UFC Central Ask the Insider: Cain vs. Bigfoot

Showdown Joe answers several fan questions this week including who will win the re-match between Cain Velasquez and BigFoot Silva.

BY SHOWDOWN JOE FERRARO

A strange week in the world of Mixed Martial Arts has this week’s “Ask The Insider” segment highlighted by controversy and fan frustration. Before we get to that, let’s get some “predictions” out of the way.

I’m not one for predictions. I stopped making them years ago for obvious reasons, but I will say this. If the fight between Velasquez and BigFoot ends up the same way, I’ll be shocked. I believe it will go longer than their first bout, one which lasted 3:36. Silva has learned from his errors and with the bout scheduled for five rounds, Cain may not be as explosive as he may be in a three rounder. I don’t believe Silva can keep up with Cain’s rhythm, so if he doesn’t win early, Velasquez will attempt to break him in round two, and finish him off should the Big Brazilian makes a mistake.

I doubt this fight will ever take place, but seeing as Dana and company brought in James Toney to fight Randy Couture in the summer of 2010, then never say never. But Randy wasn’t the champ back then; Cain is. It would be a massive risk for the UFC to put this fight on, but when I say risk, I am referring to the long shot odds Fury would have at defeating Velasquez in the octagon. On paper, Fury literally and figuratively has a puncher’s chance to win, but realistically speaking, I’m pretty confident it will look eerily similar to how Couture/Toney went down, but with a more violent ending.

Full disclosure: Antonio Carvalho is a friend and one of my long time MMA instructors.

Should Garza have been released? I can see why the UFC did release “The Scarecrow”. He lost three of his last four fights, albeit vs. featherweight studs, who are on the rise or at least in the top 10. All of it really shows is that Pablo needs to work on being able to defeat the upper echelon of the division. At 29 years of age, I can see him returning to the UFC soon.

In the case of Carvalho, I decided to get the thoughts of some my media peers, some fighters (currently in the UFC and some who aren’t…yet). The consensus was similar to what Antonio stated publicly: he is a victim of circumstance. To be released after a controversial stoppage is truly heartbreaking, but to lose from an illegal punch to the throat is difficult to swallow (no pun intended).

Credit Darren Elkins, Antonio’s last opponent, who hits like a truck, but the punch that landed and staggered Carvalho was to the throat. There is no way Darren aimed for the throat, so he deserves no fault for throwing techniques aimed at finishing off Tony. In fact, in the days after the event, the only bruising Carvalho had on his body and face just so happened to be on his neck. So, a controversial stoppage courtesy of an illegally landed punch has cost Carvalho is job with the UFC, and likely his career in MMA. Was it a premature release? Yes – I (and many others) believe so.

According to the champ, he was unaware of any media obligations. I find this difficult to believe considering his management are some of the most thorough in the game today. Is it possible there may have been some miscommunication? Yes.

Is it possible Anderson was playing hard ball with the UFC and his management team, perhaps saying “I will do it, but I can’t that day, book it next week,” and they said “no, it has to be this day,” and Anderson saying “I won’t show,” and they said “yes you will” etc. and Anderson showed them all up? You know where I’m going with this.

I doubt he’s taking Weidman lightly. He’ll be more than ready. I cannot see him overlooking the American considering this is the man who many believe will dethrone him. Only two of his last 11 opponents were widely considered threats: Dan Henderson and Vitor Belfort. And “The Spider” finished both guys. He’ll be ready for Weidman, despite this week’s controversy.

Not sure where you heard that, but it’s not true. Georges simply said it would likely be easier for him to drop to lightweight than it would be to pack on weight and compete at middleweight.

But that mere suggestion sent the world on a tail spin with some MMA media and fans twisting it to their liking, and assumed he was challenging Ben Henderson.

I don’t blame the gloves. They aren’t throwing the strikes, the athletes are. Should a new design be considered? Why not – if there is an option that can protect a fighter’s eyes, then I’m all for it. As long as it doesn’t impede a grappler’s ability to execute their game plan, get it done.

I also believe we should look closer at how fighters are throwing their strikes and their intentions. If a fighter is purposely throwing, pawing or using the fingers to gouge their opponent’s eyes, then the officials should enforce what is required of them in Foul number four in the Unified Rules of MMA — no eye gouging takes place under their watch.

Watch closely and you’ll see some fighters, for a lack of a better term, “cheat” their way into a clinch or exchange.

In closing, one of the hottest topics on my twitter was the unfortunate case of Eddie Alvarez, and his current legal issues with Bellator.

Here’s what some fans have stated:


Eddie hasn’t competed since October. We are approaching seven months of inactivity, as he is stuck in this legal battle. The sport is losing one if it’s premier fighters, in his prime, due to this crazy case.

We simply do not know the full details, but based on what’s available for public consumption, public opinion favors the fighter, not the promotion. I understand Bellator’s issue. They helped promote and build Eddie, fine, but his contract has expired. He has the right to leave. They have the right to match, and by all accounts, did not do so, yet their lawyers apparently convinced a judge they did. Like @Carsonic_Boom stated above, they can’t.

In reading between the lines, it appears to be that this is not a case of Bellator vs. Eddie Alvarez. This is a corporate battle between the UFC’s former broadcaster, and Zuffa. Seems the former are more than happy to prevent the ladder from signing a premier fighter, that will shine under the banner they also apparently believe they also built.

To make a long story short, Alvarez better hope this ends soon, and for everyone’s sake, in favour of him signing with anyone other than Bellator. He’s already tweeted that he sold an investment property. That means he’s continuing to lose money. And if he can’t recover it, then what? Fight for Bellator to make some of it back? #CmonSon

Unless Eddie can recoup all the money he has spent on legal fees, he will lose this battle, even if he goes to the UFC. I can’t see him making all that money back and more. And truth be told, if he does, good for him.

I’ve been a promoter in the past, but never on the scale of Bellator. But one thing my partners back then and I always believe in, was if a fighter doesn’t want to compete for us, no problem and no hard feelings. We would always let him/them walk. Unfortunately, the business has changed.

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