I am really excited for the main event of this UFC. UFC went with the one big main event carrying the rest of so-so fights. Many fighters are coming off losses but because it's the first Canadien UFC card their local appeal will certainly help the event. I'm surprised they didn't get Patrick Cote fighting on this card though.  Check out Fightlinker.com for local Montreal coverage

Matt Serra Vs. Georges St-Pierre - I'm betting the lightning will not strike twice for Matt Serra and his 15 min are over. I'd like to say that St. Pierre's performance against Hughes should be a good indication of what kind of mental and physical state he is in, but I won't because he beat Hughes convincingly right before the first Serra fight too. So I'm just going to say St. Pierre will murder Serra because he's just a better fighter and will not let this one get away. Georges St. Pierre by TKO (Canada 1 - USA 0)

Travis Lutter Vs. Rich Franklin  - Eh, both fighters are coming off a loss to Anderson Silva. Lutter lost over a year ago and hasn't been active. Franklin lost to Silva twice and last one was about six months ago. UFC's 185 division, except for the undisputed champion, is very weak right now and this match up shows it. It really has no meaning, Franklin isn't going to move up in the ranks by beating Lutter and if Lutter does win he won't jump that high either, especially considering this record and lack of dedication. Back to the fight though, given how close Yushin Okami came to submitting the former champion, Lutter definitely has a good chance with his submissions if he can pull off a take down, but I doubt it because his striking is very weak. So I think Franklin will be able to keep this standing, working his striking from angles. I'm thinking this will end up like his fight against Evan Tanner, where Tanner came out beaten to a pulp. Picking Rich Franklin

Mark Bocek Vs. Mac Danzig - This fight is on the card because Bocek is Canadien and to make Mac Danzig look really good, not that he needs it really. I really think it's mismatch where Danzig will beat Bocek standing and if it does go to the ground Danzig will beat on Bocek even more. Picking Mac Danzig (Canada 1 - USA 1)

Nate Quarry Vs. Kalib Starnes - Another Canadien with a loss coming in, Kalib Starnes, is getting a tough match up in robotic Nate Quarry. This should be a good brawl and based on both of the fighters last fights Quarry should pull through this one on toughness and chin alone. Picking Nate Quarry (Canada 1 - USA 2)

Charles McCarthy Vs. Michael Bisping - May be UFC thought, "well since we only have one really big matchup, how about we put in a few mismatches bound to produce some spectacular beatings". This is the second one of the night, Bisping is given Charles McCarthy go beat on. It may go to the ground early, that's where McCarthy would like to take it, but in the end will turn out to be like McCarthy vs. David Loiseau with Bisping taking over with striking to finish the fight. Picking Bisping

Joe Doerksen Vs. Jason MacDonald - Both Canadien. Say what you will about Doerkon's losing record, the guy comes to fight and puts on exciting fighting to watch. So him being in the fight alone should make it at least fun to watch.  Doerkson has some good ground skills and even some cool takedowns and throw to go with that, but I think MacDonalds strength and size will make a difference big enough to ward off anything Doerkson throws at him and pull off a submission or a TKO of his own. Picking MacDonald. Since at least one Canadien will win this fight, I'm throwing it in the Canada vs USA mix to help Canadiens out (Canada 2 - USA 2)

Jason Day Vs. Alan Belcher - Haven't seen anything on Day, so I'm going with Belcher and his exciting stand up to win.

Ed Herman Vs. Demian Maia - Herman is slick on the ground and has some power in his striking (ex knocking out Doerkson in his last fight), however Maia's ground fighting credentials are phenomenal exept not really tested in MMA all that well. I'd like to think Herman could keep it standing for a while, but his stamina isn't that great so I'm picking Maia by submission

Rich Clementi Vs. Sam Stout - Clementi made out good in publicity/popularity with his handing of Melvin Guillard and backing up his side of the trash talking. I see this fight against Stout going exactly the same way. Clementi will stand for a little till he had enough and proved himself he can stand with good strikers, then he'll easily take Stout down and submit him. Picking Clementi by submission (Canada 2 - USA 3)

Brad Morris Vs. Cain Velasquez - Haven't seen either guys, but will go with Velasquez taking Morris down and beating on him there. I don't think Morris, being an aussie, has ever faced wrestling of Velasquez's level. P

Kuniyoshi Hironaka Vs. Jonathan Goulet - Goulet is a local Canadien favorite but a journeyman at best. Hironaka's record isn't stellar either but he's faced tougher competition and even took Jon Fitch to a decision. Picking Hironaka capitalizing on Goulet's mistake. If Goulet wins I'll add him to the Canada vs USA mix. I'm really pulling for them.

The goal now is to actually follow up on my UFC 83 picks and write up some thoughts of the fights. Wish me luck!

Tim "The Lame'iac" Sylvia is fighting a former PrideFC champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira tomorrow night at UFC 81 for UFC's interim Heavyweight Championship belt.  Can't say I'm too excited for the fight, you know, being that Nogueira isn't fighting Randy Couture and because Randy's was substituted by incredibly boring "fighting not to lose" Tim Sylvia.  I'm mildly interested in seeing Nogueira because of all his past glory, durability and experience in taking out a few giants like Semmy Schilt, Bob Sapp and Zuluzinho.  For his debut in UFC he already had to fight a crappy fighter, now he has to do it again.

I can't stand Tim "The Lame-iac" Sylvia. He, his public and private persona, even his nickname, are just so incredibly repulsive and lame. Ever since he started fighting in UFC I have always looked forward to seeing his opponents fight, but never wanted to see him. Even though he did get the UFC belt from Ricco Rodriquez, Ricco lost it without ever defending it to the Lame-iac by trying to hurry the fight up and getting caught. Had Ricco taken Lame-iac down, I believe he'd put him away and we'd never see him fight as much as we had to in the coming years after that unfortunate incident.

The Lame-iac then lost his second title defense to Frank Mir and blowing up Frank Mir hype to incredible levels, who's biggest accomplishment TO DATE is beating the Lame-iac. I share a very similar sentiment toward Frank Mir with Fightlinker. Lame-iac then goes to beat a staple idiot in MMA Wes Sims, who Mir had to fight twice, and lost to then aggressive Andrei Arlovski. After that loss he regroups and collects 2 KO wins over some nobody and a disabled Lion's Den fighter Tra Telligman. After that he couldn't hold all the excitement of fighting on free TV and later admitted that he crapped his pants while getting a boring decision over Assuerio Silva, someone he should have destroyed with ease. He then goes on to get the biggest win of his career by getting knocked down, recovering and catching an over committed Andrei Arlovski to get the heavy weight championship belt.

The Lame-iac immediately starts to demonstrate, and numerous reports confirm, disturbing behavior of wearing the championship belt everywhere and anywhere, like scooter riding, hunting and apparently even during sex. He developed such and unhealthy attachment to it that he held on for dear life to try not to lose it in his next two fights that were widely considered some of the most boring and uneventful fights ever. Luckily for us Randy Couture's itch for fighting again was getting unbearable to him and he fought and dominated the Lame-iac to take the precious belt away and bring some life to the UFC heavyweight championship fights once again.

I recently came across CagePotato's few Top 10 lists, which are a common recommended blogging thing to do, and decided to come up with my own about Tim "The Lame-iac" Sylvia. Since, it's my very first one,so please, let me know how I did with it.

10. The Lame Beginnings

9. Lame Break

 8. Eating a beatiful right hands - The Lame-iacs favorite

7. Crapping your pants on free live TV = LAME

6. Vihicle of choice for the Lame-iac.

5. Playing with guns in your kitchen while wearing your UFC belt = LAME

4. Desperate to fit in your own fight camp = LAME

Lame-iac: “There’s nothing more that I want than to be accepted by you and the rest of the guys.”

Hughes: “You don’t become accepted by buying yourself a ticket to Vegas, following us around while we’re there when no one really invited you, and then crying – again – when Jens calls you out on it.”

Lame-iac: “Is there anything I can do to be friends with you?”

Hughes: “Well, right now I have enough friends and I don’t need any more friends,” I said. “Is that it? Are we done here?”

(more from Made in America: The Most Dominant Champion in UFC History )

3. Talking a tonn of smack and then getting schooled by a 44 year old = LAME

2. Looking like a complete moron = LAME

1. Wearing your UFC belt everywhere 24/7 = LAME

Yes, this is who we have to watch for possibly around 40 minutes plus in two days.......

Hayato Sakurai is one of the most exciting lightweight fighters from who has been fighting for over 11 years since 1996. While his best fighting years were in Shooto during late 90's and early 2000's, he came back strong in 2005 during Pride Bushido 9 - The Lightweight Tournament (one of the best MMA shows to date btw) and defeated former UFC Lightweight champion Jens Pulver and former Shooto Lightweight champion Joachim "Hellboy" Hansen on the same night!!! It was truly an amazing night where Sakurai was at the top of his game twice to advance to the tournament final to face also amazing Takanori Gomi. While Sakurai lost to Gomi in the final, he went on a 3 KO/TKO win streak against some tough opposition including latest Ultimate Fighter 6 winner Mac Danzig. Sakurai has sharp aggresive striking game, great, often high amplitude, takedowns and also aggressive ground and pound, and a great ability to smoothly transition between all the aspects of his MMA game. So I was really looking forward to his return to MMA after almost a year long layoff. He was facing a very average journeyman Hasegawa. It should have been an easy fight where he could put a great show for the fans.

I initially overlooked him looking kind of soft as the first 30 seconds he was landing some snappy body kicks and some punches. For about a minute after Sakurai looked great, but then I could not believe my eyes. I thought I was watching the guy who beat two tough champions on the same night and just put together 3 vicious TKO victories. What I was seeing though was barely a shadow of Sakurai's even worst moments in some of his losses. He looked lethargic, his punches had zero power standing up or on the ground. I mean he was landing punches standing up and doing no damage, taking Hasegawa down and just laying on top and not doing any real damage.

During the break after round 1 Hasegawa, I'm sure of it, couldn't believe that he was hanging in there with Sakurai and was still in the fight. His corner literally slapped, see the screenshot, some more confidence into him and in Round 2 he came out swinging at Sakurai with his chin up. Ya, with his chin up against Sakurai with the sloppiest striking out there.  But he wasn't worried one bit because even when Sakurai hit him, there was zero power behind the punches. When Sakurai would take Hasegawa down, Hasewaga would just start playing the famous rubber guard until the ref would stand them up.

I was completely shocked and disappointed by Sakurai's worst performance ever. So I apologize not even really reviewing the fight itself, it was just too painful to watch what was happening. I only hope that Sakurai had some serious injury coming into the fight as an excuse for the poor performance and not finishing his way lesser opponent. I just can't imagine that his poor preparation for the fight was to blame.

I hope Sakurai comes back, where ever he ends up fighting, and at least somewhat resembles an exciting and agressive fighter he was just a meer 10 months ago.

I'm way behind on this stuff, but I'm not going to be much of a news regurgitator blogger (yet). I'm thinking I'll be writing my takes on major events, happenings in MMA and UFC (WEC, CageRage) for now and will pick up my pace some time soon. Trying to write something good turns out to be quite an effort. May be I'm just trying too hard and shouldn't. Anyways...

Ultimate Fighter 6 Finale on Spike TV was a GREAT show. It was one of the better events UFC lucked out with this year. I, for the most part, agree with the idea of lots of young, hungry guys fighting on the undercards for a little more famous ones. Just like in this show, most of the TUF'ers fought hard and impressed. With that said, here are some notes on the fights.

Matt Arroyo vs John Kolosci - nice submission game from Arroyo, but dammit, I officially put Kolosci in the high ranks of "real ultimate fighters" Abbadi's, Monsta Lobsta's. You know, those guys that that are either convinced by their friends and parents that they've got talent for MMA. Those guys reek with the smell of 99% of American Idol hopefuls. As soon as they fight, it's like WTF!?!... How did you get on this show? The good part about American Idol is that they actually have people who screen the candidates before the make it on the actual show.

What was I talking about? Oh ya.. Kolosci. Come on, why's everyone so high on him? Cause he, while looking scared and lying about not being scared, took the fight with Mac Danzig? What did he do with that nice opportunity to come back and have another go? Absolutely nothing!! It was such a half ass attempt at may be possibly landing a lucky shot. Danzig beat him up good the first time and probably took his warrior spirit from his young fighting career. Guess what? His fight with Arroyo was just was crappy. He did nothing when he took the fight to the mat. Bleh... more on shitty efforts and Dana Whites and Joe Rogans giving WAY too much credit for just showing up - remember you actually have to fight in fights.

Troy Mandaloniz vs Richie Hightower - well, I'm almost taking Richie off the "real ultimate fighters" list, almost. Despite to what I wrote about Richie earlier, he fought a good fight and I was actually kinda sorta rooting for him to win. He started off really good, hitting Mandaloniz pretty good a few times and taking him down, but ran out of gas and got knocked down by a stiff jab while moving in with a looping hook. A win for Mandaloniz, but Richie actually showed promise of getting off the shitty tough talking fighters.

Ben Saunders vs Daniel Barrera - Barrera was very impressive with his athleticism and work ethic while on the TV show, but his fighting was very disappointing. He has the physical tools and ability it seems, but his game plan for this was all wrong. Ya, he go Saunders down and did nothing. Props to Saunders for playing good defense and doing enough to win a very important fight. Most boring fight of the night.

Jon "War Machine" Koppenhaver vs Jared Rollins - What a fight! The nasty angry elbow outburst from Rollins was a first of it's kind. I mean few people used elbows successfully from the guard, Bas Rutten vs Kevin Randleman and may be Joe Riggs vs Chris Lytle, but not like this they didn't. I bet Bas Rutten wishes he saw this fight before fighting Randleman, he could have used the "elbow outburst" move to win more convincingly.

What a come back by WarMachine! He was rocked hard by Rollins, but pulled a nice, probably the most under-used sweep from the guard in MMA, and finished the fight with some vicious strikes. In Goldies words, this is what MMA is all about.

Mac Danzig vs Tom Speer - there is no question Tom Speer is a tough farmer guy. In most of his fights on the TV show he was in some type of trouble, but was very resilient and toughed out of some close calls. Admittedly not doing much training, except for strength/conditioning on the farm, for this fight he must have counted on his toughness one more time.  Mac Danzig came in with George St. Pierre'esque game plan and took the wrestler down and after softening him up abit easily submitted him. Good for Danzig, he'll be a nice addition to 155 division. Speer didn't lose too much with this fight in my opinion, except for affliction wearing TUF noobs for his farm comment, but oh well, he just may turn out the next Matt Hughes.

Roger Huerta vs Clay Guida  - a kick ass fight it turned out to be. Did I already say in Goldies words that this is what MMA is all about? I'm saying it again! Lots of standing exchanges, take downs, take down defense, transitioning on the ground all the while striking, knockdowns. This fight had it all. Mayweather vs Hatton the same night had hype and no fight. There was good hype coming into the fight. Lots of people written off Huerta and predicted Guida to win.  After one of the better fights this year, people said Huerta was exposed and got lucky. I disagree.

Here is my take on it. Clay Guida is tough and a very active fighter. He took it to Huerta for two rounds, but only had him in trouble at the end of round two. Huerta got a real good test there, but they key here is that he passed and Guida failed at finishing up. When Huerta hurt Guida, Guida didn't recover and was submitted.

Guida was exposed for not being able to finish a very hurt fighter and not being able to recover when in trouble.

Huerta weathered the storm and finished when needed.  Great win for Huerta to finish up a very active year. The news of Roger taking some time off is good to hear. He's doing a smart thing to take some time to rest and wait for a good fight.

On a related note, UFC gets credit for making the pay for hard fighting a little bit better.

What did you think of the event? Ya, I know it's a late. If you didn't see it yet, as an MMA fan you must.