It was a big night Saturday in Dallas for a couple of Brazilians. One who is resurrecting his UFC career, the other whose career is getting kick-started.
Ex-UFC light-heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort was emphatic in his return to the Octagon Saturday, putting away fellow former title-holder in Rich Franklin in short order.
Belfort had not fought in the UFC for over four years, when he lost consecutive fights for the first (and only) time in his career. Back then, he went on to take a third straight defeat after returning to Pride FC.
While those losses were to Randy Couture, Tito Ortiz and Alistair Overeem (not too shabby) he would then drop two of his next four. To compound his bad run, he tested positive for a banned substance after he fell to Dan Henderson and was suspended for nine months. Things weren't exactly looking up for his career.
But in 2008, he signed a contract with Affliction and decided to move down and fight at middleweight. Belfort fought on both of the now-defunct promotion's cards, winning each by knockout. And thus, he was brought back to the Octagon, where he promptly continued that trend with another quick KO of Franklin.
It appears he's now going to challenge Anderson Silva for the 185-pound belt, at least according to what Dana White said in the post-fight news conference. I don't know, that might be a little early. It's hard enough for anyone to be "ready" for Anderson Silva, let alone a guy who is just one fight into his UFC return. I think I'd have him get another win under his belt before he's thrown to the wolves; that is, The Spider.
Even faster than Vitor's rise to apparent contendership has been that for 25-year-old Junior Dos Santos. Three appearances in the Octagon, three stoppages. He was a major underdog in his first against Fabricio Werdum, but he stunned him with an uppercut. Then, after putting away Stefan Struve, he got his biggest win to date (at least in terms of notoriety) Saturday by stopping Mirko Cro Cop in the third after pretty much having his way with him for most of the fight.
I'd love to see Dos Santos take on the winner of next month's Cain Velasquez-Ben Rothwell bout, with the victor there potentially becoming top contender for the heavyweight belt. Whether Brock Lesnar is still champion then depends on whether he gets past Shane Carwin and likely Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.
On the flip side of the two big winners at UFC 103 are their victims. This could be the end for Cro Cop. Honestly, I'm not at all surprised he got picked apart by Dos Santos. (In fact, I predicted as much.)
Cro Cop kept saying leading up to this fight that he was back, refocused, and ready to contend for the title. For whatever reason, I just didn't buy it. Maybe he believed what he was saying. But it just felt like he was repeating it as if trying to convince himself. And if you need convincing in order to have confidence entering the Octagon, like in any sport, you're in trouble.
Since the loss, he has now come out and said he should have called it quits after winning the Pride Grand Prix title in 2006. "I'm entering the cage and thinking about fishing," he said. Hey Mirko, maybe you should have let Dana know that before they signed you to another multi-fight deal.
And then there's Rich Franklin. What to do with Franklin? He's still one of the best light-heavyweights in the world, but he can't seem to get over the hump in terms of beating top-tier competition. (Losses to Belfort, Henderson and Silva). Maybe he'll find his groove again back at 205. But one thing is for sure: No more fights at 195. At least that's my opinion.
Which brings us to the rankings. Belfort and Dos Santos burst into the middleweight and heavyweight lists, respectively. Meanwhile, Josh Koscheck (an impressive winner over Frank Trigg Saturday) and Gray Maynard (a big-time decision over Roger Huerta) make moves in the welterweight and lightweight divisions. Martin Kampmann, you be bumped off.
And finally Victor Valimaki, with a win Friday over Lew Polley at The Fight Club's show in Edmonton -- his seventh in a row -- the hometown boy cracks the Canadian Top 10. Could he be back in the UFC before long? Ryan Ford also won, but he's not there yet.
NOTES: Could Frank Trigg be one and done in his return to the UFC? There are reports that he's going to be released. But that would be news to him, according to his latest tweet. I've been critical of the UFC with its snap cuts in the past, and this would be another example. He didn't look great, but he wasn't fighting a stiff in Josh Koscheck. If Trigg is cut, he says he's going to retire. Maybe he could follow in the footsteps of Chuck Liddell and try his hand at Dancing with the Stars. The Iceman's foray into the dance floor, by the way, premieres Monday night.
