It's MMAzing Radio - Episode 68

The gang hands out their year-end awards. First, they discuss the televised car crash the Silva v. Weidman II fight ended up being. Once they get through that, they give out awards for Event, Knockout, Submission, Fight and Fighter of the Year. All that, plus random conversations and a mini-preview of Rousey v. McMann.

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It's MMAzing Radio - Episode 67

The gang preview the massive UFC 168: Weidman v. Silva II card. They discuss Weidman and Silva's prospects for victory. The gang also breaks down if Miesha Tate has a chance against Ronda Rousey (probably not). They also have the great TRT debate (well...they pretty much agree). Check it out.

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It's MMAzing Radio - Episode 66

The gang breaks down all the fights from UFC on Fox 9 (live from the craptastic Sleep Train Arena). They talk about the futures of all the big winners and losers, including Johnson, Faber and Mendes. They also talk about TUF 20 and new female strawweight. Finally, they talk about the likely end of GSP, his impact and the hole he leaves behind.

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It's MMAzing Radio - Episode 65

The gang talks about the results of the TUF 18 Finale and UFC Fight Night: Hunt v. Silva cards. They talk about Nate Diaz's dominance, the future stars TUF did or did not create and whether Roxanne Modaferi has a future in the UFC. They also discuss the beautiful violence that was Hunt v. Bigfoot and Shogun's destruction of Te Huna. Finally, the preview UFC on Fox: Johnson v. Benavidez

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It's MMAzing Consensus Rankings for November 2013

**Note: For an explanation of how we came to these rankings, please listen to Episode 64 of It's MMAzing Radio  **

Heavyweight

1. Cain Velasquez

Via Jon Jones's Instagram

2. Daniel Cormier
3. Junior Dos Santos
4. Fabricio Werdum
5. Antonio Silva
6. Josh Barnett
7. Travis Browne
8. Stipe Miocic
9. Gabriel Gonzaga
10. Mark Hunt

Light Heavyweight

1. Jon Jones
2. Alexander Gustafsson
3. Rashad Evans
4. Phil Davis
5. Glover Teixeira
6. Antônio Rogério Nogueira
7. Dan Henderson
8. Chael Sonnen
9. Gegard Mousasi
10. Mauricio Rua

It's MMAzing Radio - Episode 64

The gang dusts off their thinking caps to come up with their rankings for November 2013. For the first time in history, they manage to finish the rankings in a reasonable amount of time and are forced to come up with other stuff to talk about. Lucky for them, they remembered that the TUF 18 Finale is this Saturday.

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It's MMAzing Radio - Episode 63

The gang talks about UFC 167, especially the controversial GSP v. Hendricks decision. They also talk about Rashad's big victory and the future of the 170 lb division. Finally, they complain about the Nevada State Athletic Commission and the EA Cover Vote. Oh, and they celebrate Rampage's victory

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UFC 167 Predictions

Image via UFC newsletter

UFC Welterweight Championship

Georges St-Pierre (c) v. Johny Hendricks

Doctor Law: Keep the distance, circle left and jab. That’s how GSP gets it done. Now that I got that out of the way, I need to get something off my chest. Johny Hendricks has no idea what he’s talking about when it comes to drug testing. As such, he really shouldn’t be talking about it. He doesn’t trust VADA, but says he will “do WADA.” Ok, let’s get some sh*t straight. WADA doesn’t drug test. They just don’t. They set standards. Do you know what VADA does? They use WADA accredited labs to test people. Also, Hendricks solution to the “I don’t trust VADA” thing was basically to just do no extra testing doesn’t look good. I would never accuse him of being anything because it would be a ridiculous thing to say about a man who has competed at such a high level for so many years with no proof to suggest any impropriety (like GSP), but he needs to handle these situations better. Step 1: don’t talk about sh*t you have no idea about. GSP by decision.

Kid Presentable: Let me start with the fact that Hendricks is legit. Many wrestle-boxers have come before him, but this man packs a Falcon Punch in his left hand. He has earned his shot, and though it was a long road to get to this point, really is the top contender in the division. That said, I seem to always pick against him and this day will be no different. GSP is simply too complete of a fighter. Every other fighter has some noticeable weakness, and GSP will play to that. Like most guys who have KO power, that power wanes as the fight drags on, and few know about dragging an opponent into the deep waters like GSP. GSP by unanimous NOS Active.

DJ Mark: It’s really hard to pick against a guy that hasn’t lost since 2007. Many have criticized GSP in the past of playing it a little safe against some opponents many think he could have finished, but at the end of the night he still won all those fights. Hendricks has the tools to win here and has shown his ability to do so as seen in his highlight reel. The problem is only Matt Serra has been able to do what Hendricks hopes to do on Saturday night. I honestly think it’s a very close fight but I’m play it safe like I normally do, GSP dec.

The man has riddum

Lavender Gooms: We’ve seen this script before.  Hard hitting All-American wrestler who challenges the welterweight champion (Koscheck, Josh).   In the first movie, our hero took down the upstart and in the sequel our gilded hero unveiled a crisp and masterful jab that’s rarely seen in MMA.  If were a betting man (I am) I would bet the farm on GSP utilizing the same game plan he used in his rematch against Koscheck, staying out of range of Hendricks power while peppering him for five rounds with jabs.  While Hendricks won’t suffer a broken orbital bone like the last person who played his role, it will end in a one sided boxing match with the occasional takedown stuffed.  GSP by decision.

Picking St-Pierre: It is a strategy (GSP voice)

Picking Hendricks:

It's MMAzing Radio - Episode 62

The gang talks about the 2 Fight Night cards this past week including the futures of Hendo and TRT Vitor (they also only call him TRT Vitor now). They also preview UFC 167 and look for a new nickname for GSP. Finally, being that it is the 20th anniversary of the UFC this week, they give their favorite moments in UFC history. Spoiler alert: Anderson Silva comes up a few times.

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It's MMAzing Radio - Episode 61

The gang breaks down Bellator's first PPV attempt at a good card. This includes a breakdown of the whatever the hell the first two fights were, Daniel Strauss increased access to funds for attorney's fees, King Mo's apparent ceiling and the instant classic that was Alvarez/Chandler II. They also break down the future of Bellator and the Fight Master series. Finally, they preview both UFC cards this week.

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Life is Beautiful: Pat Barry and the It's MMAzing Crew Doing it SF II Style

Happy Halloween 

from 

It's MMAzing

One of the best things about being an MMA fan is that it's surprisingly easy to meet up with awesome MMA fighters. The It's MMAzing crew and myself (minus Lavander Gooms, sorry Mike) were over in Las Vegas this past weekend, however this time it wasn't for a card. We were taking it to the streets of downtown Las Vegas for Life is Beautiful, a pretty sweet music festival with the talents the likes of; Alabama Shakes, Haim, Danny Brown, Jurassic 5 (lifelong dream, checked) and Childish Gambino. While we were there we couldn't miss the opportunity to hang out with our boy Pat Barry, the legend himself Forrest Griffin and the Tate & Caraway duo!

It's MMAzing Radio - Episode 60

The gang breaks down UFC 166 including: Cain's dominance, Junior's future, Daniel Cormier's future at 205, the Mexican World War AKA the greatest 3 round fight any of them have ever seen, Gonzaga's beautiful 'stache and the dynamite in John Dodson's fists. They also talk about the Boetsch/CB ridiculousness and Hector Lombard absolute destruction of Nate Marquardt. Finally, the preview next weekend's Munoz v. Machida card.

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UFC 166 Predictions

Via UFC Newsletter

When asked Cain Velasquez said that this is most likely not the last time he and Junior Dos Santos face each other.  Junior on the other hand believes this will be the last time.  Not exclusive to the realm of fighting, three is a number that is huge in our collective psyches.  Three strikes you’re out, the holy trinity(for you Catholics), Neapolitan ice cream, and more movie trilogies than can be counted here.  So there is some credence that’s lent to the notion that this will be the last fight.  But there’s a huge exception, if we’re left wanting more then there MUST be a fourth fight.  Whether we get a fourth will be determined on whether Junior can either win the belt or make it a close and compelling fight.

It's MMAzing Radio - Episode 59

The gang deals with 50% attendance to the podcast. They break down UFC Fight Night: Shields v. Maia and all the fallout (including Palhares...alright, mostly Palhares). They also talk about all things Bellator (cards, troll moves by the President, horrible attendance). They also break down this Saturday's UFC 166 card.

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It's MMAzing Radio - Episode 58

The gang talks about Bellator and boxing. They also break down what they think makes certain guys stars. Also, um, that was basically it actually. It was a short episode. Send a tweet to @ItsMMAzing with your guess for why the episode was shorter than usual. The correct guess gets a virtual fist bump.

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It's MMAzing Radio - Episode 57

The gang talks about the ridiculous/fake rivalry between Chael Sonnen and Wanderlei Silva. They also talk about the UFC cutting Yushin Okami and what it means for the promotion's future. They also talk about Bellator for quite a bit. Honestly, if you like Bellator, this was the episode for you. Also, GTA and football talk. It was one of those weeks folks.

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It's MMAzing Radio - Episode 56

The gang talks about Jones v. Gustafsson AKA the greatest light heavyweight title fight in UFC history. They break down the technical aspects of the fight and try to figure out the best course of action for both fighters going forward. They talk about the rest of UFC 165 too, but to be honest, Jones v. Gus was (rightfully) given the vast majority of their attention. Also, feelings are hurt!

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UFC 165 Predictions

It's MMAzing Radio - Episode 55

The gang talks about UFC 164, UFC Fight Night: Condit v. Kampmann, and UFC Fight Night: Teixei... look, there were a lot of fights. They talked about the ones that didn't suck. They also discuss BJ Penn's move to 145 and his fight with Frankie Edgar. Finally, they preview this Saturday's UFC 165: Jones v. Kid Sweden (I just made that up, give me credit if you steal it) card.

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Breaking News: Wrestling Reinstated for the 2020 Olympics

Image via mojobeijing.wordpress.com

As long as there has been an Olympics, there has been wrestling.  During the ancient Olympiads, wrestlers fought naked covered in olive oil.  And while I wonder why I knew this knowledge offhand this shows how long the history of this noble sport spans.  Which was why it was such a shock for the International Olympic Committee to cut wrestling back in February.

It seemed that wrestling would follow the same path as some other sports which lost their Olympic stature such as Polo, Lacrosse, Golf and Tug of War(seriously Tug of War was an Olympic sport).  What followed in the subsequent months was an uproar from the wrestling and MMA(of whom many were former wrestlers in college or the Olympics) community to keep wrestling in.  Seven months after being cut the IOC has performed an about face, winning reinstatement, beating out squash and baseball/softball.  Considering wrestling's mass appeal in large parts of Asia, eastern Europe and in schools and colleges here it's amazing to think it was cut at all.  I guess you can't keep a good sport on the mat (Ba dum tss).

UFC 164 Predictions

It's MMAzing Radio - Episode 54

The gang previews UFC Fight Night: Condit v. Kampmann II and UFC 164: Henderson v. Pettis II. Sidenote, what's with all these rematches? Come on new guys...make us care about your fights. Anyways, they also talk about Ben Askren's future and get all serious talking about sports journalism v. trying to make that sweet sweet paper.

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It's MMAzing Radio - Episode 53

The gang, in this recorded-on-time-but-posted-a-little-late show, go deep into the UFC's debut on FS1. They break down the futures of Chael P., The Reem, Travis Browne, Urijah Faber and Uriah Hall. Sidenote, it can't be a good sign that I fell asleep watching Hall v. John Howard, right? The gang also talks about the disastrous Bellator/TNA cross-promoting that is happening.

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UFC Fight Night 26: Shogun v. Sonnen Predictions

Considering how young the sport of MMA is and how close the UFC was to shuttering just a decade ago, it’s amazing to think that a UFC card would essentially be the way a major sports network introduces itself to the nation (that and it’s bevy of tall blonde reporters…what is it with Fox and blond reporters, do they have a factory somewhere???).  The notion is that this new rival to ESPN will offer more primetime MMA coverage, alongside coverage of football, baseball, soccer and basketball.  This will only be good for the sport.  While there are still a bunch of questions as to how the UFC will play out on these new channels the more pressing question for people come August 17^th is what freaking channel is this on and does my cable plan even get it??

Bellator adds Alvarez-Chandler II to pay-per-view-card. In related news, Bellator PPV now worth buying

Image via Eric Coleman, Bellator

Bellator's first pay-per-view card is being headlined by two legends of the sport.  The only problem with legends is that normally means their old and their best days are way past them.  As a result the common thought was that for Bellator's first pay-per-view event to be considered watchable (and buyable), it would need to add fights that people actually wanted to see.  Michael Chandler was a name being thrown around and after his showing last week it would have been stupid to not have him on the card.  Boy did Bellator deliver.  Not only have they turned a card I had no interest in watching into something I will drop some schillings for, they have booked one of the most anticipated rematches in the last few years.

Alvarez, who hasn't fought since October 2012 and signed a free agent deal with the UFC, has been involved in a bitter lawsuit with Bellator over their contract provision to match any offer from another promotion.  Considering that Bellator's owner Viacom primarily deals with basic cable, the thought was Bellator was producing a pay-per-view card solely to keep Alvarez from winning his court battle.  However, it seems time (and likely a boatload of PPV money) heals all wounds, when Alvarez told USA Today, "I couldn't be happier right now...We've been trying to settle since the very beginning of this.  We were able to compromise and put it behind us.  I'm happy to put my name on the dotted line and move forward with my career."

Ariel Helwani of mmafighting.com reported that sources said if Alvarez loses he is free to walk away but if he beats Chandler he'll be contractually obligated to do a trilogy.  So while it seems that Alvarez isn't long for the Bellator ring, the fighting audience will be left with one or potentially two more fights between these two top ten lightweights.

It's MMAzing Consensus Rankings for August 2013

**Note: For an explanation of how we came to these rankings, please listen to Episode 52 of It's MMAzing Radio  **

Heavyweight

Image via www.sportingopinions.com

1. Cain Velasquez
2. Junior Dos Santos
3. Daniel Cormier
4. Fabricio Werdum
5. Antonio Silva
6. Alistair Overeem
7. Frank Mir
8. Stipe Miocic
9. Josh Barnett
10. Roy Nelson

Light Heavyweight

1. Jon Jones
2. Alexander Gustafsson
3. Rashad Evans
4. Phil Davis
5. Lyoto Machida
6. Glover Teixeira
7. Antônio Rogério Nogueira
8. Dan Henderson
9. Ryan Bader
10. Mauricio Rua

It's MMAzing Radio - Episode 52

The gang comes back from a long (unintentional) hiatus to talk about what the hell Bellator is trying to accomplish. They also argue rankings for the first time in five months and break down the upcoming UFC Fight Night card on Fox Sports 1.

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No Podcast Today

Podcast cancelled due to technical errors.

Top Five Undead

Chan Sung-Jung

On Saturday, Chan Sung-Jung otherwise affectionately known as the Korean Zombie faces off against Jose Aldo for the UFC Featherweight Championship.  Even though he hasn’t fought in over a year, his first fight is against an absolute monster and he’ll likely lose, everyone loves them some Zombie.  In honor of this Cult hero’s title shot I’ve compiled a list of the greatest undead in pop culture.

It's MMAzing Radio - Episode 51

In a VERY special edition, the gang provides commentary for Small Town Street Fight. They also talk about other stuff, but it's not nearly as important. PLEASE NOTE: this podcast will only make any sense to you if you have a video player you can watch Small Town Street Fight on. If you are looking for the videos, they can be found in DJ Mark's story from earlier this week.

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Small Town Street Fight: At Long Last

If you listened to our 50th episode you might remember us discussing a legendary video, the Small Town Street Fight. I've been waiting for this thing to turn up in the wilds of youtube for a long time, so please go ahead and check it out above. If you need more convincing or just want to check out the even crazier second half, click below.

It's MMAzing Radio - Episode 50

It's a celebration b*tches. Sorry for saying b*tches. 50 episodes for It's MMAzing Radio! The gang celebrates by talking about Anderson Silva's loss to Chris Weidman and all the fallout. When I say all the fallout...I mean ALL the fallout. The also talk about the resurfacing of the greatest piece of video footage of all time. What video is that? You'll have to listen to find out.

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It's MMAzing Radio - Episode 49

The gang talks about Saturday's Anderson Silva v. Chris Weidman fight. They also talk Anderson Silva's future opponents. There is a discussion as to Anderson Silva's greatness. Also, they talk about this guy, you may have heard of him, his name is Anderson Silva.

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"Are you ready for WAR?!": A Night in Stockton with War MMA.

June 22, 2013 was an important day in MMA history for two reasons. The first reason is clear: it was the first event for Nick Diaz's new promotion: War MMA. The second reason is that it was first event It's MMAzing was invited to as a member of the press. Being that this was the first show for the promotion, I'm going to take you through what stood out from the event.

It's MMAzing Radio - Episode 48

The gang (is it a gang if there is only two of them?) talk extensively about the debut of Nick Diaz Promotion's  WAR MMA. They go over the events high and low points and discuss the future of the promotion. They also discuss King Mo's win over Petruzelli, Babalu's retirement and touch on UFC 161.

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Dawn of a NorCal Powerhouse? War MMA 1 is Tonight

As all of you regular fans (Phil) out there know, the staff here at It's MMAzing love themselves the Diaz brothers.  With that in mind tonight marks the beginning of a new era in the professional career of Nick Diaz. After his loss to Georges St. Pierre for the UFC welterweight title in March, Nick retired and we were all left with questions; Would it stick this time? Will he never fight again? What's he going to do now?

He answered those questions for us in spades with the launch of his new promotion WAR MMA, which airs it's inaugural card tonight.  It's taking place in Stockton, California (hometown of Nick Diaz) and features UFC vet and Cesar Gracie Fight Team member Daniel Roberts versus Justin Baseman in the main event.  This card is also a first for this website as it will be an Official Official (yes it's that official) It's MMAzing event, with press passes and everything.

For those who can't be there in person you can stream it live for free or enter a donation, with the largest donation winning a pair of signed gloves from Nick and Nate Diaz.

War MMA 1 Fight Card:

-Justin Baesman vs. Daniel Roberts
-Caleb Mitchell vs. Evan Esguerra
-Darin Cooley vs. Cody Gibson
-Roy-Boughton vs. Liron Wilson
-Chris Quitiquit vs. Dominic Clark

It's MMAzing Radio - Episode 47

The gang gets together to make sense of UFC on Fuel: Nogueira v. Werdum and talk about the future of the UFC heavyweight division. They also break down Rampage's new deal with Bellator/TNA/Spike TV/Viacom/The Devil and wonder who the deal is best for. Finally, they preview the very-weak-on-paper-but-watch-it-be-good UFC on 161 card. Also, Superhero talk!

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It's MMAzing Radio - Episode 46

The gang talks about Clark Kent's reporting skills, Peter Parker's lack of salaried-position, the Daily Bugle-New York Post connection and then realizes this is a MMA podcast. They break down the Miesha Tate-Cat Zingano situation and look forward to UFC on Fuel TV: Nogueira v. Werdum's Brazilian-filled card.

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It's MMAzing Radio - Episode 45

The gang breaks down all things UFC 160, including Cain's dominance, Junior's big kick, TJ Grant as a title contender and all the matchups that were setup. They also discuss their favorite Forrest Griffin memories.

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UFC 160 Predictions

via mmatko.com

What happens when four people say they are going to make a predictions post and they all forget? An extra short version of staff predictions of course.

UFC Heavyweight Championship:
Cain Velasquez (c) v. Antonio Silva

UFC 146. Do you remember it? It wasn't that long ago. Today is actually one year to the day of that event. Why is this significant? It's because that was the date Cain Velasquez turned a UFC fight into a God damn horror movie. He brutalized this guy named Antonio Silva and left him in a pool of his own blood. One year later...they're fighting again. Mostly due to lack of options. I'm going to go out on a limb as say that Cain is probably going to take this one.

Picking the champ: It's like we're all Nostradamus
Fools picking Silva: none of us

Junior Dos Santos v. Mark Hunt

via titocouture.com

The #RallyforMarkHunt has paid off in a big way. The big man is now fighting JDS for a shot at the UFC title. Does he have what it takes to beat Cigano. Yes. Mark Hunt could knock out a rhino. I am so excited for this fight that there is NO possible way that it can live up.

Fans of logic: DJ Mark, Lavender Gooms
Mark Hunt was born down...you know this: Doctor Law, Kid Presentable

It's MMAzing Radio - Episode 44

The gang gets together to break down UFC on FX: Belfort v. Rockhold AKA the dominance of TRT Vitor. They also talk about this weekend's UFC 160 card and try to figure out exactly what the hell is going on with Bellator.

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It's MMAzing Radio - Episode 43

The gang rambles for an hour because there was no MMA news this week. Among the topics discussed, whether Chris Weidman has a real shot against Anderson Silva and how dumb the kid sitting next to Doctor Law during Iron Man 3 was. Controversial shit. 

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It's MMAzing Radio - Episode 42

The gang minus an absent-for-ridiculous-reasons Lavender Gooms (minor league baseball? really?) breaks down UFC 159 in detail. Hell, there is no event for 3 weeks...what else did you expect them to do? Watch your eyes people...they may get poked.

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UFC 159: Jones vs. Sonnen Predictions

The fight between the two head coaches of the most recent season of The Ultimate Fighter is finally upon us. Will it be another notch in Jones reign of terror, or as Razor... I mean Chael says, will it be one more for the Bad Guy? Say what you will about Sonnen deserving this shot, but it is here, and when this man speaks the whole MMA world listens.

The Best of Chael Sonnen

This Saturday challenger Chael Sonnen meets Jon Jones for the UFC Light Heavyweight title.  No one is giving Chael much of a shot against Jones and deservedly so.  Chael is an elite fighter but Jones is in another world. Jones is the type of athlete who is only getting better with each passing minute.  This will be Chael's third title fight in the UFC and will likely be his last.  With that in mind let's look back at some of Chael's best quotes in the lead up to his second fight with Anderson Silva.  Pure gold.

It's MMAzing Radio - Episode 41

The gang breaks down UFC on Fox: Henderson v. Melendez; a night full of knockouts and a little bit of controversy. They also look ahead to UFC 159: Jones v. Sonnen.

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UFC on FOX 7: Benson Henderson vs. Gilbert Melendez Predictions

Hello boys and girls.  It's been a while since we've written an article.  But we're back and better(?) than ever.  And what better way to come back with the thunder on these predictions than with an official ItsMMAzing event? Check them out.

It's MMAzing Radio - Episode 40

The gang talks about the TUF 17 Finale and debate the Fallen Fox controversy. They also preview this Saturday's UFC on FOX: Henderson v. Melendez card.

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It's MMAzing Consensus Rankings for March 2013

**Note: For an explanation of how we came to these rankings, please listen to Episode 39 of It's MMAzing Radio  **

Courtesy of www.cagepotato.com

Heavyweight


1. Cain Velasquez
2. Junior Dos Santos
3. Daniel Cormier
4. Fabricio Werdum
5. Antonio Silva
6. Alistair Overeem
7. Frank Mir
8. Roy Nelson
9. Mark Hunt
10. Josh Barnett

Light Heavyweight

Courtesy of www.cagedinsider.com

1. Jon Jones
2. Lyoto Machida
3. Alexander Gustafsson
4. Dan Henderson
5. Mauricio Rua
6. Ryan Bader
7. Antônio Rogério Nogueira
8. Rashad Evans
9. Glover Teixeira
10.Phil Davis

It's MMAzing Radio - Episode 39

The gang comes to together on Easter Sunday to break some news about Alexander Gustafsson, go over their bi-monthly (now tri-monthly) rankings, and break down the upcoming UFC on Fuel TV: Gustafsson (hopefully) v. Mousasi card.

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It's MMAzing Radio - Episode 38

The gang breaks down all things UFC 158, including: GSP fighting as safe as usual, Nick's future with the UFC (and the IRS), where all the main carders go from here, and whether Hendricks has a shot against GSP. Also, the gang talks about Ronda as a coach on the new season of TUF.

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It's MMAzing Radio - Episode 37

The gang picks a weekday night to dive deep into this Saturday's GSP v. Diaz fight. They break down the epic conference call, what makes Nick tick and what they think will happen in the fight. They also talk about the other big welterweight fights on the card. Also, the guys air their frustrations with the current state of MMA.

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It's MMAzing Radio - Episode 36

The gang returns from a 3 week lay off and find a formidable foe in Comcast's internet service. Nevertheless, they persevere to discuss the triumphant nights of Wanderlei Silva and Mark Hunt, Ronda Rousey and the future of women's MMA, the next challenger for Jon Jones and what went wrong with King Mo.

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UFC 157: Ronda Rousey vs. Liz Carmouche Predictions

On Saturday we will all be witnesses to history. On Saturday we will see three firsts in the UFC. The first women in the UFC, the first UFC women's championship bout AND the first women headlining a UFC card. That is a lot of firsts. Unofficially this fight is being called "Ronda at the Honda" but I think this is an apt description. Although this card is stacked from head to toe, all the attention will be on the blonde judoka specialist with the unstoppable armbar that's taken the MMA world by storm in the last two years. Whether they love Ronda or think women have no place in fighting, all eyes will be trained on these two women when they make history this weekend.

It's MMAzing Radio - Episode 35

The gang uses this super-sized episode to talk about the results of UFC 156 and discuss Anthony Pettis as a featherweight #1 contender. They also talk about Alexander "Ivan Drago" Shlemenko and Uriah Hall's murderous KO of Adam Cella on TUF. Finally, they gang breaks down the upcoming UFC on Fuel TV: Barao v. McDonald card and the historic UFC 157: Rousey v. Carmouche card.

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UFC 156: Jose Aldo vs Frankie Edgar Predictions

image via www.faniq.com

UFC Featherweight Championship

Jose Aldo (c) vs Frankie Edgar

Kid Presentable: Vitor got a title shot in a division where he had no relevance, and now Chael Sonnen is getting one too. Frankie is coming off of two losses and is entering a new weight class yet I have no problems with this title shot. It has been fairly common knowledge that Frankie could easily drop down in weight and this is without doubt the greatest threat to Aldo's reign atop the division. Frankie has all the tools to make the night long and difficult for Aldo. Frankie is fast, sets up his takedowns really well, and has an endless gas tank. Essentially he is everything Urijah Faber was supposed to be in his fight against Aldo. The problem though is that for all of Frankie's movement he still has a propensity for getting hit. Hard. And often. Even in the second match against Bendo, just because Frankie caught all those leg kicks, doesn't mean that he wasn't just eating them the whole time. Frankie may have gone down in weight, but he hasn't fought anyone that hits like Aldo. Aldo by TKO round 2.

Doctor Law: The Superfight is finally here. Current featherweight champion versus the former lightweight champion. It may not be champion versus champion, but it’s still pretty great. I think this is a tough fight to pick. There are so many factors to consider. How will Aldo deal with Frankie’s movement? How will Frankie deal with Aldo’s leg kicks? How will the weight cut affect Frankie? Will Aldo’s time off affect his gas tank? Will Aldo’s decision to stupidly pick the Ravens over the 49ers cause us to question his value as a human being? I keep going back and forth on this fight. Ultimately, I do think Frankie will win the championship rounds due to his cardio, but I think it’ll be too late after Aldo wins the first 3 rounds. Aldo by decision.

DJ Marc with a "K": This is a really tough fight to pick. It’s always hard to judge how a fighter will perform when going to a new weight division. The cut to 145 seems like it’ll be an easy one which is very good because Frankie isn’t wasting any time in the Featherweight division. Aldo at times has seemed as skilled and talented as any of the other UFC champions but he’s also had a few moments where you might question some of his ability and stamina. I think the key to this fight is really going to be who has the better footwork and if Aldo can successfully use leg kicks to slow down Edgar. It’s a tough call but I’m picking Aldo here. Aldo by decision.

Lavender Gooms: While it’s not Anderson vs. GSP, this right now is the closest thing to a super fight we’re going to see for at least the next year most likely. Even during his reign as lightweight champ the critique against Frankie was as man that was easily just walking around at 155 in a division where his competitors were cutting 20 or more pounds that he was too small for the division. People (including myself) were stupidly saying this while he beat a legend twice, defended it three times and arguably won his fight against Bendo. Frankie will be the first true challenge to the throne of the 145 champ. Even dropping a weight class, Edgar should have no problem making weight and maintaining the maddening pace for five rounds that he displayed at 155. On the other hand Aldo has had problems making the weight in the past and has had problems with fatigue in the later rounds and against Edgar…he will get into the later rounds. While Aldo’s leg kicks can be a problem for Edgar is he lands enough of them, I think Edgar will be able to stick and move with enough agility to neutralize Aldo’s greatest weapon. Tom’s River’s greatest son becomes two division champion and Sal looks to buy more walkout t-shirts. Edgar by decision.

Picking Aldo: Kid P, Doc Law, DJ Marc

Picking Edgar: Gooms

It's MMAzing Consensus Rankings for January 2013

**Note: For an explanation of how we came to these rankings, please listen to Episode 34 of It's MMAzing Radio  **

courtesy of  www.cameldog.net

Heavyweight


1. Cain Velasquez
2. Junior Dos Santos
3. Alistair Overeem
4. Daniel Cormier
5. Fabricio Werdum
6. Frank Mir
7. Roy Nelson
8. Josh Barnett
9. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
10. Antonio Silva

Light Heavyweight

courtesy of askmrtalbot.blogspot.com

1. Jon Jones
2. Dan Henderson
3. Rashad Evans
4. Lyoto Machida
5. Alexander Gustafsson
6. Mauricio Rua
7. Ryan Bader
8. Glover Teixeira
9. Phil Davis
10.Gegard Mousasi

It's MMAzing Radio - Episode 34

The gang starts off this super-sized episode with recaps of UFC on FOX: Johnson v. Dodson and last week's episodes of Bellator and TUF. They then have a spirited debate over their top 10 rankings. Finally, the gang breaks down the ridiculous UFC 156 main card and not so great UFC 156 preliminary card.


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UFC on FOX 6 Predictions

Undisputed UFC Flyweight Championship

Demetrious Johnson (c) v. John Dodson

Doctor Law: It’s pretty clear these guys fight at a lower weight class because there is no way a heavyweight or light heavyweight could get away with either of those nicknames (Demetrious Johnson = Mighty Mouse, John Dodson = The Magician). This fight can be summed up pretty simply for me: Can Dodson do what Benavidez couldn't and get a hold of Mighty Mouse long enough to actually do some damage? Dodson is very explosive and has shown good power. He even knocked out TJ Dillashaw to win TUF 16 at bantamweight. I’m not a big fan of how Mighty Mouse fights, but it’s awfully effective. He sticks and moves to victories in the same vain as Dominick Cruz and Frankie Edgar. I’m going to answer “no” that question above and say that Mighty Mouse pulls off the victory. Then again, what kind of nutty strategy has Greg Jackson come up with for this title fight? Mighty Mouse by clear decision.

DJ Mark with a "K": On paper I can see this fight being very tactical and thus maybe a little on the boring side. Johnson has been a decision machine and while his style of fighting has been very successful (dude’s champ after all) he hasn't really made a fan out of me yet. On the other hand Dodson has some pretty heavy hands and has been able to get some KOs/TKOs. I know it’s a super long shot but for some really strange reason I have a feeling this is going to be a fun match up and Dodson will catch Johnson late in the fight. This prediction defies logic so I’m fully prepared to be 100% wrong here. Dodson by TKO 1:24 into 4^th round.

Kid Presentable: Mighty Mouse is fast.  The Magician is fast.  Dodson oddly has KO power in such a diminutive weight class, but Mighty Mouse has only gone to decisions for the last two years.  Scrambles, clinches, chasing around the cage oh my! I don't have high expectations for this fight, but I also have a solid history of making a lot of incorrect calls in MMA.  I have been a heavy Mighty Mouse lean since this fight was announced, but after realizing what Dodson's nickname was, I decided to say bollocks to it and be bold.  Brutalitops, The MAGICIAN, by decision.

Lavender Gooms: This fight could go one of two ways.  It will either be an exciting fast paced fight between two elf-sized martial artists or it will be a boring fight where two small dudes just dance around each other and cause no damage.  That’s normally one of the problems with 125ers but I don’t think that will be the case here.  Dodson has some pop in those gloves, having two KO’s in his three UFC bouts and Mighty Mouse seems incapable of giving me a fight I’m bored with.  Both fighters have adequate to good ground games and stand up.  The tipping point in this fight will be the experience which Johnson has against top flight talent.  That will be the difference. Mighty Mouse by unanimous decision.

Picking Johnson- Gooms, Dr. Law
Picking Dodson- Kid P, DJ Mark

Hail to the Chief....And to the King

On this day that we swear in President Barack Obama for the second time we also celebrate the life of Martin Luther King Jr, a man who if not for his hard work and sacrifice, we very likely would be swearing in a different (and most  probably 100% white) guy.  While as a society we are not yet where we should be when it comes to racial relations and equality, ask any old black dude that lived in the 50s and 60s and they'll tell you we're much better off now than we were 50 years ago. But we still have much further to go.

So on this day we give thanks to Martin Luther King and so many others during the civil rights movement who sacrificed so much so that future generations could have a better chance for the American dream. Thanks to the King. And if you want to watch a funny Martin Luther King special today, watch the Boondocks MLK episode "Return of the King" on YouTube.  You won't be disappointed.

"I want young mean and young women who are not alive today to know and see that these new privileges and opportunities did not come without somebody suffering and sacrificing for them." Martin Luther King Jr.

It's MMAzing Radio - Episode 33

The gang breaks down UFC on FX: Bisping v. Belfort and try to figure out who deserves the next crack at the GOAT: Anderson Silva. They also take a look at Bellator's first foray on Spike TV and wonder if Ben Askren is going to ruin it all this week. Also...echo-free podcasting!

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It's MMAzing Radio - Episode 32

The gang talks about the results from the final Strikeforce card, including where the card's winners and losers go from here. Also, they share their favorite Strikeforce memories and preview Bellator's premiere on Spike TV and Saturday's Bisping v. Belfort card.


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Bold Predictions for 2013

Invicta FC notwithstanding, the first major card of year is the final Strikeforce card this weekend.  With that in mind, the year is still in it’s young phase and no major fights haven taken place; this is a great time to make some well thought out (and absolutely absurd) predictions for the next 12 months.

It's MMAzing Radio - Episode 31

The gang goes over UFC 155 and talks about the future matchups between JDS and Cain. Next, they review Dream 18, Glory 4 and and Invicta FC 4. Finally, the gang goes into a long discussion about the final Strikeforce event and reminisce about their favorite memories from the Bay Area-based promotion.

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It's MMAzing's Favorite Memories of 2012

Happy New Year from the It's MMAzing crew

The sun has set on yet another year and as the old is put to rest, a new year with new beginnings, new opportunities is upon us.  Although when you woke up on January 1, 2013 nothing really changed from December 31, 2012 (considering the fiscal cliff was avoided, whew!), a new year is a symbolic time to reflect on the last 12 months. To think about where you were a year ago, the happy moments along with the hardships that we all encounter at some point in our lives. But here's the thing, although you may encounter some cuts, scrapes and generally get your ass kicked in the game of life sometimes, there's always something you should remember.  Chicks dig scars and they serve as a great teacher for the future. But that's enough of Philosopher Gooms

Now that I've gotten that out of the way, we now look at back the how great a year this was in the world of MMA by giving you each ItsMMAzing staff member's top two MMA (and one non-MMA) moments of the year. Just like last year we took a look at moments we enjoyed personally from the year of events. Hope you enjoy them.