TUF TALK

I’ve blogged about the best fighters’ worst judging and weighed in with my fighter predictions concerning every major promotion. So, by design and not an accident I completely omitted the premier of The Ultimate Fighter 10 back in September—but I watched. Dana White calls season 10 the best highest rate ever. Bragging does go along with shameless promotion and absurd behavior. The fights have been some of the worst I have seen in 10 seasons and the overall level of fitness laughable. Out of the crop of heavyweights there are three real contenders and two guys who could realistically compete at Heavyweight. Saturday’s TUF finale adds more bulk to the current UFC roster.

The big show players of a bad bunch.

Kimbo Slice: YouTube hero Kevin Kimbo Slice Ferguson has been in the headlines since 07 first promoted as the baddest of the bare knuckle backyard brawlers. In the ring and then the cage he looks like a scary mere mortal. Slice works hard, but at 35 I am not sure he can hang with heavyweight fighters a few years younger and more skilled. No cakewalk in his official UFC debut Saturday when he faces Heavyweight bone crusher Houston Alexander. Rage in a cage is all I can say.

Roy Nelson: Finalist Roy “Big Country” Nelson came into season 10 with the most experience and a title belt as the former International Fight League champion. Lets start with…Dana White cannot stand this guy, that’s two strikes. Next, he’s badly in need of the Subway diet. Big Country is cagey and seems to follow his fight plan. If he gets you to the mat and gains side-control you’re doomed. Saying Nelson had the superior skills amongst the group is not really saying that much. Against Brendan Schaub in the finals I give him an even chance of winning even though he loses ground in height and reach.

Marcus Jones: 6’6” Marcus “Darkness” Jones one of several ex NFL players hoping to avoid concussion syndrome by fighting MMA is a case study. Outside the cage Jones shrieks at the sight of the ordinary brown spider. On the dark side Jones if pushed emotionally to the brink could rip your head off like you were a useless G.I. Joe doll. Jones has very good Jiu Jitsu for a newbie but his standup is suspect. Time and temperament will determine if he is a legit MMA fighter.

James Mcsweeny: MCsweeny out of Jackson’s MMA in New Mexico definitely has skills, but I don’t know if he truly has game at heavyweight. MCsweeny looks more like a light heavyweight and though the UK born fighter won’t back down from anyone he’s easily overpowered by the average heavy hitter. The UFC could drop him down into the heavy weight ranks but Mcsweeny will need to bring the pain in the promotions toughest division.

Brendan Schaub: Schuab 6’4” hits hard, moves well came in great shape, has the frame to bloom into a true heavyweight. The ground game is supposedly his weakness though against big Marcus in the semi-finals he managed an amazing scramble to the feet out of a near hopeless position. He will face Roy Nelson on Saturday and needs to keep the fight on the feet use his greater range and wear the rotund Nelson down.


Jdon Howard