By E. Spencer Kyte (espencerkyte@mmaratings.net) Heading into his Ultimate Fight Night 20 Main Event against Nathan Diaz, Gray Maynard knew that a win over the brash TUF 5 winner would most likely mean a chance to challenge BJ Penn for the Lightweight Title. Almost immediately after the Split Decision results were read in Maynard’s favor,…
By E. Spencer Kyte (espencerkyte@mmaratings.net) 1. There is One WEC Lightweight Champion and His Name is Ben Henderson If anyone ever questioned why the newly unified WEC Lightweight Champion rocks the nickname “Smooth,” all you need to do is look at this fight. While Jamie Varner was being Jamie Varner – coming out guns blazing,…
By E. Spencer Kyte (espencerkyte@mmaratings.net) Following up on Sunday’s WEC 46 card, the UFC makes a rare Monday night appearance, landing at The Patriot Center in Fairfax, Virginia for Ultimate Fight Night 20. The show is a showcase of Ultimate Fighter winners and contestants, as eight of the 22 fighters on the card were a…
By E. Spencer Kyte (espencerkyte@mmaratings.net) In a recent interview with Bleacher Report’s Bryan Levick, Lightweight champion Jamie Varner had some choice words for his employers, questioning the seemingly constant push received by Urijah Faber: It should be called The Urijah Faber show instead of World Extreme Cagefighting. They keep giving Faber all of the big…
By E. Spencer Kyte (espencerkyte@mmaratings.net) By now, just about everyone knows my stance on the WEC. For those who don’t, the quick version is this: World Extreme Cagefighting routinely puts on the best night of fights the industry has to offer, making them nothing short of awesome. Somehow, the live gate numbers and television viewership…
By E. Spencer Kyte (espencerkyte@mmaratings.net) 1. Rashad Evans MUST Use His Wrestling Over the first two rounds, the former light heavyweight champion kept Thiago Silva off balance, blending his quick hands with powerful takedowns. The first ten minutes of the bout were all Evans, and the frustrated look on Silva’s face said it all.Two things…
By E. Spencer Kyte (espencerkyte@mmaratings.net) 1. The Embodiment of “Puncher’s Chance” and “Anything Can Happen” Scott Smith may want to add “Head of Stone” to his “Hands of Steel” nickname, as once again last night, the veteran slugger survived two-plus rounds of beating to emerge victorious after landing a monster power shot.Just as he did…
By E. Spencer Kyte (espencerkyte@mmaratings.net) While the upcoming Olympics and the on-ice activities of the Canucks consistently garner the biggest headlines in the Vancouver sports scene, there could be a very important little story tucked away in the Sports pages tomorrow morning. Vancouver City Council will meet today to vote on Mixed Martial Arts regulations…
By E. Spencer Kyte (espencerkyte@mmaratings.net) This Saturday at The Pearl at The Palms in Las Vegas, Nevada, the WEC goes live-to-air on Versus. For those who are somehow still unaware or uninterested in the WEC, give your head a shake. While the acronym of the UFC’s little brother officially stands for World Extreme Cagefighting, it…
By E. Spencer Kyte (espencerkyte@mmaratings.net) 1. Best. Lightweight. Ever. If there was ever any doubt (and there shouldn’t have been in all honesty), BJ Penn made it abundantly clear within the first 45 seconds of his fight with Diego Sanchez that he is simply on another level than everyone else at 155 pounds. In each…
By E. Spencer Kyte (espencerkyte@mmaratings.net) Why a photo of Michael Clarke Duncan? In addition to being a monster of a man who I can see posing the titular question in his grumpiest bass, MCD has been a regular presence cageside for the UFC for quite some time. So when the idea struck me to discuss…
By E. Spencer Kyte (espencerkyte@mmaratings.net) As great as watching Rampage and Rashad settle their differences Saturday night would have been, the headlining act for UFC 107 is actually a better fight, as Lightweight champion BJ Penn defends his belt against Diego Sanchez. While people often talk about the “fairness” of different fighters’ escalation to a…
By E. Spencer Kyte (espencerkyte@mmaratings.net) For all the mediocre cards we’ve suffered through over the last couple of months, UFC 107 takes to the Octagon this weekend in an effort to make up for things. While some may not share my excitement for this card, we’ve got a main event that actually involves a title…
By E. Spencer Kyte (espencerkyte@mmaratings.net) Can I just say how much day jobs suck? Always interfering with what I want to do… Thankfully, Saturdays don’t fall into my work schedule, which means I’ll be seated in front of a television this Saturday to watch the very solid UFC 107 from Memphis, Tennessee. Despite changes to…
By E. Spencer Kyte (espencerkyte@mmaratings.net) 1. Roy Nelson, Ultimate Fighter “Big Country” was the big favorite heading in to Season 10 and made all those who were betting the chalk come away winners, as the former IFL champion knocked out Brendan Schaub to claim the six-figure contract and entry into the UFC. For those who…
By E. Spencer Kyte (espencerkyte@mmaratings.net) We’ve covered the undercard and we’ve covered the co-main events, now the time has come to turn our attention to the fights featuring the cast of The Ultimate Fighter. First up, a Kimbo rant. While I don’t begrudge Dana White for capitalizing on the income potential of Kevin Ferguson, we’re…
By E. Spencer Kyte (espencerkyte@mmaratings.net) Yesterday we tackled the three undercard bouts and tomorrow we’ll talk about everything involving the cast of Season 10. As for today, it’s time to discuss one of the most talented prospects in the sport facing a tough TUF alum, and an unbeaten newcomer stepping into the cage against a…
By E. Spencer Kyte (espencerkyte@mmaratings.net) See that chair Dana White is sitting in? Feel free to consider it “The Driver’s Seat,” because with the impending acquisition of NBC Universal by Comcast, the network television deal the UFC has long been searching for might come looking for them and White could potentially get to name his…
By E. Spencer Kyte (espencerkyte@mmaratings.net) The phones must have been ringing off the hook these last couple of days at the Strikeforce offices, as the San Jose-based Mixed Martial Arts promotion announced a slew of signings and a television deal that will see the December 19th Evolution card broadcast in Canada. Melvin Manhoef, K.J. Noons…
By E. Spencer Kyte (espencerkyte@mmaratings.net) My apologies for being gone for so long. I know you’ve missed me. Quick and painful version: I had to get a real job and it starts at five o’clock in the morning, so coming home and writing went on the back burner for a couple days. Now that I’m…