Thursday, March 18, 2010

Predictions for UFC on Versus 1: "And You Thought The Market Was Saturated Already!"

The good news is that the UFC is on the Versus channel this Sunday night, bringing to you a dose of even more MMA.  The bad news is that the UFC is on the Versus channel this Sunday night, bringing to you a dose of even more MMA.  At what point does the market get so saturated that fight fans lay siege to Castle Zuffa, burning torches and pitchforks in hand?  I don’t know, but here’s some predictions.

      • Jon Jones is the current “super-hot rising star bad mamma-jamma”.  Brandon Vera was the “super-hot rising star bad mamma-jamma” about four years ago.  I guess someone had to headline this first UFC on Versus show though, right?
      • Right?
      • Junior dos Santos is the current “extra-awesome deluxe killer assassin”.  Gabriel Gonzaga was the “extra-awesome deluxe killer assassin” about three years ago.  I guess someone had to be the co-main event though, right?
      • Right?
      • Win or lose against Paul Buentello, Cheick Kongo will always have his acting career to fall back on.  Wasn’t he awesome in “Gladiator” and “Never Back Down”?
      • James Irvin and Alessio Sakara are two guys who are really good at striking and really good at getting messed up.  Expect a lot of torn ligaments, broken bones, KOs and blood.  And that’ll just be from their walk from the locker room to the cage!

Urban Conflict Championship to Feature Conflict in an Urban Setting

The Urban Conflict Championship, the newest addition to New Jersey's pro MMA scene, debuts on Friday at the Armory in Jersey City, and the card promises close to a dozen bouts - some of them pretty compelling.  Team Tiger Schulmann 145-pound stud Jimmie Rivera is taking on North Jersey MMA's Claudio Ledesma, a fighter with a jiu-jitsu background, knockout hands and enough of an amateur record to be considered "seasoned".  Meanwhile, big-punching veteran Josh Key is getting a crack at American Top Team rep at Hitalo Machado, Gold Team Fighters foot soldier Marcos Rodrigues will face up-and-coming Bombsquad powder keg Kenny Foster, and old schooler Glen Sandull and a very badass Dave Branch are returning to the cage.  According to the UCC's promoter, Dan Hardy should be in attendance with a "UFC Primetime" camera in tow, but who cares about that?  The fights alone should be worth the trip. 

Tune into MMA Journalist for some liveblogging if you can't make it.