MMAVu

Fedor Emelianenko vs Andrei Arlovski:
This was a dream match of mega proportions back in 2005/2006, when Fedor was a wrecking machine in Pride (he still is, I suppose) and Arlovski was his counterpart in the UFC. Both were Heavyweight Champions, both were tearing up their respective divisions and at one time, countrymen. At one point in time several years ago, Arlovski was approached by Fedor’s camp to help train Fedor, and be his sparring partner. Arlovski had no desire to play second fiddle to Fedor, and his career has turned out pretty well since.

This fight is the fight everyone wanted and expected when Pride folded, but it never came to fruition because Fedor could never come to terms on a UFC deal. Now, under the Affliction banner, it’s finally happening, and happening soon! I’m picking Fedor by TKO.

Dan Henderson vs Rich Franklin:
This is/was a notch below the fantasy Pride vs UFC headliner of Arlovski/Emelianenko, but it’s still right up there. Hendo was the Pride 185lb Champion, and Franklin was his alter ego in UFC. Hendo did come to the UFC, but by the time he fought Quinton Jackson to unify the Pride/UFC belts, Franklin had lost some of his lustre after Anderson Silva defeated him. Now both guys are top contenders in the 205lb division and it’s non-title bout. It should still be a hell of a scrap, however. I’m picking Franklin by decision.

Georges St. Pierre beat B.J. Penn:
The match Penn has wanted for 2 1/2 years. Many felt he was robbed of a win after their first meeting at UFC 58, and now Penn gets his chance at redemption. Both fighters have improved immensely since then, with Penn dedicating himself to his training and St. Pierre shoring up his mental game. I may be biased, but I’m picking GSP on this one, and GSP again to defeat number one contender Thiago Alves. Dana White has said if GSP wins these next two fights, Anderson Silva could be next. Ding, ding!

In what has to be considered a real coup for mixed martial arts, George St. Pierre has been named, “Canadian Athlete of the Year” by SportsNet.ca, a major broadcaster here in Canada.St. Pierre not only defeated other nominees, hockey player Jarome Iginla, Paralympian Chantal Petitclerc, tennis player Daniel Nestor and baseball player Justin Morneau, he did it by garnering a whopping 89% of total reader votes!!

I voted GSP.

Said GSP:

I want to thank Rogers Sportsnet and (Sportsnet analyst Showdown) Joe Ferraro for promoting the sport of MMA, because without them the sport would not be as known as it is right now in Canada. I want to thank everybody for their support and voting for me — I want to be a good Canadian ambassador for the sport and represent MMA well.

St. Pierre’s next task is a rematch aginst 155lb Champion BJ Penn on Jan 31, Super Bowl weekend. St. Pierre took the first meeting by split-decision, but was the more battered of the two fighters. As Penn likes to say about the first fight, “After the fight, he went to the hospital; I went to the bar.”

Things are looking up for St. Pirre, he’s only 27 and became the first mixed martial arts fighter to sign with CAA Sports, home of heavy hitters like Sidney Crosby, Derek Jeter and LeBron James. That’s big money company for sure.