bolleje

Yes, that and just the 'growth' of the UFC in general. They made some huge steps the last years ('the fastest growing sport worldwide') but I believe they are going to have some more difficult years now. A lot of huge stars during this growth have left (Couture, Liddell, GSP, Rampage, Franklin, Forrest Griffin, Hughes, Nogeira, BJ Penn, Mirko Cro Cop...), some others are probably close to retirement (A. Silva, W. Silva, Dan Henderson, Faber). Quality wise, a lot of good fighters have stepped up. Draw-wise, I'm not so sure. Chris Weidman, Johnny Hendricks, Anthony Pettis, Dominick Cruz, Alexander Gustafson, Glover Teixeira, Demetrious Johnson, Renan Barao, ... It's just a lot more difficult to keep up with all the upcoming stars (there are a lot more divisions now too). UFC is probably wise in now targeting certain audiences with the smaller shows, as they'll do in Singapore in a couple of days. Make sure the Asian fans know the Asian fighters, sell Bisping & Gustaffson to the European audiences, etc... That way they can still sell the local events and make the big/PPV events feel like it features the best fighters in the world.

I can't see Anderson Silva coming back from this. For his last few fights (in fact, since the Maia-one) he never really seemed motivated. I'm afraid Weidman II was his last fight... I think that's a huge issue for the UFC. Unless the rumors about Lesnar coming back prove to be more then rumors, there is only Jon Jones and Ronda Rousey left as real superstars (and maybe Velasquez) and even those are doubtful.

For the rugby fans that would like to play a Football Manager-esque rugby game, there's currently one on Kickstarter! http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/165858262/pro-rugby-manager-2014

Probably a stupid question, but why wasn't Henderson vs Evans five rounds? Because it was bumped up from co-main? Was a bit surprised after the third round that it was over...

Werdum

Rick Story

Going to pick Rockhold, as Jacare is allready picked a couple of times.

To be fair, some pretty good guys recently made the drop to featherweight. I would have liked Pettis to face Henderson next (because they had a great close fight in WEC) to be honest. But Aldo-Pettis won't be bad either. Add next to Pettis also Edgar, Guida and Siver to 155 and you do have a very deep division. I can see Melendez facing Diego Sanchez next (as nobody else really seems available except for Nate Diaz and Melendez won't fight him).

For the record, I've read (and are still reading) the comics (and like those a lot, hence one of the reasons I watch the tv show). I think I kind of understand the whole concept of The Walking Dead. I've read several reviews and often read comments like "I totally understand Rick. I would have done the same with that stranger!" or "It's a cruel world. You have to look for yourself. Rick was right!". Maybe thát is the difference: I believe I would have stopped. Even in that apocalyptic world. Maybe I trust people too much or something. But my opinion is: if you can't see the point in saving that one stranger... you don't understand humanity. That's my issue with the show. I had the same feeling btw when the 'survivors' where killing off Herschel's family members. Maybe (even probably) he was wrong in thinking zombies can be saved. But I hope that if I ever turn zombie... someone will at least consider the possibility of "hey... maybe we can save the guy."

Rick doesn't know that. And well... nobody is trustworthy really. If you want to survive this situation though, you will need to trust someone at least. Giving one single guy with a backpack crossing your path by coincidence a chance seems a better option then thinking "hey, maybe he's part of a clever trap set up by the Governor!". Let's ignore him... It annoyed me, that's all. I didn't think it was needed to once again show how dark Rick has become. We know that by now. Let's kill the Governor! Didn't see it like that... but if that was the goal, I can live with it. The end scene striked me as 'Rick, Carl and Michonne' didn't care about the guy because... in case you didn't know by now, they have gone through horrible stuff! I didn't have the feeling Rick had any guilt, but maybe I didn't understand the scene... (it's btw not that I hate The Walking Dead, as I would obviously not be watching the third season if I did. I just like it better when it's a bit more action-driven and not trying too hard to be this 'deep intelligent' television show. There are better options in that genre.)

Fair enough. Although just tying up the guy, putting him in the backseat with a gun pointed to him and on return putting him in one of the cells of the prison would have been a better, smarter and probably also more humane choice. As the guy apparently was able to survive for this long, he must have some good skills at least. Give him small jobs at first, earning trust like the original prisoners did... Anyway, that annoyed me. Also didn't feel as a must-see episode. And I agree that it was a character-driven episode... I just didn't really buy the characters. Michonne is still very shallow (although she can talk now!). Rick is very inconsistent and Morgan was well... just crazy. I do agree that his emotional confessions were powerful, but I didn't buy his "you are not Rick"-thing in the beginning. Carl was ok... Well, made my point I guess. All I really wanted to say was... don't be too harsh on people that don't agree it was the greatest hour in television history. About every episode of Breaking Bad or Homeland had better character development.

To be honest... I didn't like that all that much either. I hate it whenever the 'good guys' do totally stupid dumb stuff. So you're in the middle of a war with a group of people that is a lot bigger, stronger and armed than you are and in the space of a couple of episodes you a) throw out 4 adults (one who is a bad-ass looking muscled man) from their secured prisoned state (which they don't compain about) b) totally ignore a lonely guy who is not a threat AT ALL (but could at least help defend your family) c) give up on convincing an old friend to at least check out what you've build It's a goddamn miracle that this Rick guy made it through the first week of his 'new life'. He's a moron. He's also a guy that doesn't give a shit about letting innocent people die to prove what a badass he's become. But he's a good guy so I'm supposed to root for him. Well, it's better than rooting for the blond chick that is sleeping with a guy she should have figured out is crazy, violent and dangerous 5 episodes ago...

Not a bad idea in my opinion. Aldo has pretty muched cleared out the division (except for Korean Zombie & Lamas, but let's face it... these guys wouldn't be seen as big challenges yet and they risk losing fights against other contenders that Aldo allready beat (Edgar, Mendes, Swanson).). If Pettis wins it, then the whole featherweight division is shaken and there is potential for a couple of years (every match up with Edgar, Pettis, Aldo makes sense at that point and you can throw in Lamas, Korean Zombie, Swanson, Mendes, Poirier, Siver, etc..). If Aldo wins, we have another 'superfight' in Benson/Melendez Vs Aldo and the featherweight title is up for grabs for the above-mentioned guys. The lightweight division was allways huge but with the recent moves of Pettis, Guida, Siver and losses of Cerrone, Lauzon,... it's not that crowded at the top anymore. So I guess there is room now for Aldo.

Don't think so. He's 0-2 but he lost to Mighty Mouse and Benavidez. That's top competition. Seeing as flyweight division is still relatively shallow, I reckon he'll get at least one other chance... I like the fight Aldo-Pettis a lot (going to be great) but I don't like the fact that this is another shortcut to a title shot. We had Sonnen twice, Bonnar, Edgar, Diaz, probably Melendez and now Pettis. All guys that may not have 'deserved' their title shot in their respective division (one more than the other). I could live with Edgar & Melendez... Pettis is somewhat in-between. He certainly deserves a title shot, but it must be very frustrating for guys like Lamas, Weidman, Gustafsonn, Hendrickx... that they keep being ignored. UFC should be careful to also create some new top stars from time to time. Anyway... let's hope Weidman finally gets that shot now.

Anthony Pettis apparently wants to face Aldo for the Featherweight Title (instead of the Henderson/Melendez-winner). It's a bit strange timing-wise I guess. He could've tried winning the lightweight title first and, if he fails, still go to 145. The other way around seems more unlikely. DW says if they make it (Aldo-Pettis), Lamas would instead face the Korean Zombie (in what would be a number 1 contenders match unless another LW contender makes the move down offcourse). Am I btw the only one getting a bit worried about UFC women's plans as apart from Rousey-Carmouche not a single other female fight has been announced. You'd expect them to at least try to build up one next contender (or is Rousey-Cyborg a near-lock without us knowing?). Also... go Demian Maia! Get that welterweight belt!

I've been following the Six Nations this weekend (not so natural for a Belgian) and must say... great sport & drama. I was rooting for the Italians (the underdog) against the French and the game was great. Looking forward to the coming weeks. I do have a question about rugby in general. In 2015 there's the World Cup. The top 3 of each group automatically qualifies for the next one. So what happens if one of the Six Nations-countries (maybe Scotland or Italy) ends fourth or fifth? The qualification for Europe is now done with the European Nations Cup, but the 6 top-countries don't compete there... (btw... Belgium is rising in rugby too... they played well against Georgia this weekend only losing 17-13. Who knows, maybe they'll qualify for the WC!)

As far as contenders for Velasquez go, don't rule out Cormier. Dana White has said that he could get a fast title shot. Neither Werdum or Overeem have faced him before, so I could see one of those two fighting Velasquez next and the other one fighting Cormier for the n°1 contender.

There's 9 guys who could disagree with you, among them Stojnic, Kongo, Lesnar, Nogueira and Big Foot Silva. Sure, no boxers of JDS calibre but no slouches either... I think Velasquez can knockout JDS too... (allthough the opposite is more probable).

Well... Velasquez is a very good striker too and I think if he can hit JDS, it's probably lights out for Dos Santos too. And while he's got crazy hands, he's no Anderson Silva yet in terms of striking defense. I hope this one goes to the ground at least for a bit of the time, just to see how good JDS his jiu-jitsu is (he claims it's better then his striking).

And fighters are allready getting their UFC debuts: Brunson will face Leben at UFC 155, Lawler going up against Koscheck (UFC 157) and Voelker meets Cote at UFC 158.

Hendricks vs Ellenberger is added to UFC 158 in addition to GSP vs Diaz and Condit vs MacDonald. Sakara vs Cote was added too, but Sakara got injured so that one was scratched. Patrick Coté announced later he was dropping to welterweight. They should make a 'welterweights only' main card for this PPV, like they did with the heavyweights couple of months ago. Kampmann & Koscheck both come of a loss to Johny Hendricks, so that would be a nice fight, but I'm not sure Kampmann will recover by then. Pierce Vs Pyle could be added too, perhaps...

Any thoughts on Strikeforce's last show? The (rumoured) card so far: Nate Marquardt vs. Tarec Saffiedine Daniel Cormier vs. Dion Staring Gegard Mousasi vs. Mike Kyle Lorenz Larkin vs. Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza Josh Barnett vs. Nandor Guelmino Pat Healy vs. Jorge Masvidal Roger Gracie vs. Anthony Smith Tim Kennedy vs. Trevor Smith Ryan Couture vs. KJ Noons Jorge Gurgel vs. Adriano Martins Michael Bravo vs. Estevan Payan If they put the first six fights on the main card, that still leaves Roger Gracie, Tim Kennedy and KJ Noons on the prelims. Guess all available Strikeforce fighters desperately want to be on this card... I hope Sponge beats Marquardt... but that seems a long shot.

Yeah, at UFC 156 (Super Bowl weekend). Also, Evans vs Little Nog was confirmed. That makes the current rumored card: Champ Jose Aldo vs. Frankie Edgar - for featherweight title Alistair Overeem vs. Antonio Silva Dan Henderson vs. Lyoto Machida Rashad Evans vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (Erick Silva vs. TBA) That's an amazing card allready. I think the 4 fights could all easily headline a show (even a PPV)...

Staring is a teammate of Overeem, so that should at least create some additional 'heat' when they eventually face. However, can't imagine anyone being overly enthusiastic for this one. The other 'contenders' Pat Healy, Lorenz Larkin and Tarec Saffiedine are also all very good fighters but they lack starpower. I guess Strikeforce folding was about the only reasonable thing left to do... Melendez should get an immediate title shot (against Henderson/Diaz Vs Cerrone/Pettis winner), if he gets past Healy offcourse. He probably won't fight Nate Diaz either... but maybe for the title he will. Rockhold, Marquardt will need at least 1 UFC fight before contending for the title I think.

Griffin vs Sonnen for UFC 155 is off. Sonnen is now coaching TUF 17 with... Jon Jones. Maybe that will keep TUF interesting for one more season (allthough I doubt it). I predict Griffin Vs Bonnar II when Stephan is fully recovered. (UFC 155 seems a bit early).