Manny Pacquiao hangs on to the number 1 spot of Ring Magazine’s pound for pound list. Even Floyd Mayweather outclassed Shane Mosley who fell to number 5. Pacquiao demonstrated his class after defeating Puerto Rico’s Miguel Cotto and Joshua Clottey—this could be the main factor Ring Magazine considered Pacquiao to retain the top spot.

Another Filipino is in the top spot, super flyweight Nonito Donaire, who climbs to no. 4. Juan Manuel Marquez is still the third honors. The battle for the number one spot will be determined if Pacquiao and Mayweather will clash soon. Let their games, skills and abilities decide who is the pound-for-pound king.

Shane Carwin is a monster. He didn’t allow Frank Mir to last more than a round. The full-time engineer and part-time fighter devastated Mir to get a title shot against Brock Lesnar. Carwin waited his time to come—this is what he wanted. He has proven that he is ready to square off with the champ.

Carwin paved and made his way to the top—defeating high-ranking guys from the heavyweight division. At the start of the first round, the two monsters measured each other, and after some jabs, Carwin landed his lefts that brought Mir on the mat. He finished him off with huge flurries. Carwin improves to 12-0 while Mir dropped to 13-5.

One of MMA’s complete fighters have triumphantly defended his title against Dan Hardy. Georges St-Pierre, exemplified a true complete fighter. He totally controlled the game with his sharp BJJ skills and takedowns. Hardy never had any chance, he can’t connect and can’t throw his left hook.

GSP almost got the armbar in the second round but didn’t explode due to wrong cranking angle of the hands. Also, GSP almost have Hardy via kimura in the fourth round, but didn’t finish him due to wrong angle again. GSP admitted that he pulled the submissions incorrectly—he said that he did not do some of it for a long time.

I believe that this will be the time for GSP to move forward, to the middleweight division. He had eaten all the possible contenders in his current division. GSP improved his record to 20-2 and Hardy fell to 23-7-1.

After the Armenian-born Vic Darchinyan defended his title against Tomas Rojas, he now wants a piece of the Filipino Flash Nonito Donaire. In 2007, Donaire scored a huge 5th round knockout that took Darchinyan’s IBF Flyweight belt—the knockout became the same year’s Knockout of the Year. The name Donaire irritates Darchinyan because he thought that the Filipino refused to fight him again.

Donaire, who won five straight title bouts after defeating Darchinyan is now gaining ranks in his division. He displayed class and superb fighting skills against Manuel Vargas, Rafael Concepcion, and Luis Maldonado. After defending his WBA Interim Super Flyweight title against Manuel “Chango” Vargas last February, he showed interest in fighting the angry and raging Darchinyan or the current WBO Bantamweight Champion Fernando Montiel.

Darchinyan, the unorthodox-crouching fighter who also loves pushing his opponent, suffered his second loss against Joseph Agbenko last July 2009 via unanimous decision. The bout is for the WBO Bantamweight title. On March 6, 2010, Darchinyan will fight another inexperienced fighter in the name of Rodrigo Guerrero to defend his Super Flyweight titles. If he dominate the fight, this might be the right time to schedule a bout against Donaire.

Author’s Note: I am now able to write again after coming from a two-month hiatus.

photo courtesy of weeklytimes.com.au

Happy New Year! Another year has passed. Thank you for the sponsors, readers, and followers! This will bot be possible without your help!!

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Before year 2009 ends, UFC gave another exciting set of fights. Lightweight contenders Kenny Florian and Clay Guida gave their best to prove that they are righteous to be BJ Penn’s next opponent. Florian, who was victimized by the current lightweight champ BJ Penn, started the bout strong. But the more active Guida looked for an opening. The fight went to the ground, Guida cutting Florian. Guida gave Florian a huge problem because of his counters and defense. At the end of the round, Guida was bloodied due to the elbow given by Florian.

The doctor advised that the fight can continue. Guida’s energy didn’t diminish. Florian was connecting and Guida caught a huge hand that made him wobbly. Guida was on the canvass and Florian used his underrated jiu jitsu finishing the fight with a rear naked choke. Florian is now 14-4 while Guida suffered his 11th loss, 25-11.

Frank Mir is back! He’s now in a mission—to get Brock Lesnar title. Cheick Kongo, another top man in the Heavyweight division, wants to beat Mir to have a clear title shot or to be one of the top contenders in the said division. But his quest was stopped by Mir when the former champ scored a huge looping left overhand. He finished Kongo via a superb guillotine choke (I don’t know if we can call it guillotine choke in a half guard). Kongo refused to tap and passed out. Mir improves to 13-4 while Kongo suffered his first loss, 24-6-1.

BJ Penn once again proved that he’s the king in the Lightweight division by outclassing Diego Sanchez. BJ Penn won via TKO due to severe cuts on Sanchez’ forehead and lower lip. Penn immediately scored a right hand that made Sanchez wobbly. Penn continue his strikes but Sanchez recovers. Sanchez tried to take Penn down but he was unsuccessful. BJ Penn dominated the whole fight with his superb striking and kicks and Sanchez failed to take the champion down.

Sanchez was full of determination and he showed that he’s got a huge heart, but BJ was relentless and more accurate. At the final round, Penn threw a sick kick and opened a nasty cut on Sanchez, forehead, he followed it up with a flurry and uppercuts. Referee Herb dean saw the cut and immediately called the physician who called out to stop the fight. Sanchez’ face was a mess. BJ Penn improves to 15-5-1 and inked some UFC records while Sanchez suffered his worst and third defeat, 23-3.
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