This past weekend ESPN: UK seized a marketing opportunity with both hands. For 72 hours the usually subscription-only channel unlocked its doors to the country. Amongst the showcase of sports that the station is offering to subscribers, the UFC was featured nicely.
UFC: The Best Of 2009 was a three hour special that aired last night and was the perfect display for any passing potential new fan. While this move for a free weekend was met by moans by a friend of mine (he's getting old) I personally see it as a fantastic bit of business.
There was no Premier League football and no live UFC event so nothing was really being given away for "free". Majority of the programme listing was put together specially for this free to view weekend.
ROUTE 155
In a week that has been littered with matchmaking rumours; It was the 155 division that has had the majority of the spotlight. After a relatively quiet spell for the Lightweights from the UK, rumours were rife about all our boys.
Andre Winner will take a huge step up in class if reports, linking him to a Fight Night 21 shown down with Cole Miller, are to be believed. Miller was viciously knocked out by Efrain Escudero last September, but bounced back in style against Dan Lauzon on January 2. Winner was hugely impressive in his win over Roli Delgado, knocking him out cold at UFC 105. Miller will pose a different threat to that of Delgado and it will require a top draw performance if Winner is to get the victory.
After Paul Kelly dropped to 155 last year, he left the Wolfslair to join Terry Etim at Team Kaobon. Another Brit to follow suit is Walsall boy "Relentless" Paul Taylor who this week announced his decision to joining Etim and Kelly. Taylor and Kelly won "Fight Of The Night" honours when they fought each at UFC: 80 in possibly the most intense opening minute of a fight in UFC history. (If you have not seen this then you really need to).
One thing that remains unclear is to which division Taylor is likely to continue his career in. Whispers have been heard that since losing to John Hathaway, Taylor is looking to make the drop to 155. "Relentless" looked alot smaller than Hathaway and this showed in a performance that saw him dominated for the majority.
This could be a good move for Taylor. If the cut agrees with him it could give him the chance to be the bigger guy in his future matchups and could revitalise his UFC career.
Paul Kelly was defeated by Dennis Siver at UFC 105 and this week rumours all pointed at his Team Kaobon team mate Terry Etim to avenge that loss. It was reported that Etim and Siver could square off in Abu Dhabi for UFC 112.
British Bulldog Ross "The Real Deal" Pearson looks set for an Octagon return. Pearson, the TUF 155 champ, looked outstanding in his last outing - picking apart seasoned veteran Aron Riley. Pearson will look to continue his trail in the UFC, at Fight Night 21. A definite opponent has not been confirmed at this point.
BRAD'S PICKS
If you remember last week I brought your my exclusive interview with WEC Bantamweight contender Brad "One Punch" Pickett. When I met up with Brad we also looked through the growing roster of UK fighters breaking through. This is what he had to say about the best of British:
CHRIS: Jimmy Wallhead has recently signed with Bellator after being a free agent for a long time. I personally think he is a great fighter who should have been snapped up a long time ago. This however, could be the ideal move for him?
BRAD: I've never trained with Jimmy but what I do hear is good things. I hear he is a top guy, a top fighter and that he is going to do very well. When is his tournament?
CHRIS: April and the winner gets a shot at the title. He is basically getting the chance to make an instant run at the belt. He is another great fighter from Rough House and I'm very happy for him getting his chance at last.
BRAD: Yeah and it can be annoying to see people who you believe you are better than getting that shot. This could be a better move for him long term, rather than just jumping on a band wagon.
CHRIS: What do you think of Ross Pearson?
BRAD: I like Ross Pearson alot. I have seen him fight. He is a nice down to earth guy, very tough. I haven't trained with him before but I know he is tough and still very young. He could go very far.
CHRIS: Ross obviously won the (TUF) Lightweight tournament, but the man he defeated in the final looked extremely promising at the (UFC) 105 show. Andre Winner.
BRAD: Andre is a very good fighter. He has got great stand-up. Look at his debut in Manchester. Big knockout. He's a good all round fighter and another one who is still really young. He will only get better and with the money these guys will now be earning they will be getting top training and now starting to do it full time.
CHRIS: Terry Etim is probably the most likely to be the first of our Lightweights to get a shot.
BRAD: Terry Etim has a good ground and stand up. The main thing he lacks is wrestling. If he goes in with someone with great wrestling and a good submission defence that's a bad match up for him. Anyone else I think he will give them a really hard time.
CHRIS: He was being built up nicely until those two losses in America to Clementi and Tibau. It's been a little like back to basics for him on UK prelims. Don't you think he really needs to be back on U.S prelims and then back to main cards?
BRAD: Yeah he does he could be challenging in a few years.
CHRIS: Paul Kelly is another UK fighter, who has now made the drop to 155. What do you think of Paul?
BRAD: Paul Kelly is great to watch, really tough and on his day he will give anyone a real tough fight. He lost his last fight but he's a great fighter and he has plenty of time to bounce back.
CHRIS: Paul Kelly left Wolfslair to join Etim at Team Kabaon. Paul Taylor has now also joined them, but this week the rumour is he is looking to drop to 155.
BRAD: I think that could be a much better weight for him. He looked too small at Welterweight. He was out muscled against Hathaway. He is great fighter to watch and this could really set him up again.
CHRIS: John Hathaway did look very good in that fight. What do you make of him?
BRAD: I really rate John Hathaway. His worth ethic is amazing. Relentless cardio. He has what a lot of UK fighters lack and that's good wrestling.
CHRIS: Maybe a progression from his Rugby background?
BRAD: It could well be. He is so strong but he now has to work on his stand up as he keeps winning decisions. Maybe learn some submissions too. He made that fight so one sided that at one point I just wanted the ref to stop. I like Taylor and didn't want to see him get hurt.
CHRIS: I remember at the time with Kelly and Taylor losing badly and new lads coming through so strong it was almost a passing of the torch.
Now Mostapha Al Turk is fighting Rolles Gracie in a couple of weeks. There is no easy fight at this level but come on: Kongo, Cro Cop and now a Gracie?
BRAD: How is see it is they are probably not trying to build him. They are probably trying to build the other fighters. All he needs though is to beat one of these big names and he is well and truly through the door. He could well win this fight. It's against a Gracie so it would be a huge name to get a win over and it's no secret anymore what Gracie's do.
In the UFC there are no easy fights so then why not fight a big name. If you win – then everyone will know about it!
CHRIS: Paul Daley has exploded onto the scene with two first round knockouts (1tko) what do you make of Semtex?
BRAD: He's a really good guy. He's been around the scene for a long time. He's been on big shows before but always seemed to dodge the UFC.
CHRIS: Do you think that the level of ground games of some of the Welterweights like Fitch or GSP had anything to do with that?
BRAD: When he fought Jake Shields he was doing really well, but when Shields got him down he exposed Daley in alot of ways.
CHRIS: I think that's the danger with Koscheck, but I think Paul can win.
BRAD: With that fight it depends on what Koscheck wants to do. If he wants to fight a sensible game and take Daley down then he will probably take it.
CHRIS: Other than GSP - Koscheck is probably the worst person to have taking you down in that division. With that said he will probably be one of the easiest to draw into a stand up. With all the trash talking that you know is coming he could well try and stand up with Daley.
BRAD: Yeah it's a male ego thing.
CHRIS: Michael Bisping did well coming back against Kang. It was such a bad knockout against Henderson I wasn't sure what to expect. He really showed his worth.
BRAD: This was quite an emotional fight for me. I love Kang. He is a close friend and a team mate of mine. I was very happy for Bisping, but more gutted for Kang. He said to me that his body just shut down mid through the first. His body just gave up on him.
I think he will end up in Strikeforce now that he has been cut. I couldn't believe it when I read the UFC cut all these names I've never heard of then Dennis Kang I was like "what the hell". He was maybe on a big contract.
CHRIS: Michael Bisping vs. Wanderlei Silva!
BRAD: (long pause) .......... It's gonna be a GREAT fight.
CHRIS: Dan Hardy has done so well. The first Brit to compete for a UFC title. He faces a tough task but he is a worthy challenger.
BRAD: I like Dan Hardy but I don't think there is anyone in the world on same level as GSP. You have GSP, and then everyone else is down here. It's the same with BJ Penn (at 155) and Anderson Silva (at 185).
Dan Hardy is a very technical striker and that's how he gets his knockouts. Paul Daley is more of a threat to GSP I believe. Purely because he has such knockout power.
CHRIS: It's a tough task but I'm glad it's Dan that the shot.
BRAD: Yeah He's great.
CHRIS: Thanks again for talking to us Brad. Let me know when there is movement on your second WEC fight.
BRAD: I will do mate.
(Brad "One Punch" Pickett was speaking exclusively to MMATorch UK specialist, Chris Park)
OTHER NEWS IN BRIEF
-After a venue hitch struck the proposed UFC 112 event In Abu Dhabi, The London or Dublin O2 Arenas are on standby and could once again stage the show. UFC President Dana White has stated the entire could would be moved to the new stage should the problem with the current location hot stalemate.
-Paul Daley has signed a six fight contract extension. Daley has been confirmed to face Josh Koscheck in Montreal on May 1 in what will be his third Octagon appearance.
-UFC Primetime will return with a three part special covering the welterweight title clash between Champ GSP and challenger Dan "The Outlaw" Hardy.
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Chris Park is the MMATorch UK Specialist. Please email any comments to Chris at mmatorchpark@gmail.com or look us up at http://www.facebook.com/mmatorchuk, our new MMATorch Facebook home for UK fans!
