Its a Zuffa dominated month kicking off the new year with 4 cards a week 3 being (semi)free and all around good.
A lot of stuff happened this last month of the year. The UFC announced the return of the tournament due to the coming of the flyweights (125lbs) with Ian McCall vs. Demetrious Johnson and Joseph Benavidez vs. Yasuhiro Urushitani at UFC on FX2 on March 3rd. The welterweight division long seen as one of the more stratified divisions took a major hit with GSP tearing his ACL and subsequent repair surgery putting him on the shelf for about 10 months. Now Carlos Condit and Nick Diaz will face each other for a interim title. O yea Strikeforce, who I’ve been writing of how its going to die and be absorbed into the Zuffa hivemind, its not with Zuffa and Showtime coming to a new agreement with 8-6 shows per year. After their most recent show I still want Strikeforce absorbed since its elite fighters are clearly that and deserve to fight the elite and its just a resource tap that could be used building up the UFC. There is a certain charm though to Strikeforces cotton candy matchmaking style under Rich Chou, if Sean Shelby will continue to do that remains to be seen.
Looking ahead to a new year though it feels like taking in a breath of fresh air after staying inside all day. UFC and Spike will no longer be working together with the UFC moving on to the Fox suite of networks with 4 shows on FOX network 6/8 shows on FX and 6 shows on Fueltv. Fueltv will basically become the UFC channel Dana White has long talked about with roughly 25% of its coverage being UFC related programing. Fueltv will have its own fight cards as well as be the home for preliminary fights no more Facebook fights. Most people don’t seem to get Fueltv yet normally costing a extra 5-10 dollars for its channel package. The sheer amount of content though is easily worth not going out and eating once a month.
1/7/2012 - Strikeforce - Rockhold vs. Jardine Showtime Prelims Show ExtremeWe start off the new year with a Strikeforce card featuring the main event of Luke Rockhold defending his main event title over Keith Jardine...yes the Dean of Mean Keith Jardine. Strikeforce has never been one with a deep divisions causing these sort of match ups to occur. At the very least Jardine will provide a decent foil for Rockhold to style on or he’ll just get KO’d with a left hook because it’s Keith Jardine. A pair of nice welterweight bouts really stand out on this card, Tyron Woodley vs. Jordan Mein and Tarec Saffiedine vs. Tyler Stinson. Also King Mo will take on Lorenz Larking at light heavyweight.
1/14/2012 - UFC 142 - Aldo vs. Mendes PPV Prelims on FXThe Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to Brazil after running a very successful UFC 134. There was talk of this one being held in a Sambadrome somehow but that looks more likely for a show in July this one is just in the HSBC Arena in Rio. Headlined by one of the UFCs youngest champions Jose Aldo defending against Chad Mendes. Mendes is Aldos toughest opponent with his excellent wrestling mixed with good boxing. The co-main event sees probably Brazils most well known fighter Vitro Belfort take on Anthony Rumble Johnson who is moving up to middleweight. Rousimar Palhares is also fighting and will most likely do something insane like ripping poor Mike Massenzios leg off. Lots of good Brazilian talent on this card with free prelims on FX.
1/20/2012 - UFC on FX - Guillard vs. Miller on FX prelims on FueltvFree fights on FX just think about that for a second. No more shit Spike TV ads YAY! The main event is a nice lightweight bout between Melvin Guillard and Jim Miller both of whom despite recent losses would be back in the title conversation easily with a win. Guillard, if he is on that night he could do entertaining stuff if he is off Miller will probably sub him round 1. Also Josh Neer Duane Ludwig is a throwback to 06 and should be a fun scrap. Also former featherweight champion Mike Thomas Brown taking on Wagner Rocha. Welterweights Charlie Brenneman and Daniel Roberts also battle it out. Free fights on TV with solid match ups.
1/28/2012 - UFC - UFC on Fox 2 - FOX and Fueltv
UFC kicks off their partnership with FOX officially in the new year so this will be the first of four cards on “Big” FOX. Its being billed as a triple header with Rashad Evans vs Phil Davis in the main event with 5 rounds for a shot at Jon Jones. Really interested to see how the wrestling battle works out Davis could surprise people with his more technical style. In the co-main you have Chael Sonnen and Mark Munoz at middleweight in a #1 contenders bout. These are the two middleweights that defiantly deserve a shot at Anderson but they don’t allow handicap matches in MMA. Michael Bisping and Damian Maia are the third head in another sorta #1 contenders bout. Maia has a underrated boxing game and takedowns and could easily upset Bisping who really would love to fight Anderson Silva in England...and I’m sure the UFC would like that to.
Fights to Watch this month
1. UFC 142: Jose Aldo vs Chad Mendes
2. UFC on FOX 2: Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis
3. UFC 142: Vitor Belfort vs. Anthony Johnson
4. UFC on FX: Melvin Guillard vs. Jim Miller
5.UFC on FX: Duane Ludwig vs. Josh Neer
