The Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas is the home to this evening’s Ultimate Fighting Championship event.  UFC 126 has the star power to make this one of the best fight cards that we have seen in some time. There are three fights that could easily be a main event.  One title fight,  four former champions, and a few guys that will be champions in the near future.

When the WEC and UFC merged into one, I saw the biggest benefit being deeper pay per view cards and other events that wouldn’t be watered down with some talent that probably doesn’t deserve to fight where the elite fight.  Tonight’s card is evidence that this will be the case.

In the main event you have the longest reigning title holder, Anderson Silva, taking on a former champion in Vitor Belfort.  This fight is going to be off the charts. I watched the weigh in yesterday and got goose bumps and was wishing I didn’t have to wait for them to step into the octagon.

Anderson Silva, while on a long winning streak, has looked unimpressive at times. He has cleaned out the 185 pound weight class and many observers think he might have gotten bored with some of the competition he was facing. That won’t be the case tonight, Vitor Belfort is a true treat to the title.

Both fighters are very dangerous in the standup game. If this turns into a battle on the feet, we might be in for fight of the year. Silva has the better kicks and more discipline when he strikes but Belfort has lighting quick hands, something Silva probably hasn’t seen for a few years. As a fan, I don’t want to see this fight go to the ground at all.

I think we will see a new champion tonight. Belfort is hungry and has a lot to prove. Even though Silva had dominated and won 13 fights in a row, it has been some time since he has fought the caliber of Belfort. This fight on its own is worth the price of a ticket or the pay per view.

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The first UFC fight card of 2011 has come and gone and it was a good one. The fans at the MGM in Las Vegas and everyone watching on pay per view tuned in and saw a solid night of mixed martial arts action.

The main event for the lightweight title was very entertaining but left a very bad taste in a lot of mouths.

Champion Frankie Edgar showed a ton of heart as he was dominated in the first round and out on his feet. Gray Maynard rocked him with a huge combination just seconds into the fight. Maynard stalked him for the entire round but just couldn’t finish the fight. Edgar looked out of it but did enough so the ref had to let the fight continue.

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Happy New Year to everyone out there. 2011 should be a great year in the world of mixed martial arts. The Ultimate Fighting Championship helps ring in the new year with a great lineup of fights that will take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The card is highlighted by a rematch that will now be for the lightweight title. I’m expecting a lot of action this evening, some quick knockouts, and a new champion.

Let’s take a look at a few of the fights with the highest expectations.

Lightweight champion Frankie Edgar vs Gray Maynard

Anytime you have two fighters with one loss between them out of twenty six total fights, you know damn well these guys can bring it. That’s the story here, Edgar has one blemish on his career record and it came from Gray Maynard over two years ago. He is looking for redemption and to prove that he truly is the best in the world at 155.

The biggest improvement for Edgar since that loss is his movement and boxing skills. In order to keep his belt, he will have to avoid takedowns and win the striking battle and do that early.

Gray Maynard still doesn’t get the respect he deserves. He is 11 and 0, with all of his fights coming in the UFC. Is he the most exciting fighter? No he isn’t. Does he dominate his opponents and impose his will on them? He record says he has eleven straight times. This game is about winning your fights and he has been perfect so far in his young mma career.

I expect Gray to win again and dominate Edgar the way he did their last meeting. He will set up his take downs with his hands and work his ground and pound. The only difference will be that the title fight will last five rounds instead of the normal three. Look for Maynard to four out of the five rounds and possibly get a late stoppage.

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The UFC’s last pay per view event of 2010 has come and gone and it has me wanting more; too bad I’ll have to wait until January 1^st of 2011 to get my fix.

UFC 124 was a great card that had a one punch knockout, brilliant submissions, and a one sided dominating title fight.

Lets recap the highlights:

Georges St. Pierre defeats Josh Koscheck

GSP still might be throwing jabs and landing them. He appeared to have landed 95% of his strikes and I have a feeling Josh Koscheck’s right eye will be closed for a week or so. St. Pierre landed his left jab at will and had Josh’s eye closed before the 2^nd round. I thought the longer the fight was standing, the better chance Koscheck had to win. Boy was I wrong. GSP was ready and prepared for the overhand right that Koscheck uses as his biggest punch. He never landed it.

This fight was never close and never in doubt. Georges St. Pierre is now the most dominant champion the UFC has ever seen and possibly the sport of mixed martial arts as well.

To Koscheck’s credit, he never stopped coming forward and kept trying to land big shot. He just couldn’t get close enough to GSP and after time couldn’t see the jabs coming anymore.

The biggest question now is what will GSP do next? Is there a superfight with Anderson Silva on the horizon? Silva needs to take care of Vitor Belfort first which is no easy task. How about Carlos Condit? I’d love to see it as Condit is one of the most exciting fighters in the world. One I do know, GSP looks unbeatable right now and it’s scary that he is still getting better.

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