I think UFC 100 is probably the strongest card the promotion could have offered at this time. A lot of quality fights, intruiging match-ups, and probably going to get some lingering questions answered.
One question on my mind has been, "who's career is essentially over, Mark Coleman's or Stephan Bonnar's?"
At this point I would have to say Coleman's. Bonnar has the more evolved game, and if his focus is back to where it needs to be, he might make some noise at 205 after dispatching the Hammer. If Bonnar somehow loses, IMO he's all but done in MMA, at least at the UFC level.
The second question has been, "whats next for Jon Fitch?"
The answer : most likely beating Paulo Thiago. To paraphrase Dana White, Jon Fitch might be the best WW in the UFC not named GSP.
That's not to say that Thiago's overmatched or out of his depth, I just think Fitch's experience edge will score him a "W" in this bout. Thiago will bounce back from a "L" hungrier than before, and be trouble for someone down the road.
Question #3 - is GSP really that good?
Answer - absolutely yes he is, and Thiago Alves is going to be exhibit "A" for the GSP prosecution in making the case that "Rush" is the best WW on the planet, and maybe the best p4p MMA fighter as well.
Mr Alves, my friend, MMA man does not live by Thai boxing alone. Better luck next time.
Question #4 - Hendo or Bisping?
Answer - Hendo, because he needs it more. Much more.
If Bisping loses, he'll still be the UK face of MMA, a former TUF winner, and have a bright MW future in front of him, and the full weight of the promotion behind him. If Hendo loses again, I think that makes him like 2-3 in the UFC, which doesn't exactly set the MMA world on fire. I know those losses came to Anderson Silva, Rampage Jackson, and ostensibly Bisping, but I'm not sure if a UD victory over relative unknown Rousimar Palhares and a split decision win over a transitioning MW Rich Franklin is enough to keep the fans, and the UFC, that interested in him. Franklin in particular with his understated way continues to call bull$#!T on his loss to Hendo, of course not in so many words, but y'know, and that isn't helping Hendo gain any traction with the non-Pride/UFC/casual MMA fanbase.
His lackluster performances to date within the UFC are also not helping Hendo sell more Clinch Gear stuff, which was mentioned as a perk to signing with the promotion awhile back. I have to believe a couple of flashy "W"'s against better known opponents, like Bisping for starters, and those Clinch Gear t-shirt and rashguard orders will come poring in from both new younger fans and from the older Hendo fans glad to see their boy back in the saddle. This of course means more folding green for Hendo, so he should be motivated on multiple levels to beat the Count.
More than once I've had to explain to casual MMA fans why Hendo is so respected and regarded, when most stateside and UFC fans remember him as getting smacked around by Silva and nearly ragdolled by Rampage.
Almost all of these same fans know and respect Rich Franklin, and feel that the split decision went the wrong way. Thus, Hendo gets no cred.
As for Bisping, he talks a lot of $#!T for an Englishman. I thought those people were supposed to be all polite and prim and proper, or James Bond suave, but the Count runs his mouth almost as much as a Diaz does, but with only a slightly less annoying accent.
I would consider it a personal favor if Hendo uses Bisping to stage a painful clinch game clinic, Greco-throws him and g-n-p's until the ref pulls him off. Not only would it make my day, but probably bring a bit of shine to Team Quest, having their MMA fight style demonstrated so publicly and successfully on so obnoxious an opponent.
I've read that lately Hendo seems to like to stand and throw hands, which would just be stupid against a Euro-trained fighter like Bisping. If Hendo goes that route he deserves to get KTFO'ed, and I say this as a Hendo fan and big believer in the Team Quest style of MMA.
Question #5 - is Jon Jones some sort of urban legend, or is he the future of MMA?
Answer - I'm thinking he's the real deal. The guy's athleticism and timing are heart-stopping to watch. He's finished 6 of 8 fights, and at 21 years of age, I almost see this guy as being BJ Penn-like in his prodigious use of Greco-throws and his application of college wrestling in the cage. A lot of accomplished wrestlers don't seem to be able to fully integrate their wrestling talent into a broader MMA skill-set, and Jones has done it beautifully in less than 2 years in MMA and 8 pro fights.
If he stays on track, by this time next year he could eyeball Dana White and Machida and rightfully ask, "whats up with that?"
Final Question - is Brock Lesnar as fake as pro wrestling, or as serious as a heart attack?
Answer - hard to say. Aside from the Couture fight, Lesnar cakewalked over Heath Herring, which IMO is no big deal. After all, Herring was humilated by Jake O'Brien, who is a LHW. Lesnar also beat some no-name South Korean, and got kneebar'ed by Frank Mir, a guy a lot of MMA observers had unintelligently written off. Lets not forget that Mir was the UFC HW champ before a horrific motorcycle accident, and came back to the cage too soon because he had bills to pay, a wife to care for and didnt want to lose his home and business. Once Mir was back on track, he submitted Dr DeathClutch and beat Big Nog. Previously he'd defeated Antoni Hardonk and snagged the NAGA Absolute Division title, which is no day at the beach. He also broke TIm Sylvia's arm back when the Maine-iac was still considered a legitimate MMA fighter, and not a lumbering laughing stock. Other than a fluke loss to the inconsistent Brandon Vera, Mir has earned his Interim HW title, and IMO earned a healthy amount of respect from the MMA community.
Whether or not he can beat Lesnar again remains to be seem. He certainly has the experience and talent, but as I've stated many times before Lesnar is like half man, half gorilla, and all pi$$ and vinegar in the cage. Defeating him again is probably going to be the hardest thing Mir has had to do, and as much as I respect Mir and have little or no regard for Brock Lesnar, I think at UFC 100 Lesnar will score the "W", and finally EARN some respect from those of us who've given his MMA career a more careful and studied analysis and not liked what we've found so far.
The good news is that even if Lesnar wins, assuming he doesn't murder Mir in 90 seconds or something like that, Mir would and should rightfully ask for a rubber match, considering his MMA resume.
In closing, I'll say that even though the manner in which Lesnar found himself in a title match with a 2-1 record is a bit shady, he can vindicate himself by turning back challangers like Mir. I also think the entire HW division should come at Lesnar full bore. The Couture-Nog winner should call Lesnar out, the Carwin-Velasquez winner should call Lesnar out, and if someone like Josh Barnett or Fedor have any thoughts of signing with the UFC they should also start calling him out as well. Maybe next year fellow ex-pro wrestler Bobby Lashley should call Lesnar out.
Only by surviving heated confrontations from multiple talented challangers can Lesnar erase the stigma of his irregular entry into MMA, and finally earn the full respect and consideration of his peers and fans of the sport.
When we look back at UFC 100 a few years from now, most likely we'll be able to point to that event and say, THIS is where everything changed, and this is where our sport took it to a new level, and this is where Jon Jones announced his arrival to the MMA world at large.
If you're not all-in excited about this card, like my compadre carls mentions, then maybe you need to check to make sure you're still breathing...
