UFC 84

UFC 84 Fight Card

UFC 84
Las Vegas
May 24, 2008

Lightweight Championship Bout
Sean Sherk(2nd ranked, 6-2) vs. B.J. Penn(1st ranked, 8-3-1)
Light Heavyweight Bout
Wanderlei Silva(8th ranked, 1-3) vs. Keith Jardine(3rd ranked, 5-2)
Light Heavyweight Bout
Goran Reljic(0-0) vs. Wilson Gouveia(4-1)

Light Heavyweight Bout
Tito Ortiz(9th ranked, 14-5-1) vs. Lyoto Machida(6th ranked, 4-0)
Light Heavyweight Bout
Antonio Mendes(0-0) vs. Thiago Silva(10th ranked, 3-0)
Middleweight Bout
Rousimar Palhares(0-0) vs. Ivan Salaverry(3-3)
Light Heavyweight Bout
Kazuhiro Nakamura(0-1) vs. Rameau Sokoudjou(0-1)
Lightweight Bout
Terry Etim(1-1) vs. Rich Clementi(4-3)Welterweight Bout
Yoshiyuki Yoshida(0-0) vs. John Koppenhaver(1-0)
Welterweight Bout
Dong-Hyun Kim(0-0) vs. Jason Tan(0-1)
Heavyweight Bout
Shane Carwin(0-0) vs. Christian Wellisch(2-1)

Chris Wilson vs. Steve Bruno @ UFC 86

Chris Wilson will return to the octagon to face Steve Bruno at UFC 86. Wilson impressed in his debut against #1 contender Jon Fitch losing a fairly close decision. Wilson is huge for a welterweight and has a very well-rounded game. He will likely use his size to dictate where he wants this fight to go. Steve Bruno trains with American Top Team and has been impressive outside of the UFC. Bruno was set to make his debut about a year ago against Chad Reiner, but had to bow out due to an injury. Wilson is hovering around the top 10 of the Welterweight division, so this fight is crucial in his climb up the ladder.

UFC 86 Welterweight Bout:
Steve Bruno(0-0) vs. Chris Wilson(1-0)

Chris Leben serving jail time in order to fight in London

Chris Leben voluntarily turned himself in to Oregon officials in order to serve a probation violation from a past DUI. Leben is set to face Bisping in London and in order to clear his passport to travel overseas he has to serve his sentence. He will be serving 7-10 days.

Joe Doerksen released by the UFC

Joe Doerksen has been released from the UFC after suffering his sixth loss inside the octagon. Doerksen is a crafty veteran who still poses a danger with his submission skills, but it was clear to many that Doerksen lacked the skills and youth of today’s top fighters. He is comparable to Elvis Sinosic and Jeremy Horn in the UFC, as they usually serve as a gatekeeper for the young, rising stars of the UFC.

Jonathan Goulet vs. Paul Kelly @ UFC 85

Jonathan Goulet fresh from his fight of the night honors at UFC 83 will step back into the octagon to face Paul Kelly at UFC 85. Goulet has had a very difficult time when facing tougher competition evidenced by his losses to Jon Fitch and Dustin Hazelett. Goulet seemed like a different fighter as of late though and could truly put his name on the map with a win over Paul Kelly. Kelly made a successful debut at UFC 80 defeating Paul Taylor. Kelly truly dominated the fight by using his grappling and ground n’pound skills. He will likely to look to repeat this strategy with Goulet. It should be a spirited fight as both are trying to break into the top 10 of the Welterweight division.

UFC Welterweight Bout:
Paul Kelly(1-0) vs. Jonathan Goulet(4-3)

Kenny Florian vs. Roger Huerta @ UFC 87

The lightweight megafight has been signed for UFC 87. 5^th ranked Roger Huerta will face 3^rd ranked Kenny Florian in a bout to dictate who will receive the next title shot. Florian has been repeatedly asking for this fight and now he has his wish. Huerta has taken a well-earned hiatus from the UFC after defeating Clay Guida. Florian has developed a strong standup game, but would be wise to use a similar gameplan that he beat Joe Lauzon with. Huerta is ultra-talented on his feet using a variety of weapons and has shown his penchant for escaping submission attempts. This bout may come down to attrition and heart, which both have shown in past fights. It should be a great fight that could garner fight of the year consideration.

UFC 87 Lightweight Bout:
Roger Huerta(5th ranked, 6-0) vs. Kenny Florian(3rd ranked, 7-2)

Travis Lutter is released by the UFC

Travis Lutter fresh off his loss at UFC 83 to Rich Franklin has been released by the UFC. Lutter was crowned the Ultimate Fighter 4 winner and earned a title bout with Anderson Silva, but the rest has been much publicized as Lutter did not make weight angering many within the MMA world. Lutter vowed to come in better shape with his fight with Franklin and though he made weight, he showed little in the form of improved conditioning clearly gassing out after the 1^st round. The UFC has little patience for fighters who do not come to fight or show a lack of dedication evidenced by the recent release of Kalib Starnes. Lutter could have been a legit player in the division with his ground skills, but he dug his own grave by not taking advantage of golden opportunities.

New UFC Rankings are up!

The post-UFC 83 rankings are now up. Matt Serra saw his ranking fall, while fighters such as Nate Quarry and Demian Maia finally broke into the top 10. Some fighters have finally registered on the radar such as Mac Danzig, Cain Velasquez, Jason Day, Jonathan Goulet, and Rich Clementi. Also, Jake O'Brien and Kalib Starnes are no longer in the UFC, while Din Thomas has announced his move to featherweight.

UFC Heavyweight Rankings

1 - Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira(2-0)
Minotauro showed the UFC world what others have known for years, a huge heart and world class jiu-jitsu. The UFC's trying to get Couture back in the cage, but we are likely to see the winner of Werdum/Vera or Mir






2 - Andrei Arlovski(10-4)
Arlovski's a free agent, but something tells me the UFC will pay him the big money. He defeated previously unbeaten O'Brien at UFC 82, but time will tell if we see Arlovski back in the octagon






3 - Fabricio Werdum(1-1)
Werdum moved all the way up from 10th with his win over Gabriel Gonzaga. The UFC seems primed to give him a title shot if he defeats Brandon Vera







4 - Frank Mir(8-3)
Mir is trying to make one last run at the title and just stamped his ticket with his win over Brock Lesnar. The UFC has given him a very winnable fight against McCully which should clear the way for a title shot






5 - Gabriel Gonzaga(4-2)
Gonzaga's once was the fastest rising heavyweight in the division, but after back-to-back losses, he suddenly finds himself clinging to the top 10







6 - Brandon Vera(4-1)
Tim Sylvia put a stop to the hype. Vera needs a win over Werdum at UFC 85 to get him back in the title mix. Hopefully the hand is fully healed







7 - Heath Herring (2-2)
Herring impressively defeated Kongo, but has yet to show any consistency. His loss to O'Brien and lackluster win over Imes still drag down his ranking







8 - Cheick Kongo(4-2)
Kongo's striking was negated by Heath Herring at UFC 82. Still too one-dimensional and doesn't bring enough reckless abandon when trying to finish fights






9 - Brock Lesnar(0-1)
Showed the desire and raw strength to be a future factor in the heavyweight division. Now faces veteran Mark Coleman in a fight of past vs. new







10 - Eddie Sanchez(3-1)
Continued his winning ways at UFC 79. He's ready for a step up in competition








On the Brink:
11. Christian Wellisch(2-1) - Another win @UFC 76 has everyone starting to take notice, will fight newcomer Shane Carwin in a bout of up and comers
12. Justin McCully(1-0) - Gets a high profile match-up with Frank Mir. He better be training to shake off the ring rust
13. Cain Velasquez(1-0) - The young gun showed some skill in his debut against Brad Morris. Could be a star in the division.
14. Antoni Hardonk(2-2) - Bounced back after his loss to Mir, but still needs to work on his ground skills. Faces a tough wrestler in Wain next.
15. Mark Coleman(6-3) - The HOF'er wants one last crack at the UFC, may reconsider his decision once he actually sees Brock in person.
Up Next: Shane Carwin(0-0), Sao Palelei(0-1), Neil Wain(0-0)

Light Heavyweight Rankings

1 - Quinton Jackson(3-0)
Light Heavyweight Champion
Rampage has silenced the critics by defeating Henderson. Will get his chance with mainstream stardom being named a coach for Ultimate Fighter 7. Hopefully does not underestimate Forrest's heart






2 - Forrest Griffin(6-2)
I feel like we're watching the real life Rocky Balboa after every Forrest fight. He did something nobody, but Randy Couture, could imagine..defeat Shogun. Griffin is the huge underdog once again for his improbable title shot with Rampage






3 - Keith Jardine(5-2)
Pulled off the biggest upset in UFC history. Jardine actually beat Liddell in a standup war. Losses against Bonnar, Evans, and Alexander have many questioning his consistency as a legitimate contender. Wanderlei stands in his way of a future title shot





4 - Chuck Liddell(16-4)
Liddell has definitely redeemed himself with the win over Wanderlei, but his age combined with his hamstring injury might put his title hopes on hiatus







5 - Rashad Evans(6-0-1)
Hasn't lost a fight yet. Solid wins over Bisping, Jardine, Lambert, Bonnar and fighting to a draw with Tito solidify his standing. A win over Liddell could have really boosted his stock, but will still win over a lot naysayers if he defeats Irvin






6 - Lyoto Machida(4-0)
Machida finally delivered in his fight with Sokoudjou at UFC 79. Many feel a title shot is next, but first he needs to take out the UFC's old poster boy, Tito Ortiz







7 - Mauricio Rua(0-1)
Shogun was lackluster in his debut with Forrest Griffin. The knee injury is a serious injury for him, but will look to make his return very soon







8 - Wanderlei Silva(1-3)
Wanderlei's battle with Chuck was one for the ages. Fell from 3rd to 8th though due to a 1-3 career record in the octagon and losing his last three bouts overall. He will face Jardine and with a win could either get a Liddell rematch or title shot






9 - Tito Ortiz(14-5-1)
Tito's claims he's trying to get healthy, but Hollywood seems be the real reason his fight career has taken a backseat. When was the last time Tito truly dominated a fight? He has a lot to prove against Lyoto Machida at UFC 84






10. Thiago Silva(3-0)
Undefeated fighter upset Houston Alexander, but is still lost in the shuffle of the deep Light Heavyweight division. Faces newcomer Antonio Mendes @UFC 84







On the Brink:
11. Wilson Gouveia(4-1) - Commitment is still questioned, but talent is obvious. He knocked out Jason Lambert at UFC 80, and now should easily defeat newcomer Goran Reljic.
12. Rameau Sokoudjou(0-1) - Looked more like prey than predator at UFC 79. Sokoudjou has came back to earth after his meteoric rise. Should dismantle Nakamura @UFC 84
13. Matt Hamill(4-1) - Hamill has shown a world of heart fighting inside the octagon. He showed that he's got a solid chin and a growing respect amongst his competitors.
14. Stephan Bonnar(5-3) - Injuries have derailed Bonnar's career. His wars with Forrest and wins over Jardine and Irvin cement his ranking though
15. James Irvin(4-3) - His highlight reel knockout of Houston Alexander has finally brought Irvin the acclaim he's always craved. He gets another high profile match with Rashad Evans
Up Next: Jason Lambert(4-2), Tim Boetsch(1-1), Houston Alexander(2-2)

UFC Middleweight Rankings

1 - Anderson Silva(6-0)
Middleweight Champion
The best pound for pound fighter in the world. With his victory over Henderson, there seems to be no contender worthy of stepping into the octagon with Silva. It's time for the UFC to bring in Paulo Filho






2 - Rich Franklin(10-2)
Franklin is still showing that he is the top middleweight outside of Anderson Silva. A match-up with Dan Henderson would be very interesting







3 - Yushin Okami(6-1)
His record speaks for itself and seems to be next in line for a title shot. He just doesn't have that star quality though to headline a UFC event.







4 - Dan Henderson(2-2)
Henderson tried to make the grave mistake of standing with Anderson Silva. Hopefully will stay at middleweight and earn a rematch







5 - Nate Marquardt(5-1)
Marquardt is once again scheduled to face Thales Leites at UFC 85. He needs to win this in order to get a marquee fight with Franklin, Henderson, or Okami.







6 - Michael Bisping(5-1)
The Count has arrived in the Middleweight division with a fury. He will be put to the test against the very tough Chris Leben







7 - Chris Leben(8-3)
Leben has a chance to gain a title shot if he can beat Bisping at UFC 85. He is a dangerous, gritty fighter who has shown a ton of heart







8 - Demian Maia(2-0)
I don't think anyone is questioning whether Maia is for real after completely dismantling Ed Herman. Maia is a future star and has the best jiu-jitsu in the division






9 - Jason MacDonald(4-2)
MacDonald ran through Doerksen just as everyone thought. The question still remains if he can beat a top contender.







10 - Nate Quarry(5-1)
His injuries woes look to be behind him. Though his fight with Starnes was not by any means impressive, the mere thought of Starnes running away scared of a knockout shows one the respect Quarry merits






On the Brink:
11. Thales Leites (3-1) - Injuries have sidelined Leites and other fighters have simply passed him up. Can instantly move up if he defeats 5th ranked Marquardt @UFC 85.
12. Martin Kampmann(3-0) - Injury woes derailed Kampmann for the last year and his ranking has dropped considerably. Can work his way back in the mix if he can beat Jorge Rivera.
13. Patrick Cote(3-4) - Continuing his push as a revitalized fighter with very heavy hands. He's going to have to keep his next fight standing at all costs because Almeida will submit him.
14. Travis Lutter(2-4) - Lutter still doesn't show the drive needed to compete with the top contenders in the division. Has absolutely wasted his chances and talent by not being in shape.
15. Ricardo Alemeida(1-2) - Would have liked to have seen him fight Belcher, but he easily took care of newcomer Yundt at UFC 81 thanks to some sick jiu-jitsu. Cote is up next.
Up Next: Dean Lister(3-1), Jason Day(1-0), Jorge Rivera(4-4)

UFC Welterweight Rankings

1 - Georges St.Pierre(10-2)
He is the model in which all MMA fighters aspire to be. Anderson Silva or B.J. Penn look to be his only competition in MMA. St.Pierre figures to have a lengthy title reign






2- Jon Fitch(8-0)
Fitch squeaked by Chris Wilson at UFC 82 earning him a title shot. Eight straight victories in the octagon is impressive and definitely deserving of fighting St.Pierre






3 - Josh Koscheck(8-2)
Lasted 3 full rounds with St.Pierre and has run through everyone else. With his rapid development, he's surely to be the future welterweight champion. He has his sight set on Chris Lytle, but what's next for Koscheck besides fighting some of his ATT teammates?





4 - Matt Hughes(15-4)
Completely overwhelmed by St.Pierre at UFC 79. In the post-interview, he sounded as if retirement is close on the horizon. I really want to see Hughes battle Koscheck or Fitch






5 - Thiago Alves(6-2)
Alves is ready for the big time again after defeating Karo Parisyan and Chris Lytle. Alves is finally starting to fulfill his vast potential that have led some to say he has the best striking skills in all of the Welterweight division






6 - Matt Serra(6-5)
Serra's title reign was short-lived, but may still work his way back into title contention if he defeats Hughes







7 - Marcus Davis(6-1)
Davis kicks off 2008, just like 2007, rolling through anyone who stands before him. He's finally been matched up with a top 10 fighter in Mike Swick, so we can truly see if Davis is title worthy.






8 - Diego Sanchez(7-2)
Losses to Koscheck and Fitch have derailed any hopes of a title shot, but finally was able to bounce back at UFC 82. He will continue his rebound against Luigi Fioravanti at the Ultimate Fighter 7 Finale






9 - Karo Parisyan(7-3)
Karo's lack of fire/urgency has finally came back to haunt him again. He lost to Alves in a controversial stoppage, but the fact has been that Karo has been taking his opponents way too lightly. His conditioning leaves a lot left to be desired as he is the pudgiest fighter in all of the UFC.





10 - Mike Swick(6-1)
Swick did now wow anyone with his performance against Burkman. He's played it way too safe in his last two fights and needs to get back to his all-or-nothing style otherwise 7th ranked Marcus Davis is going to KO him






On the Brink:
11. Chris Wilson(0-1) - Put on a contender-worthy performance against 3rd ranked Jon Fitch.
12. Josh Burkman(5-3) - Burkman has came up short twice when facing legit contenders such as Parisyan and Swick. His star is suddenly starting to fade.
13. Chris Lytle(4-7) - Lytle got a highlight reel victory at UFC 81 and is suddenly back on the map. His new resolution to fight with fury has paid off, but faces a stiff test with Koscheck.
14. Roan Carneiro(2-1) - Carneiro showed a lot of promise with his dismantling of DeSouza. Now takes on wily Pride veteran Ryo Chonan.
15. Anthony Johnson(2-1) - Wow, what a KO of Tommy Speer at Fight Night 13. Johnson has a world of momentum behind him now.
Next Up:Ryo Chonan(0-1), Jonathan Goulet(4-3), Paul Kelly(1-0)

UFC Lightweight Rankings

1 - B.J. Penn(8-3-1)
Finally has captured the lightweight gold. One wonders how a well-conditioned Penn would do against St.Pierre, but he's going to have to get through Sherk first at UFC 84






2 - Sean Sherk(6-2)
Dana White held true to his word and stripped Sherk of the title. Sherk will immediately get a shot at winning back his belt. If anyone in this lightweight division has a chance at beating Penn, it's Sherk.






3 - Kenny Florian(7-2)
What else can Florian possibly due to get the next title shot? He's earned it and I think he's a threat to whomever the champ is after Penn/Sherk







4 - Tyson Griffin(4-1)
Dana White said all that needed to be said, "Tyson Griffin is at the top of the food chain as far as I am concerned." A title shot looks to be on the horizon for this powerhouse






5 - Roger Huerta(6-0)
Showed his toughness by coming back to defeat Clay Guida. He wants a title shot, but will have to wait while the UFC expands into Mexico marketing Huerta as their golden boy.






6 - Joe Stevenson(5-2)
Stevenson showed a lot of heart during his battle with Penn, unfortunately he was just not ready for the big time. He will take on Gleison Tibau at UFC 86.







7 - Frank Edgar(3-1)
Edgar may have been on the quick path towards a title shot, but Maynard sent those hopes reeling. Edgar still has a lot of promise, but his weaknesses were finally exposed






8 - Clay Guida(3-3)
He was right to proclaim that 2008 would be all about wins. Guida has evened out his record in the UFC, now the question is can he grab a win over a top contender






9 - Nate Diaz(4-0)
The Diaz brothers are two of the most exciting and controversial fighters MMA has ever seen. Nate's submission win over Pellegrino was a war and he has grabbed everyone's attention in the Lightweight division






10 - Marcus Aurelio(2-1)
The Pride veteran is starting to shine in the octagon. Next fight will be his biggest test yet, against 4th ranked Tyson Griffin.







On the Brink:
11. Thiago Tavares(3-1) - Didn't shine in his fight with Omigawa at Fight Night 12, but still has the skill set to challenge anyone in the division. Faces Matt Wiman @UFC 85.
12. Gray Maynard(3-0) - Maynard surprised everyone at Fight Night 13 with his improved striking and took down a top contender(Edgar) in the process.
13. Spencer Fisher(5-3) - Spencer Fisher had no answer to Frank Edgar's takedowns and now finds himself looking in from the outside. Injuries have derailed his career as of late.
14. Gleison Tibau(3-2) - He has yet to win a fight against a big name opponent, but could redeem himself against Joe Stevenson
15. Manny Gamburyan(2-1) - Manny's shoulder looks to be healed and now needs to face some steeper competition to move up the ranks.
Next Up: Rich Clementi(4-3), Joe Lauzon(3-1), Mac Danzig(2-0)

UFC 83 Results

Georges St.Pierre vs. Matt Serra
Winner: Georges St.Pierre by TKO in 2nd Round

Rich Franklin vs. Travis Lutter
Winner: Rich Franklin by TKO in 2nd Round

Nate Quarry vs. Kalib Starnes
Winner: Nate Quarry by Unanimous Decision

Michael Bisping vs. Charles McCarthy
Winner: Michael Bisping by TKO in 1st Round

Mac Danzig vs. Mark Bocek
Winner: Mac Danzig by Submission in 3rd Round

Jason MacDonald vs. Joe Doerksen
Winner: Jason MacDonald by TKO in Round 2

Alan Belcher vs. Jason Day
Winner: Jason Day by TKO in Round 1

Demian Maia vs. Ed Herman
Winner: Demian Maia by Submission in 2nd Round

Sam Stout vs. Rich Clementi
Winner: Rich Clementi by Split Decision

Cain Valesquez vs. Brad Morris
Winner Cain Valesquez by TKO in 1st Round

Jonathan Goulet vs. Kuniyoshi Hironaka
Winner: Jonnathon Goulet by TKO in 1st Round

UFC 83

UFC 83 Fight Card

UFC 83
April 19, 2008

Montreal, Canada

Championship Welterweight Bout
Matt Serra(2nd ranked, 6-4) vs. Georges St.Pierre(1st ranked, 9-2)
Middleweight Bout
Travis Lutter(2-3) vs. Rich Franklin(3rd ranked,9-2)
Middleweight Bout
Kalib Starnes(2-2) vs. Nate Quarry(4-1)
Middleweight Bout
Charles McCarthy(1-1) vs. Michael Bisping(6th ranked, 4-1)
Lightweight Bout
Marc Bocek(1-1) vs. Mac Danzig(1-0)
Middleweight Bout
Joe Doerksen(1-5) vs. Jason MacDonald(10th ranked, 3-2)
Lightweight Bout
Rich Clementi(3-3) vs. Sam Stout(2-2)
Middleweight Bout
Jason Day(0-0) vs. Alan Belcher(3-2)
Welterweight Bout
Kuniyoshi Hironaka(1-2) vs. Jonathan Goulet(3-3)
Middleweight Bout
Ed Herman(3-2) vs. Demian Maia(1-0)
Heavyweight Bout

Brad Morris(0-0) vs. Cain Velasquez(0-0)

Melvin Guillard vs. Dennis Siver @ UFC 86

Melvin Guillard will be making his way back to the UFC. Guillard left the UFC for a brief hiatus after losing to Rich Clementi at UFC 76. The controversial Guillard will be fighting Dennis Siver, who has not found much luck in the UFC either. Siver has lost 2 of his 3 bouts to Gray Maynard and Jess Liaudin. Expect some fireworks in this bout though because they both like to stand and trade.

UFC 86 Lightweight Bout:
Dennis Siver(1-2) vs. Melvin Guillard(3-3)

UFC Fight Night 13 Quick Results

Kenny Florian vs. Joe Lauzon
Winner: Kenny Florian by TKO in 2nd round

Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard
Winner: Gray Maynard by Unanimous Decision

Karo Parisyan vs. Thiago Alves
Winner: Thiago Alves by TKO in 2nd Round

Matt Hamill vs.