*UFC147: Franklin vs. Silva Could be a Sleeper Hit

(photo courtesy of mmamania.com)

UFC 147 seems to have been preordained as a failure by some, with an injury-plagued card wreaking havoc on several of the intended matchups. It’s that lowered expectation that could see the thrown-together main event rematch of Wanderlei “The Axe Murderer” Silva and Rich “Ace” Franklin steal the show.

At first glance, it would seem that the stakes for either fighter couldn’t be much lower, as neither Silva nor Franklin find themselves in serious contention for a title shot in their respective divisions. Even if they were, the 190-pound catchweight format would not serve to advance them in those rankings. What makes this fight most intriguing is the setting. The intended main event of Silva vs. Vitor Belfort would have been a rematch of two hometown babyfaces, creating a potential love-in for local Brazilian fans. Franklin presents a bad guy for people to root against, especially since he edged out Silva in a hard fought decision after their first fight back in 2009. 

(photo courtesy of i4unews.com)

Rich Franklin has made a habit of taking fights on short notice, which could be dangerous for either fighter. On one hand, Franklin has not enjoyed the luxury of a full camp training for Silva. He had originally been preparing to fight Cung Le at UFC 148. On the other hand, Silva has also been preparing for a different fighter, and the short-term adjustment in training styles could easily see him get caught by surprise. 

One thing is for certain; never count Rich Franklin out. He may be coming off of a tough loss to Forest Griffin way back in February of 2011, but the former math teacher is a grizzled veteran, and always has a few tricks up his sleeve.

(photo courtesy of prommanow.com)

Silva is going to have the spirit of his entire home nation behind him, making him an even more dangerous fighter than he already is. He may not be getting the chance to avenge his 1998 loss to the Brazilian living legend Belfort, but he will still have that fire of redemption burning against Franklin. Silva fell victim to Franklin’s footwork and striking in their first matchup at UFC 99, but the long layoff for Franklin could have a negative effect on his timing. If “Ace” spends a round trying to get his rhythm back, Silva’s still-potent knockout power could very well find it’s way to Franklin’s suspect chin (four out of Franklin’s six career losses have come via KO or TKO).

(photo courtesy of mmamania.com)

What fans can be certain of is that this fight will be a war, as both men are more than happy to stand up and bang. However, if Silva does damage early, look for Franklin to shoot for a takedown; his 10 career submission wins would indicate that he's the more comfortable of the two on the ground. 

(photo courtesy of girlsandgaming.com)

The atmosphere in the building will be electric, and even though there’s no title or contendership on the line, both men certainly have a lot to prove. Franklin wants to prove that the first fight was not a fluke, Silva wants to prove that it was, and both want to show the MMA world that they’ve still got the goods to put on marketable fights beyond just their name value. 

King James Finally Crowned NBA Champion

(photo courtesy of carltonjordan.com)

It took Lebron James 9 seasons, but he's finally joined the NBA's champion elite, guiding his Miami Heat to a 121-106 victory over a promising Oklahoma City squad.

  With Lebron James’ 26 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds, he became only the fifth player in NBA history to record a triple-double in the close out game of the Finals. He has joined NBA greats Magic Johnson, James Worthy, Larry Bird, and most recently Tim Duncan who did it in 2003.

 The Miami Heat tied an NBA Finals record by making 14 3-Pointer’s, seven of which were by seldom used Mike Miller.

   Lebron James is one of the most heavily criticized players in NBA history, and he may be disliked by many, but for now all we can do is praise him for leading the Heat to their 2nd ever Championship.

- Nard Dogg

*Maynard vs. Guida Underscores the Deepest Division in the UFC

(photo courtesy of mmamania.com)

Gray Maynard and Clay Guida may both be top contenders for Benson Henderson’s UFC lightweight belt, but strangely there will be little that either man can do that can secure an immediate title shot. It seems ironic then that tonight’s matchup promises to be one of the most riveting of 2012. Exciting or not, this is life in the current incarnation of the lightweight division. Over the last two years, the 155 lb field has grown to such a level that there is now a logjam at the top of the overall rankings, and a slew of talented fighters on the horizon.

If one is to look at the lightweight picture as a game of chess, thinking several moves ahead, it becomes difficult to see how the title picture shapes up after Henderson faces off with former champ Frankie Edgar. Guida and Maynard are coming off of losses to Henderson and Edgar respectively, which made tonight’s matchup a logical choice. With a win by either man, it would be fair to call them the division’s third best fighter, but how often does a guy land a title shot after just a one-fight win streak? On the flip side, a consecutive loss for either man could see them quite easily tumble down the standings, as the competition coming up behind them is just too strong to deny. Needless to say, the stakes are as high as can be.

(photo courtesy of vigilantemma.com)

Further complicating matters is top contender Nate Diaz’ one-year suspension for marijuana use, which will inevitably slow the process of fighters getting their shot. Diaz has earned his 3^rd place ranking in those standings, and although ineligible to compete for an extended period of time, he’ll certainly be at the fore of the title picture as soon as he returns.

As for the current title picture, there are guys chomping at the bit left and right. Donald Cerrone has looked more focused of late, Anthony Pettis is a threat, boasting a win over the current champ Henderson back in WEC, and undefeated youngster Paul Sass is only a couple of wins away from being a serious contender. Despite a tough loss to Jamie Varner, young Edson Barboza also has the goods to one day be a champion. Don’t forget names like Rafael Dos Anjos, Gleison Thibau, Jim Miller, and there’s always the threat of current Strikforce champ Gilbert Melendez eventually making the jump to the UFC. Are you still with me? Try to follow along.

(photo courtesy of jcbjj.com)

It’s said that “heavy is the head that wears the crown”, and never has a cliché rang more true than with the UFC’s lightweights. Fights like Maynard vs. Guida that would be bridge-to-the-belt fights in almost any other weight class, now amount to them essentially treading water. Whoever wins tonight’s main event will likely still be one more fight away from landing that title fight, leaving them susceptible to catching a loss that would keep them from a title shot altogether. Whoever loses will take a substantial knock in the standings, putting them several fights away from the belt, and take them out of the title picture for good.

It’s do or die in a battle of two guys who push the pace, and love to strike. This is the type of situation that makes MMA great, and you can bet that the champ will be watching closely.

Hockey's Most Legendary Goon

(photo courtesy of hockeyfights.com) 

(photo courtesy of connexionhck.com)

Every true hockey fan has heard the name before. Ogie Ogilthorpe, the crazed goon featured in the classic film Slapshot is a legend like no other, the Paul Bunyan of the hockey world. What many people don’t know is that he is based on a blond-afroed man from Hornepayne, Ontario. Bill Goldthorpe was and is the greatest hockey enforcer of all-time. According to my father, a childhood friend of Goldy’s, he could play the sport, but was more famous for his fist-handling skills than his puck handling. Need proof on why he’s hockey's top goon? Well for one, while imprisoned in Syracuse during the AHL season, he would be escorted back and forth from prison in between games. Today marks his 59^th birthday, and with that we raise a glass to the man, the myth, the legend, the goon.

-Raindrops 

*The Last Emperor’s Last Hurrah

(photo courtesy of fiveouncesofpain.com)

As was the storyline for most of his career, Fedor Emelianenko’s final matchup leaves fight fans with little more than another question of “what-if?” Squaring off in his final career fight versus UFC veteran Pedro Rizzo tomorrow night on a card for M-1 Global, many wonder what could have been for the once mighty Russian.

It’s no secret in the MMA world that Fedor missed the boat, failing to capitalize on his once-untouchable status as one of the pound-for-pound baddest men on the planet. He built his kingdom on the corpses of UFC throwaways, but never took the plunge into the world’s biggest fight promotion. Fedor’s management team has taken the bulk of the blame for the signing never materializing, with several negotiations with Zuffa falling apart over the years. 

(photo courtesy of steverattlemma.com)

The problem is, he held onto that formula for far too long, eventually seeing his amazing unbeaten streak ended by Fabricio Werdum, followed by two more consecutive losses to Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva and Dan Henderson, effectively putting an end to any and all mystique built around him.

So what can be gleaned from Fedor’s meteoric rise, and subsequent fall from grace? Well, if anything, his story serves as a cautionary tale for any young hotshot thinking that they are bigger than the sport. It’s an old cliché, but those who think of themselves in that light often see negative karmatic returns, as the business of sports inevitably balances it’s own moral ledgers sooner or later (see “Allen Iverson”). 

Seeing Emelianenko face off with Rizzo will be a bittersweet affair for hardcore MMA fans. While still enticing on a billboard, this fight would have the makings of an instant classic had it taken place several years ago, when both fighters were much closer to their primes. A match-up of that calibre could have, at that time, been a legitimate UFC main event, but fans will now endure a match-up of two men who are undeniably shells of their former selves.

(photo courtesy of mmaplayground.com)

During the post-PRIDE period, when Fedor was destroying lesser opponents like Tim Sylvia and Hong Man Choi, UFC fans could have been treated to fights that would have been far more intriguing, not just from a raw skill standpoint, but also in terms of sheer status. Fedor vs. Nogueira 2, Fedor vs. Randy Couture, Fedor vs. Brock Lesnar, all fights which would have had massive pay-per-view buy rates. Emelianenko could have cemented himself as a true legend of the sport by stepping onto that stage, but seemed more concerned with maintaining status quo than achieving ultimate status. His preoccupation with the preservation of his legacy will now be the defining trait that ultimately tarnishes it.

One more what-if for people to ponder: What if Emelianenko shows up in St. Petersburg and absolutely dominates Rizzo like the Fedor of old? Will the competitive bug in him seek out one more fight? And if not, is a dominant performance over a 38-year-old Rizzo enough for people to say that he left on top? As fighters like Bob Sapp have proven, there is plenty of money to made headlining on the independent circuit, and if nothing else, Fedor is a name that will put butts in seats.

If this really is the end for “The Last Emporor”, his body of work, although still truly great, will always have a stigma hanging over it; the stigma of greed, the stigma of vanity, and the stigma of never proving his greatness on the world’s biggest stage. What a sin. 

By the Beard of Harden!

(photo courtesy of abasketballjones.com)

The NBA Finals will be fueled by the likes of top stars such as Kevin Durant, LeBron James & Dwayne Wade. Shuffled among these big names, one man stands out from the rest of the pack. That man is James Harden. This year’s 6^th Man-of-the-Year Award winner will be the Thunder’s secret weapon on route to an NBA title. He has hit several clutch shots over the course of these playoffs and continues to play with consistency. On a team that’s run by the NBA scoring champ, and one of the top five point guards in the league, Harden has managed to make himself an impact player. Powered by a beard that would make Zeus jealous, Harden will be the X-Factor and will one day soon be one of the top guns in the league.


-Raindrops

Sutter is King in Stanley's Game of Thrones

(photo courtesy of tsn.ca)

It was always the Kings. It had to be. Beyond their size, offensive prowess, and goaltending, there was an element of mental fortitude with this team that was ever-present. It's what made them the trendy pick after dismantling Vancouver so convincingly in round one. 

(photo courtesy of sports.yahoo.com)

It isn't just a product of the right combination of personalities, which LA evidently is, but something is to be said for Darryl Sutter's ability to not just light a fire under his team, but keep that fire raging. LA never lost consecutive games until the finals, nearly tying the record for fewest games played in a championship run (I smell smoke). The parity in hockey means that nearly every team has the talent to be great, so the voice leading the way is increasingly becoming the biggest strategic difference between champs and chumps.