Beatdown's TJ De Santis has finally rattled off a win in the (in)famous Great Sherdog Debate and now he believes he's inconquerable, an adjective invented just now to describe his skyrocketing testosterone levels. Sherdog columnist Mike Sloan, on the other hand, is suffering through a terrible losing streak, one that seems to have no remedy. Today the two calendar pinups boys from the world's leading mixed martial arts mega site duel to see who is
mas macho.
Hey TJ, the only reason you won our last debate is because
Jens Pulver (Pictures) is a borderline shot fighter. You know that, right? I consider your first ever victory in this debate series as a fluke, a first of its kind occurrence that will never be replicated.
With that mini diatribe aside, let me enlighten you on how these debates are really done; with me winning emphatically as your tattered carcass gets tossed onto the side of the road. Soon the wee beasties of the night will be ripping your innards out of your chest cavity and - well, this is a family site so I'll stop right there.
You see,
Matt Hughes (Pictures) is eventually going to be put out into pasture because the end of his career as an elite level fighter is almost over. I don't ever seeing him capturing another title in the UFC and he's too proud a man to step down into the minor leagues after relishing in fame and fortune in the Big Show. I firmly believe the sport has past him by and it's a little too late to fine tune his fighting style.
In a nutshell, Hughes' career is just about over. But first let me stress
just about. He's going to wallop Brazilian bomber
Thiago Alves (Pictures) come Saturday night and his performance will be the last great one of his brilliant career.
As good as Thiago is, he's not well-versed enough to cope with Hughes' immense wrestling prowess, his unbridled determination or endless reservoir of stamina. Can Alves strike like most of the best? Of course. Can he grapple and display solid zhuzhit? Naturally. But is he as good an all-around fighter that he needs to be to thwart Hughes' last stand as a viable championship contender? Not quite.
Hughes will probably get rocked by a few punches or knees from a clinch early in the fight. Heck, he'll probably lose the opening round in lopsided fashion. But come round two, he'll figure out his opponent's timing and the tides will turn in the farmer's favor.
By the time the final horn sounds, Alves' face will be lumped up, scuffed and lacerated. Alves will have fought valiantly and he'll have given Hughes fits. But Hughes' champion mentality and determination will allow him to triumph over a fighter who will be in the upper echelon of his weight class in due time.
That time is not right now: Hughes by majority decision (one judge will give the first round to Alves10-8).
It only took four shots, but I finally won one. With my win I have surpassed the likes of our former editor Josh Gross and our namesake and boss Jeff Sherwood. I would like to thank "The California Kid" for doing what he does best: whooping all comers. You may call "Little Evil"
Jens Pulver (Pictures) a boarder line shot fighter, but what I saw was a savvy veteran come up short against the best fighter in the world at 145 pounds. I have to admit it, I was nervous. Pulver did what he could to ruin my first win, but Faber had my back. Now on to our latest squabble.
Like many of the tourists that come to your hometown of Las Vegas, get used to losing.
Thiago Alves (Pictures) is going to start a nice streak for me this Saturday night in England. Like his nickname "Pitbull," Alves will be the dog in this fight coming up against former UFC champion
Matt Hughes (Pictures). They say every dog has his day and, fortunately for Thiago (and me), that day is June 7.
You have a great match up of experience versus youth. Hughes is a logical favorite in this bout. The man has wins over Georges St-Pierre, BJ Penn,
Sean Sherk (Pictures) and many others. He has relied on strength and wrestling to be considered the best 170-pound fighter in the history of mixed martial arts. But Saturday you will see what happens when the best comes in flat, uninterested and unfocused.
Thiago Alves loves a lot of things. Among them are girls, dancing and tearing up the welterweight division inside the UFC. Saturday night the UK fans are going to see some things in Alves that they won't in Hughes. A short list is desire, passion and a hunger to succeed. Hughes has already accomplished everything he can in the sport. We all saw him get destroyed by UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre at UFC 79. Personally I think GSP was kind to only submit him and not rearrange his face. Alves won't be so nice.
You yourself seem assured that Alves will dominate early. That is the one thing you're right about. The American Top Team fighter will come out and set a pace that Hughes will just not be able to overcome. Pawing a weak jab to set up a takedown Hughes will eat serious leather. He might get a takedown, but will only be stood up a few moments later. Alves will connect with serious shots to the face of the former Miletich student. After the first round, Hughes will walk back to his corner wondering: "What am I doing? I am too old for this… When is harvest time again?"
Hughes needs to be motivated and he, along with the whole world, knows he can't beat the current champion. The only fight that Hughes wants is a bout with former welterweight champion
Matt Serra (Pictures). Regardless of how this fight turns out, Serra is next for him.
I will watch Saturday's main event with a heavy heart. As a fan of mixed martial arts, it will be sort of sad to see one of the legends be dominated by an up-and-comer. But that is how the world works. Out with the old and in with the new. Look for Alves to win this bout midway through the second round with a knockout. "Pitbull" will set himself up to be the man to face the winner of St-Pierre and Fitch in August. After he sends Matt Hughes to the glue factory.
I was high on Bisping's precise striking ability and overall athleticism in the months following his stint on Zuffa's game show. But after watching him lose to
Matt Hamill (Pictures) (yes, he lost) and then drop a decision to
Rashad Evans (Pictures), I thought he'd bounce back heavily against
Charles McCarthy (Pictures). He didn't, even though he scored a TKO. Now I don't know what to think of "The Count" other than he might be a reality TV fraud. With that said, I like Bisping to dispatch Day early in the second.
Bisping is still a budding fighter. You mentioned he didn't have the showing he would have liked against "Chainsaw." The poor performance will be forgotten as he lights up both Jason Day and the British crowd early in the bout.
If this fight lasts longer than seven minutes, I'll give up drinking Dr. Pepper for a full week. This fight has highlight reel KO written all over it, but who will score it? Davis is hands down the harder puncher but Swick has much better technique and fluidity. I like Swick to hurt Davis early and often, but he'll be unable to close out the show. The pattern continues early in the second, but Davis will rock Swick with a short left hand. Davis will get overzealous and chase him down, only to walk into a lethal right hand. Swick will pounce and seal the deal at the 1:19 mark of the second. It'll clearly be the fight of the night.
You say fight of the night, I say fight of the year. It doesn't have the championship tag on it like Maeda-Torres or Le-Shamrock. However, when two exciting welterweight sluggers meet you have the making for a war. Swick is anxious to excite the fans after his fight with
Josh Burkman (Pictures). Davis has to be the most improved fighter coming out of "The Ultimate Fighter" house in the history of the show. "The Irish Hand Grenade" never disappoints. These two will rock, cut and batter each other for fifteen minutes. Swick will walk away with a close decision, but the true winners will be the fans.
The antithesis of the aforementioned Swick/Davis brawl, this duel should go the distance but it'll be fun for grappling junkies the world over. Leites will be more explosive but Marquardt's experience and smoother technique will prevail. It'll be his ground control and transitions that earn him a unanimous but close decision win. The crowd won't love it, but I will.
Jiu-Jitsu!!!! After
James Thompson (Pictures) and Kimbo Slice showed little to no ground ability a week ago, I am looking forward to a tactical ground match. Leites and Marquardt will not disappoint as this fight will have elite level technique. I like the underdog in Leites in this one. I don't think he will stop Marquardt, but he will do enough to win a unanimous decision.
Here's a fight I couldn't care less about. For starters, it's a heavyweight encounter and most agree that heavyweight fights usually suck more than a Hoover. I've never been sold on Vera but Werdum is a proven commodity. I like Vera to come in moderately unfocused and loss a lopsided unanimous decision amid a tidal wave of boos.
The "Truth" is
Brandon Vera (Pictures) is just too small to be a heavyweight. After this loss I hope he moves down to 205 pounds. Werdum will lay on Vera for three rounds and wins a decision in the snooze fest of the night.
I still don't know if Rivera's stoppage of
Kendall Grove (Pictures) was a fluke or that Grove is not what he's been cracked up to be. I know Kampmann is a legit fighter and this should be interesting. Like you fumbling around the radio studio daily, I see Rivera stumbling around the cage late in the first. Kampmann via first round TKO.
Seriously, how is this fight a preliminary contest? Rivera looked wonderful in his win over Grove. With that said, I like Kampmann. Martin is a more technical striker then Rivera. This fight could go the distance. But I think Kampmann will stop the TUF 4 alum in the third.
When it comes to names, I always mix up
Thiago Tavares (Pictures),
Thiago Alves (Pictures) and
Thales Leites (Pictures) and here is Zuffa, putting them all on the same friggin' card. Thanks. Wiman is beloved by the ladies because he's handsome, I guess. They won't be smitten with his mug after the fight, though, because Tavares is gonna bust him up. Tavares will secure a rear naked choke early in the third.
Few newcomers have intrigued me as much as Tavares. You mention the "Handsome" that Wiman brings to the cage. I agree he drive the ladies (aka Sloan's wife) wild. But Tavares has a look of his own. Look for the Brazilian to score a sick submission in the first two minutes.
I'm not sure what's going with Lambert these days. He looks sensational one day and then looks worse than me the next. Cane, on the other hand, has never truly been beaten as a pro and he should be stinging from his DQ loss back in December. I see Cane knocking Lambert out late in the first in this, the ultimate crossroads fight.
Couldn't disagree more. Cane is a stud, no doubt. But Lambert rises to the occasion to put together another solid run in the light-heavyweight division.
From what I've seen of Burns, he looks pretty solid, though he hasn't faced anybody Jeff Sherwood couldn't beat in a burger eating contest. Carneiro looks like he could be a contender, but still, he's largely unproven. Heads: Carneiro by decision.
Carneiro by submission… "That is all, my friend."
Ooooh, it's the old British grudge match! Taylor scored a win over Liaudin a few years ago and now "The Joker" seeks vengeance! I like Liaudin to win by decision, which will set up a winner-take-all rubber match in Cage Rage in two years.
Taylor has impressed me with what I have seen with him. I haven't really seen enough of either of these guys to really make a solid decision. I will take Taylor in an exciting battle of Brits.
This could be a showcase fight for Sanchez, whose only loss came at the hands (and feet) of some guy named Time Cop. Or was that CroCop? Either way, Sanchez is talented enough to make a run at legitimacy in the heavyweight division. Look for Sanchez to score a thrilling KO early in the fight.
You're overlooking Hardonk. He has more power and better stand up technique than Sanchez. I like Hardonk by knockout in the second.
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