FallenFlyer

Is there a reason why the UFC are loading this card so heavily (assuming the rumours are true)?

I think part of the issue is that it is (possibly to) easy to ask for a lump sum early but there are limited opportunities to work your way up from that point. What happens is people either become an org owner or become dependant on one. There needs to be a way to create other streams of income that merits originality or skill. Admittedly, how that is should be implemented is beyond my expertise.

The second chapter of the United States Fighting Championship’s double header comes to you from The Underground in glorious New York City. Once again, a passionate crowd will fill the arena with a cacophony of noise and, most probably, dry wit. Possibly the youngest fighter to ever grace the USFC’s hallowed cage opens the card. Rafinha Silva (0-0-0) is just 16 years old and needed special compensation to fight under the jurisdiction of New York City Athletic Commission. The journeyman Der “Tapang” Debil (5-9-0) will be youngsters first opponent. The Philippine fighter will hope that the combination of Silva’s nerves and his far greater experience will give him the edge. Frankly, this fight is all about the kid. After a five fight win streak, Nick Noisy (5-4-0) was one of the hottest free agents around. Unfortunately for the home grown fighter, he has now gone on a contra-streak of losing three fights including his debut in the USFC. He’ll want to start his next positive spell against Dalton Pease (2-1-0), who had his own unbeaten record ripped away in his debut with the organisation. It’s rather difficult to see how Pease will deal with the powerful wrestling of Noisy and that makes the New Yorker the favourite. The unique clinching style of Achmed “The Dead” Terrorist (3-1-0) was the talk of the USFC’s welterweight division. The Afghan’s unusual high double underhook technique allows him to use knees from weird positions that often dictates a seemingly magical transition into the a fight-ending Thai clinch. Yet the world saw the undoing of the Terrorist when he was easily taken down from his favoured position and then quickly submitted. There can be little doubt that Emery Devlin (2-1-0) will look to do copy this blueprint exactly, as the burden will be on “The Dead” one to prove he is capable of coping with such an attack. Nerves can be a combatants worst enemy. Especially when they appear from nowhere. This is what happened to Bo Sherk (4-1-0) when he entered the USFC arena for the first time. Now more settled, the Maine native will be looking to get back to winning ways against the debuting Zack “Attack” Mooneyham (2-2-0). The newcomer offers an interesting challenge to wrestler Sherk. Zack “Attack” is both an able kick boxer and can be sneakily proficient of his back. Sherk will have to be canny in his control before he can commit to opening up his offence. Over-commitment to a game plan often undoes a young fighter. Both Paddy “Pride Of Dublin” McIrish (2-3-0) and Chiun Remo (3-5-0) have been guilty of this trait in the past. They both get the chance to start again as they begin this new chapter of their fighting careers. For those who are unaware of what these two bring to the cage, McIrish is a stand up fighter whose devil-may-care attitude makes him vulnerable to the counter. While Remo is a ground fighter who has a unfortunate habit of losing concentration at key moments. This past can be all-but-forgotten with a good performance. The onus will be on both men to win in combination with a competent, developed performance. Achieve this goal successfully and their new and improved reputation will begin to form before their very eyes. Few fighters have the will to carry on after a six fight losing streak. Fewer still do so when those fights are the first battles in their career. Yet Stevie McGordon (2-6-0) has not only suffered that ignominy but fought back to ride his own winning streak. What McGordon will discover is that life gets much harder when your a success. He faces the returning Jason “The Crystal Lake Killer” Voorheez (10-4-0) that emphasises this point. The former title challenger returns from a self-imposed stint away and looks to be a more refined striker. It will be his hope that this enhances the dangerous clinic game that he is so well known for. Some have suggested this is a bye to help Voorheez shake off any ring rust before he takes on bigger challenges. No doubt McGordon will have something to say about that! One of the youngest black belts around, Gerard De Villefort (1-2-0) has found the transition into mixed martial arts a challenge. His biggest issue appears to be his inability to find a stable camp which will help him learn how to turn his remarkable grappling nous into an efficient weapon. His fight against “Terrible” Travis Overeem (3-2-0) offers the perfect risk/reward opportunity for De Villefort. Yes, Overeem will overpower the Frenchman and probably force the clinch. However that presents the perfect occasion to pull guard and show the USFC faithful why they should be excited by his arrival. It’s rather worth pointing out that Overeem can cause horrific damage, in a surprisingly timely manner, when he has hold of an opponent. So De Villefort better enact his plan fast or face another disappointing false start to his career. Neither Maxim “General Winter” Taisumov (4-4-0) nor Dustin “Destiny” Wagner (5-5-0) like their fights to get out of the first round. Between them only 4 of their combined 18 total fights have even heard the ten second warning clapper so this one promises to be an explosive encounter. “General Winter” is, at least on paper, the greater striker. He throws big haymakers that can cave in a cheek bone or snap a nose with ease. His problem occurs when someone times one of those big shots and drags the fight to the floor. Then the big Russian is a fish out of water, who often gives up before his opponent very eye’s. This is exactly what Wagner will plan to do as the Catch-As-Catch-Can wrestler will surely hold a sizeable advantage on the floor. Perhaps the biggest question will be how much of “Destiny’s” heart will be in the fight. Recently, he has spoken openly about injuries possibly curtailing his career. With that sort of mindset, nobody can honestly call Wagner the favourite, can they? Expect the knowledgable New York crowd to be more excited about the co-main event between Edu “El Tigre” Alvarez (4-1-0) and Bryan Mills (6-1-0) than they are about the headline act. If this fight spend more than a minute total on the feet, it will be a surprise. These are two wonderful young grapplers who will be vying for the crown as top teenage submission artist as much as the win that will take them very close to a shot at the USFC’s lightweight title. Representing their teachers will also weigh heavily on their minds as they will be showcasing the very best of both camps. Picking between them in a minefield of contradictions. Mills is the only one to lose by submission but that was a fellow brown belt. While Alvarez’s notable loss was by decision to a lesser purple belt. They also both hold victories over fellow brown belts, but they came in both fighter’s inaugural battle. These men have improved in leaps and bounds since those days. It would be foolish to garner any information from such archaic sources. Ultimately, the best thing to do is sit back and enjoy the technical brilliance ton show. It will be a joy for however long it lasts. Carnal power defines many a great MMA fighter. The ability to put another man to sleep with the minimal of personal suffering is a reality many an aspiring contender dreams off. This is something that Mika Karalahti (5-1-0) and Matti “Animal” Lausanne (4-0-0) live everyday. With this knowledge established, what will we discover about these fighters? The answer: How good their chins are. This makes USFC 18’s main event a career definer for both. The one who stands up to the others might and emerges the winner will automatically become everyone’s new favourite to be the next light heavyweight champion. The loser is suddenly burdened with the mantel of whether they possess a questionable chin. The only way both come out with their reputation’s left intact is if it goes to decision or they blast away at each other into the closing minutes. The chances of the former occurring is somewhat higher then the latter as both may become overly cautious, with the weight of the moment resting on their minds. Instead, Llet’s hope these two go out with terrible intentions in their hearts and we find out who is the better man.

Currently each fighter (assuming they are always using supps and don't bother to deselect on Sunday) are using 26 units of each product a year. If the unit longevity was cut from 14 days to 5, each fighter would use 73 units a year. That is a stimulus package of 280% (or thereabouts).

Synchronicity presents another stella card from one of the biggest stadium in the world. Main Event Middleweight Championship “Jungle Boy” Pablo Escobar (20-7-0) © vs. Danny Brown (27-15-0) “Jungle Boy” Pablo Escobar has lit-up Syn’s middleweight division. His electrifying striking has seen him go toe-to-toe with some of the biggest names in the world and come out the victor. This culminated in the Columbian capturing the vaunted 185 pound title in just his second fight with the organisation. So it is rather strange that the “Jungle Boy’s” first challenger is not a new foe but his greatest rival. Danny Brown made an identical pilgrimage from New Generation Fighters and has equalled the champion’s two in two record with his new company. Stylistically, he is also a mirror image of the champion with high volume strikes and a focus on leg kicks. In fact, it would not be unfair to say that each man has been nurtured by the others successes. They have been left with no choice but to develop in order to counteract the other’s strengths. Without one another, these two great fighters may have never become the superstars they are today. Their storied rivalry began at NGF 131 when Brown took the first fight by the tightest of split decisions. Even back then their similarities were remarked upon but no one could have guessed the journey they might travel. Both men would go on to be famously frustrated by incumbent champion Tyler Richards. The power shifted between Escobar and Brown on their second meeting. Brown had just come off a second failed title attempt and many people believed that Brown was not in the right place for that fight. “Jungle Boy” exploited that opportunity with vindictive pleasure as he scored a second round TKO. With both warriors owning a win, the tie-breaker came in with the gold on the line. The aforementioned Tyler Richards having vacated the title for pastures new. No one was confident in predicting who would be the winner despite the last contest’s conclusive finish. So it was a massive shock when, out of nowhere, Escobar landed a picture-perfect combination that floored Brown in the first round. Such was the will of the fates, that huge win was the springboard for Escobar’s run to the top of the Mixed Martial Arts pyramid. It must have caused tonight’s English challenger great pain to see his fiercest rival career trajectory skyrocketing. Especially as he must know that it really could have been him on that path. Undoubtedly, all that pent-up frustration will go into Brown’s performance, but Escobar will have the self-assured confidence that comes from two consecutive victories. This history will make “Jungle Boy” the clear favourite to defend his crown but the chance to equal the stakes could well drive Brown to new levels of greatness. Only tuning into the pay-per-view will answer this mystery. Prediction: Escobar - 4th round stoppage Co-Main Event Cooper “KO FedEx” Abreu (24-6-0) vs. “Deus de Guerra” Pluto Palhares (43-10-0) In becoming one of the few men to have ever defeated pound-for-pound great Bowser Stromcrow, “Deus de Guerra” Pluto Palhares proved that there was still ample fight left in this legendary welterweight. Admittedly, the Brazilian native did go on to lose the rematch and then his Syn debut to suffer back to back defeats for only the second time in his career. However the absolute certainty that “Deus de Guerra” has about his future prospects makes even the most jaded fan believe. Opposing Palhares is another fighter who, rather oddly, is also on a career equalling bad run. Cooper “KO FedEx” Abreu has split his last four fights, all for Ascension’s welterweight title. Before that the Los Angeles native had dominated the competition around him, which mimicked everywhere he had fought before. With the opportunity to start over in new surroundings, it was not unsurprising that he too is talking about making another deep run for a title. The unfortunate truth is that these are two ageing fighters who’s best days might be behind them. Both need this win to demonstrate that they are still relevant at the highest level of competition. Expect this one to be a tight affair with nerves being a surprisingly big factor due to the conclusiveness that will be placed on the loser. Prediction: Palhares - Unanimous Decision Main Card Heavyweight Division Dmitry “Edge” Borschev (23-9-0) vs. Jeffry McWild (19-4-0) Aussie Jeffry McWild has made sweeping changes to his career since he was last active. Not only is this his first appearance in Syn but he is also fighting out of a new camp and has an improved svelte physique. Clearly McWild has a desire to test his new found abilities as he collides with the steamrolling momentum of Dmitry “Edge” Borschev (23-9-0). The Russian has won his last three, all within the allotted time, and possesses a level of self-assurance that we have never seen before. Frankly, Borschev is going to be an incredibly difficult man to stop in this form and that is only going to be extenuated by McWild’s ring rustiness. Prediction: Borschev - 2nd round stoppage Middleweight Division Hal Jordan (38-14-0) vs. Dragon Slayer (27-10-1) Before Syn 337, Hal Jordan would have been delighted with the prospect of facing Dragon Slayer. Now the longtime Evo competitor finds himself dragged into a contest with an angry and disrobed former champion, who’s mood is worsened by the press’s constant reminder that the championship loss was also the first time he has lost back to back fights. It was a wonder that anyone was willing to suffer this backlash. However there is some method in Jordan’s madness. A win surely catapults him into contention for the Syn crown and another route to that gold is far from guaranteed considering his advancing years. This won’t take away from most analysts expectations that the fight will be over in Slayer’s favour quickly, but stranger things than a Jordan win have happened. Prediction: Slayer - 1st round stoppage Featherweight Division Nate “The Hybrid” Kyzer (34-6-1) vs. Chibi “The Tsunami” Tsushima (25-15-0) A fight for the hardcore fan here as Nate “The Hybrid” Kyzer and Chibi “The Tsunami” Tsushima meet in a clash of great second tier heroes. This should not be seen as a slight towards either man. They have both carved out notorious careers despite never having the limelight shone on them. Admittedly, Tsushima did have a run in TTFC where he was surprisingly unsuccessful but this has not deterred arguments about his potential greatness in the right situation. Both men are now in a prime position to repay their believers with a run in the world’s biggest organisation. The key to this fight is whether “The Tsunami” can get to the fight to the ground. He is a great submission artist that is well beyond anything Kyzer has faced before. However, the tides are turned if Kyzer can control where the fight plays out and it will be the Canadian who becomes favourite to walk away the winner. Prediction: Tsushima - 3rd round stoppage Undercard Light Heavyweight Division “Heartless” Patrick McWhiskey (33-13-0) vs. Christer Pettersson (25-15-0) For a fighter to have faced multiple top 100 opponents but never be gifted a title shot is unlucky. This is exactly the story of Christer Pettersson’s career. His challenge get no easier here, with a tough debut against former Evo champion Patrick McWhiskey. It’s unlikely the start of Pettersson's Syn career will be any luckier. Prediction: McWhiskey - 2nd round stoppage Light Heavyweight Division “Dr. Akula” Alucard Darkim (25-14-0) vs. “Bastard” Torrelio Sacana (25-9-0) Submission demons clash at 205. If colour was the defining factor then this would be Sacana’s fight. However more than one observer has suggested that Darkim may be the smarter fighter so he could be able to compensate. Let’s just hope these two really challenge each other rather than go ultra conservative. Prediction: Darkim - Unanimous Decision Middleweight Division Lee Trevino (15-3-2) vs. Osin “The Deer” O’Conghalie (27-17-0) Lee Tervino’s momentum was curbed after only picking up a draw in his last fight. He will look upon the sliding Osin O’Conghalie as a great opportunity to get back on the road to a title shot. “The Deer” is no pushover though, and Trevino could become completely waylaid if he doesn’t concentrate fully on his opponent. Prediction: Trevino - Unanimous Decision Heavyweight Division Damian Sepultra (15-6-0) vs. “The Dominator” Trent Pope (42-21-0) The unbelievable potential of Damian Sepultra is not in doubt. What is in question is his desire to be in the fight game at all. He takes on one of the great survivors of the heavyweight division in Trent Pope. Whatever happens, someone is snapping a nasty losing streak. Prediction: Sepultra - 1st round stoppage Heavyweight Division Mark Sutter (23-20-0) vs. “The Kid” Deidara Zetsu (23-15-0) Abundant joy was seen at Syn 331 when Mark Sutter finally broke his losing streak. Now he looks to make that a winning streak against Deidara Zetsu. Both these fighters are susceptible to the knockout so this is unlikely to leave the first round. Prediction: Zetsu - 1st round stoppage

I think you would need to be a little careful with the 14 times increase to the market as I don't see enough active players to compensate. That would mean even a basic VIP manager without an Island fighter would go through 280 to 310 units per month. Currently it's 20. Without doing research it is difficult to guess an ideal number but I would guess it would be somewhere in the region of 80.

It might be a good idea to start with less drastic cuts, say reduce contents from 14 to 7 days and then if need be to 3. However the core idea looks really solid to me.

As a new player, I really like the idea of this. It would be lovely to throw guys in and see if they are any good before committing considerable time into building them into worthwhile fighters. However it's not really within the spirit of the game. Right now there is a distinct choice to be made between throwing fighters into the deep end and taking the potential loss or training a fighter and using blind hope. Those who take the losses and cut until a suitable fighter takes on one sort of pain (namely, the loss of status from losing) while the other group takes on a completely different sort of pain (specifically, the knowledge that X many months has gone into a build and they are never going to be a top fighter because of X problem). With free fights, there would be no penalty for shifting through fighters and that mean even more monotony at the top levels. This is counter-productive in the long term.

No, there is a word count on my vocabulary.

Another brilliant crowd poured into Hard Knocks - Tokyo to see UNFC 42: Paskalev vs. Vos. The night will be best remembered for the title change that capped off the evening’s entertainment but the whole card was full of intrigue. A booming knee from the clinch gave Tyron “I Am” The Tryant (1-0-0) a win in his first fight as a professional. He knocked down opponent Frank “Iron Fist” White (9-8-0) on four separate occasions before finally putting his rival away. Then Jason “The Beginning” Pops (4-3-1) was ripped to shreds by the punches of Hulk Bashman (4-2-1). The doctor has no choice in waving the fight off, as Pops had a torrent of blood cascading down his forehead. The expected war between the two unbeaten youngsters failed to materialise. Dante Cross Furia (3-0-0) was too accurate and powerful for “The Ruler Of The Sky” Jyrki Kasvi (3-1-0), who was overwhelmed in a little more than two minutes. Greater work rate was the main difference between Boyd McGuire (5-2-2) and Short “Shorty” Low (10-5-1). The newcomer Low was completely unable to cope with McGuire’s frenetic style and faded badly to give up the decision loss. Raise Hell (7-2-0) illuminated his improvements after some time away from the UNFC in a one-sided victory over “Happy Face” Big J Smiles (5-6-0). The Michigan native was able to physically dominate the fight which forced Smiles to grope for the clinch. This turned out to be a poor decision from “Happy Face”. His actions pinned himself against the fence, which allowed Hell to uncork a great combo that stopped the contest. A landmark victory for Hell as this gave him his first knockout victory of his career. An insufferable air of smugness arose from the internet when Carrera “Assassin” Villamora (8-5-0) knocked out esteemed grappler Thiago “Bone Breaker” Media (3-2-0). It was rather sad to see the rejoicement from some sectors who instantly championed this loss as proof that grappling can no longer win at a high level of MMA. Instead the headlines should have focused on the disciplined display by Villamora. “Assassin” was able to dictate every engagement which frustrated his opponent to no end. Furthermore, the Portuguese fighters concentration on the body took away the easy level change which completely undermined Media’s game plan. Only once did the fight nearly get away from Villamora. He went all in after a knock down but “Bone Breaker” was able to ensnare him into his guard. Immediately Meida’s quality on the ground was on show but good defensive work by Villamora meant that nothing definitive was achieved. “Assassin” obviously wasn’t in the mood to give second chances as he finished Meida within the first minute of the second. The striker, having learnt what was successful, punished the body early before moving upstairs to land a one-two to the head. The Brazilian fighter didn’t see the shots coming and slumped to the ground. His night ending with a trip to the hospital. No doubt Villamora’s evening was far more pleasurable. Billy “Backwater” Bulge (8-2-0) took a rather uninspiring decision victory over Jorge Domingo (15-6-0). There was great effort displayed by both parties but neither fighter seemed to find a handle on the others approach. This lead to a bitty affair with long periods of inaction. The defining moments of the fight came in rounds one and two were Bulge was able to score a decisive takedown that tipped the judge’s scorecard in his favour. Even the announcement of the winner felt strangely flat. Perhaps it was the acknowledgement that no one has really done anything to advance their status. Nor, if truth is told, had anyone suffered a knock back either as they were so closely matched. Hopefully both men will kick on from here but there will be a lot of doubters until that happens. Another decision followed between Alex “George” Alvarez (7-3-0) and Alex The Lion (14-8-0). However this battle was a far more enthralling contest. Going into the fight, everyone knew that The Lion was at a major disadvantage if the fight hit the floor. His ability or, as it turned out, his inability to keep the fight from falling to the matt was going to be the fight’s defining feature. Not that anyone would have guessed the importance of such preconceived knowledge in the first round. Both men fought diligently in the clinch as the two combatants went toe to toe as they challenged the other for a dominant position. Only a late takedown by Alvarez defined the round winner. From round two onwards, “George” took it upon himself to impose his will. The Mexican ramped up the pressure on The Lion and cornered him whenever possible. It was only a matter of time before The Lion became unbalanced in an exchange and Alvarez was able to dump his helpless opponent onto the matt repeatedly. What commenced was a fascinating incite into what heart truly is. Alvarez was clearly the better fighter and seemed in total control for large periods. Only for The Lion to escape just as a submission looked a certainty. Time after time over the proceeding two rounds, Alvarez was frustrated by a combination of sound defence and pure grit. By the end of the third, Alvarez was fully committing to anything that seemed remotely available as he knew he would recover the position and yet he still could not get the remarkable Madagascan to relent. It was only ever going to be Alvarez’s fight on the scorecard but it still enhanced The Lion’s popularity with fans and critics alike. “George” will hope to find someone a little less head strong next time as he continues to look for the defining win that announces him as a truly elite fighter. Former Hostility champion Julio Cesar Chavez (8-0-0) made a startling debut in the UNFC. He demolished former title contender Meguru Takayanagi (7-6-0) with a barrage of body shots that had the Japanese fighter wheezing from the opening moments. Commentators and fans alike thought Takayanagi may have broken some ribs due to the severity of his struggles, but later examination proved that it was only bad bruising. Brave Takayanagi surprised many by meeting the bell for the second round as some audience members’ calling for the towel. Unfortunately for the local lad, the onslaught continued unabated,. This was until a faked mid-kick went high and sent Takayanagi spiralling to the floor. The kick was not the best ever thrown by Chavez but it was completely undefended due to Takayanagi’s need to defend his mid-drift. A few follow up and punches and the night was over. Surely Chavez’s next fight will be against two weight champion Hector Camacho. That one should be an epic. Once again the featherweight championship is around a different fighter’s waist as Arnost “Honey Badger” Paskalev (14-4-0) was unable to defend either his neck or belt from new 145 pound kingpin Jake Vos (10-1-0). Funnily enough, the end result is a misleading representation of the contest. Vos never attempted a takedown over the whole fight and looked determined to keep the fight on the feet. It was Paskalev who aggressively sought the takedown which, to his credit, he achieved in each round. Once on the floor, Vos kept busy from his back but this seemed more of a distraction technique that prevented Paskalev working rather than a legitimate threat. It certainly limited the Bulgarian’s ability to pass as every move ended in a mini-scramble. Going into the third, there can be no denying that Paskalev was very much in control of the contest. This was further reinforced by achieving yet another takedown almost as the bell rang. Everything was looking really rose for Paskalev and then Vos suddenly found a back door and was on the Bulgarian’s back. Whether it was shock or confusion, Paskalev went into complete disarray and gave his neck up easily. Vos took the chance with aplomb and sank down into the hold until the tap became an inevitability. Distraught, Paskalev didn’t move for some time. Vos, a blur of movement, jumped into his entourage. Happiness and sadness all within a couple of yards of one another. Now the onus is on the new champion to prove his legitimacy by defending the belt at least once while Paskalev rejoins the chase knowing he is still very much in with a shot. Perhaps this is not the last time we have seen these two go toe-to-toe in an Unleash cage.

You would prefer a preconceived notion to impart on my decision making? If that were accurate then anyone who made the top X would be automatically respected. I have seen enough on the forum to suggest that there is a discord between someone's numerical rank and how much respect that they garner. This is epitomised by the term 'can crusher' which is clearly something that brings distaste from many players.

In truth, I have not thought that deeply about it. I do, on the other hand, know that I don't know enough to attribute an accurate summation when connected to the game.

That very much depends on historical bias and peer acceptance.

Respect is earned not given. Not that I have much in that department as of yet.

Those who can fight and win do, those who can't talk bull on the forum....

42nd street is all of a buzz as people scramble to get their tickets for the USFC’s big double header weekend. The two nights, sponsored by the good people at Four Aces Nutrition, will not feature a single title bout. Yet there is still an absurd premium on the open market as anyone-who-is-anyone is desperate to attend the most avant-garde show in the whole of New York City. The first night, officially designated USFC 17, takes place at Wild Bob’s Bar and will feature a lot of fighters who are looking for redemption. Perhaps this will be the night where a legend is born. Opening the festivities will be two fighters who possess great records but their lack of activity has seen them fade from the public consciousness. Nick “NickZai” Zai (7-2-0) had a successful return to action at USFC 13, where he once again showcased his innate power. He’ll have to be at his most effective if he is to dislodge “President” Jax Teller’s (5-0-0) unbeaten record. It’s amazing to think Teller is still a teenager. The young American rose to fame as the shock winner of a four day knock out tournament. Yet the public are fickle and he will need a big win here to remind people why they should be so excited about the “President”. Despite what the press might say, Phillip “The Fallen Angel” Farmery (1-0-0) would be very unwise to look past his next opponent Great Bloodsport (1-3-0). This isn’t a smear on Farmery’s potential as a contender. What little we have seen is very impressive. It is more an indictment of those who overlook Bloodsport due to this record. This young fighter has losses to the current heavyweight champion and another top 5 heavyweight. He still has time to learn and develop into a top fighter himself so “The Fallen Angel” must treat Bloodsport with the respect he is due. Stylistically very similar, Cornelius Carr (0-3-0) and Vince Andrews (2-2-0) will both be looking to lay the other out in the hope of reinvigorating their stalling careers. The good news for Andrews is that he has demonstrated that he can finish when the opportunity presents itself. Something his rival can never claim to have done. Unfortunately for Andrews, he has also proven that he can be overwhelmed while Carr has stood up to some absolute beatings. Many have a sneaking suspicion that this may be the fight that Carr breaks his duck. After being on the wrong end of one of the more memorable come from behind victory’s in USFC history, Grant “The Sensational” Knight (1-1-0) had to do some real soul searching before reentering the cage. Now he has returned, “The Sensational” one will be desperate to put that experience behind him and take his frustration out on Alberto Contador (4-1-0). This lust for redemption could also be “The Sensational’s” biggest weakness as Contador has shown, more than once, that he is capable of flattening an incautious opponent. Not that the Spaniard considers himself an underdog that will be forced to react to an advancing foe. This is an unusual case of both camps believing that they are the rightful favourites coming into the contest. The long awaited return of Bible Basher (2-1-0) will have even the most lackadaisical fan in their seats for this final undercard match up. He welcomes former Eastern Canada champion Christopher “The Rosicrucian” Longstreet (4-2-0) to the USFC. This is a very difficult introduction for “The Rosicrucian”. He is fearsome boxer with explosive power when he lands. However he does tend to be a little inaccurate due to the way he loads up. This becomes especially counterproductive when facing such a well-rounded fighter like Basher. The former USFC championship contender may choose to keep the fight at range with kicks or take the fight to the ground where he completely eliminates Longstreet’s greatest asset. Perhaps the Canadian surprises us all with a measured approach which maximises his skills but even this may not be enough. Manchester born Nick “Thick” Hailey (3-0-0) is another new entrant to the organisation. Eloquent in the language of submission wrestling, the Brit is still a developing mixed martial artist. He has even admitted that he has little chance if the fight remains on the feet for any length of time. This issue is intensified due to the ferocious nature of his opponent Tim “Tornado” Hawk (3-1-0). Of course, everyone will remember Hawk is coming off the highly public loss to Charles Bolton. Those two shared an embittered build up that lead to “Tornado’s” unbeaten streak being ripped from his grasp. The commotion around this fight has been far more low key but, in many ways, this is a more important match for Hawk. He needs to prove his critics wrong and bounce back stronger after tasting defeat. These notions may become mute if the fight hits the floor though. All the mental strength in the world can’t help a fighter if no oxygen is going to their brain. Fighters with distinct specialisms fight next at heavyweight. The Chimaera (3-0-1) may be the greatest kicker in the whole of the USFC. He has displayed an unerring ability to land them at will and as he chooses.This has lead to bruises that have seriously limited the training time of opponents going forward. Observers have pointed out that this has affected their careers far worse than the concussive blow that usually ends the bout. Similar hyperbole can be bestowed on L Manning Vines (3-1-0) who's submission game has been the bewilderment of many a heavyweight. However he fell short in his last fight against champion Corey Parker where his shortcomings on the feet were laid out for all to see. Presumably, Chimaera has studied that fight closely and will mirror the champs tactics. Whether Vines can adapt will be the difference between him winning and losing. Possibly the most outspoken fighter who has yet to prove anything in the USFC is Diamond Dollar (3-1-0). The heavyweight, who first started to make a name for himself in London, has been jawing with a number of the top fighters since signing. Now that everyone is watching his debut closely, Dollar must put up or shut up against another newcomer, Gregory “Fists Of Thunder” Campion (3-1-0). Who wins the fight will be determined by whoever is the better wrestler. “Fists Of Thunder” is a rather appropriate nickname for Campion as everything he lands echoes around the room. Even the trash talking Dollar must know privately that he is outmatched in that area. However there are still considerable questions over whether Campion is more than a one dimensional brawler and Dollar is definitively more than that. The man born in sight of Capital Hill has shown he is ready to exploit whatever crack is open and takes great joy in forcing the submission. The one great unknown is whether Dollar will thrive or falter under the pressure he has piled on himself. Whatever that reaction is could well determine the outcome of this fight. Kunie Jones (4-2-0) co-main evented the very first USFC card and returns to that slot in a clash with Marius “The Terminator” Budawalski (3-0-0), who is another athlete commencing his program with the organisation Polish fighter Budawalski epitomises the stereotype of European fighters. He has decent hands and solid ground technique, but lacks the wrestling which would allow him to dictate where the fight happens. Not that this has been a hinderance so far in his career. “The Terminator” has ploughed through his early opponents wherever they may have chosen to test him. Taking on a true American wrestler like Jones will test that approach to its possible destruction though. He, Jones, will have more control than anyone “The Terminator” has suffered before and that is before the American rains ground and pound on him. The danger for Jones is that he gets too comfortable as Budawalski is capable of striking without warning. Rarely does a fight have the potential to be so one-sided without anyone having a clue who will be the dominant party. The evening’s main event sees two fighters who both looked like they were heading for greatness until reality slammed in their faces. They now turn to each other in the hope of reigniting the momentum that was once theirs. Alex “Bean Burrito” Trujillo (4-1-0) was cruising up the light heavyweight ladder until he ran into Jarmo Keskitalo. The Fin handed “Bean Buritto” his first loss in less than two minutes. This turned out to be a title elimination fight that has left Trujillo cursing his luck for missing out. Similarly, Shane “BFG” Vaughn (4-1-0) was on course for the Future Fighting title when he was also beaten in less than a round. Again, this was a semi final contest where his tormentor went on the capture gold which only reinforced how close “BFG” had been to the title. Vaughn was so distraught from the loss that he changed camps. This seemed to revive his fortunes a little as he won a relatively easy local fight before signing with the USFC. This may also be the Englishman’s greatest advantage as he has returned, even if it was on a more parochial level, successfully to competition since he lost. Trujillo has yet to go through that gruelling process so no one can be sure how he may react. Considering the vast similarities Trujillo and Vaughn hold in their professional lives, it is remarkable how different they are as fighters. The USFC veteran is a great wrestler who is always looking for the sub while the newcomer is all about striking. This sets the scene for a classic striker vs. grappling match that adds yet another level of intrigue onto proceedings. What needs to be remembered is that the winner is still in a great position to strike out towards a title shot. These are two fighters who have a strong following and an impressive record despite their high profile losses. Victory over the other will show many of the doubters that their black mark was just part of learning how to become a great fighter. The loser, on the other hand, drops back into the pack and will need to put a run together to get back into contendership. Winning here is everything

Could this be effected by people choosing to stick in the mount?

Is his hype over 75? If so, he cannot do a QFC.

Another thrilling instalment of non-stop MMA action is expected at UNFC 42: Paskalev vs. Vos. This event, sponsored by merchandise partner Big Bear Amsterdam 160Q, also welcomes a number of highly touted newcomers. All will be looking to emulate headliner Paskalev by making their own indelible mark on the first outing in Unleash. Opening proceedings is the mysterious Tyron “I Am” The Tyrant (0-0-0) of whom little is known. His first challenge will be the far more experienced Frank “Iron Fist” White (9-7-0) in a duel between expectation and experience. Much debate was had after the UNFC 36 clash between Jason “The Beginning” Pops (4-2-1) and Hulk Bashman (3-2-1) when the judges were unable to separate them on the scorecard. They get another crack at each other here. Then two unbeaten progenies Dante Cross Furia (2-0-0) and “The Ruler Of Our Sky” Jyrki Kasvi (3-0-0) face each other. Observers in the know suspect this may be the first skirmish in a potentially epic rivalry. After securing his first win in the UNFC, Boyd McGuire (4-2-2) seems to be finding his feet at this higher level of competition. This proposition will be tested when he takes on former WarZone fighter Short “Shorty” Low (10-4-1). Finally, the undercard sees two men who have had distinctly different levels of success in their last two contests. “Happy Face” Big J Smiles (5-5-0) has taken his last three in Unleash and is on the best run of his career. While Raise Hell (6-2-0) in on his first slide with two losses. Fans will be excited to see Hell back as he hasn’t performed since UNFC 34. Many expect him to railroad Smiles after spending so much time retuning his skills but “Happy Face’s” recent record suggests this could be anyone’s game. There has been a rumblings out of Brazil about a very young heavyweight who is wowing the grappling community there. Brief glimpses have been seen of him, most notably at the now defunct RioFC, but nothing that can confirm or deny his supposed brilliance. So the UNFC is very proud to say that Thiago “BoneBreaker” Meida (3-1-0) has decided to make his debut on the world stage here, in Japan’s top organisation. Standing across the cage on Tuesday night will be the always exciting power-puncher Carrera “Assassin” Villamora (7-5-0). This is a great test for “BoneBreaker” as a win proves he can stand up to proven power, and has the wrestling skills to bring the fight to his domain. No doubt, Villamora will be relishing the opportunity to steal all Meida’s hype for himself, but he must surely land something big before the fight even hints at being drawn to the ground. After coming in with such high hopes, Jorge Domingo (15-5-0) has commentators asking some serious questions over the steadiness of his chin. He has dominated the first round in both his UNFC contests, only to be hurt in the second and then put away in the third. His opponent Billy “Backwater” Bulge (7-2-0) has failed to settle in any organisation for long but his mercurial talent is too good a proposition to pass up. Interestingly for Domingo, the one black mark against Bulge’s career is the increasing concern over his lack of power. As unhappy as his camp are by this narrative, he has been the better fighter in many bouts but has failed to put rivals to the sword consistently. So this is a golden opportunity for both men to prove their perceived weakness is a fallacy and stride forward into the packed light heavyweight division. What the future holds for the man who doesn’t succeed has the potential to be a much darker issue. Another fighter who wins in a domineering fashion but struggles to put opponent away is Alex Alvarez (6-3-0). The Mexican native has all the skills to be a great fighter. He has cardio to burn, pretty striking and unerring control on the floor. Yet Alvarez has seen the judges scorecard in seven consecutive outings. If he wants to be next in line to take on the winner of tonight’s featherweight championship bout then he must score a decisive victory over fan-favourite Alex The Lion (14-7-0). Unfortunately for The Lion, being the stepping stone to a championship shot is becoming a regular occurrence. Tonight’s challenger Jake Vos took a rear naked choke victory away at UNFC 39 while his only other loss also resulted in that fighter getting a go at the gold. The Madagascan will be desperate to upset the heavily favoured Alvarez as it will prove that he is more than the gatekeeper. This is not a futile hope. The Lion has shown consistent power and an eye for a finish during his career. If he can find an opening then he is more than capable of shocking everyone. However any expectation should be dampened. Alvarez’s outstanding defence sees him avoid more than 60% of strikes thrown his way, so landing a killer blow is much easier said than done. Then there is the elephant in the room. The Lion has not covered himself in glory when the fight hits the floor and Alvarez, at least on paper, has more than enough ability to exploit that weakness. It would not be a surprise if the fights ends with The Lion tapping once again. It is always sad to see an organisation close its doors but the end of Hostility has released someone, who may be the greatest challenger to Hector Camacho’s lightweight title, to join the UNFC. This man is Julio Cesar Chavez (7-0-0). He will have former challenger Meguru Takayanagi (7-5-0) trying to put a pause on this expectation in tonight’s co-main event. For those who have missed Chavez in action, he is a highly accurate striker who wears opponents down before unleashing more exotic techniques to finish the fight. His patience is admirable having the unusual ability to get progressively stronger as the fight continues. This tallied with a capable defensive ground game makes Chavez a frightening proposition for anyone at 155. Not that Takayanagi is a slouch in the cage. Before his loss to Camacho, the home grown fighter was on a five-fight winning streak including a one-sided win over Orange Joe. Outside facing the champion himself, this is arguably the toughest possible challenge Chavez could have received. Whether that will be enough to stop the newcomer is going to be fascinating. Our main event sees newly crowned featherweight champion Arnost “Honey Badger” Paskalev (14-3-0) attempt to legitimise his title success by making his first defence against Jake Vos (9-1-0). Frankly, there is a proportion of the UNFC universe who are still astonished that Paskalev is the champion. Coming in from outside the company and getting the better of long-time stand out Ferdinand Cortes may go down as the most shocking moment in the organisations fabled history. Vos’s advancement up the featherweight pecking order has been far slower but no less impressive. His continued use of submissions against high calibre opponents has proven many a brash gambler wrong. Considering the ground is very much in Paskalev’s wheelhouse as well, we should be treated to a great display of submission fighting. Even suggesting which man might hold the advantage is a tricky affair. Vos has been the more successful recently but then he has not been fighting at the championship level that “Honey Badger” has. Historically, Paskalev may be seen as having the greater skills as he has successfully submitted one brown belt and beaten another by decision. American Vos has only one win over a fellow brown belt and that was his only knockout victory in his career. While his only loss has been via submission to the only other top grappler he has faced. How much can be read into that is also doubtful. Vos’s loss was at the very early stages of his career while Paskalev has also been on the receiving end when fighting other top submission artists. There really is very little hope in establishing which man is the dominant force without watching the contest. One thing that can be said for sure is that this will be a top fight. The winner will not only be the top dog at 145 but will also have bragging rights over a fearsome competitor. However the victor will also know that there is a good chance that they may see his opponent again in the future.

Being ranked top 3 and being 3rd in line for a title shot are too different things. He will need to have 3, probably 4, wins over top 10 ranked opponents before he is even considered as a possible championship challenger. Another loss and he is back to the start of that run. Some time at Welterweight (where I think he would get nothing but top 10 opponents now that he has a win there) doesn't carry that risk. Moderate success allows him to drop back down to lightweight in a year or 18 months and he may only be 1 or 2 fights away from the championship. I like to think of this as the BJ Penn model of fighting.

True but then has he been that dominant at lightweight? He may have been the champion for 18 months but since his first victory over Edgar, Bendo has had 3 split decisions, 2 decisions, 3 losses and 2 finishes (which 1 was yesterday at welter). Those 3 losses have come in the last 5 at lightweight. He had a long way to go before he is back in the 155 title picture. Staying at welterweight, he makes at least one big pay day while one win guarantees him at least 2 more. As long as all those fights are close then he potentially returns to lightweight much closer to the title picture than he is now without risking being any lower on the totem pole. It seems (to me at least) the far safer career progression.

I think there are a lot of new high profile fights for Henderson at 170. He has already fought a lot of the guys at 155 before. So someone like the loser of Brown/Hendrix or a returning Carlos Condit make an ideal PPV co-main event or UFC on/FN main.

I was thinking about this some more earlier. If it was possible to simply make it so you could choose between boxing/kick boxing, Muay Thai/ Karate, Wrestling/Sambo, BJJ/Judo then you would suddenly have 16 possible combinations that would instantly have a game that looks far more varied. Potential bonuses could be small (and not precisely representative) as well. Boxing +5% hands/ kickboxing +5% kicks. Karate +5% clinch takedown/ Muay Thai 5% clinch strikes. Wrestling 5% shoot takedowns/ Sambo +5% GNP. BJJ +5% submissions/ Judo +5% transitions. This would have the advantage of being very simple to understand for new players. Not be overpowering in mismatches (a 5% bonus of a competent wrestler would still be worse than a strong Sambo guy) but would add new wrinkles to top level competition where hiddens are all powerful. *Couple of end notes. These may not be the ideal pairs or bonuses. Also, I realise this has been done a million times before but it makes me feel better getting my thoughts out there so

Implementation of this would be a nightmare.

http://www.mmatycoon.com/gallery/25/25w17.jpg Tomasi "Miot" Dzeizdic 'Matt Smith. You have fed off cans for too long. At Origins II, I will show you what a real heavyweight looks like when I send you spiralling to the ground effortlessly. This is my time to shine and you are just the first milestone I need to pass before I become a legend'