MMA Stomping Grounds: The real main event at UFC 100? - Mixed martial arts: UFC news, analysis, opinions, Q&As, video

Am I the only one who thinks the Georges St. Pierre vs. Thiago Alves fight is the best on the UFC 100 card? The quick answer is no. At least I have the UFC color guy and stand-up comedian (anyone catch his special on Spike? It was incredible) on my side, as he seems most excited for that bout as well.

Everyone else is seemingly buying into the Brock Lesnar-Frank Mir hype. I get it, Lesnar is a beast and is looking to avenge his embarrassing loss to Mir. Mir thinks Lesnar shouldn’t have been given a title shot and thinks he will roll him easily again. Both fighters are coming off strong showings, but how much do we really know about these guys?

Mir is coming off arguably his best fight in his destruction of Antonio Rodrigo Nogeuira, but Nogueira also was recovering from a staph infection heading into that fight. Before that, Mir was getting whomped by Lesnar until he caught a lucky break.

Lesnar has even more question marks. He beat Heath Herring and looked even better beating Randy Couture, but neither of those guys have styles that are very conducive to facing Lesnar. Lesnar still has questions about his chin, ground defense and cardio.

St. Pierre, meanwhile, is coming off a big win in a superfight with B.J. Penn. He’s at the top of his game and the welterweight scene is much deeper than the UFC’s heavyweight division. St. Pierre has defeated several of the top contenders already, but Alves presents several new challenges to GSP. His last loss was almost three years ago and he’s a big and athletic welterweight. He’s also, in the words of Rogan, the best striker GSP has faced.

The UFC 100 card will be awesome because of this and the Mir-Lesnar fight (I couldn’t be less excited for a big fight than I am for Dan Henderson vs. Michael Bisping). One of those main events is a big attraction for the right reasons. The other is a big fight but doesn’t have the same merit.

Then again, other insiders I've talked to think Alves doesn't stand a chance because of GSP's strong wrestling and Alves' inability to prevent St. Pierre's takedowns, so there's that.

Comments

alves is a steroid junky who has missed weight in the past...GSP will smoke the cheater...mir/lesnar is more interesting but i see mir subbing him again

Posted by: t | June 25, 2009 11:29 AM

Brock Lesnar = HULK SMASH!!!!

GSP = takedown city w a side of headkick

Bisping = Pansy

Posted by: MUAY THAI MAULER | June 25, 2009 11:39 AM

GSP is going to have to mix it up, which I think he will to victory. Alves is too strong for GSP to just take him down and keep him there. GSP will take him down for awhile, up for awhile, and so forth, much like against Serra. But people that think GSP will just take Alves down and keep him there are underestmating Alves.

Posted by: Goober | June 25, 2009 5:37 PM

dan, thiago, lesnar to win

Posted by: carlito | June 26, 2009 9:33 AM

A solid card from top to bottom, I think. I'm looking forward to the Fitch/Thiago fight for the implications that it will have in the welterweight rankings as well.

Posted by: zapkrafty | June 26, 2009 2:39 PM

I love the GSP Thiago match up. Def. the best on card...i just think its a crime not to have Jon Jones on the televised card he may very well be the guy who dethrones machida (not anytime soon) and id love to watch him progress as a fighter plus for the beginner fan it could draw them to watch ufc more and watch him become a champion if they see him fight cause hes def rhe future of the 205 division

Posted by: dustin | June 29, 2009 9:02 PM

Totally agree on Jon Jones on the main card. It makes no sense to have him on the undercard but hopefully we get to see his fight anyway.

I don't know that he's the guy that rules the division one day but he's going to be a factor someday.

Posted by: Mark Chalifoux | June 29, 2009 11:32 PM