-
5 Questions: UFC 106
By: Jake Rossen
D. Mandel/Sherdog.com
Is Tito Ortiz ready for an encore?
Ortiz’s recent performances displayed a fighter far removed from the kind of dominating, aggressive cage-wrestling he used to great success early on; he blamed back issues, corrected by a new and less invasive surgery. But even if Ortiz reverts to old form, he’ll be a 2002 fighter in 2009: up against athletes who can stuff his takedown, shut him down on the ground, and pester him standing. Aggressive wrestlers will always have a chance -- even fresh off the college mat -- but it’s not as good a guarantee as it used to be.
Can Forrest Griffin handle another loss? Read more -
A Rude Homecoming for Phil Baroni?
Video courtesy of UFC.com. Read more -
UFC 106 Primer
By: Jake Rossen
S. Albanese/Tailstar.com
When the UFC’s hype engine fails to deliver any real, palpable anticipation for a fight -- as in the case of Saturday’s Tito Ortiz/Forrest Griffin rematch, which is fine but far from the Epic Super Rematch of Mega Titans some clever editing and music are presenting it as -- you can make up your own narrative.
In this instance, UFC 106’s four light heavyweights might potentially be participating in a four-man tournament for a chance at the title without knowing it. In addition to Ortiz/Griffin, a debuting Antonio Rogerio Nogueira will face Luis Arthur Cane; the respective winners would have time to meet before May 1’s Lyoto Machida/Mauricio Rua rematch. It may be all that you need to sit a little closer to the television. Read more -
Back Against the Mat (BAM): UFC 101 and WEC 42 Edition
By: Jake Rossen
Because some fighters have more to lose than others.
Read more
Anderson Silva: Back-to-back insomnia solutions ported Silva from professor to pariah overnight. If he finds a way to behave eccentrically against Forrest Griffin, the UFC is going to have to consider arming his next opponent.
Jeff Curran: The WEC featherweight has lost three straight bouts against stiff competition: if he can’t chamber a new career at 135 lbs. against Takeya Mizugaki, he’s probably due for the Phone Call.â„¢ -
UFC 101 Primer
By: Jake Rossen
To watch Anderson Silva glancing up at the giant screens that surround the Octagon venue to see the time he has remaining is an easily-ignored bit of ring strategizing.
Read more
But if you listen to Silva talk, you may begin to view it as a metaphor for the dwindling days of his career.
Silva has been vocal about his obsession with the finish line. He has four fights remaining on his UFC contract, and most expect him to either follow Roy Jones Jr. into a gymnasium unannounced or happily corral his children in Curitiba, seen only as background detail during the bouts of his friends and training partners. Already, his legacy weighs so heavily on his shoulders that he risked nothing in contests against Thales Leites and Patrick Cote.
