This weekend is UFC 82: Pride of a Champion, and it is an incredible card. The reason for the (in my opinion) rather corny name is that the main event is a unification bout of the UFC and Pride FC middle weight belts and both fighters at one point in their career were Pride fighters. It is a really intriguing fight as you have Anderson Silva, a man who literally tore through the UFC’s division, embarrassing even incredibly talented fighters such as Rich Franklin, and you have Dan Henderson, the only man ever to hold belts in both the middleweight and light heavyweight division at the same time.
Now, the word ‘well rounded MMA fighter’ is used FAR to loosely in the fight game. MMA has only achieved its present status in the last few years and it will be a few more yet before we see many truly well rounded fighters (versed in wrestling, jiu-jitsu, muay thai, and boxing). Those who can be called truly well rounded are presently few and far between, but among their number, Anderson Silva is sure to be found. He is an incredibly precise striker, a black belt jiu-jitsu practitioner under the Nogueira brothers, and deceptively strong in the clinch. However, to be appropriately critical, his take down defense shows some holes and he has never faced anyone who is also strong in the clinch. Enter Dan Henderson. Granted, Henderson may not be as well rounded as Silva, but he is a two time olympian, competing in greco-roman wrestling in the ’92 and ’96 Olympics for the USA, and his strength in the clinch will be a major factor in this fight, as will be his strong take downs. Furthermore, Silva, while maintaining a very active guard, has allowed opponents to slip to side control fairly easily. This weakness coupled with Henderson’s abilities as a wrestler poses a serious threat. I would love for Silva to win this – and if he should tear through Henderson as he did the rest, I really don’t see anybody in the middleweight division being able to beat him for a while, there would really be no one left – however, I can’t help but feel that Henderson’s wrestling specialization (aided by none to shabby striking) will be enough to exploit what few weaknesses their are in Silva’s game. Not that any wrestler would pose this problem for Silva, but Henderson is so incredibly strong in the clinch and controlling on the ground that I think if he brings the contest to close quarters, Silva will have a real problem on his hands. If Silva is able to maintain some distance and keep a closed guard on the mat, there is no question in my mind that he will take it. Either way, this promises to be a good fight!
Other fights of note on the card:
Heath Herring vs Cheik Kongo – interesting b/c if Kongo wins, it means he may be considered for a title shot… where he would be absolutely destroyed by Antonio Nogueira. Right now, Kongo is a one trick pony (muay thai) who needs to learn jiu-jitsu.
Chris Leben vs Alessio Sakara - Can’t stand Leben, he is a bar room brawler who is a throw back to the style of fighting you saw in early UFC’s. Anderson Silva’s first fight in the UFC was with Leben and it was like watching a high school football team take on a team from the NFL. This fight will appeal to the guys who just like to watch a brawl, but don’t expect any skill or athleticism. You might as well go watch any old fight behind the gym at your local high school.
Evan Tanner vs Yushin Okami - Very interesting because it features the return of former middleweight champ Evan Tanner after a rough few years dealing with addictions. He faces a real test in Yushin Okami, however, who is easily a top 5 middleweight. I think either of these fighters could deserve a title shot if they come out on top.
Jon Fitch vs Chris Wilson – Jon Fitch is one of those rare, burgeoning well rounded mixed martial artist. He is a force to contend with and shows lots of promise as a serious threat to the welterweight belt. As for Wilson, the poor kid is getting thrown under the bus if you ask me.
Andrei Arlovski vs Jake O’Brian – Inexplicably slotted on the undercard, Arlovski is surely one of the top heavyweights out there and could give the champ, Nogueira, a real challenge. Arlovski has been off for a year however, and ring rust may play a factor. I still call Arlovski for the W.
Luke Cummo vs Luigi Fioravanti – I love watching Luke Cummo fight. Very entertaining. He’s not a contender, but his striking and jiu-jitsu pose a very real challenge to whoever he fights. Fioravanti is a well known striker, and arguably stronger than Cummo, but hopefully Cummo’s precision andground work will be enough.
Josh Koscheck vs Dustin Hazelett – With George St. Pierre, Koscheck is one of the most athletic people in the sport. He is a four time NCAA division I wrestling champ and a not too shabby striker. However, he has earned the nickname “the Blanket” because of his tendency to rely on what is called Lay’n'Pray, that is, controlling a grounded opponent from the top (laying) and hoping for a decision (praying). Hopefully after the beating he took from St. Pierre, he will up the ante on his aggression inside the ring.
Diego Sanchez vs David Bielkheden – Diego Sanchez is a wierd and exciting fighter who went 17-0 before losing his last 2 matches (to Fitch and Koscheck). Nevertheless, he is a very gifted athlete and also one of the few who is fairly well rounded. He can be a little tentative (as seen in his match with Koscheck) but, if he is able to bounce back from those recent loses with a tick in the W category here, I think he will continue his rise to be one of the contenders in the UFC’s stacked welterweight division.
All in all, while you can never guarantee exciting fights, I think most of the fights on this card will exhibit some very real talent. And in the end, people’s versions of exciting vary. Some thought the Henderson / Jackson fight was a snooze fest, while I thought that the striking and wrestling displayed by each was absolutely incredible. Perhaps this would be a better way of putting it: the discerning fan has a lot to look forward to on this card, and the talent alone makes UFC 82 worthwhile to take in.
After a little hiatus from the Greek, I am back in the saddle with Plato’s 
now to brush off the cobwebs (and reveal gaping holes in my powers of recall) and will be turning to 
