The UFC middleweight division has not changed much in the past four months. Anderson Silva has knocked off Rich Franklin twice and it doesn’t seem like there are any formidable contenders in the horizon unless someone drops a weight class or moves up. Back in February, everyone’s favorite French Canadian, Georges St. Pierre, revealed that he is indeed interesting in moving up to the middleweight division.

In an interview with MMA News before his first fight with Matt Serra during UFC 69, St. Pierre revealed that he walks around at 185 pounds and could possibly be interested in moving up to light heavyweight in the future as well. While I doubt the jump to light heavyweight is a smart move, moving up the 185′ers would be great for St. Pierre and the organization. Let’s see why.

• The Middleweight division, as duly noted by nearly every MMA news source, blog, and casual fan; is tapped
• St. Pierre easily dominated Matt Hughes, once an amazing ground fighter, throughout one and a half rounds of UFC fighting - Hughes admitted he came in at 120%
• The win for St. Pierre came via submission - the last time that happened to Hughes was at UFC 46 against highly regarded Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, B.J. Penn
• St. Pierre has only ever lost against Hughes and Serra - he has already forcefully avenged one loss
• He carries notable victories over B.J. Penn, Sean Sherk, Karo Parisyan, and Josh Koscheck
• St. Pierre, even with his 15-2 record, is only 26 years old and an extremely well-round fighter

Quite a few things have changed since St. Pierre talked to MMA News earlier this year, but one thing remains the same. The UFC needs someone new in the Middleweight division and St. Pierre should be that guy.

I have been successfully wagering on MMA events since I was a full-time executive in the biggest offshore gaming company in the industry, encouraging other books to put up lines on MMA events. In those early days, the books took some bad beats for a couple of reasons:

1. There was not enough bettors to easily balance the line, and;

2. Virtually all of the bettors were sharps - fanatic MMA enthusiasts who knew the fighters and knew the game.

Remember, no matter what ANYONE tells you, sportsbooks want to attract an equal amount to each side of a line. Responsible professional sportsbooks do not take a position on an event, they set and adjust the line in an attempt to attract equal action to the favorite and the underdog. Achieving this guarantees them the theoretical hold percentage or profit regardless of the outcome. While perfectly balanced action is never achieved, the line is managed according to this principle.

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John Philipavage has his UFC 79 preview over at MMA Predictions. Check it out and see who John has picked to win in the Hughes/St. Pierre fight and the Silva/Liddell main event along with all of the undercard fights. This site is certainly one of the best MMA preview and predictions sites out there right now.

With Christmas a thing of the past, and New Years only a couple days away, most MMA fans can’t wait to end to introduce the New Year with fresh memories of the end of a chaotic 2007. Although it’s been a very limited year for the K-1 Hero’s circuit producing only 6 shows, 7 if you include the annual K-1 Lithuania-Hero’s show, they too seek to end the year on a great note. Like past years, Hero’s has taken the norm of putting on 1 Lightweight GP per year for the last 3 years, with the exception of 2006, where they incorporated a Light Heavyweight GP. The Hero’s circuit has definitely grown and I do expect 2008 will be a big test to see if K-1 can become relevant in the eyes of the Japanese and especially in the eyes of MMA fans.

In past years we’ve seen that the Dynamite!! show has provided us with many great memories of both the Kickboxing and MMA world. The inaugural 2002 Dynamite! show, which was co-promoted by PRIDE, saw a supposed crowd of 90,000+ fill the Tokyo National Stadium, a stadium that usually host J-League and Emperors Cup Finals (Soccer). In 2003, the fight between Akebono and Bob Sapp drew approximately 54 Million viewers to see these behemoths do what they interpret as fighting. 2004 was also host to one of the most bizarre moments in Combat sports history when Jerome LeBanner took on Bob Sapp in a MMA/K-1 rules bout that would be scheduled for 4 rounds and would have 2 rounds of MMA and 2 of Kickboxing, with the fighters changing gloves and rules during the breaks. 2005, saw the coronation of 1st GP champion in Hero’s in Norifumi Yamamoto. Finally, in 2006 we saw the sad departure of Genki Sudo and the controversial Akiyama Grease Scandal. Read the full story

As the last weeks of 2007 approach, the time has come to analyze and absorb the torrent of activity that traditionally accompanies the end of the year in MMA. This year however, it is a completely different landscape than just a year ago and miles away from what it was just two short years ago. By taking a look back just two years at New Year’s Eve events and comparing them to this years festivities, it’s easy to see that the most certain factor that will affect mixed martial arts in 2008 is uncertainty.

Historically, New Year’s Eve MMA was a celebration typically appreciated only by the hardcore fan. At least, outside of Japan. For several years, Pride and K-1 were locked in a bitter feud to rule the television ratings for the evening and utilized some extremely high profile matches as ammunition to try to take each other out.

The last big year for this rivalry was 2005 when DSE put together the highest single fight purse in the history of MMA for Hidehiko Yoshida to fight Naoya Ogawa. This fight drew enormous ratings over K-1, whose Premium Dynamite offering included Royce Gracie vs. Hideo Tokoro and a middleweight tournament final between Genki Sudo and Kid Yamamoto.

Just a year later, DSE was struggling to keep the Pride brand alive after losing a lucrative TV contract amid charges of corruption and involvement in organized crime. Nevertheless, DSE was able to put together one last year end blockbuster card that saw Takanori Gomi destroy Mitsuhiro Ishida, Minotauro and Josh Barnett in a war and Fedor Emelianenko get pushed farther than anyone expected by Mark Hunt. Meanwhile, K-1’s Dynamite 2006 offering included Pride defector Kazushi Sakuraba in a controversial contest with Yoshihiro Akiyama. Without a broadcast TV contract, Pride was forced to offer their card on a pay-per-view basis, a guarantee that K-1 would dominate the ratings.

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M-1 Global today, announced Fedor’s opponent for the company’s U.S. debut at at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. “I’m very happy to be fighting Mr. Coleman,” said Fedor, who is considered to the best pound for pound heavyweight fighter in the world. Fedor’s manager, and M-1 CEO Vadim Finkelstein also added: “This promises to be one of his toughest fight yet.”

When asked by reporters why Fedor and his managers thought a 3^rd fight with Coleman would be any different than the first two fights in which Coleman was soundly beaten, Finklestein quickly retorted: “look, this fight is against Gary Coleman not Mark Coleman, okay, get that through your thick skull okay?

I’m sure you have noticed that we have some new MMA Opinion writers on the site! I’d like to thank everyone who showed their interest in writing for the site because we were able to pick up a slew of writers who were interested in sharing their opinion on the sport of MMA.

We are always looking for more writers with diverse backgrounds in the world of MMA. So if you are a fighter, promoter, author, or fan and would like to write about MMA, please contact me using the Contact page. I really want to turn MMA Opinion into a successful site where aspiring MMA writers can begin blogging their thoughts and ideas in a productive environment.

Please keep checking back for more great content from all of the writers and have fun MMA-filled holidays.

Recently I wrote the first installment of my pet peeves about the MMA online scene. It can be found here. Consider this exhibit B to my fighter-writer interview relationship rant.

My newest example is the way many writers jump like fanboys to the defense of fighters whenever the legal system or state athletic commissions make any move where in “they just don’t understand the fight game”. Read the full story

Wanna make some big bucks if Fedor somehow knocks himself out up against Hong Man Choi at the end of this month? That probably won’t happen, but here are some other fights to bring in some extra after-Christmas (or whatever you celebrate) shopping.

Nick Thomas over at Bloody Elbow has a nice little article highlighting some of the betting odds for upcoming MMA events.  In my opinion, there’s a couple of money makers in there, but be sure to rule out the Emelianenko/Choi fight early. Even with Fedor at -1700 and Choi at +850, I doubt many would drop $1700 to win a measly $100, but I guess if you wanted to take the chance of a lifetime, you could drop $100 and hope to pick up another $850. If anyone does this, please let me know!

Here are the potential money makers:

St. Pierre -200 Hughes +160 - Although I can see St. Pierre taking the win, keep in mind that he’s only taken the fight on five weeks notice. Hughes, however, has been training for a five round fight for a long time. These odds should not be spread this far apart.

Penn -285 Stevenson +225  - We have only seen BJ Penn fight once. That was against someone who doesn’t even walk around at 155 while Penn had been up against Welterweights. There’s a good chance that Stevenson could steal this fight with his great conditioning.
Swick -175 Burkman +135 - Josh Burkman has gone up against Karo Parisyan and Forrest Petz while taking the decision against the latter and dropping the loss against the former in the past 7 months. Parisyan is said to be one of the top in his class and Burkman showed some heart during their UFC 71 undercard bout. While Mike Swick is 10-2, his wins are mostly from smaller organizations. This one is 50/50 in my eyes.

Lesnar -205 Mir +165 - This one is my favorite. The WWE wrestler with one win is favored over  UFC veteran, Frank Mir. This is where you can make some big bucks on the off chance that Lesnar can dominate a seasoned MMA fighter.

According sources at Sherdog, the very highly anticipated match between Gesias “JZ” Calvancanti against Shinya Aoki is off. Allegedly, “JZ”, a 2 time K-1 Hero’s GP Champion, has had surgery and hasn’t actually trained 1 day for this fight.

Quick Question: WHY DID THEY ANNOUNCE THE MATCH IF THEY KNEW THIS WASN’T GOING TO HAPPEN?

If you feel the same way I do, than you are incredibly infuriated by the notion that this fight won’t be happening and the fact that they allowed us to believe that it would be. This fight by many fans standard was the “real” main event. Definitely, not taking away from Misaki vs. Akiyama BUT the only real buzz-kill about that fight is the fact that Misaki looked far less than spectacular in his fight against Frank Trigg at PRIDE 33. When you compare that to the tear that both JZ and Aoki have been on, the announced main event sort of lacks in comparison.

There will definitely be more confirmation of this as days come but with Christmas only 4 days ago, I feel like someone has come into my house and stolen a present that I was soon to enjoy. JZ is not the only Hero’s Lightweight recovering from surgery. Vitor “Shaolin” Ribiero has too been recovering from a recent surgery and hopes to be ready to come back to his phenomenal days we were accustomed to.

Our 1 shred of hope is that this hasn’t necessarily been confirmed, but strangely no mention of this surgery was made in an interview that Sherdog themselves had with JZ recently. Calvancanti on the interview says that he had planned on training with BTT and completely convinced me that this fight was happening. Sadly, Hope is what we have, and I’ll take it. This definitely has potential to be one of the best Lightweight matches of the year and to have it taken away would be a definite shame.

With things winding down and New Years only a couple days away, FEG has finally secured a full card for their annual K-1 Dynamite!! show. As a bit of a surprise to anyone who reads the matches up, I think this isn’t necessarily good match making on FEG’s part, but really what did we expect? It was announced on FEG’s website that the 2 new matches for New Years are

K-1 Dynamite!! 2007

Akio Mori AKA Musashi vs. Bernard Ackah under K-1 Rules

Kiyoshi Tamura vs. Hideo Tokoro

If you read these match ups and are thinking I put down the wrong Tamura, than you’re wrong. Hideo Tokoro, one of the most exciting and young talents out of Japan and ZST, is taking on the very charismatic Kiyoshi Tamura. Yes, I know what you’re thinking, “Why?” and I agree. I have no idea why this match up is even happening. Tokoro, who can probably make 143 lbs. with a bit of effort, should be taking on the 143 lbs. SHOOTO World Champion, Akitoshi Tamura, not the 190+ lbs. Japanese wrestling icon, Kiyoshi Tamura. I know that a fight between Tokoro vs. Akitoshi Tamura would make absolutely no sense BUT a fight between Tokoro vs. Kiyoshi Tamura is just beyond illogical and unnecessary. Read the full story

Paulo Fihlo is a bad bad man. In last fight, he took a beating, stayed relaxed and pulled out an arm bar from his ass that would have ripped Chael Sonnen arm off if the ref did not stop it. I know many people believe his performances in the WEC are nowhere near the destruction he caused in his Pride days. Maybe that’s because he is bored? It cannot be easy going from fighting top tear talent in front of audiences in the thousands to the gymnasium that is Hard Rock. So why is Fihlo shoved off into the corner of the WEC when he is ranked #2 in the world? Because he will not fight his friend, the #1 185er in the world, Anderson Silva.

Friend’s fighting each other is not something I thought I would ever support. But when you think about in terms of a sport then it becomes ridiculous for these athletes not to square up, man up, and get it on. Can you conceive of the Patriots saying, “We’re so sorry, we can not play against the Cowboys. They are our friends.” Or if Dale Earnhardt refused to race Richard Petty because they were drinking buddies. It would never happen.

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With a post PRIDE world a reality, many companies are trying to step up to the plate and maybe fill a void that PRIDE left with it’s demise this year. Gary Shaw and Elite XC seem to be buying up every promotion for sale, K-1 seems rather fine with being a default option in Japan and M-1 global seems to be promising but of course with time we’ll surely know. With the recent announcement of their debut “Sengoku” show, I began pondering the question that all of us broken hearted MMA fans are thinking, Where does that leave the newly formed World Victory Road? Do they float around in obscurity or are they a force to be reckoned with?

This week World Victory Road announced 2 new participants in their upcoming show, SHOOTO 83 kg. World Champion, Siyar Bahadurzada, and Cage Rage veteran, Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos. Bahadurzada was recently crowned Champion at SHOOTO: Back To Our Roots 4 in the currently lackluster 83 kg. division, while “Cyborg” is well known for his ultra aggressive Chute Boxe style of fighting, which was displayed in what is questionably one of the best fights in Cage Rage history, when he took on Dutch Powerhouse and at that time Cage Rage Light Heavyweight Champion, Melvin Manhoef. Read the full story

Back to earth for all us dreamers. Here’s a clarification on the widespread story that Couture alleged he’s fight in Oct. ‘08 against Fedor. Courtesy Dave Meltzer at his Wrestling Observer Newsletter Site:

–Just to clarify from last night’s show, Randy Couture never said last night he would be facing Fedor Emelianenko after October. He said he’d like to, but just because he’ll be out of the date of his UFC contract, he still owes them two more fights that he’s not planning on doing. Nothing regarding him fighting again will be decided until the legal proceedings are over, and they are only in their preliminary stages.

To fight Fedor Emelianenko?

From MMA Weekly’s coverage of HDNet Fights of the Cory Mahon vs. Chris Bowles fight last night:

Following the match the broadcast team spoke with current UFC heavyweight champion Randy “The Natural” Couture. Couture said he is not retired and plans to fight Fedor Emilianenko as soon as his UFC contract expires.

If this is true, MMA enthusiasts rejoice! We can finally determine who really is the #1 heavyweight in the world.

Will Dana White and the UFC attempt to stop Couture? Let’s wait and see.

As reported by Gryphon, the main event of the much anticipated Yarennoka!! 2007 is a battle of 2006 Grand Prix Champions, Kazuo Misaki vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama. This certainly comes as a huge surprise considering much hype surrounding the controversial Fedor Emelianenko vs. Hong Man Choi match up. Akiyama, who boasts a 10-1 record, all stoppages, was quoted earlier this month as saying that his win over Kang was merely luck and that he believed that Misaki’s win over Kang was well deserved and not accidental. Misaki, will enter this bout after a 10 month lay off. His last fight was a very disappointing loss over Frank Trigg at PRIDE 33. Misaki looks to get on his winning ways and hopefully find the same success that he did in 2006. Emelianenko vs. Choi is scheduled to be the Co-Main Event.

Thanks to our newest “Crush”, Gina Carano. Here’s a pic of Carano in full Gladiator gear ready to knock some female competitors off their feet.

I wonder if she is allowed to fight while she is working as an American Gladiator? Anyone?

The rest of her photo gallery as an upcoming gladiator can be found here.

With the official news that Sean Sherk has been stripped of his lightweight belt, the UFC has finally moved a step forward. Unfortunately, there’s the four other weight classes that need help; the welterweights, the middleweights, the light-heavyweights, and the heavyweights.

After Steve Sievert “broke the story” that Sherk was keeping his belt even though he was found guilty of steroid use after his successful July 7th title defense, I could almost hear the collective groan from the anti-drug MMA crowd. Articles attacking and defending the 155 pound champ were posted everywhere, yet Sievert really didn’t say anything at all except that the UFC had yet to make their call on the Sherk decision. Luckily the UFC stepped up and announced that they were stripping Sherk of his belt. Now it looks the previously “interim” title fight between BJ Penn and Joe Steveson has turned into a championship match. Not too shabby at all considering the UFC just rid itself of the lightweight mess.

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