Melendez Is the New Number One Contender

There are very limited fights available in the UFC, that constitute the best of the best challenging each other. Jose Aldo vs Anthony Pettis would have been one of them. Alas it isn't going to happen, not in the foreseeable future. Instead once Pettis heals from knee surgery, he will defend his lightweight title against Gilbert Melendez.

Having the potential super fight with Aldo fall through isn't as disappointing as I would have thought. It's still disappointing, but the replacement is the best the UFC could have done outside the super fight. 

The path Melendez took to acquire the contender spot is different than most. Originally the UFC had tried to pair him against Khabib Nurmagomedov (a name I most likely misspelled). The undefeated Russian has been on a 21-0 tear, with most competitors appearing to be avoiding him in the UFC. The match up was significant, in that it was an imposing challenge for both combatants. The winner of which was sure to be in the top echelon of title contention.

In his debut in the organization, Melendez suffered a controversial decision loss to then champion Benson Henderson. Audiences were split on the outcome. Looking to climb back up the ranks, he went balls to the wall, battling Diego Sanchez in a fight of the year candidate for 2013. Check it out here.

The Forgotten Man

UFC 170 wasn't the only fight card in MMA to go down Saturday night, in case you missed it Vale Tudo Japan 4 was held in Tokyo. Didn't hear about this upcoming event of Japan's finest? Don't worry, neither did I. Yet there was an unexpected face to grace the co-main event, none other than, Caul Uno. A former contender for the UFC's lightweight title that a majority of modern day audiences either don't know or forgot.

It's been a while since Uno has been regarded by those in the media, or respected as any true contender. Many have failed to recognize there is some fight left in the veteran of the sport. With a unanimous decision win over Jesse Brock, Uno has extended his win streak to four in a row. Not too bad for someone that has been fighting professionally since 1996. 

Cormier and Rousey Still Undefeated

Over the weekend Daniel Cormier and Ronda Rousey continued their unbeaten streaks. Both competed at UFC 170, walking away with dominant victories that combined lasted under three minutes. In two of the shortest main and co-main events in recent memory these combatants were able to put their opponents away early.

Rousey continued her dominance over a one woman division finishing Sara McMann in 1:06 of the first round with a liver shot. While Cormier was far from crying in his absolute mauling of one time training partner Patrick Cummins.

McMann was meant to present a challenge to Rousey, due to both being Olympic medalist, but the champion had different plans. Surprisingly it was her striking that ended the challenger's night, the part of her fighting game that had previously appeared the weakest. The win was not without controversy, many fans felt that the fight had been stopped too early. I don't agree, if you are dropped with a liver shot, you are done. Referee Herb Dean prevented McMann from taking any unneeded punishment. Take a look at the highlights.

Shoving Match

If you missed it, at yesterday's UFC 170 press conference Daniel Cormier made it known that he wasn't all too happy with Patrick Cummins' trash talking. Let it be a mutual dislike, or a way to gain fan interest in a fight/fighter (Cummins) that they have known about for ten days, there has been a bit of a feud progressing between them. It came to a head during a routine face off, when Cormier approached Cummins pushing him once he was  in close enough reach. 

Hide the Stars

What to do with one of your upcoming biggest fighters? Stick him on a channel your fans can't watch, of course. 

Alexander Gustafsson is not only one of the top must watch talents in the UFC roster, he is one half of the only fight that matters in the organization. If there is any athlete that should be pushed more than MMA's own Viking warrior, please name him because I don't know of any. After almost taking Jon Jones' light heavyweight title in the fight of the year for 2013, Gustafsson is recognized as an elite, top pound for pound fighter.

Withholding an instant rematch against Jones makes sense. Have audiences wanting what they can't have, for at least a while. 

Instead he is being matched with another upcoming, must see brawler. A UFC Fight Night main event pitting him against Jimi Manuwa. Without a doubt, if he passes this challenge we will see him stepping in the octagon again, for another grab at the title. Regardless this is a great tango for the UFC to put together.

Brett Rogers Scheduled for Two Fights

Remember this guy? Brett Rogers duked it out with one of the greatest to put on the gloves, fought for a world title and was a participant in the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix. 

An arrest for assaulting his wife and a losing record ended his career in Strikeforce. He has compiled a 3-3 record in lesser known organizations since.

Rogers at this point isn't going to be wearing a title of importance, challenging for it or even stepping foot in the big leagues like the UFC. Instead he has become the true sense of a working fighter, living paycheck to paycheck by eating and throwing fists. Usually when this is the case you'll see men like him committed to more than one match at a given time.

Recently Rogers was signed to fight for IGF in Tokyo, Japan. His competition is a journeyman by the name of Yusuke Kawaguchi, with a record including a win over an opponent Sherdog.com has listed as That Guy. They are set to face each other on April 5th. A week earlier Rogers has already been booked to challenge Konstantin Erokhin at Fight Nights - Battle at Moscow 15. He could be doing worse than living a life traveling the world beating up foreigners. 

I miss the days of him sticking around in the states trading words with guys like Kimbo Slice.

Will Rampage Be Champion Again?

That's what Bjorn Rebney is hoping. The promoter has been trying to draw fans to Bellator, by enlisting already established stars to the roster. Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson being his most high profile acquisition to date.

The business practice of recycling mainly former celebrated UFC athletes, has met with criticism from the MMA world. The highest profile of which was a planned Jackson vs Tito Ortiz event that blew up in their faces. 

I don't believe the hiring of Rampage Jackson was a poor decision, it was only the execution that was originally the problem. There weren't any fans that had fantasized about a Jackson/Ortiz pairing, even when both were in their primes. Entering Jackson instead into one of their tournaments that the organization is know for, creates an interesting direction for a fighter that had all but burnt out in the UFC.

Bellator 110 takes place on February 28th, featuring a main event of Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson vs Christian M'Pumbu. A semifinal match up in a light heavyweight tournament. Check out the preview.

Should We Care?

BJ Penn vs Frankie Edgar III will take place at featherweight. Subsequently the Ultimate Fighter 19 will air with both men as coaches, concluding in a third meeting between legends. Should we care?

This is a strange match up that viewers weren't expecting. These fighters competed in back to back octagon appearances close to four years ago. In the first meeting UFC lightweight champion BJ Penn put his title on the line against Edgar. A few months later they faced off again with roles reversed, as Frankie Edgar was the champion and Penn his competition. Edgar tasted victory both times. The second competition was a decisive triumph, that left little question in viewer's minds who was the deserving title holder.

In the time that has past sense, both have taken different directions in their careers. Edgar's name will live in infamy amongst MMA fans for his last two clashes against Gray Maynard. Dropping down to featherweight when losing his title, he is apparently trying to reinvent himself as a lower weight fighter. Penn on the other hand has only competed at welterweight since 2010, semi-retiring twice over this period.

With their past history in mind, why would they be meeting again, at featherweight no less? This wouldn't be the first of questionable fights the UFC has developed in recent memory. Check out the following list.

One Woman Division

This Saturday Ronda Rousey will be defending her UFC title for the third time. The challenger, Sara McMann, is an Olympic silver medalist and that's all I know about her. Both are former olympians plus are undefeated in MMA. This could make for a stellar match up, but at this point Rousey fights are only worth watching because Ronda Rousey is fighting. Did anyone know Liz Carmouche before she faced her? Was anyone talking about Sara McMann before this fight was made? Does anyone concern themselves with other fighters in the women's bantamweight division not named Ronda Rousey?

Dana White has said she has the 'it' factor. He's right, Rousey is magnetic, containing a quality that not many have. At the moment an entire division is held on her shoulders. That's why she's part of the main event at UFC 170. Below is the extended preview of the card.

Patrick Cummins Made Daniel Cormier Cry

This is the story line the UFC is using to promote Patrick Cummins vs Daniel Cormier. They needed something to make anyone care that this fight is happening. Cummins was more than happy to oblige, informing the MMA media that he made Cormier cry several years ago while training for the Olympics.

I don't blame the UFC for pushing this tale. This is a fight that was made only ten days out from an original Rashad Evans vs Daniel Cormier match up. Evans went down with an injury, a replacement was needed. The UFC found their substitute in a coffee barista with a 4-0 MMA record. 

Check out the two square off.

Miguel Torres Picks up a Much Needed Win

Have we forgotten about Miguel Torres already? A few years ago Torres was 'THE' bantamweight fighter of MMA. His record was an impressive 37-1. After a string of losses, a subpar UFC record and not one but two idiotic posts on twitter, Torres is fighting for some sense of relevance.

The mighty has fallen hard. After dropping both his fights in the WSOF, Miguel Torres is back on the regional circuit. Check out his most recent fight from over the weekend in its entirety here.

Is a Title Shot in Machida's Future?

Lyoto Machida sailed to a decision victory last night against Gegard Mousasi, another former light heavyweight. It's strange that both fighters would drop a weight class just to face each other, but that's the nature of the business I guess. Both believed fighting lighter would lead to more success and happened to meet after shedding an extra twenty pounds. 

It was an intriguing pairing but I always hope for a KO when I watch Machida step in the cage. Otherwise his fights turn into a borefest. This wasn't one of those occasions. Machida wowed a majority of audiences, while never giving Mousasi any real chance of a win.

Check out the highlights.

The Only Fight That Matters

Alexander Gustafsson vs Jon Jones II is the only fight in the UFC that matters. Vitor Belfort vs Chris Weidman, who cares. Having to wait until the end of the year to watch Cain Velasquez defend his title against someone not named Junior Dos Santos or Antonio Silva, whatever. George St. Pierre relinquished his belt, rather than defend it for a second time against a deserving Johnny Hendricks. When or if the Anthony Pettis vs Jose Aldo match is made call me, because until then Gustafsson vs Jones II is the only fight that matters. 

Check out an interesting recap of the first fight here, to remind you why these two fighting again is a must see.