MMA for Dummies video on ESPN

Better get to know this position well because you'll see a lot of it on Saturday night.

Early News

The story behind Rampage's chain.

ESPN article on Rampage's approach to UFC 86.

Former TUF competitor suing UFC.

Big John set to do the commentary for Affliction: Banned on July 19th.

CBS Sportsline previews UFC 86.

Don't expect the party atmosphere in the TUF house this fall.

Apparently if Big Black can get sponsored so can your mom.

That's right he submitted him from that position....

The "other" big fight on the UFC 86 card that is getting some pub, but probably not the amount it deserves is the Patrick Cote/Ricardo Almeida fight. Both of these fighters are great to watch because they leave it all in the ring. Cote took his first fight in the UFC on two weeks notice, moved up from 185 lbs to 205 lbs and lost a split decision to Tito Ortiz, who was in the prime of his career, not bad for your first shot in the big show. Almeida is eerily similar to Renzo Gracie, not surprising since Renzo brought him to the US from Brazil and taught him everything he knows about fighting, but seriously the guy is his doppelganger. He talks like him, he looks like him, and he fights like him. Which is pretty awesome for the fans because Renzo let his rival in Pride, Kazushi Sakuraba break his arm in a match because he said he would rather break his arm than tap(see below). I like Cote's hands a lot, but Almeida has that Gracie heart that beats never says die and I can't see him getting KO'd. I am going with Almeida via submission in Round 2. The rest of my picks for UFC 86 will be up tomorrow.

Wednesday Wreckage: Get Over The Hump

The Science of Slam

Affliction Finalizes Fight Between Edwin Dewees and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira

MMAJunkie.com and several other outlets are reporting that Edwin Dewees will fill in for Vernon White. White was recently suspended after testing positive for a banned diuretic after a May 31 Xtreme Fighting Association event in Las Vegas. Unfortunately, this fight will not be on the televised portion of this card as was originally planned. The light heavyweight bout between Vitor Belfort and Terry Martin will be televised in their place.

Dewees is a long time veteran and former UFC fighter. He has spent most of his career fighting in Rage in the Cage.

Nogueira is the twin brother of UFC interim heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and has spent most of his career fighting in Pride.

The Clinch is the Key

An aspect of the upcoming fight between Forrest Griffin and Rampage Jackson that has been getting some publicity is Rampage's ability to fight within the clinch, specifically when he is on defense. As noted in the Spike TV preview, Countdown to UFC 86, Forrest and his team have specifically cited this as an area of Rampage's game that they wish to attack. They feel that Forrest's height and reach advantage will allow him to control Rampage's movement, as well as wear him down physically by landing knees to the body. Plus it will neutralize Rampage's biggest assets which are his vicious slams and powerful punches. Still don't believe me? Checkout what Forrest's training partner, Wanderlei Silva, did to Rampage over in PRIDE with just that game plan.

Hmmmm that’s not pretty, for more on that see MMA Weekly's interview with Forrest, where he specifically highlights his Wanderlei influences. Oh and to make matters worse, Forrest just beat Shogun Rua, who was the last guy to take out Rampage. Here's are the highlights from that fight. Notice the similarities....

Hold on a minute. Before you all rush out to your local bookie or hit up Bodog to change you bets, it should be noted that those fights are three years old and Rampage is a much more polished fighter than he was in those losses. Secondly, those bouts were fought under PRIDE rules and in a ring versus a cage. I still am not sold that Forrest is going to come through with the upset, but I definitely see him making a very very good match of it. Perhaps it will be as excellent a match as the TUF 1 finale, but with Forrest on the losing end of the decision.

Forrest getting some love in the UK's SUN

"I fought when the fights were free. A lot of my first few fights ended up costing me more than I made — but it was fun."

Early News

Yahoo Sports reports that Rich "Ace" Franklin is moving up to 205 lbs to take on Matt Hamill.

Checkout Kevin Iole's Mailbag, always a good read and barometer for the opinion of today's fans.

Jesse Taylor seeks redemption against CB Dolloway at UFC Fight Night on July 19th.

Razor Rob takes another step in his quest to regain the WEC lightweight crown on Sept. 10th.

Are we crazy for loving this sport?

Absolutely freaking not! This sport is the purest form of competition out there and we've all been a part of it in one way or another since we first stepped onto the school yard. Even if you never were in the fights, chances are you were probably there egging it on and if you weren't doing that, you definitely told the first person you saw who got there ass beat and who came out on top. This sport provides that feeling except instead of two junior high punks in the ring, it is two world class athletes that are at the top of their game. Let's take a look at one of the first fighters to get our blood flowing, Tank Abbott. Yes, he sports an overall record of 9-14 and just got smoked by probably the most overarrated heavyweight fighter in the sport. But hey in his day he could get it popping.