Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Silva Post-Fight Thoughts and Analysis

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Saturday night kicked of Strikeforce's much-anticipated World Grand Prix Heavyweight Tournament, and it did so with fireworks. Only one main-card fight made it out of the first round, and we witnessed what could be the end of one of the most impressive careers in MMA history.

The End of an Era?

- Of course, the biggest story of the night was +350 underdog Antonio Silva's destruction of former pound-for-pound king Fedor Emelianenko. If Fabricio Werdum put a crack in the dam of Fedor's invincibility, Silva blew the entire thing to smithereens. After a second round spent mostly in survival mode, Fedor's eye was mangled to the point that he could no longer continue. Would I have liked to see a third round? Sure, if for no other reason than to selfishly see if Fedor could play comeback kid once again. But you cannot argue with the stoppage when the fighter clearly cannot see out of one eye. After the fight, Fedor speculated that it might be God's will to stop fighting. There has been no official word on his retirement yet, but it feels like the right time.

- For the first time in Fedor's career, size was the deciding factor in a fight. Silva did a fantastic job getting Fedor to the ground quickly in the second round, and was able to maintain and transition in top position while threatening with both submissions and ground and pound. If you have never grappled before, it is hard to explain just how suffocating it is to escape from the bottom against an opponent with 30-plus pounds on you. It is grueling, especially when the person on top of you is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt like Silva.

- If this is the end of road, let's momentarily put aside the critiques on Fedor's opponents or M-1 Global's negotiating strategies. Instead, we should reflect on and appreciate a fighter that has given us some of the most memorable moments in the sport. For me, those moments are when Fedor snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. The Cro Cop head kick, the Randleman suplex, blasting Arlovski out of midair. What made Fedor special is that no matter how bad things got, he found a way to win.

- Silva advances to the second round of the tournament, where he awaits the winner of the Werdum/ Alistair Overeem fight in April. It certainly isn't the matchup that Strikeforce preferred, but Silva's combination of size, skill and childlike personality makes him an interesting figure to root for going forward.

Introducing Sergei Kharitonov

- The most obscure name in this heavyweight tournament is easily Sergei Kharitonov, a Russian product who has spent most of his career fighting in Japan. Kharitonov introduced himself to American audiences in a big way Saturday, knocking Andrei Arlovski stiff in the first round. With wins over tournament participants Alistair Overeem and Fabricio Werdum already under his belt, Kharitonov has the knockout power to be a serious sleeper in the Grand Prix.

- The biggest question surrounding Kharitonov coming into Saturday was how he would look after dedicating the better part of the last two years to kickboxing. In short, he looked good, using angles to stalk down and corner Arlovski against the cage, and capitalizing when Arlovski tried to circle away with his hands low.

- Speaking of Arlovski, this is his fourth consecutive loss, three of which have come in vicious fashion. Much like Chuck Liddell before him, what's concerning to me is not THAT Arlovski is getting knocked out, but HOW Arlovski is getting knocked out. Each KO has left him stiff on the mat, his consciousness eerily and completely detached from his body. At just 32 years old, Arlovski should still physically be able to compete, but it has become painfully clear that the former UFC champ can no longer take a punch.

- Kharitonov will now face the winner of the Brett Rogers/ Josh Barnett matchup in April. With a suspect ground game, you can be sure that Kharitonov will be rooting for the standup-focused Rogers, rather than the submission specialist Barnett.

Odds and Ends

- Shane del Rosario continues to be the most intriguing heavyweight prospect on the Strikeforce roster and after pulling off a slick armbar finish against a game Lavar Johnson. I was especially impressed with how quickly del Rosario was able to reestablish guard before working back to the feet after giving up an early takedown, and how quickly he mounted after securing a takedown of his own. With all 11 of his wins ending by stoppage -- including 10 in the first round -- del Rosario's most recent performance should be enough for him to carve out a spot in Strikeforce's future marquee shows.

- In an all-offense, no-defense slugfest, Chad Griggs scored the TKO victory over Gianpiero Villante. Griggs had the tools to put Villante away without receiving so much damage, but the fans will always appreciate a fighter that goes for broke with reckless abandonment.

- Valentijn Overeem looked outmatched early on the feet against kickboxing veteran Ray Sefo, and wisely took the fight to the ground. From there, Sefo's glaring ground deficiencies were evident, and Overeem quickly secured a choke from side mount. The official ruling on the submission was a neck crank, but my personal experience the choke is that it attacks the windpipe. If you're caught by surprise, it can be a startlingly painful position, but most midlevel grapplers would have been able to properly defend it.

Cameron Gidari is the official writer for TapouTVTC.com. Follow him on Twitter at Twitter.com/GidariTapouTVTC

UFC 126 Post-Fight Thoughts and Analysis

The Kick Heard Round the World

- What can I say about Anderson Silva that hasn't already been said a dozen times? Any time he steps into the ring, there is a chance that you are going to see something spectacular. Of course, the fact that he is capable of such otherworldly performances makes it all the more frustrating and disappointing when he doesn't deliver. I think it's clear that Silva needs to be motivated with a credible challenger in order to really shine. When that happens, he is more than capable of leaving you standing with your hands over your mouth in awe.

- Like so many challengers before him, Vitor Belfort looked hesitant and tentative against the champ. While it's hard to blame him -- he is fighting the best in the world -- Chael Sonnen showed that in order to beat Silva, you have to put pressure on him. If you give Silva time to sit back and analyze, he will find an opening and exploit it.

- The front kick is typically thrown to the body, and is used as a defensive kick when your opponent closes the distance. The fact that Silva was able to knock Belfort out cold with one speaks to both his power and accuracy. I've yet to hear anyone that has seen another fight end with a front kick, which speaks to just how special this knockout was.

- Who is next for the champion? Yushin Okami has been promised a title shot, but UFC president Dana White also promised fans the superfight they have been clamoring for against UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre -- provided St-Pierre beats Jake Shields at UFC 129. Here is another intriguing possibility. Should Jon Jones win the light-heavyweight title at UFC 128 (more on that below), Rashad Evans has said that he will drop weight classes. Given the success that a wrestler like Sonnen was able to have against Silva, it would be very intriguing to see what the bigger, more explosive Evans could do.

A Twist No One Saw Coming

- The real shocker Saturday night was Joe Rogan's announcement that Jon Jones, fresh off of manhandling Ryan Bader, would replace injured teammate Rashad Evans in a title fight against light-heavyweight champion Mauricio "Shogun" Rua at UFC 128. At just 23 years old, Jones has become a bona fide superstar -- Bruce Buffer went so far as to proclaim that Jones would become the Muhammad Ali of the sport. Rua is several steps up in competition, though, with excellent jiu-jitsu and a dangerous and powerful striking game. Is Jones ready for such a difficulty spike, especially with just six weeks to train?

- If Jones' performance Saturday night was any indication, the answer to that question is a resounding, 'Yes.' Jones sent a message early, shooting in and taking down the All-American wrestler Bader with a classic double leg. Once it was established that Jones held the edge in the wrestling department, winning became a matter of when, not if. Bader had no answer for Jones' freakish reach on the feet and resorted to taking diving shots from the outside. On the ground, Jones' top control was very impressive, and his long arms enabled him to snake in a guillotine choke that most other fighters would not have been able to secure.

Odds and Ends

- In our fight preview for Forrest Griffin vs. Rich Franklin, we highlighted that Griffin's size advantage would be his biggest key to victory. That was the case, as Griffin was able to suck Franklin to the ground and keep him at bay on the feet. Franklin was able to turn it on late, but the former middleweight is going to have a hard time swimming in the deep end of the light heavyweight division, where so many of the fish are bigger than him.

- Former WEC champion Miguel Torres sat behind his jab and kept Antonio Banuelos at bay for much of their 15 minute contest. His performance didn't exactly set the world on fire, but Torres fans would do well to remember that this is just his second fight under the tutelage of Firas Zahabi.  Chalk this one up to a learning experience, and look for Torres to build off that jab in the future.

UFC Fight for the Troops 2 Post-Fight Thoughts and Analysis

Evan Dunham vs. Melvin Guillard

- Going into Saturday night's main event, Evan Dunham was one of the most touted prospects in the lightweight division. Looking to rebound from a razor-thin loss to Sean Sherk in his last bout, many expected Dunham to submit Melvin Guillard and continue his ascension up the lightweight ladder. Instead, Guillard derailed Dunham's hype train with a series of vicious punches and knees midway through the first round. Most impressive for me was Guillard's ability to get back to his feet after Dunham scored an early takedown, then inflict damage while his leg was still hoisted in the air. This type of complete performance is what fans of "The Young Assassin" have been waiting for, one where natural ability and strategy were equally in display.

- The physical talents of Guillard have never been questioned. Blessed with exceptional speed and athleticism, he has the physical tools to be a top-level fighter. However, mental lapses and poor game-planning have been Guillard's Achilles heel, leading to seven of his eight professional losses coming via submission - including six in the first round. Since joining Greg Jackson's camp, though, Guillard has reeled off four straight wins, including Saturday night's blitzing of Dunham, and he looks to finally be putting everything together. Guillard guaranteed in his post-fight speech that he would go undefeated and earn a title shot in 2011. A couple more wins over top-level opponents could see that prediction come true.

- Want to train with Jackson MMA coaches Greg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn? Sign up on TapouTVTC.com today!

Matt Mitrione vs. Tim Hague

- Matt Mitrione continued the impressive start to his young MMA career, blasting the more experienced Tim Hague for his third (T)KO stoppage in four career fights. The debate has now been raised as to whether or not Mitrione -- at 32 years old and with years of football wear and tear -- has enough time left to develop into a top-tier heavyweight. That remains to be seen, but with all four career wins coming in the UFC, three in dominant fashion, it is clear that "Meathead" is ready for a step up in competition.

- I remember when Mitrione, along with a slew of other ex-football players, joined the cast of The Ultimate Fighter 10, there was a certain backlash that these athletes were just capitalizing on the growing popularity of MMA. With Mitrione, however, I think his background and general lack of experience have actually been positives. His athleticism has been one of his best assets in the cage, and his rawness has allowed Duke Roufus to mold Mitrione from scratch, rather than working to fix bad habits from a previous fighting style.

- To see the moves that have helped Mitrione stay undefeated, make sure to sign up on TapouTVTC.com.

Mark Hominick vs. George Roop

- The stakes for Mark Hominick were clear: Win, and earn a title shot against featherweight champion, Jose Aldo. Some fighters would have been entered a fight like that with timidity, content to minimize risk and out-point their opponents. Hominick did the opposite, utilizing pinpoint striking to finish George Roop in under two minutes. Now riding a five-fight win streak, Hominick will find out if his technical skills are enough to dethrone a fighter anointed one of the pound-for-pound best in the world.

- Visit TapouTVTC.com to learn how to box like Hominick with his coach, Shawn Tompkins.

Pat Barry vs. Joey Beltran

- It wasn't the trouncing that some expected, but Pat Barry put a hurting on Joey Beltran's left leg en route to a unanimous decision victory. Beltran stuck to his game plan, clinching with Barry and doing damage against the cage, but he was never able to take the fight to the ground to exploit Barry's suspect grappling. When Barry was able to separate, his kicks were the difference maker.

- Check out Pat Barry's pro training modules to learn how to kick like he does.

Cole Miller vs. Matt Wiman

- Matt Wiman put on a tenacious performance, dominating fellow Ultimate Fighter 5 cast member, Cole Miller and showing no ring rust after he was forced to withdraw from consecutive bouts with an injury. After netting three consecutive Fight of the Night bonuses -- but going 1-2 in those three contests -- Wiman has rattled off three wins in a row. After such a dominant display over a solid fighter like Miller, Wiman is inching closer towards the top of the stacked lightweight division.

UFC 125 Post-Fight Thoughts and Analysis

Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard

- Edgar vs. Maynard II will go down as one of, if not the best title fight in UFC history. Frankie Edgar showed that he continues to improve by leaps and bounds every time he steps in the cage, shrugging off most of Maynard's takedowns while landing a few of his own. On the feet, Edgar showed the heart of a champion, rebounding from a brutal beating in the first round to push the pace the rest of the fight. Maynard, meanwhile, checked his 'boring' reputation at the door, blitzing Edgar with vicious left hooks and almost finishing the fight early. Both fighters put forth a championship effort Saturday, and the immediate rematch is well deserved.

- Wrestlers are taught to only shoot if you are close enough to touch your opponent. Of course, being close enough to touch your opponent in MMA means you are close enough to get hit. In order to shoot for a takedown in MMA, you must close the distance, or take a shot from far away. We saw the importance of this Saturday night. Edgar and Maynard both succeeded on takedown attempts when they chained their takedowns with strikes, or when they ducked under their opponent's strikes. When they shot from the outside, their takedowns were easily stuffed.

- Maynard's lead left hooks were devastating in the first round. As a result, Edgar's corner instructed him to circle towards Maynard's right. While it's typically taught to not circle towards your opponent's power hand, Edgar was able to use this movement to jam Maynard up and take away his best punch.

- To learn how to throw the lead left hook, check out Dan Hardy's pro training modules on TapouTVTC.com.

Chris Leben vs. Brian Stann

- Chris Leben has built a successful career on his toughness. You can hit him, hit him again, and hit him some more, but he still keeps coming forward. The only problem with this strategy is that, eventually, you will fight someone that hits hard enough to put you out. This happened Saturday, when Brian Stann pulled off the shocking upset and knocked Leben out in the first round -- something that hadn't happened since Anderson Silva's UFC debut in 2006.

- If you want to learn to strike like Brian Stann, check out his coach Mike Winkeljohn's pro training modules.

Brandon Vera vs. Thiago Silva

- What impressed me most about Thiago Silva's performance was that he dominated Vera in the clinch, no easy task against an Olympic-level Greo-Roman wrestler. The UFC broadcast team repeatedly pointed out that this is the first time we've seen a healthy Silva in over a year, and he truly looked like a different fighter. Still just 28, Silva's only two career losses have come to former UFC light-heavyweight champions, Lyoto Machida and Rashad Evans.

- Vera has always been a dynamic striker, and he showed those features in brief spurts during the fight, even knocking Silva down with a body kick. Unfortunately, Vera showed little urgency on the ground, and seemed content to ball up and hold on rather than exploding and working to a scramble.

Nate Diaz vs. Dong Hyun Kim

- Nick Diaz and his brother Nate have both had problems against wrestlers in their careers. This was the case Saturday, where Dong Hyun Kim used his superior takedowns and top control to grind out a decision. Diaz was able to mount some offense on the feet in the third round, but by that point it was too little, too late. Kim is a big and strong welterweight, but I would like to see his limited striking game improve before he really makes waves in the division.

- I love Diaz's guard game, where he is constantly searching for sweeps and submissions. Every time Diaz elevated one of his legs to look for a triangle, though, Kim controlled his opposite hip, essentially nullifying the submission attempt. Kim might have looked like he was near giving up a submission, but as long as he controlled one of Diaz's hips, he was safe.

Clay Guida vs. Takanori Gomi

- Clay Guida used some of the most bizarre movements I have ever seen in order to confuse Takaori Gomi, and it worked. Gomi was absolutely stifled on the feet and never looked comfortable. Guida also threw some unorthodox striking combinations, like following up a level change with a head kick. This is the most impressed I have been with Guida, who has now won three straight fights.

- To train with Guida's coach, Greg Jackson, click HERE.

WEC 53: Henderson vs. Pettis post-fight thoughts and analysis

The WEC finished its farewell tour Thursday night, in front of 6,348 fans in Glendale, Arizona. In fitting WEC fashion, the night ended with a Fight-of-the-Year candidate.

Benson Henderson vs. Anthony Pettis

- I'd be remiss in talking about this fight without first commenting on the ridiculous, video-game-esque kick that Pettis landed on Henderson late in the fifth round to seal the fight. I, like two of the three judges ringside, had the fight 38-38 heading into the final frame. Pettis put an emphatic exclamation point on his performance with that kick, winning over a pro-Henderson crowd to the point that he received the loudest ovation of the night. That kick summarizes what I love most about MMA; you never know when you're going to see something truly original.

- Pettis fans are familiar with his wide array of flashy strikes, but he has become a very well-rounded fighter. In his last fight, Pettis kept a good wrestler in Shane Roller from taking him down. On Thursday, Pettis was able to survive with Henderson on his back before eventually reversing position. This win gives Pettis a shot at the UFC lightweight title against the winner of Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard. Either fighter presents a unique challenge, but I think that Pettis will be able to hang.

- Henderson is an imposing 155-er physically, with legs that look like they belong on a horse. However, his overall game is still very raw. He rarely throws more than two-punch combination and doesn't use his kicks in conjunction with his punches. He has the physical tools to survive in the shark tank of the UFC lightweight division, but Henderson will need to continue evolving to climb to the top.

- To learn some of the unorthodox striking that Duke Roufus-coached fighters like Pettis use, check out Pat Barry and Matt Mitrione's Pro Training modules on TapouTVTC.com.

- This fight was the perfect sendoff to the WEC. It was a back-and-forth battle, a Fight-of-the-Year candidate, featuring excitement and a move that literally left our jaws hanging open. Like so many other WEC fights, it ended in a standing ovation, seen by too few but appreciated by those who did.

Dominick Cruz vs. Scott Jorgensen

- Cruz is a nightmare matchup for anyone in the bantamweight division. He possesses size, speed and unlimited cardio. How exactly do you beat Cruz? If you force him to come to you and look to counterpunch, he can out-quick you. If you try to bully him in the clinch, he can out-strength you. Jorgensen had no answers for Cruz's elusive style, and Cruz dominated from bell to bell.

- When ranking the most frustrating fighters to face, Cruz ranks at the top with Lyoto Machida and Anderson Silva. Any time Jorgensen looked to brawl on the feet, he ended up swinging at air.

- Cruz's biggest asset is his footwork, which is quick and disciplined. Whether he is moving in to attack or out after attacking, Cruz always works his angles. It's disheartening as an opponent when you absorb three punches and a leg kick from Cruz, only to have him disappear from your sight when you look to return fire.

Donald Cerrone vs. Chris Horodecki

- Cerrone did a great job of submission chaining on the ground, transitioning from a triangle to an omoplata before switching to a triangle again for the finish. This is a preaching of Cerrone's coach, Greg Jackson, who likes to see his fighters swing directly from submission to submission, rather than retreating to guard after one missed attempt.

- Cerrone might have finished the fight earlier, had he chosen to rotate forward on the omoplata attempt instead of reaching for a crossface and pulling Horodecki backwards. It looked like a move out of pro wrestling, but rolling back actually took pressure off of Horodecki's shoulder. Instead, Cerrone should have looked to flatten Horodecki onto his stomach, then rolled his hips forward to apply the submission.

- To see Greg Jackson demonstrate the triangle, omoplata, and submission training, sign up for Jackson's Pro Training modules on TapouTVTC.com. 

UFC 124: St. Pierre vs. Koscheck II post-fight thoughts and analysis

- Is there any doubt that Georges St. Pierre is the best fighter in the world? After dominating Jon Fitch, BJ Penn, Thiago Alves and Dan Hardy on the ground, St. Pierre put on a striking clinic against a Josh Koscheck that many thought would test the champion's chin. St. Pierre only attempted three takedowns in the entire fight, content instead to blast away with jabs and lead hooks that left Koscheck with a fractured orbital bone. Koscheck was never in the fight, throwing the same jab/ overhand right combo that, while successful in the past, was predictable and easy for St. Pierre to avoid. Training with Freddie Roach looks to have elevated St. Pierre's boxing game. Combine that with a world-class wrestling game, and it's hard to find a fighter in the welterweight division that will give the champion a true test.

- Don't think nutrition is important for a fighter? Thiago Alves is example 'A' to the contrary. After missing weight --for the second time in four fights -- and looking sluggish in a lopsided decision loss to Jon Fitch, Dana White put Alves on blast; miss weight again and move up to middleweight. Alves enlisted the services of nutritionist Mike Dolce, and the results were convincing. Alves made weight with no issues on Friday and looked crisp, energized, and most importantly healthy Saturday against John Howard. After the bout, Alves credited Dolce and "lifestyle choices" for the win. If you want to learn from our nutritionist, P.R. Cole, sign up on TapouTVTC.com today.

- Like St. Pierre, Alves used his technical striking to avoid damage and beat up an opponent set on throwing haymakers. Alves' leg kicks were especially on point, and he looked fresh after the 15-minute beating that he administered. I typically shy away from the clichéd "best we've ever seen" statements, but with a new nutrition plan coupled with his deadly striking, the building blocks are in place for Alves to truly be the best Alves we've ever seen.

- Stefan Struve showed poise on the ground, using the cage to help defend a kimura attempt from Sean McCorkle. From there, Struve took advantage of a quickly-gassing opponent, using a hip-heist sweep to gain mounted position and pound McCorkle out. At only 22-years old, Struve has already amassed a staggering 25 career fights, including seven in the UFC. His 6'11 frame gives his tremendous reach on the feet, but Struve must continue to put on muscle to avoid being bullied by bulker heavyweights. Considering that his body has not fully matured yet, he has plenty of time.

- Jim Miller continues to bolster his contender status after knocking off fast-rising prospect Charles Oliveira by catching a kneebar in the first round. It surprised me that Oliveira showed no urgency when his leg was trapped, opting to fire off a few strikes to the body instead of using his free leg to push Miller's hips below his vulnerable knee. Still, Oliveira is just 21-years old, and he will learn from this loss and come back better. Miller ran his winning streak to six, and his overall UFC record to 8-1. The lightweight division has become stacked with contenders, with Miller, George Sotiropoulos (7-0 UFC) and the winner of Benson Henderson/ Anthony Pettis all potential number-one contenders in the next year.

- Mac Danzig flattened Joe Stevenson with a looping left hook that would have made Chuck Liddell proud, delivering the knockout blow while moving back and away. Despite not having a lot behind it, the hook connected in the perfect spot, proving that the hardest punches aren't always the ones that finish fights. Danzig was fighting for his UFC life in this bout and he delivered with the most emphatic finish of his Octagon career.

- Matt Riddle has the type of attitude that I love in young fighters. Instead of wilting from a first-round barrage of punishment courtesy of Sean Pierson, Riddle came back with a smile on his face in the second, eager for more. Riddle might have lost the decision, but heart like that is not coachable and a precious commodity in MMA.