Card-by-Card: August Rundown

Fedor is one of three #1 ranked fighters competing in August.

August is going to present some of the best MMA so far this year, and perhaps the best series of events we’ll see all year. As the most significant month we’re coming up on, I figure it might be good to run down the list of events and the chronology because, while all of the events will be covered individual, it’s nice to have the bird’s eye view.

Affliction: Trilogy (August 1st)

What better way to start the month than with the top heavyweight in the world stepping into the ring against a fighter that he’s been staring at from across the proverbial lot for years now. Fedor Emelianenko (30-1-0-1 MMA, #1 IWMMAR) will defend his belt, but perhaps not as relevant as defending (and, simultaniously, codifying) his number one ranking against Josh Barnett (24-5 MMA, 4-1 UFC, #3 IWMMAR) .

Also appearing on the card will be top ten middleweight Gegard Mousasi (25-2-1 MMA, #8 IWMMAR) making his debut at lightheavyweight against Renato Sobral (35-8 MMA, 5-4 UFC, #9 IWMMAR) . Quickly reemerging, the Phenom Vitor Belfort (18-8 MMA, 7-4 UFC, #9 IWMMAR) will take on Jorge Santiago (21-7 MMA, 1-2 UFC, #6 IWMMAR) . On top of that, striking monsters Gilbert Yvel (36-13-1-1 MMA) and Paul Buentello (27-10 MMA, 3-1 UFC) will put on a bout that sure to be exciting. And that’s just the first day.

Sengoku 9 (August 2nd)

World Victory Road will stage another title bout, bringing in champion Satoru Kitaoka (25-8 MMA, #10 IWMMAR) to take on a paper contender in Mizuto Hirota (11-3-1 MMA) . Hirota should be submitted easily by Kitaoka, and will make for another exciting display for Kitaoka, who may quickly become a challenger for top lightweight fighters in the eastern hemisphere (and there are many).

Also, and perhaps more importantly, the Sengoku card will include the conclusion of its featherweight tournament, which will feature semi-final bouts. Marlon Sandro (14-0 MMA) will face surprise semi-finalist Michihiro Omigawa (6-7-1 MMA) and heavy favorite Hatsu Hioki (19-3-2 MMA, #5 IWMMAR) will take on Masanori Kanehara (13-5-5 MMA) . The winners will square off in the finals that same night.

UFC 101: Declaration (August 8th)

B.J. Penn (13-5-1 MMA, 10-4-1 UFC, #1 IWMMAR) will return to the Octagon after his welterweight loss to defend his lightweight title against Kenny Florian (11-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC, #2 IWMMAR) , widely considered his toughest challenger. In the co-main event,UFC Middleweight Champion and the man widely considered the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world Anderson Silva (24-4 MMA, 9-0 UFC, #1 IWMMAR) will return to the lightheavyweight division to take on former UFC lightheavyweight champion Forrest Griffin (16-5 MMA, #4 IWMMAR) in a bout that could send Silva into the lightheavyweight division’s top five.

Also on the card, former middleweight contender Thales Leites (14-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC, #10 IWMMAR) will return to the Octagon after his disappointing title shot against Silva, in which he looked more like a fish than a fighter. He’ll take on Italian warrior Legionarius Alessio Sakara (13-7-0-1 MMA, 4-4-0-1 UFC) . Two TUF winners will also appear on the card as TUF 7 winner Amir Saddollah (1-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) will take on Johny Hendricks (5-0 MMA) as Hendricks makes his UFC debut. TUF 3 winner Kendall Grove (12-5-0-1 MMA, 5-2 UFC) will return against Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu phenom Ricardo Almeida (10-3 MMA, 3-3 UFC) .

WEC 42: Torres vs. Bowles (August 9th)

Top bantamweight and WEC titleholder Miguel Torres (37-1 MMA, #1 IWMMAR) will take on top contender Brian Bowles (7-0 MMA, #2 IWMMAR) in a bout that may test Torres and will certainly test Bowles.  Former featherweight contender Jeff Curran (29-12-1 MMA) will look for his first WEC bantamweight win against an even tougher opponent in Takeya Mizugaki (11-3-2 MMA) and the only fighter to take Torres five round since Torres claimed his bantamweight title in February, 2008.

Also on the card: Leonard Garcia (12-4 MMA, 1-2 UFC, #6 IWMMAR) will return to the cage after his unsuccessful title challenge, facing Jameel Massouh (21-5 MMA) . Bantamweight Rani Yahya (14-4 MMA, #8 IWMMAR) will step in against Kenji Osawa (15-8-2 MMA) . Emerging bantamweight contender Joseph Benavidez (10-0 MMA, #5 IWMMAR) will take on Dominick Cruz (13-1 MMA) .

Strikeforce: Carano vs. Santos (August 15th)

The first women’s title fight in Strikeforce will be a battle between featherweights Gina Carano (7-0 MMA) and Christiane “Cyborg” Santos (7-1 MMA) , considered by many to be the far and away #1 and #2 fighters in the division. Strikeforce lightweight champions will unify an undisputed belt and an interim belt when Josh Thomson (16-2-0-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) takes on Gilbert Melendez (15-2 MMA) in a rematch.

In a welterweight title bout, Nick Diaz (20-7-0-1 MMA, 6-4 UFC) will be the heavy favorite as he takes on Joe “Diesel” Riggs (30-10-0-1 MMA, 4-4 UFC) . In a heavyweight title bout, making four for the night, Alistair Overeem (29-11-0-1 MMA, #7 IWMMAR) will take on former Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world champion Fabricio Werdum (11-4-1 MMA, 2-2 UFC) .

UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira (August 29th)

As the month winds down, we will see a bout between two MMA legends in former two division UFC champion Randy Couture (16-9 MMA, 13-3 UFC, #6 IWMMAR) and former UFC and Pride heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-5-1-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC, #5 IWMMAR) . Keith Jardine (14-5 MMA, 6-4 UFC, #7 IWMMAR) will take on Brazilian wrecking ball Thiago Silva (13-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC). In what may very well be a top contenders match for the middleweight division, Demian Maia (10-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC, #5 IWMMAR) will take on veteran and former top contender Nate Marquardt (28-8-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC, #4 IWMMAR) .

Overall, the month is going to be huge. For those who weren’t keeping track, there are twenty-four top ten fighters competing this month, with seven title fights. It’s going to be a fantastic month for the fans and those of us who keep you guys posted.