Every company wants to hitch their wagon to a fighter with “charisma”, but which five have gotten the biggest push without the pedigree or skills to back it up?

5. Michael “The Count” Bisping (18 Wins, 2 Losses)

Even though “The Count” is one of the most popular and dangerous fighters to step into the UFC octagon from the United Kingdom, his legitimacy as a top-contender and a headliner should be questioned. Bisping’s impressive striking and mind-games may have won over fans, but he has never defeated an elite fighter. His two chances to prove he was a top-contender in both the light-heavyweight division and in the middleweight division failed miserably when he lost to Rashad Evans (unanimous decision) and Dan Henderson (knockout). Aside from the occasional highlight-knockout, the only reason Michael Bisping is popular is because he is the poster-boy for the UFC in the United Kingdom.

Consider this very good news for boxing in general: the Floyd Mayweather Jr./Juan Manuel Marquez bout from last Saturday pulled at least one million pay per view buys, and may go as high as 1.6 million when all is said and done.

That’s from Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports, who reported the news last night.

The UFC is a privately owned company and does not have to release its pay-per-view sales, which it chooses not to do. Occasionally, we’re able to find out what a particular fight sold, but it’s not often. From what I’m hearing, though, the Mayweather fight had a convincing victory. I’m hearing the Mayweather-Marquez pay-per-view is going to come in at or near 1 million sales. I don’t have a verifiable figure for the UFC, but I believe it will be far lower than 1 million. The boxing number should be released by Thursday at the latest and perhaps on Wednesday.

We’re almost always able to find out what the UFC does on PPV, but it comes from the cable companies and not from Zuffa itself. But Kevin is absolutely correct about UFC 103; I would be absolutely shocked if it breaks the 600,000 buy barrier. I think a number around 450,000 is probably more accurate, which isn’t bad when you consider that the show was headlined by Rich Franklin vs. Vitor Belfort in a non-title catchweight bout.

As I said above, this is very good news for boxing. It’s also very good news for “Money” Mayweather, who cements himself as one of the biggest PPV draws in combat sports.

DALLAS – I’m standing just outside the lobby of the Hilton Anatole hotel, enjoying the cool night air and talking with several fans who are asking me about writing for mixed martial arts for a living. It’s two in the morning, and I’ve just returned to the hotel from the American Airlines Center, where I covered nearly nine hours of UFC bouts, press conferences and interviews for Fox Sports.

A large van pulls up to the curb. The fans, knowing what’s about to happen, quickly lose interest in my story and flock to the van. The van side door slides open, and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Junior dos Santos spill out of an area much to small to contain their massive frames.

Only hours earlier, dos Santos destroyed Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic for the biggest win of his fledgling career, but you would never know it from looking at him. His face is covered in cuts, bruises and swelling. He looks like he’s been in a car wreck. But he’s happily enjoying the moment.

Nogueira and dos Santos are quickly engulfed by fans seeking an autograph, a handshake or even a photo. From the driver’s side of the van comes Ed Soares, the manager for dos Santos and many other top Brazilian fighters. He’s smiling, even on the outskirts of a throng of fans that couldn’t possibly recognize him as one of the most powerful men in the sport.

I shake Ed’s hand. “You look like you’re having a great night,” I say.

He is most certainly having a great night.

…read full article…

For every sunset, there is a sunrise.

After this weekend’s fight card, it seems the sun has set on former PRIDE FC star, Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic. However, a fighter whose career seemed dead just two years ago made a triumphant return with an impressive first round stoppage of Rich Franklin.

Vitor Belfort entered the cage at UFC 103 in Dallas, Texas with a two year old chip on his shoulder. He exited it exactly the way his fans had become so familiar with over his early career after knocking out the former middleweight champion.

Along with Belfort, young guns Junior Dos Santos and Paul Daley put on stellar striking performances with knockout victories.

However, Filipovic, Rich Franklin, and Martin Kampmann cannot boast the same accomplishments, as each was stopped by his respective opponent.

The future is very bright for several of UFC 103’s big winners, yet the sun seems to be disappearing on the horizon for both a few of the veterans the fans of the sport have grown to appreciate so much.

…read full article…

DALLAS – Vitor Belfort made the most of his return to the UFC, knocking out Rich Franklin 3:02 into the first round to win the main event of UFC 103.

Belfort buckled Franklin with a clean left hand, then followed up with three uncontested shots on the ground before the fight was waved off.

“To be honest, my brains are still scrambled. I’m not sure exactly what happened,” said Franklin. “I have trouble with left-handed Brazilians.”

Dana White noted at the post-show press conference that Belfort would likely received the next shot at middleweight champion Anderson Silva. Belfort said that, while the two are friends, he is willing to fight anyone the company puts in front of him.

Junior Dos Santos battered an aging Mirko Cro Cop into verbal submission in the third round. Dos Santos landed power strikes from the outset of the fight that had Cro Cop reeling and timid. In the third and final frame, Dos Santos began to land knees and hard strikes, forcing Cro Cop to wave off the fight. Initially, it appeared that the Croatian legend was injured at the end of the bout; he left the cage holding his left eye.

But Dana White noted after the show that Cro Cop claimed to be fine and had to be forced to go to the hospital.

In one of the most shocking moments of the evening, British newcomer Paul “Semtex” Daley defeated top welterweight contender Martin Kampmann by TKO in the first. Daley, a noted striker, pounded Kampmann against the fence until the fight was called with Kampmann still standing. Kampmann, who protested the decision, was noticeably wobbly ten minutes after the fight.

Frank Trigg’s return to the UFC didn’t do as planned. Trigg was stopped minutes into the fight by Josh Koscheck, who once again displayed a noticeably improved striking game.

In the first bout of the evening, Tyson Griffin defeated Hermes Franca via second-round TKO. Griffin landed a powerful straight right to the jaw that dropped Franca to the mat, where Griffin followed up with a barrage of punches until the fight was called.

Inside Fights is on location in Dallas for UFC 103, and we’ll be starting live coverage of the event tonight at 9:30pm ET. You can join the live discussion at both FoxSports.com and here at Inside Fights and you will get real-time results from the event via the fastest live blog on the web.

In addition, you will have the ability to leave your own comments and ask your questions as well as participate in instant reader polls.

Join us tonight at 9:30pm ET for all the latest action from UFC 103!

I am live from the Dallas Convention Center, the location for today’s UFC 103 weigh-ins. Tito Ortiz just completed a Q&A session (which I covered in detail) and is now signing autographs for hundreds of fans.

The first fighter hits the scale at 5pm ET, so stay tuned for real-time coverage of the results.

And here we go.

Rafael Dos Anjos (155.5) vs. Rob Emerson (155.5)

Igor Pokrajac (203) vs. Vladimir Matyushenko (205)

Jason Brilz (205) vs. Eliot Marshall (204)

Brian Foster (170) vs. Rick Story (170)

Rafaello Oliveira (155) vs. Nik Lentz (155)

Steve Lopez (154) vs. Jim Miller (154)

Tomasz Drwal (185) vs. Drew McFedries (185)

Cole Miller (155) vs. Efrain Escudero (157) – Escudero must lose one pound

Hermes Franca (159) vs. Tyson Griffin (155) – This will be a catchweight bout

Frank Trigg (170) vs. Josh Koscheck (170)

Martin Kampmann (169) vs. Paul Daley (170)

Junior dos Santos (236) vs. Mirko Cro Cop (226)

Vitor Belfort (196.25) vs. Rich Franklin (195) – Vitor shreds all of his clothes but is still 1/4 of a pound over the limit.

Rogan interviews Belfort. Belfort says he wants to accomplish his dreams and he was given a second chance. He’s going to do his best.

Franklin says he’s the best version of himself. Says it’s going to be a great fight. Rich says his new contract will allow him to fight legendary guys, and Vitor is one of them.

UPDATE: Efrain Escudero made weight on his second attempt. Still waiting to see if Belfort is able to shed that last quarter of a pound.

UPDATE 2: Belfort finally made weight, but he’s nearly lifeless. It’s going to be tough for him to recover from this cut before tomorrow night’s main event. A lot of people picked him to KO Rich in the first round, including me; it might be prudent to reconsider that pick at this point.

Hermes Franca and Tyson Griffin made a deal before weigh-ins to do a 159lb catchweight bout. Franca knew he wouldn’t be able to make 155, so he struck the deal with Griffin.

UFC 103 is an interesting show.

For starters, it’s up against the boxing return of Floyd Mayweather Jr. Mayweather, absent from the sport since a 2007 victory over Ricky Hatton, is one of the biggest pay per view attractions in the world. He’s been surpassed as the undisputed king of pay per view over the past two years by Brock Lesnar, who has established himself as one of the biggest draws in combat sports history, but Mayweather still packs a punch at the box office. And despite the rumors of slow ticket sales and a general lack of interest in the big return, Mayweather is still expected to land a resounding revenue victory on this night.

UFC 103 also lacks a real drawing card. The show has hardcore fans all over the world salivating, but it’s not a show that will capture the hearts and minds of the casual fanbase, and that’s the demographic that drives 90% of the UFC’s current business. Zuffa is still making an attempt to bring in the casual audience; they did a very strong UFC 103 Countdown show, painting Vitor Belfort as one of the baddest men on the planet and a man who may very well kill Rich Franklin in the middle of the cage.

They’re also showing two preliminary matches on Spike prior to the show. Other companies have taken this course (most notably Affliction), but this show marks the first time Zuffa will show live prelim fights for free. They’ll push the pay per view hard and try to convince some on-the-fence viewers that UFC 103 offers more value than the boxing show they might be considering.

The preliminary matches and Countdown show will certainly help, but we’re still looking at a pay per view event that will give us a rough estimate on what the low end of UFC buyrates are. And that’s not really a bad thing, either; Zuffa will need to get used to the idea that they’re going to do some bad pay per view buyrates, especially given the idea of running three shows per month in 2010.

There are plenty of fights on the UFC 103 card that have potential for excitement, drama and intrigue.

…read full article…

Fans and media are still pondering the scheduled UFC 103 main event between former UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin and Affliction refugee Vitor Belfort that will take place at a catch-weight of 195 pounds.

The very fact that it is at a catch-weight makes some scratch their heads because it is hard to gauge the ramifications of the matchup.

Let me attempt to clear the air a bit.

Indirectly it will have a huge impact on not one, but two weight classes – the 185-pound middleweight division and the 205-pound light heavyweight division.

The Franklin/Belfort fight was originally slated to be Franklin/Dan Henderson 2, however, it was pulled due to some backlash from fans and media who had seen Henderson win a split decision over Franklin at UFC 93 just a few months prior.

Their UFC 93 bout was a closely contested fight but “Hendo” was the clear cut winner (except on the 30 – 27 rogue scorecard posted by one of the judges in favor of Franklin).

The other two judges both scored it correctly at 29 – 28.

Why should Henderson have to beat Franklin again and risk a loss when he is in his late thirties and on the verge of another title shot?

…read full article…

The UFC today finalized the complete card for the Sept. 19 UFC 103 event. The show takes place next Saturday at the American Airlines Arena in Dallas, Texas.

MAIN CARD

• Rich Franklin vs. Vitor Belfort
• Mirko Cro Cop vs. Junior dos Santos
• Martin Kampmann vs. Paul Daley
• Josh Koscheck vs. Frank Trigg
• Tyson Griffin vs. Hermes Franca

PRELIMINARY CARD

• Erain Escudero vs. Cole Miller
• Drew McFedries vs. Tomas Drwal
• Jim Miller vs. Steve Lopez
• Nik Lentz vs. Rafaello Oliveira
• Ricky Story vs. Brian Foster
• Eliot Marshal vs. Jason Brilz
• Vladimir Matyushenko vs. Igor Pokrajac
• Rob Emerson vs. Rafael dos Anjos