By Ron 'The Yacman' Yacovetti
MMA Commentator - Call to Arms MMA
(www.calltoarmsfights.com)

The newest and upcoming season of the UFC and Spike TV hit, The Ultimate Fighter, what most consider the catalyst for MMA's success as a widespread phenomena, is every bit the big deal that Dana White said it would be.

Not only are two of the sports premier light-heavyweights coaching, referring to two former champions of the division, Rashad 'Sugar' Evans and Quinton 'Rampage Jackson, but it also includes the most watched fighter (per one solitary event) in all of MMA, Kimbo Slice.

Dana White, the UFC president admits the show should be intriguing to watch, taking into account many of his rants and derogatory remarks about slice, when he sailed under the EliteXC flag.

This season, originally slated to be heavyweights and middle-weights will now be solely heavyweights. Anyone wondering why still? I thought not.

One would hope, and when I say one, I mainly mean the UFC and Spike, that Kimbo fights well and lasts a while. It would be an understatement to say it would simply add fuel to the show's fire. I will be a lot more like nitrous oxide.

Well, it is safe to assume any MMA fan will be tuning in to this season, present company included. The show already has action, suspense and drama. Now it's been amped up to drama comparable to "The Days of our lives."

The UFC continues to make what is potentially old, new again. The show, much like successful dramas such as "Law and Order" uses the same formula every season. The content itself is what needs to remain interesting and top-notch, if you expect to grow your audience or even sustain a sizable one.

This is a brilliant move by the UFC, considering their position prior to signing Slice. Having mocked him so much, Dana is now in a win-win situation with fans and skeptics alike.

If Kimbo wins or goes far, he gave him a shot and helped bring him to the next level in the most dominant MMA promotion, bar none. If Slice gets whipped like egg-beaters at a diner around breakfast, then the UFC president solidifies himself as Dana Whitestradamus, having predicted the street brawler being devoured in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

So kudos Mr. White. Kudos UFC. The only way to have set the show up for even higher ratings would've been to book Eminem against Bruno the Supermodel (Sascha Baron Cohen).

-Yacman
www.yacandjshow.com

By Ron ‘The Yacman’ Yacovetti

ad•ap•ta•tion (ād'āp-tā'shən) n.
Change in behavior of a person or group in response to new or modified surroundings.

This weekend’s UFC 98 fight card is being headlined by one of combat sports’ rarest of bouts, an undefeated fighter taking on an undefeated fighter. I am already edging closer to the end of my seat cushion.

Equally impressive, is the fact that most journalists in MMA are on the fence about who will win, making predictions, if at all, with airs of caution, as if to say, “Look, don’t quote me on this…” That is what you call a tossup.

But is the reason so many people are torn on foretelling the victor, really because neither warrior has experienced losing? Perhaps this is a factor for some folks, though I find this aspect of the fight somewhat similar to offsetting penalties in football, they cancel each other out.

So what then, dare I say will make this match exciting as well as assist in the determination of a winner? – Styles.

We have all heard it before, “Styles make fights.” This UFC 98 main event is no exception. The most telling thing about the styles of both Lyoto Machida and Rashad Evans is how they are dissimilar.

Evans is a modern day mixed martial artist; period. He is diverse, well-conditioned and very athletic. One does not make it to 13-0-1 by being anything less than well-rounded. However, his one draw against Tito Ortiz may serve as a red flag, should Machida’s unorthodox and elusive style have him guessing about what to try next.

I remember watching the Evans versus Ortiz bout wondering if Rashad had not been sent the memo stating that he was allowed to fight before round three. It seemed like a temp agency had sent Rashad in, with him doing the least amount of work for the maximum amount of pay.

For me, it took all three fantastic wins, over Bisping, Liddell and Griffin, to pretty-much erase that blemish that I felt, Rashad put on his own record. Nevertheless, he did delete it in my mind, and now moves into this bout as likely to win as Machida. So how then, does he do it?

Adaptation.

Throughout the course of boxing and cage-fighting history, unorthodox fighters like Machida have embarked upon win streaks that left fans wondering when it would, or how it could, end. Their flashy styles, mental preparedness and ability to out think their opposition made for some of sports’ greatest moments.

When I think about a Lyoto Machida, I also think of standouts like Cung Le, and boxing all-time great Roy Jones Jr. It is my firm belief that Roy Jones suffered his first real loss due to circumstances, including coming down from heavyweight too fast, losing muscle and not being the same man again at light-heavyweight again.

During his prime, Antonio Tarver or Glenn Johnson would not have likely beaten him. I simply do not believe it.

So the question in UFC 98 is, “Is Machida another super-athlete who will not lose to an orthodox mixed martial artist, instead losing eventually due to aging or an unforeseen intangible, like Roy Jones did?”

Rashad Evans will be taking on one of the toughest challenges he will see in the UFC. His fast and heavy hands will not as easily hit their target in this fight. His defense will be taxed like never before, as Machida unleashes the type of barrages a fighter rarely sees or trains with, in the cage.

It is my firm belief that if he can adapt to the style of Lyoto Machida, if he can make changes he will have to figure out in the midst of the fight, that Rashad Evans can win this match. Make no mistake about it too, this adapting by Evans, should he do it, will produce fireworks that will rival the Macy’s Fourth of July show, over the Hudson River, in New York City.

I also believe that in more cases than not, the unique and awkward fighters like Machida, rarely lose so close to their career’s prime. Talk about painting myself into an indecisive corner, right?

Bottom line is that atop one solid UFC fight card this Saturday night, Lyoto Machida and Rashad Evans will be doing what they are meant to do, fight the best opposition that they can. The mere fact that it is so difficult to predict is a testament to the quality of the matchmaking the UFC has done.

Will Lyoto Machida win and leave the entire light heavyweight division wondering what it is going to take to derail him? Or, will Rashad Evans adapt to his every move, outworking him and forcing Lyoto to fight his fight? Not so much time, will tell…

However, before we make our own picks on this fight, let us not forget the likelihood of an Evans quick and thunderous knockout early on in the bout, before Machida gets to find his stride. That would sure punctuate the “O” in Rashad’s record, likely moving it to the beginning of some expletives fans everywhere will be shouting, if it happens.

-Yacman
www.yacandjshow.com