Mixed Martial Arts is just like other sports business; full of hype and all about making money. Some fighters in the UFC are all about the hype, the smack talk, and either can or can’t back it up. Nick Diaz just happens to be one of those fighters who is all about the talk, but cannot seem to walk the walk.  Many people tout Diaz as one of the best boxers in MMA and a top contender in the welterweight division, however he hasn’t defeated top level guys even though he has fought several.

StrikeForce Here He Comes!

Jake Shields went 21 fights without losing before he challenged George St. Pierre for the UFC welterweight title. No he hasn’t won in his last two fights. But in that incredible streak, besides beating quality guys from a higher wieght class like Yushin Okami, Dan Henderson, and Robbie Lawlor, Jake was able to beat the current interim UFC welterweight champ Carlos Condit. With a win over Akiyama Jake could put himself closer to Fighting Condit again, this time with a lot more at stake. Shields is a ground expert with a base in wrestling and a lot of jui-jitsu experience. As testament to how dangerous he is on the mat, George St. Pierre basically avoided going to the ground with Jake throughout their entire fight.

MMA Fighter Akiyama is in an even worse position than Shields. After a great run that included wins over Melvin manhoef, Denis Kang, and Alan Belcher Akiyama is now fighting for his UFC career. He has lost three straight in the UFC to really good opponents in Chris Leben, Michael Bisbing, and Vitor Belfort. While a couple of those were fight of the night type fights Akiyama still needs a win to remain relevant in the UFC. UFC fighter Akiyama is an action fighter who throws fast combinations and is very technical on the ground. He can finish fights in a variety of ways as his record of five knockout and seven submissions
suggests.

Back in the 1990’s, Mark Coleman took on the moniker of “The Godfather of Ground and Pound”. His relentless assault on his fallen foes often resulted in bloody bodies and quick stoppages. Since Coleman laid that blueprint, many a man have followed suit, adopting similar aggressive top position attacks. Fedor Emelianenko used it quite efficiently during his run in pride; Tito Ortiz carved up too many men to count; Robbie Lawler has a serious knack for smelling blood and punctuating his instincts with a violent top based barrage and recently, guys like Jon Jones and Mark Munoz have taken the tactic to new heights.

While Jones is insanely precise with his onslaught, he typically chooses to look for the appropriate openings rather than flail about wildly. The moment the slightest crease in an opponent’s defense opens “Bones” seizes the moment and unleashes perfectly placed elbows and punches that have led to more than a single shocking win. Think, if you will, about jones’ collisions with Brandon Vera, Vladimir “The Janitor” Matyushenko and even former champion, Lyoto Machida. This man’s elbows are nothing short of vicious, and should an opponent find himself with Jones in top control, it’s be a good idea to do everything humanly possible to secure wrist control.

Dan Henderson is not only the modern day equivalent to the Running Man, he’s also as tough as any human being on the face of earth. This man can take a trouncing like no other, and often manages to rebound and snag impressive victories. Given his low-key demeanor, and I’d-share-a-beer-with-you-anytime attitude, Dan has painted himself as one of the coolest men competing in mixed martial arts today.

Dan Henderson’s Career

B.J. Penn and Nick Diaz met in a thrilling affair to topline UFC 137. The action was fast-paced and wildly violent. For fans, it was a monumental collision, as both Penn and Diaz are known for their unbridled aggression, remarkable durability and tendencies to speak long before thinking. Neither of these two are afraid to insult another and neither man would ever contemplate walking away from an altercation. The fact that both individuals have taken part in memorable rivalries that in some cases stretched far beyond the octagon isn’t much of a surprise either. However, the aftershock of one of 2011’s finest welterweight bouts has left MMA pundits a tad perplexed.

For those who missed the fight, Nick Diaz managed to escape a rocky first round to turn things around and batter Penn for the better portion of the following two frames. In the end, the judges awarded the unanimous decision victory to Diaz, who clearly outworked the rugged Hawaiian as the fight progressed. Emotions ran high following the bout, but accounts indicated that both Penn and Diaz exchanged mutual respect backstage after the fight had taken place (there’s even an image floating about of the two posing together, black and blue, seemingly on good terms).

Nate Diaz is one of very few fighters who have successfully honed their craft while competing on the largest stage possible. Refining one’s skills is a daunting task on local circuits, to be forced to learn on the job while tangling with the world’s elite crop of fighters is a borderline crime, but it certainly serves to separate the men from the boys, and in few cases, produces truly spectacular competitors. Nate Diaz is a young man who fits the spectacular bill however, it hasn’t been an easy road to maturation, as I’m certain Nate himself would testify.

Ultimate Fighter 5th Season

UPDATE (1-14-2011): Would these athletes still be the best ‘Other Sport’ athletes in MMA? What Do You Think (Comment Below)?

Original Post: 4-2-2007

Mixed martial arts is a sport that is growing by leaps and bounds across the world. With the global expansion of major promotions such as the UFC, one can expect to see many more individuals take up the gloves to try their hand at the craft.

Today’s MMA fighter is coming from a variety of sports backgrounds. Take Brendan Schaub and NFL All Pro Herschel Walker. Both were former professional athletes in a completely different sport and now they are fighting on two of the biggest stages in MMA. While not a direct correlation when it comes to sports fields, surely the rigors of football training has prepared their minds and bodies for what they go through in MMA.

Is Alistair Overeem The Future of The Heavyweight Division?

There was once a time in which Alistair Overeem was considered little more than a fringe contender flailing about, fighting to survive in a pool of 205 pound sharks. Those days are now half a decade and forty plus pounds distanced, as Overeem has firmly cemented himself as a top heavyweight contender in MMA’s contemporary landscape.

Worthy Foes

Should The UFC Use A Minor League System Like MLB?

The other day a friend of mine and I were talking about the up and coming talent of the UFC and even though there are some good ones coming up there isn’t a lot of them. To fix this issue the UFC could start creating smaller organization throughout the U.S. to help raise, train, and harvest the best MMA fighters for the big show.

Self Sufficient Clubs

In a sport known for its excessive violence and countless alpha male personalities, it’s nice to discover a fighter who possesses a genuinely kind heart and endearing attitude away from the cage. It’s not the most common of occurrences, but it does happen every now and then, and one need only look to heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos for proof.

This year fans got the chance to see plenty of dos Santos’s personality shine through, as he coached the thirteenth season of “The Ultimate Fighter”, opposite former heavyweight champion, Brock Lesnar. During the shows airing dos Santos proved himself a caring coach with a big heart and an understanding of the fighter’s mindset. He also showcased a great sense of humor (at one point Ramsey Nijem even dry humped dos Santos while engaging in some friendly banter, to which dos Santos simply pushed Nijem off, all the while laughing heartily) and a desire to connect with the shows contestants. In regards to pure personality, JDS is the most approachable and likeable man to ever coach on the popular reality show.