolutely destroying the competiton that’s been put in front of him at 170 lbs. and I doubt that Burns will be much of a test for him. Burns showed us that he’s game and has skills in the win over Carneiro but I believe Johnson’s power and athleticism will just be too much for him.

Paul Balsom: Anthony Johnson is a straight up murking and beasting machine. I see this one going much like the Tommy Speer fight. Burns won’t be able to get Johnson to the ground, thanks to a nice sprawl-game by Johnson, and Johnson keeps swinging for the fences. The fences are Burns’s face. Johnson via KO in round 1.

C.B. Dollaway vs. Jesse Taylor

Adam Morgan: On paper, this is a very good fight. Two wrestlers, TUF 7 alums, and two guys who were in very opposite situations come the end of the show. C.B. took Taylor’s place in the finals after Taylor got booted from the show and now it’s Taylor’s turn to exact revenge and show that he belongs in the Octagon. I feel that C.B. has the better overall game in this fight, especially when it comes to wrestling and striking. Jesse is a good wrestler with good ground and pound but he’s not on Dollaway’s level just yet. And with Taylor, Dollaway won’t have to worry about getting submitted like he did against Amir. I like Dollaway in this fight but I expect it to go all three rounds in a hard fought matchup. C.B. Dollaway via unanimous decision.

Paul Balsom: C.B. Dollaway may be correct about having better stand up, but that doesn’t mean his stand up is good. I agree with Jesse Taylor in saying that his wrestling for MMA is better than that of Dollaway’s. I see this one going in favor of “the drunk guy,” and he gets Dollaway down and pounds some during the first round, but ultimately ties it up in the second. Taylor via TKO (ref stoppage) in round 2.

Tim Credeur vs. Cale Yarbrough

Adam Morgan: Thankfully this fight is finally going to take place and we can see the last of Cale Yarbrough in the UFC. Cale is a banger who likes to stand and trade but beyond that he doesn’t have much else. Once Credeur manages to get past the initial barrage of strikes and get Cale to the ground it should be pretty much academic from there. Tim Credeur via submission, round two.

Paul Balsom: Cale Yarbrough is known for his stand up, but I think his striking game is weak-sauce and remedial. Tim Credeur has an all-around tight game, and I think he will make quick work of Yarbrough, and score a submission early on. Credeur’s a stand-up guy and I hope he does well in the UFC. Credeur via submission in round 1.

Brodie Farber vs. Rory Markham

Adam Morgan: Rory Markham, a former IFL fighter, is being set up with a nice cupcake here for his first UFC fight and if all goes well and Rory ends the fight early I expect this one to make the broadcast. Rory has fought the better competition and trains with one of the best camps in the world at Miletich, so I think he takes this one via intangibles. Rory Markham via TKO, round one.

Paul Balsom: Being from this area, and seeing his less-than-impressive performance at the recent Adrenaline MMA event, I like Markham to arrive in the UFC in old-school fashion and brawl with Farber. Eventually Markham will pop Farber with a clean one in the kisser and send him packing off into obscurity.

Nate Loughran vs. Johnny Rees

Adam Morgan: I don’t know too much about these two other than they’re both undefeated and making their UFC debuts. Rees has made a name for himself on the local shows in the Midwest, specifically Legends of Fighting in Indiana and Loughran has made a name for himself in the California-based Palace Fighting Championships. No idea who takes this one, so I’ll flip a coin. Nate Loughran via submission, round two.

James Giboo vs. Brad Blackburn

Adam Morgan: Another former IFL fighter in Brad Blackburn is making his UFC debut against James Giboo, who has a nice record but hasn’t fought nearly the level of competition that Blackburn has faced. This will be a nice test for Blackburn in his first fight in the UFC but he should pass it with flying colors. He’s a very solid pickup by the UFC out of the ashes of the IFL and could turn into something special down the road. Brad Blackburn via TKO, round two.

Dale Hartt vs. Shannon Gugherty

Adam Morgan: There’s been a bit of hype surrounding Dale Hartt going into this fight, so I’m willing to buy into it the first time around. Dale Hartt via unanimous decision.

Main Televised Card -

• James Irvin (207.5)* vs. Anderson Silva (206)
• Reese Andy (206) vs. Brandon Vera (204)
• Frankie Edgar (155) vs. Hermes Franca (155)
• Jake O’Brien (236) vs. Cain Velasquez (236)
• Kevin Burns (171) vs. Anthony Johnson (170)
• C.B. Dollaway (186) vs. Jesse Taylor (184)

Non-Televised Preliminary -

• Brodie Farber (171) vs. Rory Markham (170)
• Johnny Rees (183) vs. Nate Loughran (183)
• James Giboo (170) vs. Brad Blackburn (170)
• Dale Hartt (156) vs. Shannon Gugerty (156)
• Cale Yarbrough (186) vs. Tim Credeur (185)

* Irvin failed to make weight on his first attempt but weighed-in at 206 lbs. when he re-weighed in two hours later.

- Though Sherdog then came through again, stating Gary Goodridge would be named as a replacement on the Affliction card against Buentello since he was already licensed to fight in the state.

- James Irvin originally weighed in at 207.5lbs for his main event against Anderson Silva but on his second try made 206lbs to get to the light-heavyweight limit. Every fighter on the UFC card made weight for their fights on Saturday.

- Everyone made weight for the Affliction: Banned card (Fedor: 230lbs, Sylvia: 263lbs) outside of Justin Levens. Levens weighed in at 189lbs for his middleweight bout but was granted his fight against Ray Lazama, though he will give up a percentage of his purse to him.

Affliction Vice President Tom Atencio today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that Saturday night’s pay-per-view broadcast will run a full four hours and will feature eight bouts. Additionally, FSN will air three bouts, rather than the previously reported two fights.

In other words, between FSN and PPV, the entire “Banned” fight card will be televised.

This is getting pretty intense. Let’s backtrack. Affliction announces a card to be held on July 19th. The UFC counters by putting together a free card on basic cable television that features the best pound for pound fighter in the world, Anderson Silva, in the main event. Then Affliction says that they’ll show two undercard fights on FSN for free as well. In response, the UFC counter-programs with UFC: Unleashed airings as well as re-airing the Silva vs. Irvin countdown show during that timeslot.

Now, the UFC has gone ahead and gone live with the show nationwide according to this report. Usually the UFC airs its live Spike broadcasts on a three hour delay on the West Coast but Silva vs. Irvin will be shown live nationwide. And now this: Affliction running a four hour broadcast, showing eight fights, as well as three undercard fights for free on FSN. It’s like dueling banjos, folks. And as MMA fans, you’ve gotta love it.

View Affliction BANNED fight card HERE.

Below is a master list of all the MMA that will be airing over the next 10 days.
Damn, son. That is A LOT of mixed martial arts. My DVR is gonna get a workout.
What will YOU be watching?

All times Eastern.

Thurs 7/17

• UFC Countdown: Silva vs Irvin – 11pm – Spike TV (premier)

Friday 7/18

• UFC Countdown: Silva vs Irvin – 11am – Spike TV (re-air)
• Inside MMA – 9:30pm – HDNet
• Best of DREAM 4 Middleweight Grand Prix – 10:30pm – HDNet

Saturday 7/19

• UFC Unleashed – 4pm-7pm – Spike TV
• UFC Countdown: Silva vs Irvin – 7pm – Spike TV (re-air)
• Affliction BANNED Undercard: Emelianenko vs. Buentello – 8 pm – Fox Sports Net (live)
• Ultimate Knockouts 5 – 8pm – Spike TV
• UFC Fight Night 14: Silva vs. Irvin – 9pm-Midnight – Spike TV (live)
• Affliction BANNED: Fedor vs. Sylvia – 9pm – PayPerView (live)
• UFC Fight Night 14: Silva vs. Irvin – Midnight-3am – Spike TV (re-air)

Monday 7/21

• Dream 5: Lightweight Grand Prix Finals – 2am – HDNet (live)
• Dream 5: Lightweight Grand Prix Finals – 10pm – HDNet (re-air)

Saturday 7/26

• CBS/EliteXC Smith vs. Lawler II – 9pm – CBS (live)
• UFC 84 Penn vs. Sherk – 9pm – Spike TV (re-air)

(if we missed anything, let us know)