Looking for a Fight: UFC Weekend

This was not how Dana White imagined this weekend would go.

I dreamed a dream in time gone by,When hope was high and life, worth living.I dreamed that love would never die,I dreamed that God would be forgiving. 

Then I was young and unafraid,And dreams were made and used and wasted.There was no ransom to be paid,No song unsung, no wine, untasted. 

But the tigers come at night,With their voices soft as thunder,As they tear your hope apart,And they turn your dream to shame.
source: http://www.lyricsondemand.com/

Les Miserables is a 19th century French novel by Victor Hugo. Set in early 1800s France the novel follows numerous characters struggles for redemption. More commonly known for its musical stage adaptation Les Miserables has also been developed for the silver screen, with the most recent version coming out this Summer and starring Anne Hathaway with a slew of other notable co-stars. While I don't expect Dana White to be singing down the mud soaked streets of historical Paris, he did have a lot of bad things happen to turn his dream to shame.

Months ago in the pre-planning stages of the upcoming UFC 147 event in Brazil, White dared to dream. He saw a football stadium filled with UFC fans, record breaking pay-per-views, a history making event the likes of which the UFC or perhaps sports have never seen all topped off by what could have been the most anticipated fight in UFC history for the middleweight title.

The UFC is never one to play their cards close to their chest when it comes to getting people excited. So having all of the intrigue of Anderson Silva v. Chael Sonnen II in Brazil was a possibility, the UFC did all it could to make it a reality.

However, that card as originally constituted is in shambles. The Silva Sonnen fight was a no go in June in Brazil due to the Rio +20 meeting swooping into Rio de Janeiro causing a strain on space and logistically made a fight of that size at that time an impossibility. Without the use of a soccer stadium to accommodate the record setting crowd, the fight was bumped to the UFC's typical mega card over July 4th weekend.

What remained was a card for the culmination of the first Ultimate Fighter season from Brazil. The top contestants fought, one presumably for that six-figure or approximately 205,462 BRL contract with the UFC. The coaches fight was Wanderlei Silva v. Vitor Belfort, which in Brazil would have been a barn burner, but a late hand injury to Belfort nixed that as well.


With limited options available, the UFC got their rematch to headline the card, but certainly not the one they intended. Silva v. Franklin II will pit two of the only best 190lbs on the planet. Both fighters are certainly established gamers, however, this fight along with some fighters from a Brazil TUF season that few people watched in the states leads me to believe this will be a tough PPV sell for the UFC. All of the changes that have drastically altered this card and Dana White's vision, shouldn't the PPV tag follow suit? This is especially true when the night before UFC on FX 4 hits the free airwaves and boasts a much more intriguing card.

I mean with names like Joey Gambino, Hatsu Hioki, Ricardo Lamas, and love-child Brock Jardine that alone is eye catching stuff.

The main event of this card has the potential to be the best fight of the whole weekend. While Silva and Franklin are always gamers, Gray Maynard and Clay Guida are all out fighters. Maynard didn't win in spectacular fashion twice to current top contender in the packed lightweight division, Frankie Edgar, and Guida, aside from his dull fight against Anthony Pettis, is always high energy and pushing forward.

Maynard can have a sketchy gameplan from fight to fight. He may not know if he wants to wrestle or kickbox or how to transition between the two. This may be a result of constantly jumping from camp to camp, but against a fast paced guy like Guida, this could cause issues.

Although Guida does have a cardio advantage on Maynard, all of his strengths are also that of Maynard. Wrestling and submissions are perfectly countered by Maynard, and I have a hard time seeing Guida knocking Maynard out.

Unless Guida can make this a long fight and tire out Maynard, I don't see many openings for Guida to win this fight. I'll say Maynard by split decision.

So while this weekend may not be all the UFC planned, fight fans need to be happy with a bunch of good fights on back to back nights.

Fantasy Funkhouser: There are No Big or Small Surprises, Only Surprises

R.A. Dickey isn't baffling just hitters, fantasy owners are mesmerized too. (REUTERS/Steve Nesius)

Vince McMahon returned to Monday Night Raw last week. I only know this because the nice people at Xfinity put it in the description for that night's show. Now, I used to watch wrestling when it was good, which, yes, does sound ridiculous, but it's true.

I've thought about it long and hard and while age played a role in leaving the world of WWE, it wasn't the only reason. It's why I'll waste hours when I'm sucked into the YouTube vortex of "the rock funny", "vince mcmahon you're fired", or "stone cold steve austin" searches that lead me down the rabbit hole to whatever poor quality clips I can find. I still enjoy it to this day.

The one thing that always gets me is Vinny Mac himself. He's the best, and he never disappoints. His larger than life character, which isn't as much of an exaggeration on the actual man as you would think, always presents the most ridiculous and hilarious circumstances a person could ask for. Vinny Mac is money in the bank.

When it comes to fantasy, very few players are money in the bank. Evidenced by Albert Pujols' early season struggles. I mean if a guy that has been consistent for 10 years all of a sudden falls off, then we really can't expect much from anyone else.

What makes fantasy all the bit the fun, exciting, depressing, and confusing game that it is revolves around being surprised; for better or worse. There isn't a Vince McMahon of fantasy where 10 years ago and up to last week will never fail to disappoint. It's a myriad of shocks and constantly asking, "Is this guy really doing this?"

A little past the quarter mark of the season, it's time to assemble a team of those shocking performances, good or bad so far this year.

Catcher - Carlos Ruiz


In the fantasy world, catchers are the most tumultuous position you can find. Just look at this portion of this year alone. The top ranked catchers when the season started:

Carlos Santana, Mike Napoli, Brian McCann, Buster Posey, Matt Wieters

As it currently stands:
Carlos Ruiz, Yadier Molina, A.J. Pierzynski, Joe Mauer, Buster Posey

The current top crop of catchers are all fairly proven at the major league level. With Chooch already being in the league for 7 years he's kind of eclipsed that mantra of catchers develop their hitting last. While Ruiz has always been an contact hitter and on-base guy, being among the league leaders in hitting and driving in 35 runs has been a rare bright spot this year for the Phils.

1B - Adrian Gonzalez

A-Gone (Getty/Sarah Glenn)

A-Gon has been a mystery since leaving San Diego. He started his Red Sox career by hitting for an insanely high average but no power, hitting with power, then back to hitting with no power. Overall he finished with great numbers in 2011 and looked primed to put it all together in 2012. After saying his previously injured shoulder was better than ever before the season started, what looks like happened is the exact opposite.

He's hitting for no power and no average. He's striking out more than ever and is set to have his lowest OPS since he started playing regularly. How someone goes from consistently hitting 30 homers in San Diego to not being able to put a couple out of Fenway is a mystery, but Gonzalez may just be pressing too hard. He's been a weak cog in a Sox line-up that really needs his production.

2B - Rickie Weeks

There are a lot of positive stories at 2B this year in fantasy. Jason Kipnis looks to fill the fantasy spikes of Chase Utley, Jose Altuve is hitting like he's still in the minors, there's Kyle Seager, Allen Craig, and even a Gordon Beckham sighting, so it's more fitting to focus on the horrible run of Rickie Weeks.

The knock on Weeks has always been his injuries. If he can stay healthy, he's very productive. In 2010 when he played a career high 160 games he scored 112 runs hit 29 homers with 83 RBI and 11 steals. As a follow-up he was on pace for similar numbers before an ankle injury knocked him off track. While the injury cloud hung over Weeks, people seemed to figure he turned a corner. Not so much. He's healthy, but batting .164 with 12 RBI and 21 runs. Maybe his mind is what's out of whack this year.

3B - Mark Trumbo

Because it's just fun to say TRUMMMMBOOO! (REUTERS/Alex Gallardo)

Hard to imagine the Angels weren't going to be able to fit Trumbo in their line-up when the season began. He's only their best hitter. You'll hear all about Trumbo's BAPIP, but the power is there, the contact is there, and the pitch selection is all developing for this future 35+ homerun hitter.

SS - Jose Reyes


You know the name, but probably don't recognize the stat line. Reyes is lead-off man for the consistently inconsistent Miami Marlins. One month no one can hit, the next month they're winning over 20 games, then back to being ice cold. The whole team has been this way and Reyes is either infecting the team or not washing his hands properly and catching the streak bug. While Reyes' numbers are more in line with 2010 Reyes, not 2011 Reyes, he hasn't been able to provide that spark at the top of the line-up the Fish had hoped.

Aside from expertly handling his usurping of incumbent SS Hanley Ramirez's position and becoming uncomfortably buddy-buddy with Han-Ram and therefore keeping him happy and motivated, Reyes overall contributions have been negligible to team and fantasy community. His runs are low and he has a surprising lack of RBI production even for him. You'd also figure he'd be punishing the expansive Marlins park for extra base hits, but he only has 13 doubles (t-31st) and is tied for 13th in hits.

Reyes can still rebound, but his production is more in line with Jimmy Rollins and Marco Scutaro thus far. Not the company he wants to keep.

OF - Alejandro De Aza, Josh Reddick, Bryce Harper, Mike Trout


All happy thoughts in this outfield crew. All of which were probably barely drafted in a standard 12 team league. If you did by chance draft all of them, then you're probably in good shape.

De Aza is outperforming many higher draft picks. (Getty/Jonathan Daniel)

Reddick is the guy out of the group I think will have the biggest fall off. His 15 homeruns this year have been shocking, but it has taken him 14 games to get from 14 to 15. If this were a couple of years ago Reddick, who was acquired via trade from the Red Sox, would have been the latest Billy Beane genius move, but Reddick has never projected as a power hitter, and in the A's home park it's even less likely his power will be able to continue. However, it's for those reasons that his power surge through the first part of the season has been all the more impressive.

As for De Aza, he's really been able to put all his skills together to be a top 15 fantasy outfielder at this point in the year. Although his production isn't as shocking as you would think, he was maybe just a little under hyped. For example, if you look at De Aza's line in limited time near the end of 2011:

54 games 29 runs 4 homers 23 RBI 12 steals .329 AVG

Compare that to a very hyped player coming into this year Brett Lawrie's numbers in limited time near the end of 2011:

43 games 26 runs 9 homers 25 RBI 7 steals .293 AVG

Even with a slight game discrepancy De Aza certainly seems to be owed some points in his favor. Thus far he is greatly out performing Lawrie in fantasy.

Then there's Harper and Trout. I could wax on about them for a while, and I did. Let's just say for fantasy purposes they've both been unbelievable. Experts questioned if Harper would be able to bat about .250, he's batting .307. He's been hitting with power and gaining steam over the past 10 games.

All Trout has done is be the best player in fantasy over the past 15 days. He has hit for power, stolen 16 bases already and hitting .341. It can't be this easy can it? Both of these future world beaters will pay dividends in leagues this year. And if you have either...or both...in a dynasty league, feel free to laugh maniacally.  And if you're questioning these two guys prodigious talents, then all I can say is that's a clown question, bro.

Mwahahaha-mwahaha-HAHAHAHA! (REUTERS/Mark Blinch)

SP - Tim Lincecum

Many might be amazed that R.A. Dickey has somehow found a way to sort of control a knuckleball at 37-years-old or that the White Sox thought putting Chris Sale in the bullpen was a great idea, but for me, nothing has been more befuddling in all of fantasy baseball than what's gone on with Tim Lincecum.

This is a two-time Cy Young Award winner just entering what should be his prime as a pitcher. Instead he's someone that looks like he's lost a good amount of his skill and nearly all of his confidence. With no reported injuries to fall back on this is a strange, strange case.

Yes the whispers have always been there for Lincecum. He's too small, not durable, will get injured, wear down, etc., but you'd figure 4 straight years of 200+ innings and a World Series ring would put those to bed.

A lot of his peripheral numbers aren't that different outside of his BB/9 numbers. People are making a big to-do about decreasing velocity, but overall I feel the general arc of most hard throwing pitchers is that they come out firing and gradually settle in velocity as their secondary pitches round into form. Now, I'm sure everyone would like to be Randy Johnson or Justin Verlander, but with Lincecum it appears to be more about lack of control and lack of confidence. This season is looking less and less salvageable for him. Maybe he should go back to his old diet. Hell, Verlander does eat Taco Bell when he's not pitching or starring in every baseball commercial ever.

RP - Craig Kimbrel

I got this excited just writing about Kimbrel. (Getty/Kevin C. Cox)

For all the chaos that has beset closers this year, there's a comfort in Craig Kimbrel. The Braves fireballer was the top fantasy closer this year, and that's typically a throne that has many different suitors. The reigning NL Rookie of the Year had a tall order if he wanted to follow-up his first full season in the bigs and he is doing so in grand style. With closers crumbling all around him, Mt. Kimbrel is sporting a 1.50 ERA 0.88 WHIP with 18 saves and 40 K's in a lower innings pitched rate than his rookie year (purposefully implemented by the Braves so as not to wear him down like last year).

Kimbrel hasn't let up a run since May 4th, and since he let up that run he's let up only 2 hits and 2 walks! He's also following suit last year where he "struggles" as much as he does early on and then goes lights out. After letting up an earned run on June 11th and sporting a 3.38 ERA, Kimbrel didn't give up a run until September 9th. He had slashed his ERA in half to 1.55 and been perfect in every opportunity he was put in.

Looks like he's going down that same path. It's good to be king Kimbrel.

The Funkman says: "How dare you not discuss Edwin Encarnacion. This is offensive. What kind of person are you?"

Euro 2012: Bring Your Best Racist Chant

One of these players won't be treated like the others. And that's bad for soccer.

You know how I know soccer has racist fans? When the Dutch team gets racially attacked. I mean you have to be pretty racist to go after the Netherlands for being not white enough.

Now, I know...this doesn't reflect all soccer fans, qualifier, qualifier, ok now I'm being politically correct.

The history of racism in soccer is well documented. What happens when you're the world's biggest sport is that you have to include the entire world. It just so happens that some of these pockets on the planet think skin color provides ample grounds for harassment while enjoying a light brew and watching people run around on a pitch kicking a ball.

Motivation is key in these tirades that many in the Eastern European block go down. This isn't just stupid people making cheap jokes, these are neo-NAZI's and white supremacist groups that use soccer matches as pow-wows for their antiquated ideas.

UEFA, the governing body for European soccer, has made minimal efforts to expunge racism from the sport. It's one thing to see stop racism campaigns pre-match before Arsenal and Chelsea play in England. It's another when the UEFA denies the "racist-ness" of chants in Poland and Ukraine. It's always easier to fight the fight you'll win than the one you'll lose. While UEFA feels like it can pull its parlor tricks among Europe, what it is failing to grasp is the catastrophe that is awaiting their sport overseas in the US.

While racism in sports and life is prevalent everywhere, and shouldn't be treated as non-existent by any means, the, shall we say confidence in which these fans could possibly act will not go over well America. There was an incident earlier this year where Philadelphia Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds had a banana thrown at him during a pre-season game in Canada. That received national attention and the fan was found and fined.

Hockey, as minimal as it is on the US sports scene is still established. Much more so than soccer, and with the US the last great divide between soccer and true global sports domination, it's not hard to imagine how many people will be turned off, and frankly disgusted, by the lewd acts potentially perpetrated by the fans during Euro 2012.

ESPN, which has the rights to the Euros, also just so happens to be the biggest distributor of sports news. It's not impossible for them to cover up smaller incidents during a broadcast or while showing highlights to protect its investment and improve the chances of soccer catching on in the US (note: ESPN has been known to pick and choose moments to jump in on stories where there is a gray area between sports and other news, like the Ben Roethlisberger case, but more often then not, when it's warranted they will be a news organization first), but should something so egregious occur, not even ESPN can mute the effect.

UEFA should be taking more strict actions for their sport. While this may be more par for the course in Europe, this won't be accepted in the US. If certain areas can't be trusted to act with civility, then don't give them a world-wide stage to show their flaws. Aside from soccer itself, there's a lot of mess and ugliness that can occur. Hopefully, for every aspect, the better side emerges from this month long tournament.

Fantasy Funkhouser: Time to Start Making a Big Deal About...Bryce Harper?

Bryce Harper has done everything right, so why is he being wronged? (Getty Images)

Bryce Harper's story is well-known. If it isn't to you, well there are Sports Illustrated articles (where he was on the cover of the mag at 16), E:60 pieces (where he hits the back wall of Tampa Rays' Tropicana Field), baseball cards for you to get (one that costs $25,000), and countless other materials to get your fix. So if you weren't caught up, you can tell he's a big deal.

Now, this is all based on what he has the potential to do. Nothing to do with what he has done as a major leaguer, but since his sudden call-up on April 28th he has far exceeded any expectations that could be placed on a 19-year-old phenom.

Some of the knocks against Harper were his perceived arrogance, but any showing up thus far of any major leaguers was on account of Harper out hustling them (ay, Jason Heyward and Cole Hamels?). The only vestige of his pre-majors petulance is a little more eyeblack than the normal MLB'er.

With so much controversy following Harper's path to the majors aside from his electrifying play his arrival has been rather calm. No blowing kisses, no getting tossed from games, no and more no. He's be a study in big-time prospect not taking the game of baseball for granted.

After seeing that Harper's cockiness may have been a bit overblown (or at least well-hidden up to this point) and Harper's story was purely baseball, people covering him frankly got bored. They were getting the steak but no sizzle. The controversy that would draw web views and sell newspapers were nowhere to be found. The Twitter page Harper religiously maintained spouting everything from his love of "Swag" to the Yankees and Cowoys was gone, and aside form a swing and a miss during a recreational softball game in DC, Harper may as well be some kind of baseball hermit for all we know. Sleeping in the locker room, only emerging to crush baseballs and hustle all over the baseball diamond.

Fantasy experts were continually downplaying Harper's potential impact. In redraft leagues this makes sense as 19-year-olds don't have a great track records as far as fantasy production goes.

The Notable 19: (Games/HR/RBI/OPS)
Ken Griffey Jr (127/16/61/.748)
Alex Rodriguez (48/5/19/.672)
Mel Ott (124/18/77/.921)

None of those lines are above replacement level players in a standard 10 team mixed league. Many were projecting Griffey's line as the best case scenario for Harper this season. Certainly puts him on track for a Hall of Fame career, but that's the reason some of the fantasy hype in Harper's fire have been significantly dwindled.

Now, don't get it twisted Harper's production so far at his age has been historic. But people covering the sport are looking for more excitement. That excitement has come from an unlikely place in fellow 20-year-old super rookie Mike Trout. Not unlikely based on baseball talent, but unlikely since personality wise Harper is a fireball while Trout is a bit of a dullard.

Trout finally getting attention. (Getty)

Trout has certainly taken some steam from Harper, and rightfully so. As far as I can tell, these guys have the potential to be the Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams of our generation. Elite talents and perfect foils in personality. The argument for who is the better ball player will certainly rage on for years.

Trout's performance so far since his call-up, ironically on the same day as Harper, has been fantastic. He has sparked the Los Angeles Angels out of their early season struggles and is batting .338 with 24R, 5HR, 22RBI, 9SB and played excellent defense in the outfield.

He has vaulted to the top of the AL Rookie of the Year race where other high profile names like Yu Darvish and Yoenis Cespedes have had great year one campaigns as well.

You wouldn't have to look far to see Trout ranked among the top OF already, and projections as high as the 5th round in redraft leagues if a draft was done today. The numbers justify it, even if we were to toss caution to the wind and pretend there won't be a slump with Trout's high K rate.

The hype it seems has shifted it's focus to Trout with Harper taking on the more critical eye. The thing with spotlight is, as Rashad Evans put it brilliantly (paraphrasing): Nobody owns the spotlight. It's just you stand there, and the spotlight moves, and moves, and moves. 


Right now, that spotlight is on Trout, but rest assured Harper will get it back soon. But I'm looking to turn it back on him right now.

This applies mostly to dynasty leagues, but when looking at what Harper has done, it is impressive.

After 118 at bats, Harper is hitting .288, 5HR, 12RBI, 2SB, .922OPS.

For all the spotlight hogging Trout is doing, here are his numbers last year when he was 19.

After 123 at bats, Trout was hitting .220, 5HR, 16RBI, 4SB, .672OPS.

With Harper stuck in the 2-hole most of his days and learning a new position he is getting on base and hitting at a higher rate than Trout was at the same time. Trout is much more of a lead-off hitter than Harper, so for Harper to be getting on base more should be a great indicator that by next year when he's in a more run producing spot in the order, that should translate to more RBIs.

Harper has also gone through a small adjustment period this season going 7-for-36 in mid-May, but has since made adjustments and went on to win NL Rookie of the Month for May.

The AL ROM for May? Mike Trout.

If he can continue on this upswing, it's not out of the question he could approach 20HR this season. Were he to maintain his OPS at this rate some sabermetric heads may explode.

He's capable of doing this, and Harper has earned the accolades of being a nose to the grindstone type player with Mt. Olympian level talent. Let's not underestimate what he can do. While Trout is further along developmentally and his skills are more easily transferable between the minors and majors, Harper is the one that can develop exponentially and has the look of a guy that maybe the expectations we set for him weren't quite enough.

The Funkman says: "What about Matt Moore?"

Looking for a Fight: TUF Live Finale

Jake Ellenberger (L) and Martin Kampmann add one of a couple meaningful bouts to TUF Finale.

The past couple of weeks have had it's share of ups and downs for the UFC. Let's start with their long-time ring girl/Playboy, Maxim, et al. model Arianny Celeste being arrested for domestic abuse. If you weren't intrigued already, then read about what actually happened. Now, I say this in jest as I'm assuming there was no ill will done to her by her very fortunate boyfriend (let's face it, every man and some women out there would happily take more than just a Christian Louboutin pump to the head for Arianny). But the image of her Rashad Evans-ing to his Scott Salmon-ing is just too full and rich to not conjure up in one's imagination. The details are still under wraps, but she is a very recognizable part of the UFC family. While Dana White has publicly stated his support for Arianny, this incident is certainly not something anyone expected.

That happened the night before an excellent UFC 146 card with plenty of finishes and exciting fights from the prelims all the way to the main event. It certainly lived up to the billing. The UFC got their next big heavyweight title fight, a rematch between Cain Velasquez, who bloodied, bloodied Antonio Silva in the battle of block heads. Then Junior dos Santos did his duties dispatching of Frank Mir who was replacing the banned Alistair Overeem. Plus, whenever you can mix in some Brock Lesnar news, that's a big win.

A day or two after, the current UFC light heavyweight champ and best chance to be the UFC's transcendent athlete Jon Jones plead guilty to DWI and crashing his Bentley into a telephone poll a couple of weeks back. For the fast rising Jones this was certainly the most formidable foe he has faced since partnering with UFC. Those Bud Light ads and Nike contracts might be harder to come by for the champ, but he is 24, and while that's not an excuse for driving while intoxicated for anyone, but when you're a millionaire, how about you designate a guy in your posse (whose life you're probably going to support so long as the funds don't dry up) to be the designated driver for the night. You get to drink and not mess things up for yourself and he gets to live high off your hog and drive a Bentley. Win-win.

Those ups and downs resonate with the first year of The Ultimate Fighter in their live format on their new channel FX. While the shows predecessor on Spike was puttering along, the thought was a move to Friday night and a live format would rejuvenate the show. While I thought there were a lot of positives from the move, the most glaring was probably having the show on a Friday night. I would catch up on DVR but the odds of me being home on a Friday to watch a couple of guys fight that I'd probably never see again is highly unlikely. Chuck Mindenahall probably doesn't even do this.

Overall the ratings were a tinge below what Fox and the UFC wanted, but it was steady, on a Friday, and hit the key demo of dudes. A couple tweaks moving forward and this could be a step in the right direction. Oh, and back to the ups and downs, TUF coach and bantamweight champ Dominick Cruz tore his ACL training for his fight against Urijah Faber in July. He's out for a year and an interim belt will be in play. So is life for the UFC.

What emerged from all of this outside turmoil is a finale between two Faber guys: Al Iaquinta (5-1-1) and Michael Chiesa (7-0).

TUF fights, from what I recall, typically have fast finishes. Not many barn burners, certainly not on the level of Griffin-Bonnar I. Iaquinta was the top pick and brings a strong striking and power game to the fold, while Chiesa uses his lanky frame for subs. The interesting thing will be to see how these fighters come out on Friday night. With the season being live, the conditioning and preparation of the fighters is different than years past where the show would wrap and they'd have months to work on their game and essentially get a full training camp in.

For whatever reason the #1 weakness of virtually every TUF contestant is cardio in the ring, and that is something they typically could work through during their camp. Without that, and without having to fight 3 rounds in TUF, this will be the red flag hanging over the match.

Where the series is perhaps going down it's weakest stretch is that the show hasn't produced an elite talent like it did in the early years. It's hard to pinpoint why this is. Is it a result of more organizations picking up these guys, is the current UFC competition too tough so these fighters get swallowed up, or are these guys just not as good? TUF is not the main way UFC recruits talent. They have scouts out there and buy up contracts of other guys that are already established. So with MMA growing as a sport, it's hard to imagine a lack of talent being available, but maybe this is just a lull before another wave of talented fighters re-fill a depleted pool of fighters that aren't good enough to get a job fighting as a pro right now.

I would expect another decisive finish within the first two rounds: Going with Iaquinta.