Hyden's Take
HYDEN BLOG: Fabricio Werdum, Roy Nelson, Anthony Pettis, Nam Phan, and Brock Lesnar vs. Junior Dos Santos
Jan 12, 2011 - 1:20:03 PM HYDEN BLOG: Fabricio Werdum, Roy Nelson, Anthony Pettis, Nam Phan, and Brock Lesnar vs. Junior Dos Santos

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By: Frank Hyden, MMATorch contributor

Fabricio Werdum has said that he didn't want to give Alistair Overeem a rematch of their fight in PRIDE in 2006. Werdum won that fight, but that was over four years ago. They're both different fighters, and nothing that happens in this second fight will change what happened in the first. I understand where Werdum is coming from in wanting to rematch Fedor Emelianenko instead, as that fight was much more recent and Werdum wants to prove that it wasn't a fluke. However, the problem is that Werdum is almost looking past Overeem to a potential rematch with Fedor.

I think this tournament is a great thing for all involved. The winner will have a legitimate claim at being one of the elite heavyweights in the world, at least a top three; fans will get good match-ups on these upcoming cards and Strikeforce generates interest in themselves by getting people talking about the brackets and the fights. It's a win-win. I've always been in favor of more tournaments, it's a way for MMA to get that March Madness college basketball feel going on. It would also help create some interest in fights that might otherwise not have as much heat behind them. A lot of people don't follow college basketball that much, but they'll still participate in office pools for March Madness, and I think a tournament is just a way to add a little more intrigue to a match-up that otherwise might not be on the radar.

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I'm very interested in seeing Roy Nelson fight Frank Mir at UFC 130. I want to see where the fight goes, as I think Nelson is the one who will control what happens and where. I know Mir considers himself a "stud athlete," but Nelson is better at all aspects of MMA, in my opinion. Nelson's not your typical-looking fighter, but he gets things done. One thing's for sure, Mir's going to have to bring a lot more to this fight than he did in that horrible fight he had with Mirko Cro-Cop at UFC 119.

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Anthony Pettis will take a fight while he waits for Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard to finish their trilogy. It's risky for sure, but it's also smart because of the unknown. Edgar-Maynard 3 won't take place until May, so it would be late into the year before Pettis could get his shot at the Lightweight Title. That's a long layoff, especially for such a young guy. Having a fight within the next few months will keep Pettis sharp and allow him to improve his game. This move isn't without risk, though. If Pettis loses, it might be a while before he gets another title shot, assuming he gets one at all. I think in the long-term this is a smart move. Pettis is so young that sitting on the sidelines for an extended period would stunt his growth as a fighter somewhat. In the short-term, this is taking a very big chance, but there's always risks in life.

Word is that Clay Guida is lined up to be the opponent for Pettis, possibly at UFC 130 or UFC 131. I would definitely try to have this fight happen at UFC 130, the same card that Edgar-Maynard 3 is taking place. It'd have a good synergy there. As for Guida being the choice to fight Pettis, I think it's a good one. Guida's been really hot in his last few fights, and if Pettis can beat him then he'll have earned his title shot without question.

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Nam Phan vs. Leonard Garcia will rematch at UFC Fight Night 24 in March. It's good that Phan is getting a second chance, and I hope this fight is as entertaining as their first fight, which Phan clearly won despite the horrible judging that gave Garcia the decision. I'm looking forward to this fight, and I'm sure a lot of other people are as well. It should be a good one.

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Brock Lesnar and Junior Dos Santos are going to be the coaches for The Ultimate Fighter 13. They'll then fight in June, probably at UFC 131. In regards to Lesnar facing such a good striker, I don't know if that's such a good idea right now. In my opinion, Dos Santos is a better striker than Cain Velasquez, but not as good a wrestler, obviously. Dos Santos also has a much better ground game than Velasquez, which should make this a very interesting fight. The winner of this fight is also slated to fight Velasquez for the Heavyweight title next. I think Brock will deserve the title shot if he wins, as who else would deserve it more? If I had to pick a winner right now, I think I'd have to go with Lesnar. I think his loss to Velasquez is going to motivate him like never before. Being destroyed like he was is going to light a fire under Brock, and he's going to come out like a madman. I think he pulls out the ground-and-pound and stops Dos Santos.


Comments and suggestions can be e-mailed to me at hydenfrank@gmail.com