UFC 103: Rise and Fall of Divisional Elite

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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.

Vitor Belfort:

Everybody loves a comeback.

Vitor Belfort’s performance at UFC 103 against Rich Franklin was exactly the kind of comeback he and his fans were hoping for, as Belfort ran through Franklin without breaking a sweat.

“The Phenom” fell off of the mixed martial arts map several years ago after a tragic event struck his family. Now he is back and as good (if not better) than ever.

Belfort and Franklin fought at a 195 lb. catchweight, but Belfort has all the intentions to make a run in the UFC middleweight division, featuring fellow Brazilian Anderson Silva comfortably seated on his 185 pound throne. Belfort may just be the man to shake the foundations of Silva’s kingdom. “The Phenom” was fast back in the early UFC events, and he looked just as quick the other night.

Nate Marquardt and Dan Henderson sit as the top two contenders to Silva’s belt at this point in time, yet “The Spider” has already beaten each one of those men fairly convincingly. Belfort has more to offer than either Marquardt and Henderson. The fact that he has never fought Silva makes the scenario all the more intriguing.

A match up between Silva and Belfort would do big business for the UFC, while finally giving Silva an opponent that could have a legitimate shot. With the speed, power, and jiu jitsu prowess, it is hard to count Belfort out of any fight, even if he is fighting Silva.

While the comeback process is still at the primary stages, this story has the makings for the greatest comeback in the history of mixed martial arts. Look for Belfort to enter the pound for pound best picture very shortly.

Paul Daley:

Paul “Semtex” Daley didn’t gain his nickname for no reason. Martin Kampmann will attest to that.

Daley entered his fight with “The Hitman” as a fairly last minute replacement for the injured Mike Swick. He also entered the fight with essentially nothing to lose, as he was matched up against one of the UFC welterweight divisions top contenders.

Yet, in his UFC debut, Daley brutalized Kampmann, who must have forgotten about his background in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Daley may not be so fortunate in his next fight.

Defeating a fighter like Kampmann undoubtedly will lead to a match up between Daley and one of the division’s upper echelon fighters. The basic scenario involves four fighters: Josh Koscheck, Mike Swick, Matt Hughes, and Daley.

Daley vs. Swick/Koscheck would be the two best options for the UFC, considering all three of the fighters love to strike. If Daley can get by whichever fighter Joe Silva throws his way, he may just head to the top of the line as far as title contention.

Daley may have had nothing to lose when he signed on to fight Martin Kampmann, but he sure gained a lot with his first round knockout over the heavily favored Kampmann.

Junior dos Santos:

Dos Santos is yet another young prospect of the UFC’s ever-improving heavyweight division. A match up with Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic certainly was a large test for the Brazilian slugger.

While dos Santos needed two and one half rounds to finish Cro Cop, he spent the whole fight wearing the Croation down, while not taking near as much damage as his face showed.

Dos Santos can expect an even bigger test in his next fight. Cain Velasquez vs. Ben Rothwell is slated for UFC 104, and the winner of that fight could possibly meet dos Santos sometime around early next year.

However, if the UFC plans on giving the Velasquez-Rothwell winner a title shot, Gabriel Gonzaga may be the best opponent for dos Santos, who continues his rise through the heavyweight division.

Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic:

Filipovic’s first run in the UFC did anything to mirror his success in PRIDE. After this past weekend, it seems the streak is going to continue.

After an inadvertant poke to the eye of Mostapha Al-Turk led to a TKO victory for the Croation, Cro Cop landed the young Brazilian by the name of Junior dos Santos.

Cro Cop failed to amount any offense against dos Santos in the first two rounds, and it was more of the same in the third and final round. dos Santos’ pace did not slow as the Brazilian utilized a muy-thai clinch to land some big knees, following them up with an uppercut that caused Cro Cop to say he could not continue.

Cro Cop built a career as a mixed martial arts legend through his time in Japan fighting in PRIDE FC. Since the disbanding of the organization, Filipovic has failed to do much of anything.

Yet, Cro Cop is a big name in the sport, and fans are going to be willing to dish out some money for the pay-per-views he is affiliated with. However, the big problem is finding a match up for him now.

As a legend of the sport, the UFC is not going to throw him low level competition, which could be a problem. Rumors have been circulating towards a rematch between Frank Mir and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. However, Mir is slated to fight Cheick Kongo at UFC 106. If the fight between Mir and Kongo gets scratched, Kongo vs. Cro Cop could become a solid option.

Another option, though doubtful, would be a bout between Filipovic and Todd Duffee, who wants to climb the heavyweight ladder quickly. Unfortunately, that fight adds up to another youngster overpowering a legend of the sport.

The UFC and Cro Cop may be in a bind on this one. Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

Martin Kampmann:

Kampmann’s original bout for UFC 103 had him slotted up against Mike Swick for the title of number one contender in the UFC’s welterweight division. However, when Swick had to pull out, a bout between Kampmann and Paul Daley hardly seemed the right match up for the winner to recieve a title shot.

Kampmann’s jiu-jitsu is extremely slick, while Daley’s ground game is atrocious. But that did not stop Kampmann from trying to brawl with a slugger. After a first round knockout, Kampmann takes a big step back in the division, and the welterweight division gets all the more confusing.

Kampmann worked hard to come back in the division after his knockout loss to Nate Marquardt, and now he has to work his way back once again.

Expect his next fight to be with a quality fighter. Possibilities include Paulo Thiago or Thiago Alves.

Rich Franklin:

Franklin has been considered a great fighter to headline events, even if a belt is not on the line. Unfortunately, that quality may no longer accompany “Ace” after Vitor Belfort made his return a grand one.

Belfort seemed calm and composed for the short time before the knockout. He waited for an opportunity and exploded, leaving Franklin in a state of utter confusion.

Franklin has said that he wants big fights at this point in his career. The only problem is that he is 1-2 in his last three big fights (Wanderlei Silva, Dan Henderson, Vitor Belfort). Moving up to light heavyweight will probably not help Franklin’s case very much either.

At 205, Franklin faces a plethora of options. Franklin versus Forrest Griffin would be an interesting and possible option, while a bout with Randy Couture would also be a good draw for the UFC. Either fight could serve as a main event considering the sway those names have in the sport.