It’s December. That means most NHL teams have played around 25 games and everyone has an identity. The San Jose Sharks are the top team in the league, winning 20 out of 24 games. They were my pre-season Stanley Cup pick and they’re going a long way in proving me right. The other team lighting up the league is the Boston Bruins, who are tied with the Rangers for the most points in the league and are 8-1-1 in their last ten games. I’m sticking with my San Jose vs. Montreal in the Stanley Cup Finals pick because what kind of man would I be if I changed directions now? 

Game of the Week: Anaheim Ducks at Detroit Red Wings (12/1)

The Ducks are underachieving a bit this season but they’ve been stronger as of late. The Wings are right where everyone pegged them to be in defense of the title. Although J.S. Giguere hasn’t been the elite netminder that he usually his, he’s still a top 10 goalie and has one of the top defenses in the league playing in front of him. The scoring has to pick up for the Ducks though. To steal a line from Dennis Green, The Wings are what we thought they were. Osgood has been solid, the defense is still tops in the league, and their puck control on the offensive end is amazing. If Giggy and the Anaheim defense shows up, this could be a really good game with some good chances and better saves.

Official Prediction: 3-1 Detroit

Fantasy Player to Watch: Alex Ovechkin

As usual, Ovechkin is always a player to watch but this is another week that he should shine. The Caps have favorable match ups against Florida, The Islanders, Toronto, and Carolina. Florida is the best defensive team on that list but they’re going to have a tough time keeping up with the young and fast caps. Expect everyone on the Capitals to have a big week but Ovechkin will stick out as usual.

It’s Not Looking Good For: New Jersey Devils

Until they get Martin Broduer back, the Devils are going to continue to struggle. The Devils only play twice this week but they’re both road games against capable high scoring teams in Montreal and Philadelphia. The Devils still play their usual stingy defense but the loss of Broduer as really highlighted how key he was to making the defense look better than it might have been.

Lock of the Week (1-2): Minnesota over Colorado (12/1)

It might be smart to just go against the lock at this point but I think I’ll get back on track this week. The Avalanche have struggled on the road this season and they’ve struggled even more to score goals as of late. Minnesota has allowed the fewest goals in the league so don’t expect Colorado to break out of their scoring slump in this one. Minnesota will score just enough to get by. But they’ll get by.

Two days late, no dollars short.

I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving. My day consisted of being around family, eating turkey, and watching football. The family stuff is fine except I feel 30 years younger than everyone (and in fact, am 30 years younger than everyone except my cousin, who smartly ducked out most of the day) and I’d rather just relax and watch football than socialize. Unfortunately the football games were about as entertaining as having a conversation with a 80 year old lady. Detriot lost, again. I think every sports fan in America, including Lions fans, should root for this team to go 0-16. They’re going to get the first overall pick anyway, they might as well do it in style. I remember when everyone rejoiced because Matt Millen finally got fired, not realizing that this years team was already screwed and the firing of one guy wasn’t going to fix the years of mistakes. The was examplified when the Lions turned to Dantue Culpepper instead of sticking with Dan Orlovsky and Drew Henson. You’re already going to lose, you might as well lose with young guys and get them experience rather than lose with a retired guy. And after seeing Culpepper for a couple of weeks now, it’s easy to see why he was retired and gained no interest from the league until the Lions came calling.

Anyway, on to Fact or Fiction.

1. UFC’s quick decision to release Jon Fitch proves that they view no company as a threat?

FACT. There’s really no other way to explain it. Sure they wanted to make an example of Fitch and prove that, “if you’re not with us, you’re gone” but they wouldn’t have done that if they didn’t feel like there was no where for him to go, they wouldn’t have been so quick to release him. The fact is, all the top Welterweights are in the UFC. Fitch could have gone to Strikeforce or Affliction and maybe have gotten more money but the exposure would have been significantly less and the competition would have been far worse. UFC knows Affliction is on their last legs and that Strikeforce isn’t a big company, although they have found a niche audience in San Jose.

2. Fedor will place third or better in the ADCC in 2009?

FICTION. Fedor has good MMA jiu-jitsu but I don’t know how good his grappling is. He uses a lot of armbars and rear naked chokes but he’s also getting punched and using punches to set those up. Having a sambo background, we know he knows a thing or two about leg locks. I think he’ll do well, because he’s Fedor and he’s just a beast like that but not having the proper grappling game for ADCC will lead to his downfall against guys who are just monsters at grappling and that’s their bread and butter.

3. Strikeforce should be ashamed that their four champions have not defended their titles in a combined 2 years?

FACT. I’m willing to give Thomson and Sobral a pass because Thomson was scheduled to defend at their most recent even but pulled out with an injury and Sobral just won the title but Cung Le and Alistair Overeem are a bit indefensible. Cung Le won his title in March of this year and hasn’t even had a fight scheduled while Overeem won his belt a year ago and has only fought in Japan since. If Overeem and Cung Le aren’t going to defend their titles for whatever reason, they shouldn’t be champions. I feel UFC should have stripped Couture when he wasn’t defending the belt (although they didn’t because of legal leverage) and they should have stripped Ortiz back in 03 when he wouldn’t defend his belt. If you’re not going to defend and you’re not doing it because of any reason other than an injury or a comapny vehichle (UFC icing their champions for TUF) then you shouldn’t be champion.

4. UFC is doing a better job promoting UFC 94 than they did promoting UFC 91?

FACT. Outside of ESPN promotion the day the fight was announced and the usual week before push, UFC 91 just felt like another show. They’re going above and beyond for St. Pierre vs. Penn, holding a press conference on UFC 91 weekend and going to Hawaii and Canada to promote the fight. It seems like they’re really spending time on this fight and have even given it some nickname that no one will remember unless the fight is amazing. I hope they get ample time on ESPN because Penn always has interesting things to say and GSP is one of the most marketable UFC fighters.

5. This season of The Ultimate Fighter has been far more entertaining than Season 7?

FACT. Having recapped TUF7 and currently recapping TUF8, I’ve found this season much more entertaining. The in house antics have been good, the pranks are original and not too over the top (until bodily fluids became involved), the fighters seem to stick out more on this season, and the fights have been good. The coaches also seem a lot more involved this season than they were last season and that always helps.

6. Brock Lesnar would make it out of the first round with Fedor?

FACT. There’s no reason to believe he wouldn’t. Since his fight with Frank Mir, Lesnar has learned to pace himself better and not blow himself out within the first 30 seconds. His chin looks to be impressive so I’m not sure if Fedor’s wide punches would be enough to knock Lesnar down and out early. Fedor’s two favorite submissions are almost null against the upper body of Lesnar. Unless Lesnar makes another mistake that sees him end up in another knee bar, I’m confident that Lesnar could make it a round with Fedor.

From this weeks Cardio Freak on 411Mania

Giving Thanks for MMA

Today is Thanksgiving. A day for giving thanks. A day to go to your relatives house against your will, spend hours with people who annoy you, know the best moment of the day will be eating turkey because that’s when no one talks, and try to sneak away to watch football games that have no luster this year. Thanksgiving everyone. Luckily for you, I’m here to put a smile on your face as you sneak away from your relatives in search of peace of mind. So sit back, relax, wipe your hands before scrolling down because you don’t want to get your trackpad/mouse all messy from eating turkey, and enjoy as I give thanks to MMA.

 *I’m thankful that Randy Couture returned to the UFC. Could you imagine Randy Couture officially hanging it up under another banner? Not only that but with the way he and UFC split, it just wouldn’t feel right. It would be like the Brett Favre/Packers situation. Except the Packers actually got rid of Favre while UFC did everything within their power to prevent Couture from fighting elsewhere. The point remains though, it will be a sad day when Brett Favre retires a Jet and not a Packer and it would have been a sad day if Randy Couture retired on HDNet.

 *I’m thankful Gina Carano got exposed. And not just at the weigh ins for EXC: Heat. Say what you will about women’s fighting but you can’t deny that they constantly deliver exciting fights. And say what you will about Gina Carano but you can’t deny that she’s the reason women’s MMA is as popular as it is. Now we just need Gina back in the cage.

 *I’m thankful for EliteXC. I wasn’t a fan of EliteXC and how they did business but it lead to some of the greatest promos ever by Dana White. Without EliteXC putting Kimbo Slice in the main event and having the debacle now known as “StandUpGate” we would have never been treated to such classic Dana White promos. Like the following:

 That promo will never get old.

*I’m thankful for Affliction. Not because of the Dana White promos. But because they brought Fedor Emelianenko to the US, marketed the hell out of him, and gave him a top 10 opponent. Never mind the fact that they’ll likely be out of business this time next year because one Saturday in July, they were thought to be a legit threat to UFC.

*I’m thankful that God blessed Brock Lesnar. Every single UFC show that featured Brock Lesnar this year did a good buyrate and was a good card, ending with UFC 91 being possibly the best event all year. He blessed Lesnar with many things including looking like a beast, drawing huge buyrates, somehow influencing the rest of the card not too suck, and not making the wisest tattoo decisions.

*I’m thankful UFC finally gave Anderson Silva an All Access special. If you doubted the greatness of Anderson Silva before that show, shame on you. Starring at the Big Macs, playing paintball, dancing, ect… were all great moments in the history of UFC All Access.

*I’m thankful for Georges St. Pierre. I’m not talking about his fighting ability because we know that’s great. I’m talking about GSP the person. I’m not gay but if I were, GSP would be at the top of my list. His accent is sexy, he’s in great shape, he can break dance, and just look at him at the weigh ins. You’ll only notice one thing. I don’t think I’m alone in saying that GSP is desirable to men, both gay and straight.

*I’m thankful BJ Penn seems to be taking MMA seriously. There’s nothing better than watching an in-shape and motivated BJ Penn fight inside the Octagon. Although I’m not a fan of Penn essentially whining his way into a fight against St. Pierre, I think we’ll see the best BJ Penn ever come January.

*I’m thankful ESPN is starting to devote more coverage to MMA. ESPN treated UFC 91 like it was the Stanley Cup Finals. They had the internet crew show up to the event and do live coverage, they had results on the bottom line, and they had interviews with various fighters. The next step is to get MMA Live on an ESPN affiliate and off the internet.

*I’m thankful Ken Shamrock didn’t fight Kimbo Slice. Although I’m sure Shamrock could have thrown a jab with as much power as Seth Petruzelli, I’m thankful that he didn’t get the opportunity. Did we really need to see Shamrock lying lifeless on the mat again? I sure didn’t.

*I’m thankful Tito Ortiz was allowed to speak at UFC 84. Dana White could have easily been a prick and just cut to the next fight after Machida gave his post-fight interview but instead Ortiz was given the mic and allowed to say his piece. And just so everyone knows, he’ll say his piece in the UFC again in 2009.

*I’m thankful for HDNet and the fact that I’m one of the 10 people who get it. HDNet is the best place to get a weekly MMA fix. InsideMMA is a great show hosted by a great man (not Kenny Rice) and they’ve got live events from Strikeforce and DREAM.

*I’m thankful people actually read what I type. God bless you, every one of you. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

In the course of two weeks, the NHL lost the top two netminders in the league. Martin Broduer, who will go down as the greatest goaltender ever, is out for months and now Roberto Luongo is out for months. Ask anyone in the NHL and they’ll tell you that you can’t win without goaltending. If you score six goals and your goaltender has an off night and gives up seven, those are six meaningless goals. Goaltending can win or lose you games. For my money, goaltending is the most important position in pro sports. It’s certainly the most important position in hockey. The only other positions that come close are pitchers in baseball and quarterbacks in football. A good defense can lead a mediocre quarterback to a championship though. I won’t argue against pitching because come the post season, I do think having a dominant pitcher is the most important person to having a series. But the loss of Broduer and Luongo isn’t just bad for the Devils and Canucks, it’s bad for the league. Broduer and Luongo always give you a show. Whether it’s Broduer playing the puck or Luongo making a two on one save. They’re just entertaining. 

Game of the Week: Ottawa Senators vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (11/27)

It’s always exciting when these two teams face off. The rivalry brings out the best in the two teams and the fact that the Senators are sitting below the Leafs in the standings right now has to be disheartening to the. The  Maple Leafs have been a big surprise this season, scoring a lot of goals despite having a minimum number of veterans in their line up. Their goaltending and defense is very shaky though and it’s not resulting in as many wins as it probably should. The Senators have been a huge disappointment, not scoring many goals at all and still getting shaky goaltending for their duo of Gerber and Auld. I expect this one to be a high scoring affair and a fun one to watch.

Official Pick: Senators 5-4

Fantasy Player to Watch: Mike Richards

The leader of the Flyers looks to have a big week as the team has favorable match ups against Dallas, Carolina (twice), and Toronto. Dallas and Toronto are the two worst defensive teams in the league and Carolina is in the bottom ten as well. Look for everyone of the Flyers to have a big week but with the way Richards plays, I expect him to have the biggest.

It’s Not Looking Good For: Tampa Bay Lightning

They play two of three games on the road and their lone home game is against a very good New York Rangers team. The two road games are against Minnesota and Colorado. The Lightning have struggled to score goals this season so games against the Rangers, Wild, and an improving Avalanche team don’t work in the favor of Lecavalier and company. Expect two of the three games to not even be close.

Lock of the Week (1-1): Philadelphia over Toronto (11/29)

Toronto can score goals but they can’t stop them. The Flyers have a lot of offensive talent and good enough defense and goaltending to slow down the young Toronto team. The Blackhawks proved to the Maple Leafs that speed kills and with players like Richards, Carter, and Gagne, the Flyers have speed. Look for Philly to put plenty of pucks in the net on Saturday.

From this weeks Cardio Freak on 411Mania

UFC 91: “Pain Arrived” Review

The talk after the weigh ins was that Lesnar was nervous and possibly hiding an injury. He wasn’t his usual cocky self and something just seemed a little off. Even during his walk in he didn’t look to have any type of fire in his eyes. I’m usually the first person to read into these types of things and while I thought something may have been off with Lesnar, I put that doubt away the moment he was smiling and jumping around during the introduction. He worked us. Maybe he was hurt, maybe he wasn’t. But Lesnar showed everyone that you shouldn’t put too much stock into what you see at the weigh ins and walk ins. At least with him anyway.

It’s a stacked December for Zuffa with one WEC event, two UFC on Spike events, and a finale that features Evans vs. Griffin, Nogueira vs. Mir, and Silva vs. Jackson. What more could you ask for as a MMA fan?

Now that I’ve taken over FoF duties at 411Mania, I’ve decided that every Wednesday I’m going to answer the FoF questions that I propose to my fellow writers. So this week we tackle Liddell/Couture 4, Lesnar’s chances against Nog or Mir, the impressiveness of Florian, and more.

UFC 91 was the best MMA show of the year?

FACT. For the first time that I can recall, every UFC fight was shown on PPV. And all nine fights were awesome. We saw two guys slug it out, a highlight uppercut KO, some impressive submissions, and an epic main event. Off the top of my head, I can’t recall another show this year where no fight was boring. This show had a lot of hype behind it, many people purchased the event, and they got their moneys worth. If this was your first MMA event, you’ll probably be buying more. Plus 50 Cent was there and if 50 Cent attends your event, you know it’s a big event.

Of all the impressive performances at UFC 91, Kenny Florian turned in the most impressive?

FACT. There were a lot of impressive performances at UFC 91 but taking everything into considering, Florian was the most impressive. Maia beat a guy on the ground who had limited ground skills, Hazelett beat an average fighter, Gonzaga beat a guy he was expected to beat, and Lesnar beat Couture but nothing in that fight was going to shock me. I expected Joe Stevenson to give Florian a run for his money and Florian beat him on the feet, took him down with a strong body lock, easily passed to mount, and choked him out. Florian made Stevenson look leagues below him and in reality, they’re about equal.

A partnership with Showtime/CBS would be the saving grace for Affliction?

FICTION. With the way their salary structure is set up, network TV is not going to save Affliction. The only way they can make money is if they turn a profit on PPV. When you’re paying 1 million dollars to the two fighters in the main event, network TV isn’t going to make you the money you need to survive. That’s why UFC will never put Chuck Liddell or Brock Lesnar on free TV. Not only because they know both fighters are worth a minimum 400,000 PPV buys but because the PPV money is worth more than the TV money. I think MMA companies need television but they need television to build PPVs, not to run events on television.

Dana White and Zuffa should give women’s fighting a chance, if not in UFC then in WEC?

FACT. WEC runs 6-8 shows a year. If they put one women’s fight on each show, they can have a legit division. Dana White’s concern is that there aren’t enough women to support a division but when you’re only running 6-8, you don’t need that many women fighters. They could survive for at least 2 years with 10 women fighters and after 2 years, more women fighters are going to make their name. It’s a low risk, high reward for Zuffa. Gina Carano is a marketing gold mine. She’s beautiful, she’s media friendly, and she’s a good fighter. She can do nothing but increase the exposure of Zuffa and WEC.

If Randy Couture has one more fight left in him, it should be against Chuck Liddell?

FACT. And I seem to be the only person who wants to see this. The thing that makes this a fact for me is the “one more fight” part. If Randy Couture only has one more fight left him in, it should be against Chuck Liddell. Fedor vs. Couture isn’t happening, fans just need to accept that. I wouldn’t mind Anderson Silva vs. Couture but I don’t think it would do the business of Couture/Liddell. The only other suitable fight is Couture vs. Forrest Griffin and if Griffin is still the champion, I’m not sure if that’s going to happen. Couture should face Liddell one more time, do a huge number, and retire. If he wins, leave the series at 2-2 because no one ever does that and someone should.

Based on his MMA career and taking into consideration the training time between now and the fight, Brock Lesnar will defeat Frank Mir or Antonio Nogueira?

FACT. I think if they fought tomorrow, Lesnar would defeat Mir. He made a rookie mistake in his first fight and if they fight again, Lesnar wins it. With Nogueira, I think the extra training time will be a factor. Lesnar doesn’t have to learn submissions, he has to learn submission defense. That’s a lot easier to learn because you just have to avoid what’s coming, not set up different things. I think Lesnar would learn enough submission defense to survive on the ground but I also think that he would be smart and just try to knock out Nogueira.

I don’t get too many emails asking me to address certain things in columns so when I do, I feel special. I’m always happy to answer emails from readers so don’t hesitate to send them. Here’s an email I received about the difference between the cage and the ring.

“It may not be [relevant] for you to address in your column but you mentioned in the bit about Denis Kang how Japanese guys struggle with the fence/cage rather than ropes. I have heard this said so many times (e.g I think Dan Henderson had it mentioned about him when he first came into UFC) but never really understood the reason for it.”

-Neil from Zurich

There’s really no one explanation for why the Japan/ring guys struggle in the UFC and the cage. The biggest difference is the ropes as opposed to the fence. With the ropes it’s easy to fall through them when you’re clinched up against them or when you’re trying to drive someone through with a takedown. It’s also easy to escape under the ropes if you’re near them and in a bad position. In the cage, you can push your opponent up against the cage and work your ground and pound, leaving them with little place to go. Watch any Tito Ortiz fight not against Chuck Liddell and you’ll see that after every takedown, Ortiz slides his opponent up against the cage and begins throwing punches and elbows. In the ring, the opponent would just slide under the bottom rope and force the ref to reposition them, allowing the fighter to catch his breath. 

Striking is a bit different in the ring and cage as well. It’s easier to cut off a ring because there are four distinct corners that you can back your opponent into. Guys like Kalib Starnes find it easier to run in circles in the cage because there’s no true cut off point. Some people have learned how to cut off the cage at certain points but rest assured that they’ve had years of Octagon experience. 

The success (or lack thereof) of the Japan guys goes beyond just the ring to cage transition though. The judging is different, the rules are different, the crowds are different, testing is more strict, ect…. There’s no one answer as to why PRIDE rulers struggle in the UFC because not every top guy in PRIDE has struggled. For every Mirko “Cro Cop” there’s a Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.

Jordan Staal has always been the red-headed step child in Pittsburgh. You know Crosby, you know Malkin, and you know Fluery. Staal has always been a good 3rd line center who is great at killing penalties. Staal had six points in three games this past week, five of them being goals. This years Penguins are like all those Philadelphia Eagles teams from earlier this century who kept getting close, yet a large window to win a championship, brought in different pieces to the puzzle, and yet never won a championship. I hope the Penguins don’t suffer the same fate as the Eagles and fail to win a championship. Onto the week preview.

Game of the Week: Boston Bruins at Montreal Canadiens (11/22)

You know the history of these two teams. They’ve met countless times in the playoffs, including last year where the #8 Bruins took the #1 Habs to a seventh game. The Bruins have been on a roll as of late going 8-1-1 in the last 10 games, allowing them to take over the lead in the Northeast Division over the Canadiens. I still question Tim Thomas in the Bruins net and you know the Habs are going to test him. They’re a relatively high scoring team and they have a 5-2 record at home. The Bruins score just as many goals as the Canadiens though so expect this one to be just as entertaining as last weeks Game of the Week between the Penguins and the Red Wings.

Official Pick: Canadiens 5-3

Fantasy Player to Watch: Vincent Lecavalier

Tampa Bay isn’t a good team this year. They threw random good players in their line up and expected them to gel, they never truly fixed their goaltending, and they’ve already fired their coach. That said, they’re facing Nashville, New Jersey, and Florida this week. It’s a favorable schedule for the Lightning and if they want to turn things around with their new coach, they need Lecavalier to lead them during this stretch. New Jersey is giving up a lot of goals without Broduer in net, Florida doesn’t give up much but they also don’t score a lot, and Nashville gives up the 5th most goals in the West. If Lecavalier doesn’t break out, look for another Lightning player to have a big week.

It’s Not Looking Good For: St. Louis Blues

They’re already the worst team in the West and now they’re without Andy McDonald, who has arguably been their best player this season. They only have two games this week but they’re against Minnesota and Anaheim. Minnesota isn’t as hot as they were to start the season but they’re still the top defensive team in the league and Anaheim is finally turning into the Anaheim team we expected all season. The Blues are going to be woeful all season but this week looks to be one the lower valley’s for them.

Lock of the Week (1-0): Minnesota over St. Louis (11/22)

I said it’s going to be a bad week for St. Louis and I mean it. Minnesota plays a stingy defense, they score just enough to get by, and they’re 5-1-1 at home against a Blues team that’s 2-4-1 on the road. There isn’t much to say about this game. Minnesota is going to shut down the McDonald-less offense of the Blues and they’re going to score enough to win. Bank on it.

From this weeks Cardio Freak

UFC 91: “This deserves to be named after the main event since the main event is Couture vs. Lesnar” Preview

Randy Couture vs. Brock Lesnar.

Everyone knows the storylines heading into this fight. Couture is older but experienced, Lesnar is younger but inexperienced. Couture is slower but smarter, Lesnar is faster and stronger. Couture hasn’t fought in over a year, Lesnar has fought twice this year. The only storyline missing is Lesnar coming to the Octagon using a walker as a way to mock Couture. That may top Lesnar’s mariachi dancing in the midst of his feud with Eddie Guerrero.

While most figure the fight will take place on the ground, every fight has to start on the feet. Unless you take Rich Franklin’s advice and start out on your knees. In both of his UFC fights, Lesnar has knocked down his opponents but he’s done so, not with technique, but with more of a surprise that he threw a punch. Couture isn’t known for his power but he knocked down Tim Sylvia and staggered Gabriel Gonzaga in his past two fights. Lesnar’s striking is still very green. He hits with power but there’s no real technique there. He looks flat on his feet and really only throws a right down the middle that throws off opponents more than anything. Couture’s striking is almost the exact opposite. He uses a lot of head movement, is light on his feet, and puts together combinations. People think Couture has a weak chin because of his losses to Liddell but those some people fail to realize that those are his only two KO losses. It’s not like he gets dropped in most of his fights or just isn’t good on the feet. He got caught twice by Chuck friggin’ Liddell. Lesnar’s chin hasn’t been tested but just looking at him, he looks like he can take a punch. If the fight stays on the feet, I don’t think either many will score a knockout but I do think Couture will school Lesnar with superior technique and movement. 

Everyone knows the wrestling credentials of both men. Lesnar is explosive and powerful with his double leg takedowns, Couture is smart and technical with his Greco roman style. Couture’s style consists of getting inside, clinching, bullying people against the cage and in the clinch, and then getting a trip takedown. You know it’s coming and yet it has worked brilliantly in fights against Liddell, Ortiz, Sylvia, Gonzaga, ect…. As Rogan and Goldberg love to state over and over again, “Randy Couture loves to bully people in the clinch and take their heart.” And while it sounds cliché, it’s true. A man the size and age of Couture shouldn’t be able to bully people the way he does and when he does, his opponents grow frustrated. Lesnar seems like the type of person who would grow frustrated if Couture is able to bully him like he’s done so many times in the past. He’s got to try and control that frustration though and shake it off between rounds. If he can do that then he’ll stay in the fight. If his heart is taken by Couture, the fight will be taken from his as well.

Lesnar’s advantages lie in his power, size, and strength. Lesnar had a great quote at the UFC 91 Conference Call where he said, “speed + mass = destruction” and if any math equation sums up Brock Lesnar, that would be the one. He’s proven that he hits hard, we know that he can takedown anyone, and on the ground his control combined with his power is amazing. Lesnar is a guy that shouldn’t be bullied around. It almost seems unimaginable that someone like Brock Lesnar wouldn’t be the bully. 

The goal of each fighter will be to put their opponent on their back. Couture hasn’t spent a lot of his fighting career on his back but when he’s been grounded, he hasn’t fared too well. As a former pro wrestler, on his back is the last place Lesnar wanted to be. It’s not a stretch to say this but whoever is on their back the longest, will lose this fight. While both men are versed in submissions, neither man would be considered an expert off their back. 

This is being hyped as the biggest fight in UFC history. While it doesn’t feel as big as Liddell vs. Ortiz 2, it’s still a huge fight. A lot of people wonder if the fight will live up to the potential. The Super Bowl is hyped as the biggest football game of the year and sometimes it’s over at halftime. That’s what’s so great about MMA. The fight is never over. And more goes into a fight than a score. Great fights are made thanks to emotion, storylines, fighters, and the crowd. Randy Couture vs. Tim Sylvia wasn’t that great of a fight. It was a 25-minute ass kicking where, outside of the first 30 seconds, neither man was close to finishing. Yet everyone remembers the fight because of the emotion, storyline, fighters, and crowd. This fight is the young, hungry, and beast of a man named Brock Lesnar against the old, experienced, beloved Randy Couture for the UFC Heavyweight title. Barring some fluke ending (ex. Cote vs. Silva) this fight will live up to the hype. Whether it’s a 30 second knockout, a tentative fight with a great ending, or a 25-minute fight that most may consider boring. It will live up to the hype.

If anyone believes 100% that one fighter will win, they’re lying. No one knows who’s going to win this fight for 100% certainty. So many things could happen in this fight and I’m not sure anything would shock me. I guess the most shocking ending would be a submission (not via strikes) victory for either fighter but then again, this is a Randy Couture fight and nothing in his fights surprise me. 

If I’ve learned one thing from my years of watching MMA, it’s to never bet against Randy Couture. He’s only lost one fight when he was the betting underdog and as of this writing, he’s a +105 underdog to Lesnar’s -145 and I should note that the line has changed three times since Monday, with Couture becoming a bigger underdog each time. By the time the event starts, Couture will likely be a much bigger underdog and if you’re planning on putting money on Couture, wait until the last second. I’m picking Randy Couture to win this fight because I can’t bet against him. I’ve been driving the Brock bandwagon since day one but I can’t pick against Couture. Randy Couture, Unanimous Decision.

In the co-main event, Joe Silva decides to go with some wacky match making as Kenny Florian takes on Joe Stevenson. I say this is wacky match making because this should have been Florian vs. Tyson Griffin, where the winner gets a shot at BJ Penn. Instead, Sean Sherk defeated Griffin and if Stevenson defeats Florian, well, is anyone paying for a BJ Penn rematch? I think Penn vs. Sherk 2 is a fine fight but I don’t know how many other people are buying it. 

Anyway, in the biggest co-main event that no one is paying for, Kenny Florian tries to a secure a Lightweight title shot. Here’s what you need to know about Florian: he wins. He’s lost two fights in the UFC, both of them against guys who could fight at Welterweight. He improves every fight and he finds a way to win. His striking is very technical, his wrestling is mediocre but it’s good enough to get by, and his grappling his top notch. On the opposite side of the cage is Joe Stevenson, who is a solid fighter with well-rounded skills. Plus he has a finishing move, that I have dubbed the “Daddy Choke” because when he locks it in, Joe Stevenson becomes your daddy. 

Stevenson has more power on the feet but Florian is the better overall striker and he’s better in the clinch. Stevenson is bigger and stronger so he might be able to bully Florian and put him on his back for 15-minutes and avoid submissions. Joe Stevenson was just awarded his black belt in jiu-jitsu but I still think Florian is better on the ground. Stevenson has the Daddy Choke and any opponent of his has to look out for that because he goes for the choke in any and all circumstances. 

We’ve got to officially call this a “Tila Tequila Fight” because if Florian wins, he’ll get a title shot and I always believe that it should go both ways. I’d love to see Stevenson win just to teach Joe Silva another booking lesson but I don’t think that’s going to happen. Kenny Florian just finds ways to win and I think he’ll find a way to win this fight. 

In a fight that I’m really looking forward to, Demian Maia takes on Nate Quarry. While this almost looks like punishment for Quarry, I think UFC is throwing Quarry a bone after the fight he had against Kalib Starnes at UFC 83. Maia is an exciting fighter and a win pushes Quarry to the top of the ladder while a loss doesn’t do too much damage him. Maia is one of the guys who I think has the skills to beat Anderson Silva. His striking is improving, his wrestling is good enough to survive, and his jiu-jitsu is second to none. Quarry is decent fighter but I’ve never really been impressed with him. He’s a powerful striking but it’s not really technical and everything else about him is just average. If he can keep the fight on the feet then he can win the fight either with a KO or decision but I think Maia finds a way to get the fight to the ground (possibly pulling guard) and tapping out Quarry.

Gabriel Gonzaga takes on UFC newcomer Josh Hendricks in a fight designed to keep Gonzaga on the right track back to a title shot. Josh Hendricks is a guy that hits hard and has a good top game. That’s really all I know about him. As for Gonzaga, I know that he’s a well-rounded fighter who loses his heart if he doesn’t win in the first round. I think Gonzaga is still a threat at Heavyweight despite the losses to Couture and Werdum. Unless Gonzaga shows up 20 pounds heavier and takes Hendricks lightly, he should win. That means put money down on Hendricks. 

Dustin Hazelett vs. Tamdan McCrory has been added to the main card due to Amir Saddollah pulling out of his fight against Nick Catone with a leg infection. Best of luck to Amir in his recovery. I’m excited that Dustin Hazelett is on the main card though as he’s another fighter whose bandwagon I’ve been driving for some time now. He’s a well-rounded fighter with exciting skills and has the potential to be a champion one day. McCrory is another well-rounded fighter and this should make for an exciting fight. Both guys can bring it on the feet and on the ground. I think Hazelett is the better fighter and I have no intentions of jumping off the bandwagon now. Hazelett will win this fight by submission.

It’s a mediocre undercard but it’s a huge main event. Sometimes the undercard can influence whether or not you buy an event but this is an event that you’re either buying or you’re not. Maia vs. Quarry isn’t going to stop you from purchasing this PPV because if you don’t think “I’ve got to see that” the moment you hear “Lesnar vs. Couture”, chances are you weren’t that enthused about the event. It’s going to be a historic night this Saturday and I can’t wait.

A lot of journalists preview the week ahead in the NFL because most games take place on one day and it’s easy to keep track of on a week to week basis. While I enjoy football, I’m more of a hockey guy. Previewing the week ahead in the NFL is an easy out because if you’re a sports fan, you’re likely an NFL fan. The NHL is a tougher draw since, well, it doesn’t draw at all. If hockey were a fighter, it’d probably be Fedor Emelianenko. It’s an exciting sport and a great sport to watch but for some reason it doesn’t seem to register with the public. I’m here to change that. I believe that the power of this blog combined with the five people that read that can put hockey back in the mix as a legit big time sport. Ok, maybe it won’t reach the level it was once at but I’ve got to have enough influence to push it past Major League Soccer, right?

Game of the Week: Pittsburgh Penguins at Detroit Red Wings (11/11)

It’s a Stanley Cup Final rematch on Tuesday as the Penguins try to extract some type of revenge against the Red Wings. Of course I always love how networks hype up Championship rematches like this game means more than the championship game or more than any other game in the season. Like if the Penguins win this game they’re going to feel better about themselves even though the Red Wings are still the reigning Cup Champions. I guess networks have to do what they’ve got to do though. Lets pause for a rain delay. We’ll be back though, WordPress demands a winner.

And we’re back. I’m looking forward to this game simply because Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, Sidney Crosby, and Evgeni Malkin are four of the most exciting players in the NHL. Throw in Jordan Staal, Marian Hossa, Marc Andre Fluery, Niklas Lindstrom, ect… and we’ve got a hell of a game on our hands. I’m mostly looking forward to see how Hossa plays against the team he helped lead to the Cup finals last year. His stint with the Penguins was short but his impact can’t be denied. You can already tell that Crosby is missing Hossa because they still haven’t found the right combination for Crosby in Pittsburgh.

Official Pick: Detroit 3-1

Fantasy Player to Watch: Alexander Ovechkin

Ovechkin is always a guy to watch because he’s one of the most exciting players in the NHL but he’s due for a particularly big week as he faces Tampa Bay, Carolina, and New Jersey twice. Tampa Bay has a lot of pieces but the puzzle hasn’t come together just yet and their biggest question is still defense and goaltending. It’s almost the same situation in Carolina, who just gave up five goals to a horrendous Atlanta team. And New Jersey doesn’t have Martin Broduer to bail them out in situations for the coming months. Washington has a very favorable schedule this week and the reigning Hart trophy winner is due.

It’s Not Looking Good For: New Jersey Devils

Life without the best goaltender in the league is already tough and it’s not an easy week for them. They’ve got a hungry Washington team twice and a good Rangers team. Kevin Weekes, Scott Clemmensen, and the New Jersey defense are going to have a tough time against the likes of Chris Drury, Scott Gomez, Alex Ovechkin, and Alex Semin. We all knew that the Devils had scoring problems but those problems have come full circle since Broduer hasn’t been there to shut down the opposing team. It’s not only a tough week for the Devils, it’s going to be a tough couple of months.

Lock of the Week: Vancouver over Toronto (11/15)

Toronto has a lot of fight in them but in the end they’re still a young team with mediocre talent. Vancouver has emerged this year a team that is not only scoring goals but also getting the expected great play from netminder Roberto Luongo. Vancouver is at home, they’re goaltender is as hot as it gets right now, and Toronto just isn’t very good. I just don’t see the Canucks dropping this one.