First and foremost, I hope and trust everyone is enjoying the “most wonderful time of the year” and that the year that was 2009 is ending on a joyous and safe note.
Monday’s “MMA Connected” will be a special one, as UFC Welterweight Champion (and Sportsnet’s 2009 Canadian Athlete of the Year ) Georges St-Pierre will be my co-host, as we look back at the top stories of 2009, as well as countdown your top fighters of the year.
GSP and I will also discuss which fights were the creme de la creme in 09, while I list my top 10 (from a massive list) bouts over the past twelve months. And of course, what year end show would it be, if we did not have all the best hilites (and lowlites) from the controversial UFC President, Dana White.
While that show airs on Monday, there are a variety of stories in the MMA world that are making headlines, not stopping for a moment during the holiday season.
Here are a few that caught my eye, with some radom thoughts:
* While Diego Sanchez is healing well http://mmajunkie.com/news/17315/battered-ufc-107-headliner-diego-sanchez-recovering-quickly-90-percent-healed.mma after his UFC 107 bout vs BJ Penn, there is now some talk that the UFC may be bringing in Takanori Gomi as a future opponent of the champ http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2009/12/23/1217364/will-takanori-gomi-rejuvenate-his . In my opinion, Penn beat him up the first time they fought in Hawaii, and will make it worse this time around. Note: to Dana White and Joe Silva – I`d much rather see a pitch to get Tatsuya Kawajiri as a future opponent for Penn.
* The verbal warfare between Matt Serra and Frank Trigg has commenced ( http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Trigg-Serra-Trade-Barbs-21731 )…these two are gonna make it a fun ride leading it up to their bout at UFC 109.
* While Karo Parisyan was the brunt of so much fan hatred after backing out of his UFC 106 bout with Dustin Hazelett, many of us in the media knew there was much more to the story, one which involved much more than pain killers, but a psychological one as well. Karo speaks out http://mmajunkie.com/news/17289/the-lightning-rod-controversial-ufc-castoff-karo-parisyan-explains-recent-troubles.mma and shares a small glimpse into a situation I hope and trust will see him rebound back to top contender status.
* Many of us are hoping that Fedor can fight for Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion Allistair Overeem, sooner than later, but it looks as if its going to be the ladder * http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=10333&zoneid=2 ). While we were all hoping it was going to be April, it looks more like July /August now, due to Overeem’s scheduled fight at K-1 (in April) , and needing at least 3-4 months to recover and get a proper training camp in to face “The Last Emperor”.
* Looks like Canadian MMA Pioneer Gary Goodridge has a New Year’s Eve date with a Dream Catcher ( http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2009/12/25/1219315/gary-goodridge-vs-gegard-mousasi ). Yup, “Big Daddy” appears to have signed on the dotted line and will face Gegard Mousasi, under K-1 Rules at the Fields Dynamite Super card in Japan. Here’s a video that’s hyping the event ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPARDxaCbAk&feature=player_embedded )…sort of.
* My good friend Steve Cofield caught up with Dan Henderson ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dnk-aMGWB2w&feature=player_embedded ) who stated his negotiations did become personal with the UFC, and knew things changed for the worse when they banned one his sponsors.
* Former Champ Frank Shamrock is looking to return to action in March ( http://www.mmafighting.com/2009/12/25/frank-shamrock-set-on-march-return/ ), and wants ratings…but which ratings is he referring to? Strikeforce’s next network telecast in in April, so which card and network is he speaking of? Either way, the last time I ran into Shamrock was in August, and he already looked like he was ready to rumble, so I’m looking forward to seeing how the legend recovers from the surgery he received on his arm earlier this year.
* After having his leg mangled in his last fight, former TUF alumnus Corey Hill talks about his recovery ( http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/news;_ylt=AtHungDUYLKDIkhHk497fa49Eo14?slug=ki-hill122509&prov=yhoo&type=lgns ) and upcoming bout on January 23rd. If he can one day make it back to the UFC, I hope fans greet him with a standing ovation.
* Gotta love Boxing negotiations: First it’s a weight issue, now it’s a drug testing issue for Floyd Mayweather, who wants potential future opponent Manny Pacquiao to undergo a variety of obstacles before he signs to fight him. Pac-Man has responed with a Merry Xmas and see you in court (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/boxingandmma/manny-pacquiao/6885761/Manny-Pacquiaos-Christmas-gift-to-Floyd-Mayweather-is-a-lawsuit.html ). To increase the comedic flavour, now there is a request to bring in John McCain to mediate ( http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/73611-mccain-lobbied-to-mediate-high-profile-boxing-dispute )I want this fight to come together, but cmon.
* On a side note, there`s a bunch of boxers looking to transition to MMA. Names include Ricardo Mayorga http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2009/12/16/1203545/ricardo-mayorga-set-to-face-din, James Toney http://www.mmamania.com/2009/12/16/1203156/punch-drunk-boxing-legend-james and Shannon Briggs http://www.mmafighting.com/2009/12/22/former-wbo-champ-shannon-briggs-reportedly-training-for-mma-debu/. All guys whose boxing careers are done, and are a right hand away from MMA Glory – or a submission away from total embarassment.
* In closing, I`ve received an unbelievable amount of requests via email and Facebook pertaining to my thoughts to what is happening with all of this talk about MMA being legalized in Ontario. Stay tuned…I will offer my thoughts once I have a few more pieces of information that I have been accumulating for quite some time. In the meantime, I want to second the notion that Marc Ratner deserves to be in the UFC`s Hall of Fame http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/news?slug=ki-mmamailbag122209&prov=yhoo&type=lgns.
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