Going into the second installment of UFC on Fox, UFC Vice President of Talent Relations and Matchmaker Joe Silva knew the January 28th card had to surpass the outcome of its predecessor (UFC on Fox, November 12th 2001). Televising three fights instead of one has peaked the interests of the company’s constituency. Of the three fights scheduled, two carry title implications.  This is the type of card that vindicates  UFC, when it comes to giving the people fights they want.

Without further adieu, here’s why the United Center will undergo pandemonium without any involvement from the Chicago Bulls:

Demian Maia vs. Chris “The All-American” Weidman- Middleweight Division Bout

The marketing department of Duralast should consider Maia as a spokesman for its products because he resembles the company slogan…”Built To Last”.  In his last six fights (4-2), Maia’s fate came by way of unanimous decision, which included a loss to the best pound-for-pound fighter in the game and current Middleweight king Anderson Silva.  That span alone is one short of Weidman’s entire fight career. At 7-0, The All American has won three by way of submission, two with knockouts and two duplicating Maia’s most recent result. Because an unfortunate occurrence caused Weidman to take this fight on an 11-day notice, experience will prevail over youth. Maia outlasts The All American!

Chael Sonnen vs. Michael “The Count” Bisping- Middleweight Title Contention Bout

Originally, Sonnen was set to face Mark The Filipino Wrecking Machine Munoz to decide Anderson Silva’s next opponent. The unfortunate occurrence mentioned earlier, came in the form of bone spurs in Munoz’s elbow, forcing him to bow out of his shot. In comes Bisping!  In case you’re unaware, Bisping and Sonnen have absolute contempt towards one another. They’ve been involved in a war of words that has sparked anticipation for this long-awaited meeting. While Munoz’s mishap is nothing to celebrate, it is the reason these bitter rivals will finally put their words to action. This contrast of styles will bring about a synergy that could result in an early “Fight of the Year” candidate. Given my uncertainty of The Count’s takedown defense and Sonnen having yet to face a man he can’t get to the mat, my expectation is for Sonnen to see Silva a second time, come Summer 2012.

“Suga” Rashad Evans vs. Phil “Mr. Wonderful” Davis- Light Heavyweight Title Contention Bout

While Evans and Davis’ history with words is only a fraction of Sonnen and Bisping’s, the exchanges between the light heavyweights have been memorable. Davis declared the only way he would miss a title shot is if he breaks his hand from hitting Evans too hard. Evans, fired back, taking the  pre-fight press conference to a place of hysterical laughter when he called Mr. Wonderful a crossbreed of John Salley and Arsenio Hall. Back to the fight. Both fighters are Division I collegiate wrestlers. Davis out of Penn State and Evans out of Michigan State…a Big-10 conference rivalry. The only other attribute to Evans’ game is his striking, which improves with every fight. Davis uses submissions and strikes, but the latter has ways to go before reaching comparability to Evans’. Looking at the numerous injuries that have postponed Evans’ title shot, the former Light heavyweight champion should be the hungrier of the two combatants, willing his way to the fight in which he is due.

Three Pay-Per-View caliber fights…on the same card…for free?  If you are not knowledgeable of Mixed Martial Arts,  UFC on Fox 2 is the event that will enlighten you on why UFC is the fastest growing sports organization to date. Enjoy the fights and I’ll see you soon with this weekend’s recap.

Written by Antoine Hoffman

When examining UFC’s existence, specifically the many places in which events were held, it’s borderline impossible to find a comparable region/nation that brings forth the pageantry and fanfare that Brazil does. The decibel levels could have very well rattled the foundation of the Rio De Janiero’s HSBC Arena. It was enough to make even the greatest of self loathers believe they could slay giants.

Here’s a look back at what kept UFC Rio’s crowd ignited:

Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort defeated Anthony “Rumble” Johnson via Rear Naked Choke (0:13 Mark of First Round)

Vitor Belfort was assigned a task within a task. In addition to welcoming Anthony Johnson to the middleweight division, he had to do so against a fighter that checked in 11 pounds overweight at the official weigh-in. The lack of professionalism not only garnered the contempt of the UFC masses, it proved to be counterproductive on fight night.

The bout opened with Johnson unleashing strike attempts that only gave Belfort quick breezes. His strikes appeared slower than usual Rumble then landed a front kick to The Phenom’s ribs, which preceded a few upper cuts from Belfort after an attempted rush from Johnson. Belfort went for a head kick, but it resulted in a takedown by Johnson. Johnson mounted on top by way of full guard, connecting with a few punches. Belfort countered out briefly but was a recipient of a falling punch from Johnson. Johnson got in a few more mounted punches, but after controlling Johnson’s right arm, action was stalled and referee Dan Margliato broke the position for the two to return to their feet.  As the two stood, the audience rang out, repeatedly chanting “OLE OLE OLE OLE…VITOR VITOR”. Belfort missed with a left and right hook, but was able to stuff Johnson’s takedown attempt, meeting him with upper cuts.  The two went to the cage, found themselves again in stalled action, prompting for Margliato to call for a second clean break. Johnson missed with a wild left hook, taking some upper cuts and hooks for his efforts.  Belfort connected with a jumping knee.  Johnson went for another takedown but was stuffed and forced to the ground.  Johnson was able to counter and gain full guard a second time.  Action once again ceased and Margliato called for a third break.  Although Johnson was out to be the aggressor, he fell short of expectations thanks to plodded and inaccurate delivery.  Johnson missed yet another takedown, this time receiving right hooks, which slowed Johnson’s momentum.  Belfort adjusted his stance to deliver left hooks.  From there, Belfort took Johnson’s back, rendering Johnson defenseless.  The Phenom continued to shower down punches onto Rumble, which led to an opening.  The Phenom got his right arm under Rumble’s chin, locked in a rear naked choke and forced Johnson to tap out with 0:13 left in the opening round.

Jose “Scarface” Aldo Jr. defeated Chad “Money” Mendes via Knockout- UFC Featherweight Title Bout (0:01 Mark of First Round)  

When Jay-Z’s “Run This Town” blared through the HSBC Arena’s sound system, not only did it segue Jose Aldo’s arrival, it raised the audience’s noise level, proving to be a prelude for the evening’s marquee match.  The bout opened with an inaudible, yet resounding chant for the hometown hero.  The two combatants sized one another up, leading Mendes to start the first strike, in the form of two inside leg kicks.  After two more kicks from Mendes, Aldo responded with a kick of his own, carrying the kind of impact that forced Mendes to take an unwanted 45 degree turn.  After a few combined missed kicks, Money went in for his first takedown attempt, drawing nothing in return.  A few missed punches were thrown and Scarface followed through with another leg kick, buckling the challenger.  Money attempted a jab-uppercut combo, only to find air. Aldo landed a thunderous uppercut that sent Mendes to the ground.  Mendes responded with another shot at a takedown, only to come up empty-handed. Mendes rushed again and landed a left uppercut to Aldo’s stomach.  Aldo answered with another chin kick.  Aldo missed an uppercut.  Mendes shot in for another takedown, making him 0-3 in that department.  Money landed a few punches and leg kicks, but none of them carried significant impact.  Aldo missed a two-punch, kick combo, which gave Mendes an opening for a takedown, but elusiveness again helped Aldo escape the challenger’s clutches. The combatants found themselves against the cage.  Mendes went for a belly to back takedown, but Aldo held the fence to avoid a possible meeting with the mat. The cage proved to be not much of aid as Mendes went to repeat the takedown, which was to no avail.  Scarface replied with a back elbow to Money’s face.  Mendes found a bit of success with knee shots to the back of Aldo’s thighs.  Unfortunately, they didn’t serve the complete purpose, as Aldo’s legs were in no way weakened by those shots.  Mendes took another shot at a takedown off the fence but again got nothing in return.  Aldo was able to break Mendes hold and follow-up with a left knee that send Mendes crashing to the mat.  With 0:01 left in round one, Scarface ended Money’s championship hopes with three mounted punches, thus retaining his title.

The energy was so radiant in the HSBC Arena, Aldo made a U-turn from greeting his corner, opting to share his big win with fellow natives.  Before having his hand raised in victory by referee Mario Yamasaki, he was perched on the shoulders of his Brazilian brethren, processing throughout the arena.

On a night where two Rio De Janeirians faced insurmountable odds, Vitor Belfort and Jose Aldo Jr. will forever look back on January 14^th, 2012 as a night in which “Home Has Never Felt Better”.

Written by Antoine Hoffman

The two marquee bouts of UFC 142, better known as UFC Rio, will see an inaugural moment for two combatants. First, Anthony “Rumble” Johnson will make the jump from welterweight (170 lbs.) to middleweight (185 lbs.). Finally, Chad “Money” Mendes gets his first crack at UFC gold. The bouts at hand brought about serious deliberation. Far be it from me to label myself “MMAstradamous”, but I couldn’t just sit on these fights without providing a forecast. Here is my stab at the lasting impression Rumble and Money will set in their respective experiments:

Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort vs. Anthony “Rumble” Johnson- Middleweight Division Bout

Opting to debut in the deepest end of the Middleweight division pool creates a huge splash. Accepting a fight against a recent number one contender makes Johnson’s intentions quite clear.  He has to lock horns with the fastest and arguably heaviest hands in the class. Given Belfort’s experience, it’s no question why he’s favored to succeed as Johnson’s welcoming committee. Ah, but not so fast!  With every fighter comes vulnerability. As menacing as The Phenom’s pressure can be, he’s not impervious to a knockout. Rumble has gained notoriety for his imposing size and knockout power. What overlooked about the Georgia native is his wrestling/takedown ability. As memorable as this one will be, there is a malicious intent behind Johnson’s strikes that I see leading him to victory in his Middleweight debut.

Jose Aldo Jr. (Champion) vs. Chad Mendes (Challenger)- UFC Featherweight Championship

If you have followed Jose Aldo Junior since his World Extreme Cagefighting and beyond, you have become accustomed to the manner in which he finishes opponents. Twelve of his 20 wins are by way of knockout or technical knockout. Since strapping on the gloves under the UFC brand, Aldo seems to have been a shell of his WEC self. Against Mark Hominick and Kenny Florian, the outcome fell in the judges hands. This does not bode well, going into a bout with the Featherweight division’s best wrestler. The undefeated Mendes takes down his opponents at will. If you’re in his clutches, prepare yourself for a trip to the mat. On the flip side, the closest Mendes has come to facing an elite striker like Aldo is being a training partner of Urijah Faber, who Aldo tortured in April 2010.  If Aldo wants to stay champion, he’ll need intellect to see him through. His timing with counterattacks must be flawless.  I’ll go with the mystique of Rio De Janiero to help the hometown hero defend his crown, but if he detours from his game plan, the division’s power wrestler will emerge as champion.

As always, enjoy fight night and I’ll see you soon with my UFC Rio recap.

Written by Antoine Hoffman

For fight fans, the Main Event of UFC 141 was supposed to be a matchup that conjured such images as “When Worlds Collide” or a head-on wreck between two speeding locomotives. Two forces no doubt collided, but one packed more impact than the other.

In this Heavyweight Title contention bout, where the winner would move on to face present champion Junior Dos Santos, Brock Lesnar was assigned the task of welcoming Alistair Overeem to the Ultimate Fighting Championship. While the UFC is foreign territory to Overeem, the sport of Mixed Martial Arts is anything but. “The Reem” broke into the sport in 1999, has a 47 fight career (36-11) and is the last champion of three organizations that no longer have Heavyweight divisions (Strikeforce, Dream and K-1). One title is missing from his prestigious collection, and Overeem made his desire known to Lesnar, as well as the world.

After landing a chin kick to open the round, Lesnar found himself operating in the standing game, only for his punches to find air. Lesnar attempted a standing takedown, but the grizzled veteran escaped with ease.  Again, Overeem was able to evade Lesnar’s punches, this time responding with two knees to the midsection, with the latter shot briefly curling the former WWE star into a ball. Overeem was able to get Lesnar into his clutches, land two more knees to the gut, followed by a two-piece uppercut combo that proved to be painful.

Overeem went for a kick, which Lesnar tried to counter into a takedown, but again, to no avail. Lesnar threw another punch that found air and Overeem zeroed in with another knee to the ribs, followed by an uppercut, a left jab and a left hook. Again, Lesnar was hurt! Overeem followed up with a left kick to Lesnar’s ribs, which sent him crumbling to the mat, grimacing in pain. In retreat mode, Lesnar attempted to cover his head from eventual punches. A few landed, but the one punch that sealed the deal was a crouching right hook to Lesnar’s left rib and 2:26 into the opening round, Overeem got his first UFC win by way of Technical Knock Out, which ultimately sent Lesnar into retirement.

With a dominant performance in his UFC debut, Alistair Overeem finds himself on standby, waiting for the scheduling committee to announce when he will get a shot to add a fourth heavyweight championship to his trophy case. While I have plenty of time to complete my forecast, I’ll say this much…Don’t look for Overeem’s encounter with Junior Dos Santos to be as leisurely as this one.

Written by Antoine Hoffman

Week 15 of the National Football League’s regular season saw two teams experience unlikely firsts. For starters, the Green Bay Packers suffered their first loss of the season, at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs. Going the opposite direction, the Indianapolis Colts got its first win against a division foe in Tennessee. Finally, in a double whammy, once acclaimed wide receiver Chad Johnson found pay dirt for the first time this season, which helped the Patriots give the Broncos their first loss in seven games.

Looking at these scenarios, the question is how will the number one impact these teams? For Green Bay, I think that “1″ loss was needed. The team did an excellent job maintaining a reasonable temperament, operating under the one-game-at-a-time philosophy. It can’t be accused of arrogance in any way. While losses tend to beget negative vibes, this particular one could serve as fuel to propel The Pack throughout the postseason. NFC, get ready!

Indianapolis is all but assured the first pick of the 2012 NFL draft. For years, this team has rested on the abilities of Peyton Manning. It’s understandable to some degree, given he’s one of the more prolific passers in the league’s history, which has resulted in a Vince Lombardi to call his own. However, the organization was not ready for the worst case scenario, which is the 2011 campaign. The hope is that this rare season for the Colts will cultivate in bringing in not only a quarterback for the future, whether remains a Colt or goes elsewhere, but it inspire the organization to broadly equip itself with players that can compete, even when marquee players suffer significant injury.

In the case of Chad Johnson, his lone touchdown at this point of the season, along with the allegations about his inability to grasp New England’s system, and not to mention his age, could deplete his value as a highly desired receiver.

Finally with the Broncos, how will this unit respond to adversity, coming off a Mile High run for a nice chunk of the season?

Who knew a number so small could carry so much volume?  Here’s week 16′s forecast:

Texans over Colts

Browns over Ravens

Broncos over Bills

Panthers over Buccaneers

Bengals over Cardinals

Chiefs over Raiders

Patriots over Dolphins

Jets over Giants

Steelers over Rams

Titans over Jaguars

Redskins over Vikings

Lions over Chargers

Eagles over Cowboys

49ers over Seahawks

Packers over Bears

Saints over Falcons

Last week was bananas, to say the least.  I broke even at 8-8.  I’ve gotta keep my head above water.  Come back next week for my results.  Please have a safe, blessed and joyous Holiday Season.

Looking ahead to the 2011-2012, Take No Prisoners Sports will preview the Eastern Conference.

ATLANTIC DIVISION

Boston Celtics (56-26 last season/ Division winner)- The Celtics will benefit the most from a short season. If the “Big Four” (Rondo, Pierce, Allen and Garnett) can stay relatively healthy, they can make a run at title number 18. The amount of back-to-back games will be challenging for Boston. Boston’s experience will be an advantage as they will capture another Atlantic Division crown.

New Jersey Nets (24-58 last season)- New Jersey has a lot at stake before they move to Brooklyn. If they don’t get Dwight Howard, it’s a good chance that they will lose Deron Williams. No disrespect to Brook Lopez but he isn’t a player that teams want to build around. The advantage of having salary cap flexibility can also be a detriment if they can’t land a player of Howard’s stature. The uncertainty of this team’s future will ultimately kill its team’s chances of competing for a playoff spot.

New York Knicks (42-40) - How scary is New York’s front court, now that they have Tyson Chandler ruling the paint? I’d say very scary. Add that with Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire playing a full season with the club and you have a formidable front court. Now the back court is a different story. Mike Bibby is the projected starter. Landry Fields will try to bounce back from a horrible post season. Finally, who knows when Baron Davis will return from his back injury? This team will score but how well they play defense will determine this team’s success.

Philadelphia 76ers (41-41)- Philadelphia is a team that will compete night in night out. However, competitiveness alone won’t win most games. Philly lacks an inside presence, as well as a consistent deep threat. With that said, the 76ers are good enough to reach the playoffs as a seven or eight seed.

Toronto Raptors (22-60)- Toronto will have the same issues that plagued them last year and the year before and the year before….Poor defense, lack of outside shooting, inexperience and turnovers. A recipe for a bad season.

CENTRAL DIVISION

Chicago Bulls (62-20 last season/ Division winner)- Coming off 62 wins last season, the Chicago Bulls was a pleasant surprise. League MVP Derrick Rose agreed to a five-year extension  with the Bulls….Carlos Boozer is fully healthy…..Richard “Rip” Hamilton is signed…..Joakim Noah will control the boards and second year head coach Tom Thibodeau will have his team working on all cylinders defensively. Look for the Bulls to be more competitive in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Heat!

Cleveland Cavaliers (19-63 last season)- Attention Dan Gilbert! You don’t have LeBron anymore! Get over it! Time to move on! Cavs fans will have little joy this season even though they should improve from last season. Rookies Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson are the future. With enough cap room to acquire quality players, Dan Gilbert should learn from his mistakes and not put all of his eggs in one basket as he did with LeBron James.

Detroit Pistons (30-52 last season)- Detroit’s future isn’t very promising. The Ben Gordon/Charlie Villanueva experiment has failed. Ben Wallace is washed up. Tashaun Prince is playing at a fraction of what he used to be. The ability to rebuild isn’t a reality for this team, mainly due to bad contracts to players who aren’t playing well.

Indiana Pacers (37-45 last season)- The Indiana Pacers are one of those teams that have great potential but lacks leadership. Small Forward Danny Granger is an excellent player. But is he the player that can take a team to the finals and win it? Probably not. David West was a great acquisition. When healthy, West is a handful in the low block. He also will provide toughness to this group. The Pacers shouldn’t have any problems reaching the playoffs this season.

Milwaukee Bucks (35-47 last season) - This team will live or die with Andrew Bogut. His health will be key. Stephen Jackson is a great fit for Milwaukee. Brandon Jennings is the point but he’s really a two guard and the Bucks are definitely in need of a point guard.

SOUTHEAST DIVISION

Atlanta Hawks (44-38 last season)- Atlanta would like to build on what they accomplished in the playoffs last season by knocking out the Orlando Magic in the first round of the playoffs. Compensating for the lost of Jamal Crawford via free agency will be a huge challenge for the Hawks. Look for Atlanta to finish in second place in the division and a possible 5 seed in the playoffs.

Charlotte Bobcats (34-48 last season)-  Charlotte is in rebuilding mode. Rookies Kemba Walker and Bismack Biyombo are good prospects for the future. Bobcat fans will have to be patient as team owner Michael Jordan is looking at all avenues to cut team costs. Good Luck!

Miami Heat **(58-24 last season/Division winner)- Anything less than a title this season will be a complete failure for head coach Eric Spoelstra and the Miami Heat. No excuses! In fact, Miami has been under the radar entering this season, a far cry from a season ago. A shorten 66 games season should favor the reigning Eastern Conference champs. Newly acquired small forward Shane Battier is a huge asset. His perimeter defense is underrated. Barring any major injuries, the Heat will make another NBA Finals appearance. Will they be good enough to defeat the team representing the West in the Finals? That remains to be seen.

Orlando Magic (52-30 last season)- The main topics of discussion this season for Orlando is…..When are they going to trade Dwight Howard and to which team?

Washington Wizards (23-59 last season)- Got to love those new Wizards uniforms! Reminds you of the Ole’ Bullets days. As for Washington’s hope for a playoff berth this season…probably not. However, I predict that the “Wiz kids” will collect more wins than last season.

** Conference Champions

Written by Keith Madyun

Heading into the 2011-2012 NBA season, the Western Conference remains as the deeper conference. Take No Prisoners Sports will give a team by team preview of the conference.

NORTHWEST DIVISION

Denver Nuggets (50-32 last season) – When the Nuggets lost Carmelo Anthony, they were supposed to be in decline. I guess that’s why they play the games. Denver won games that everyone thought that they would lose. They ended up winning 50 games, becoming the fifth seed in the playoffs. Ty Lawson is holding his own. He and veteran Andre Miller are a great one/two punch at the point guard position. Al Harrington, Arron Afflalo, Nene and Danilo Gallinari provides a lot of firepower offensively. I don’t know if the Nuggets can improve their win total from last season but they will compete.

Minnesota Timber Wolves (17-65 last season) - Last season was a long one for the Timber Wolves. Look for that trend to continue in Minnesota.

Oklahoma City Thunder (55-27 last season/Division Winner) - This is the most dangerous group of young talent in the west. Kevin Durant is the most dynamic player in the game. Barring any injury, Durant will get his third scoring title and a possible league MVP crown. The sky’s the limit for point guard Russell Westbrook. He’s proven to be one of the best at that position. Serge Ibaka controls the paint defensively. The Thunder will be one of the front-runners in the West.

Portland Trail Blazers (48-34 last season) - Injuries have plagued the Trail Blazers in the past, yet they continue to be competitive. With Brandon Roy retiring and Greg Oden being injury prone, Portland will continue to ride on the shoulders of LaMarcus Aldridge, Gerald Wallace, Marcus Camby, Wesley Matthews and Raymond Felton. These starters bring speed and toughness but will it be enough? Probably not!

Utah Jazz (39-43 last season) -  Last season, Jazz fans saw their hall of fame coach Jerry Sloan step down, ending his feud with Deron Williams, only to see Williams leave for New Jersey soon after. As a result, Utah missed the playoffs. The Jazz now have Al Jefferson. Add Paul Milsap, and they have a pretty decent front court. But it’s the back court that is in question. Utah fans will have to endure another season without a playoff berth.

PACIFIC DIVISION 

Golden State Warriors (36-46 last season) - The back court of Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry will always bring it. Dorell Wright will put up numbers as well. Preventing opponents from scoring has been the “Achilles Heel” for this team. Rookie head coach Mark Jackson will try to change that as he will attempt to implement a defensive mindset into Northern California’s club.

Los Angeles Clippers (32-50 last season) – Once known as the other team in Los Angeles, the Clippers have made some dramatic changes to their lineup. Acquiring arguably the best point guard in the game in Chris Paul (Thanks to David Stern) , Chauncey “Mr. Big Shot” Billups, Caron “Tough Juice” Butler and Mo Williams, the Clippers will be a team to be reckoned with this season. Power forward Blake Griffin and center DeAndre Jordan are human highlight reels. The Clippers abused its home town rival Lakers in their first preseason game with the new lineup. If that was a sign to come, watch out Lakers!

Los Angeles Lakers (57-25 last season/Division Winner) - This has been an interesting off-season for the Lakers. New coach….New players…. New scheme. When Lamar Odom was shipped to the defending champion Dallas Mavericks and Shannon Brown moving to Phoenix to play for the Suns, LA created major challenges matching that talent. The two combined for 23.3 points last season off the bench. By adding sharp shooter Jason Kapono, Troy Murphy and Josh McRoberts, as well as having Metta World Peace lead the second unit, Los Angeles is optimistic in salvaging a depleted bench. Let’s be honest, they will look different in all aspects but they still have their core group of players, along with the potential of being a dangerous group. However, LA has a lot of work to do and the likelihood of a 17th banner going up at Staples Center next fall is slim.

Phoenix Suns (40-42 last season) - Steve Nash can still make plays but the question is…..for how long? Looking at a team that consists of mainly guards and small forwards, I see the Suns just about breaking even in total wins and losses.

Sacramento Kings (24-58 last season) - Limited talented and no real sense of direction, the Kings will continue to be the bottom feeders of the conference.

SOUTHWEST DIVISION

Dallas Mavericks (57-25 last season)** - It’s only fair to place the defending champs as one of the front-runners in the West. Dirk Nowitzki along with Jason Terry, Jason Kidd and newly acquired Lamar Odom, will be offensive juggernauts. However, the Mavs took a hit defensively when they lost Tyson Chandler to free agency. If Dirk can duplicate what he did in last year’s playoffs, watch out!

Houston Rockets (43-39 last season) - Houston was somewhat of a surprise last season. The play of Luis Scola and Kevin Martin were key last season for the Rockets. They will be expected to carry the load this season as well, along with point guard Kyle Lowry who will run the offense full-time this season. It will be interesting to see if they can compete in the west.

Memphis Grizzlies (46-36 last season) - Memphis looks to build on what they did last season. Zack Randolph is an unbelievable talent at the power forward position. He can score almost at will. Mike Conley is establishing himself as one of the better point guards in the NBA. Couple that with the return of Rudy Gay and a deep bench, the Grizzlies will shake things up in the Southwest Division. Youth, talent, hunger and confidence will put teams in the west on notice.

New Orleans Hornets (46-36 last season) - Two weeks ago, a trade was made, the Commissioner abused his authority and voided the trade, the Hornets looked like a team in disarray. Then another trade was made, it got approved by the league and the Hornets actually got a better deal. But when it’s all said and done, the Hornets will still  miss the playoffs. Hopefully they will get an owner soon.

San Antonio Spurs (61-21 last season/ Division Winner) - San Antonio was the surprise team last season, earning the number one seed entering the playoffs. The Spurs also made a surprise exit in the first round of the 2011 NBA playoffs as they were knocked off by the Memphis Grizzlies. Head coach Gregg Popovich will always have his team ready. In fact, he coached the Spurs to its first title during the 1998-1999 locked out shortened season. A 66 game season favors an old veteran team. Although Tim Duncan is at the twilight of his career, he can still put up solid numbers. However, Manu Ginobli and Tony Parker will have to shoulder the weight offensively. With one of the best benches in the league, San Antonio will remain in the mix of things.

**NBA champion

Written by Keith Madyun

In all the hoopla that has been the 2011 National Football League season, there is one story that has been lost in translation. One team that isn’t getting the attention it deserves. That story or team is the Houston Texans.

All they’ve done is produce a top-10 offense, stand alone as the league’s best defense and generate a 10-3 mark, which places them in a four-way fight with Baltimore, New England and Pittsburgh for home-field advantage. What makes this season more remarkable is the ability to sail smoothly while top-tier players such as Arian Foster, Matt Schaub, Mario Williams and Andre Johnson suffer significant injuries.

Born in 2002, Houston made its reputation known early, pulling off a major upset in its debut against the Dallas Cowboys. Nine years later, the Texans are pretty much set to win their first division title. I can’t say I know where they’ll end up ultimately, but to endure a number of injuries and still have a choke hold on your division and possibly the conference speaks on the resolve this team has. I don’t think the rest of the AFC will be excited to visit H-Town come playoff-time. Until then, here’s my Week 14 forecast:

Jaguars over Falcons- There’s something about night games and this new life as a result of interim coach Mel Tucker that makes me lean towards the upset.

Cowboys over Buccaneers- Dallas will get one win in December, won’t it?

Dolphins over Bills- What has happened or isn’t happening in Buffalo?

Seahawks over Bears- Who knew Skittles enhanced performance?

Texans over Panthers- Houston will continue to click on all cylinders and pull out a tough one against some feisty felines.

Titans over Colts- Will the 2008 Detroit Lions have company just three years after their shameful mark in history?

Packers over Chiefs- Todd Haley out, Romeo Cremmel, on at an interim note. That won’t be enough to save Kansas City from the inevitable.

Saints over Vikings-  This will be like a home game for the N.O.

Giants over Redskins- Washington finds ways to lose games, so a season sweep is very unlikely.

Bengals over Rams- There’s a tandem establishing itself in Cincinnati…Dalton to Green…#GetFamiliar!

Lions over Raiders- Too close to call!

Cardinals over Browns- Is John Skelton about to be what Kevin Kolb was supposed to be?

Broncos over Patriots- New England’s defense allowed a sub par offense a window of opportunity a week ago. In addition, I’m a believer of divine intervention. Critics will go bananas after this one!

Jets over Eagles- Thanks to recent revelation,  I have learned my lesson about the New York Jets…In December, BET ON GREEN!

Ravens over Chargers- In Takeo Spikes’ 14 year career, he’s never played in a playoff game. Playing with the Bolts was supposed to change that for him. Unfortunately, the more things change, the more things stay the same.

49ers over Steelers- Two of the league’s top five defenses will battle it out under the Monday Night lights. I foresee San Francisco’s defensive front running roughshod against Pittsburgh’s offensive line.

Last week, 13-3…need more numbers like those. Let’s do it again next week.

Written by Antoine Hoffman

A technical knockout of Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 128 left critics to deliberate on the kind of shape Rua was in coming off an extended layoff. Rendering Quinton “Rampage” Jackson into submission led skeptics to dismiss that achievement as a victory over an MMA legend who is a shell of his former self. Now that he’s beat a third consecutive future hall of famer in Lyoto ”The Dragon” Machida, in impressive fashion, will the critics find fault in Jon “Bones” Jones’ latest achievement? They can try!

The Light Heavyweight champion faced a former champion in Machida who was ready to fight. The two opened the bout at a stale mate, sizing one another up for the perfect opportunity to strike. Opportunity knocked on Machida’s door first. The Dragon worked in some shin kicks that were rather resounding throughout the Toronto’s Air Canada Centre. In addition, he was excellent with sticking and moving on the champion, countering punches, staying out of Jones’ reach and initiating some punches that caused the champion to back pedal a time or two. Jones’ patented back spinning elbow, was unable to find a home. Machida’s aggression and wisdom allowed him to stake claim of the opening round.

After getting a feel of what Machida had to offer, the champion did not take long to remind fight fans why he sits atop the Light Heavyweight mountain. Jones was able to close distance between himself and Machida with punches and kicks of his own. Jones went to one of his strong suits, wrestling Machida down to the mat.  Bones landed a left elbow to Machida’s forehead, leaving a deep cut, which ultimately turned the tide of this bout. After the doctor cleared Machida to continue fighting, Bones caught The Dragon with a staggering jab, forcing the action onto the fence. Jones secured a standing guillotine choke and just :34 into the second round, the champion completed his second title defense, leaving Machida lying motionless.

Jones is the first Light Heavyweight champion to successfully defend his title in consecutive fights since Chuck Lidell did so in 2005. Given the adversity presented and the resolve shown to retain the title, Jones has completed his toughest fight to date. He has elevated his stock in the best pound-for-pound ranking, as well as solidified his status as the 2011 Mixed Martial Artist/Fighter of the Year.

What’s next, a well deserved vacation, while simultaneously seeing who’s next in line for a title shot.  His next challenger will emerge from UFC on Fox 2′s main event between Phil Davis and former Light Heavyweight Champion and ex-training partner Rashad Evans. Will the “Enigmatic Prodigy” cross paths with his past, or will he lock horns with an X-Factor?

Written by Antoine Hoffman

Hours after the New Orleans Hornets struck a deal with the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets on a three-team trade that would have seen perennial All-Star point guard Chris Paul throwing alley-hoops to Kobe Bryant, NBA commissioner David Stern informed the “League-Owned” Hornets that the trade will not happen.

The decision was made primarily due to the overwhelming displeasure of certain NBA owners. Particularly, Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert. Yahoo Sports obtained an email that was sent to Stern from Gilbert expressing his displeasure in the deal. Gilbert felt that the deal would be a “travesty” and that “the 29 owners of the Hornets” should put the deal to a vote. In the letter, Gilbert also stated that “the Lakers would save approximately 20 million in salaries and 21 million dollars in luxury taxes…..”that 21 million goes to non-taxpaying teams and to fund revenue sharing”.  He further wrote….”I cannot remember ever seeing a trade where a team got by far the best player in the trade and saved over $40 million in the process. And it doesn’t appear that they would give up any draft picks, which might allow to later make a trade for Dwight Howard. (They would also get a large trade exception that would help them improve their team and/or eventually trade for Howard.) When the Lakers got Pau Gasol (at the time considered an extremely lopsided trade) they took on tens of millions in additional salary and luxury tax and they gave up a number of prospects (one in Marc Gasol who may become a max-salary player). I just don’t see how we can allow this trade to happen. I know the vast majority of owners feel the same way that I do. When will we just change the name of 25 of the 30 teams to the Washington Generals?”. It seems like Mr. Gilbert cares more about his revenue split instead of his fellow small market team in the New Orleans Hornets, who would have received a great deal in the trade.

Let’s look at the proposed trade and the league’s explanation on blocking it shall we?

Paul would have gone to Los Angeles, Pau Gasol would go to Houston and the Hornets would get  Kevin Martin, Luis Scola, Goran Dragic and Lamar Odom. Those are some pretty darn good players the Hornets could have gotten if you ask me. Not to mention that Odom is the reigning Sixth Man of the Year! The league’s explanation…..”The deal was never discussed at the Board of Governors meeting and the league office declined to make the trade for basketball reasons.” OKAY!!! So if the deal was never discussed and the league owns the Hornets, why did they allow the trade talks to go as far as an agreement in principle? What does “basketball reasons” really mean?

There is no way that this deal shouldn’t have gone through. Period! It’s not as if the Hornets organization was getting low-balled. Los Angeles was willing to give up their All-Star power forward and the Sixth man of the Year. There’s no guarantee that the Lakers would have even acquired the Dwight Howard from the Orlando Magic. In fact, giving up Lamar Odom would have lowered their chances of obtaining Howard.

On a day that the NBA officially ended a senseless lockout, David Stern gave the NBA another black eye in allowing certain league owners to manipulate things and use poor judgment. The owners signed off on the new Collective Bargaining Agreement and the league has no place in dictating where a player should go. Trying to keep a great player in a small market just isn’t going to happen folks. New Orleans had a great opportunity to get better as a team and allow a great player that wasn’t going to resign in the first place to go where he felt best suits him. As a result, Paul not only threatens to sue the league but he’s made it clear that he will not report to training camp.

At the end of the day, Los Angeles will always be an elite team regardless, Chris Paul will not sign an extension with the Hornets and he will go to the  team of his liking. If this rule by David Stern stands, the real loser in this is New Orleans, who might lose their star player with nothing in return.

Written by Keith Madyun

If styles make fights, one can only imagine the kind of bout that will come forth as a result of the synergy that UFC 140′s main event combatants will bring.

 The marquee matchup for this anticipated card presents the most difficult challenge to date. Not only will complexity be an issue for the fighters involved, but every fight fan watching this epic battle will deliberate carefully on who will emerge victorious.

This is where prognostication comes in TNP Nation. While anything can happen on any given night, I’ll do my best to forecast what could be an artistic fight. 

The Challenger, Lyoto ”The Dragon” Machida stands in a class of his own. Not only did he introduce MMA Nation to Karate as a legit Martial Art in a sport of variety, he rode that wave to a 16-0 start in his career that included a dominant title win over former champion Rashad Evans. His elusiveness has ironically garnered him acclaim and criticism. He circles his opponent, goes in for strikes and pulls away before you can counter his attack. Machida’s timing is impeccable. As learned in his last two bouts against Quinton Jackson, and Randy Couture, “The Dragon” can also be the aggressor, pushing the pace with rapid fire punches, kicks and leg sweep takedowns. With wins over the likes of BJ Penn, Rich Franklin and Tito Ortiz on his resume, along with being the former UFC Light Heavyweight champion, Machida has what it takes to reclaim UFC’s most transitional title.

Coming out the opposite corner will be the reigning champion Jon “Bones” Jones. Like his opponent, Bones also sits in a unique class, albeit a different subject. At the conclusion of 2011, the champ will have four fights in a calendar year. With each fight, he gets better. In a mere seven months, the 24 year old has progressed from up-and-comer to title contender to champion to defending champion. With expertise in Jiu-Jitsu, Wrestling and Muay-Thai, Jones is the most perplexed fighter in the sport. Whatever he throws at his opponents, strikes, takedowns, submission attempts, comes from the most unfathomable positions. With wins over Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Jackson, Jones has a chance to outlast a third future hall of famer in Machida.

Machida can be likened to a rubix cube. Upon sight, he looks simple, but once you’re engaged in him, he presents difficulty. Jones is the enigmatic prodigy. He’s young, yet possesses a fighting style that is inexplicable.

As imposing as The Dragon can be, like many rubix cubes before him, he can and will get solved. Jones will have the remedy to ward of Machida’s attack, completing a second title defense, thus perpetuating inquiry that asks, “Who can stop Jones?”

Written by Antoine Hoffman

Maybe there’s some sort of incentive for bashing Tim Tebow that I’m oblivious to because the number of people that are in line for this is borderline astronomical. Whether it’s his spiritual beliefs, throwing mechanics or the way he shovels snow, there appears to be a new game amongst NFL constituents called “Find Tebow’s Flaws”.

Okay, so he has yet toreach the fundamental soundness of Aaron Rodgers. And no he doesn’t give the media controversial, bulletin board material week in and week out. All he has is the one thing that can’t be coached, HEART.

As much of a fan as I am of the kid, I’m not so much of a mark that I overlook the other factors that have contributed to Denver’s recent success. The Denver Broncos, led by what seems to a rejuvenated Willis McGahee, have the league’s top rushing offense, averaging 159 yards per game. As far as the defense is concerned, do not be fooled by its 24th place ranking. That unit finds ways to get its offense back on the field, while making key plays that alters the outcome of games.

Going back to Tebow, the way he plays has become infectious. That “Will to Win” has embodied every Bronco that steps on the field. The refusal to disappoint one another in battle cannot be more clear.

The National Football League is a bottom-line kind of sport, which to me says winning takes precedent over anything else. ”Tebow can’t throw”…”the defense ranks in the bottom half of the league”…BIG FROOPIN’ WHOOP. No it doesn’t meet everyone’s cosmetic standards, but Denver is the third hottest team behind Green Bay and Houston. This team puts on the hard hats and goes to work. Trust me, there are 16 teams wishing they had a five-game winning streak to call their own.

Can the Mile-High City keep it going for another week? Here we go:

Steelers over Browns

Ravens over Colts

Falcons over Panthers

Bengals over Texans

Lions over Vikings

Jaguars over Buccaneers

Dolphins over Eagles

Jets over Chiefs

Saints over Titans

Patriots over Redskins

49ers over Cardinals

Broncos over Bears

Packers over Raiders

Chargers over Bills

Giants over Cowboys

Seahawks over Rams

Last week, 11-5. 

By the way, Tebow will just be 20 games into his two-year career, which includes 11 starts going into week 14.  If given a chance to lead this team through 2012 and beyond, one can only wonder what his potential wil be moving forward. 

Written by Antoine Hoffman

“He means nothing to me”! These were the words uttered out of Miguel Cotto’s mouth when asked of his thoughts of Antonio Margarito, after a lopsided victory over the former Mexican champion. Miguel Cotto vowed to avenge his loss to Antonio Margarito and he didn’t disappoint. Cotto whipped Margarito with a dramatic TKO victory in front of a jam-packed Madison Square Garden.

The early going of the fight was similar to the first. Cotto landed clean shots while avoiding Margarito’s counters. Margarito applied the pressure affectively but not affective enough. Cotto was the more accurate puncher and won all the first three rounds. Round four was the beginning of the end for Margarito. Cotto delivered a left hook to Margarito’s right eye which produced a cut. This was the same eye that got badly damaged in his bout against Manny Pacquiao. As promised, Cotto went to work on that right eye, eventually shutting it.

Despite the cut, Margarito continued to bring the pressure. Through the middle rounds, specifically round seven, it looked like he might have  turned the corner, as he appeared to gain momentum. Unfortunately, Cotto’s punches along with Margarito’s eye, wouldn’t allow that momentum to carry on to the latter rounds.

By the ninth round, Margarito’s eye was completely shut and fatigue became an issue as well. He made it through that round, but it was evident that the end was near. Three seconds into the tenth, referee Steve Smoger asked doctor Barry Jordan twice if he wanted to stop the fight which Margarito’s camp clearly opposed to. After the second attempt, Smoger called the fight and Cotto retained the belt. Cotto landed 43% of his punches. The same amount landed in the first fight. But this time he got his revenge and furthered the notion that Margarito’s gloves was loaded in the first matchup.

Margarito future seems bleak. With a bum eye, Margarito will have a hard time getting license to a major fight again. I guess you can say that its “Mission Accomplished” for Cotto!

Written by Keith Madyun

With 24 hours left until the rematch between Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito, it’s time for “Take No Prisoners” to predict this anticipated bout. Here are questions that should be answered come fight night. Will Cotto avenge his loss to Margarito? Will Margarito duplicate what he “appeared to do” in the first bout and will a second win against Cotto restore his credibility?  Let’s take look at what we think the outcome will be, shall we?

MIGUEL COTTO VS MARGARITO 2 PREDICTIONS

This fight will be very entertaining. I expect the rematch will meet the same exciting standards of the first bout, and possibly exceed it. Especially with all the drama that it brings. In my opinion, Miguel Cotto would have won easily against  Antonio Margarito in their first fight, had it not been for Margarito’s advantage. Yes, I do believe that Margarito’s gloves had a hardened substance inside of  them. The fact that Cotto basically dominated 3/4 of the bout and Margarito couldn’t gather himself until round 11 to stop Cotto, speaks volumes on Cotto’s durability. Considering the controversy and the explosive exchanges between the two camps, you can’t help but to come to the conclusion that these two fighters downright despise one another. The bad blood between them will carry over in the ring on Saturday night in front of a packed Madison Square Garden crowd. Once again, it’s Puerto Rico vs Mexico and this time it’s for the Super Light Middleweight title. With New York having a huge Puerto Rican population, Cotto will have an advantage.

Given that Cotto’s had stamina problems as of late, I see him attacking Margarito’s surgically repaired right eye early in the bout. Margarito has a very strong chin. With that said, I’ll be surprised if Cotto knocked him out. Let’s face it, if he couldn’t do it as a  welterweight, the odds wouldn’t be in his favor to do it at super light middleweight. Margarito will look to do what he does best and that’s applying pressure. The big question is..will that plan be as effective in this fight? Margarito stunk it up in his last two fights against Shane Moseley and Manny Pacquiao. Add that to a bad eye, the loaded gloves controversy and in turn, losing his license, we’ll see on Saturday whether or not Margarito has the physical and mental capacity to redeem himself or is he’s just damaged goods. My prediction, Cotto wins in a unanimous decision.

Thank you fight fans for checking out my predictions and look for my recap next week. Enjoy the fight!

Written by Keith Madyun

At the risk of drawing opposition, I say the following, “I’m in favor of end-zone/big play celebrations.” Allow me to be more specific. Given the preparation a player puts into becoming a peak performer, he should celebrate his accomplishments.

Yes, expectations call for players to perform at a maximum level, still, what person in the workforce doesn’t acknowledge a personal achievement? The options of celebration may differ, but the motives are similar.

Like anything else, there should be exceptions to this rule. For me, you shouldn’t celebrate:

-When you score your team’s first touchdown while the other already has 44 points on the board.

-When you finally break up a pass after getting beat up and down the field.

-In a way that shows up your opponent. Sorry Primetime, holding up the ball, high-stepping and looking back at the defender is an         insult to that defender. LOL

-When your team is likely to watch the playoffs with the rest of the NFL’s following.

While those are just a few examples of condemnable celebrations, the most appalling/offensive one to date came from Buffalo’s own Stevie Johnson. In lieu of a second quarter touchdown against the New York Jets, Johnson, in one motion, mocks the Plaxico Burress club shooting, emulates a crashing Jet and reveals a t-shirt that reads “Why So Serious?” This from someone whose team is on a four-game losing skid? It’s this kind of buffoonery that led karma to bite your entire team genius.

Finishing at 9-7 last week, I’m hoping for a more celebratory week this time around.  Here we go:

Seahawks over Eagles

Titans over Bills

Bears over Chiefs

Falcons over Texans

Raiders over Dolphins

Broncos over Vikings

Patriots over Colts

Steelers over Bengals

Panthers over Buccaneers

Redskins over Jets

Ravens over Browns

Cowboys over Cardinals

Packers over Giants

49ers over Rams

Saints over Lions

Chargers over Jaguars

Written by Antoine Hoffman

All of NBA nation can now take a deep breath and exhale, as NBA players and owners have reached a tentative agreement to end a lock-out that lasted five months. With the idea of a 66 game season, the NBA season is slated to start on Christmas Day. The season will run from December 25, 2011 to April 26, 2012. In this abbreviated season, 48 will consist of conference games. So it’s a good chance that your favorite basketball player may not come to a city near you!

In the new labor deal,  players will get 51 percent of the revenue sharing, down from the 57 percent that they were receiving. Elite players will get a boost in salary in their second contract, which will start in their fifth year. There are specific guidelines a player must meet to obtain this salary boost. During the first four seasons of a player’s career, the player must be voted as an All-Star starter at least twice, be league MVP and be named to any All-NBA team during those four seasons. Players who are eligible will earn up to 30 percent of the salary cap, up five percent from the previous agreement. Call it the “Derrick Rose Rule”!

A harder cap will most likely take place in the new deal. This will hurt teams like the Los Angeles Lakers who always exceeds the luxury tax threshold. Last season, the Lakers paid 21 million dollars in penalties for going over the salary cap.

In order for the games to officially begin, both the players and owners will have to iron out a few wrinkles. The NBPA (National Basketball Players Association) will have to reform into a union again. The owners will have to approve the union. Negotiations of any other CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) issues and a vote on the new CBA deal will then take place. The two parties are confident that a settlement will be reached. Upon reaching an agreement, there will be a mad dash in free agency and player signings. With practice facilities opening for players on December 1, 2011 and accelerated training camps soon to follow, teams will have to prepare themselves for a roller coaster ride.

When it’s all said and done, the NBA season would have lost two months of games. With the NFL and college football to keep us company, one could say that an NBA season starting on Christmas Day is perfect timing. Who needs an 82 game season when the first two months appears to be  meaningless in the first place?

As far as the new CBA is concern, we’ll see if the owners will own up to the rules that they implemented. Theses owners have a long history of breaking the rules by over spending, crying broke and then blaming the players for their mishaps.

At the end of the day, we’re just happy to see the NBA back!

Written by Keith Madyun

The six teams slated to do battle on Thanksgiving are a combined 42-18. That’s the best winning record of Thanksgiving Day participants since 1975 (28-120, back when only four teams played on the annual holiday). The safe thing would be to go with the team with the best record in each matchup, but there are some underlying factors that could contradict such expectations. Four teams are division leaders, one is ridding itself of a perception that has plagued it forever and the last team of the bunch, record wise, resides in the basement of its division, but is climbing out of its cellar in the form of a three-game winning streak.

Saddle up football fans, the fixings for Thanksgiving 2011 will carry some unexpected tastes. Here we go:

Lions over Packers- Call the ’72 Miami Dolphins and get the bubbly ready ’cause another team will bite the dust in trying to capture the NFL’s second, complete undefeated season. Green Bay’s “bend-but-don’t-break” defense gives up points and Detroit’s offense is third in points per game. Besides, Green Bay’s offensive line is in for a true test against the Motor City’s defensive line.

Dolphins over Cowboys- While a 3-7 mark is nothing to celebrate, Miami is playing in a way where you can legitimately argue it’s the best under .500 team out there today. The ‘Phins also have the 7th best rush defense to date, which could cause problems for the surging DeMarco Murray.

Ravens over 49ers- You beat Pittsburgh, sweeping the season series, then in the ensuing games, you lose to Jacksonville and Seattle respectively? If nothing else, I’ve learned that Baltimore plays to the level of its competition. With that said, I’ll take John to win the Harbaugh Bowl.

Falcons over Vikings- Even though Atlanta has not looked to part in terms of being every analysts’ “Sexy Super Bowl Pick”, it should get past a Minnesota team trying to find its way. If Adrian Peterson was playing, I’d take the upset.

Bengals over Browns- Cincinnati suffered losses to the upper brass of the AFC North. Thing should play out differently against the Dawg Pound.

Panthers over Colts- Is this season any sign of things to come for Manning-less Colts teams? For the front office’s sake, hopefully not.

Texans over Jaguars- Houston continues its journey towards its first ever division crown.

Bills over Jets- I just don’t believe in Mark Sanchez.

Rams over Cardinals- Stephen Jackson continues to be the one constant for the “Show Me” state.

Buccaneers over Titans- What has happened to Tampa Bay between last year’s 10-6 mark and now?

Raiders over Bears- Just as Jay Cutler was going in an upward direction, his thumb gets broken.

Seahawks over Redskins- No matter what Seattle’s status is, the 12th Man is always instrumental in homes games.

Patriots over Eagles- New England’s elevated morale could be key in confirming Philly’s unexpected end to its 2011 season.

Chargers over Broncos- San Diego, with all its talent, can’t lose six straight…can it?

Steelers over Chiefs- Kansas City will go from one primetime embarrassment to another.

Saints over Giants- In the “Gut Check” game of the week, New York will receive some inhospitable southern treatment.

How will I be treated this week on the heels of a 12-2 outing in week 12? Let’s find out, shall we?

Written by Antoine Hoffman

Have you ever anticipated something so badly, yet when you got it, your first response was, “Is that it?” Fans of Ultimate Fighting Championship, loyalists and novices alike, felt similar disappointment on the heels of the company’s debut with Fox Sports. The first event for UFC on Fox was supposed to be the one that captured the attention of sports enthusiasts unfamiliar with the sport. Far be it from me to play the role of program director, but a one-hour time slot should’ve featured more than previews of UFC’s biggest heavyweight title fight to date, along with the fight itself, which only lasted 64 seconds. There was an awesome co-main event in Ben Henderson vs. Clay Guida…which could only be seen on Facebook?

The beauty of making mistakes are the options to learn and be redeemed of them. The leading brand in Mixed Martial Arts won’t get its chance to make things up to the larger audience until “UFC On Fox’s” next airing in January 2012, but constituents of the sport will witness redemption as soon as Saturday, November 19th, courtesy of UFC 139.

On a night featuring six former MMA champions and two rising stars, this lineup carries bouts that could leave behind some things to talk about.

Martin “Hitman” Kampmann vs. Rick “Horror” Story- Welterweight Division Bout

Story made a story of himself at UFC 130 with a dominant performance over one of the division’s strongest combatants in Thiago Alves. A month later, he was outclassed by last minute entrant Charlie Brenneman. Kampmann, however, fell victim to questionable, decision losses in his last two outings. I don’t know which Story will show up  November 19th, but I’ll comfortably suggest “The Hitman” will not let a third fight fall into the judges’ hands. Give me Kampmann over Story!

Urijah ”The California Kid” Faber vs. Brian Bowles- UFC Bantamweight Title #1 Contention

Faber has made his fixation with Bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz public knowledge. Before getting ahead of himself, he should consider the fact that Bowles is just as deserving of a title shot. Bowles lost the WEC Bantamweight strap to Cruz back in March 2010, thanks to a broken hand that forced a doctor’s stoppage.  Faber wants to avenge his UFC 132 loss to the champion. While both have the title in their radars, the more diverse fighter in Faber should get the decision, as long as he’s focused on the current task at hand.

Wanderlai ”The Axe Murderer” Silva vs. Cung Le- Middleweight Bout (Co-Main Event)

Once upon a time, Silva was one of the most dominating figures in Mixed Martial Arts. He was the Pride Fighting Championship Middleweight champion from 2001 – 2007, which translated into a 18-fight win streak. In his 33 career wins, 23 came by way of knockout. Fast forward to recent times, Silva has lost three of his last four bouts. He will have the daunting task of facing former Strikeforce Middleweight champion Cung Le, who makes his UFC debut in his hometown of San Jose, California. As vicious of a striker as Silva is, Cung has variety to go with the ferocity of his strikes. Cung wins impressively in his inaugural UFC performance.

Mauricio “Shogun” Rua vs. Dan “Hendo” Henderson- Light Heavyweight Bout (Main Event)

The last time we saw Shogun, he had an impressive homecoming at UFC Rio, making light work of former division champion Forrest Griffin. Rua’s quest is to regain the UFC Light Heavyweight strap, but his journey includes a meeting with fellow legend and current Strikeforce Light Heavyweight champion Dan Henderson. “Hendo” returns to UFC after reconciling differences with Dana White over a contract dispute from some years back. Rua is a fighter who you don’t want to strike you. His kicks echo throughout arenas, speaking volumes on how deadly they are. Given the savvy of Henderson, I’m inclined to believe the champion will counter his foe’s strong suit and force him into areas that’ll prove most uncomfortable. Hendo moves a step closer to a possible unification of the UFC and Strikeforce Light Heavyweight titles.

The Saturday before Thanksgiving offers some quality fights. Coming off the famine that was UFC on Fox, fight fans should feast greatly from the trimmings that UFC 139 will bring, thus leaving the masses thankful.

Written by Antoine Hoffman

Is there a quarterback in the NFL who has experienced more peaks and valleys in recent years than Jason Campbell? While he has his share of issues as a signal caller, not every shortcoming in his career was self-induced. In five seasons as a Washington Redskin, the word stability became a foreign term to him. In each season, he was under the tutelage of five different offensive coordinators, thus a variation of offensive schemes. His offensive lines were in no way comparable to Washington’s most acclaimed front line, “The Hogs”. Finally, his supporting casts were a mix of players who were potential playmakers riddled with injuries and marginal skill players in search of their identities.

In 2010, Campbell was liberated from his trying career in Washington for the Black Hole in Oakland. In 13 games, Campbell did alright for himself with 2,387 passing yards, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He was instrumental in Oakland’s ownership of the AFC West, leading the Raiders to a 6-0 record against division foes. While Oakland failed to make the postseason, there was hope.

In 2011, Campbell came out of the gates, appearing more comfortable in his new digs. The Raiders were 3-2. Things were starting to shape up for Campbell, and then comes week six. In the second quarter of a battle with the Cleveland Browns, Campbell suffered a season ending collarbone injury.

As if that wasn’t enough, Oakland makes an impactful midseason trade to acquire former Cincinnati Bengal quarterback Carson Palmer. Despite his sabbatical, Palmer has progressed a great deal in the completion percentage department. The Raiders are in first place of their division. Should the Silver and Black continue its trend, what will become of Jason Campbell?  While it’s too early to determine at this juncture, one can only hope that a player of his character and potential does not  find himself searching for another place to call home.

Given the strides I’ve made over the last few weeks, including a 10-6 mark in week 10, I’m hoping that double-digit wins are a region I can call home. With that said, here we go:

Broncos over Jets

Bengals over Ravens

Browns over Jaguars

Lions over Panthers

Packers over Buccaneers

Raiders over Vikings

Cowboys over Redskins

49ers over Cardinals

Seahawks over Rams

Falcons over Titans

Bears over Chargers

Giants over Eagles

Patriots over Chiefs

Written by Antoine Hoffman

Going into week 10 of the NFL season, 31 teams have at least one win. The Indianapolis Colts are the lone outfit looking to get its first mark in the win column. As mentioned earlier in the season, they’ve been competitive in some games. In others, not so much. In their last three games, the point differential between them and their opponents have been 32 points an outing. Will the Colts going an exclusive fraternity of 0-16 teams? Let’s find out:

Raiders over Chargers-  What was once an issue for San Diego in the first quarter of the season has transcended into the second quarter. The Bolts are on a three game losing streak and given how the entire division is only separated by one game, Oakland could steal one on the road.

Saints over Falcons- The N.O. totes the best all around offense in the league. Atlanta can score with the best of them, but defensive containment will prove to be an issue for the dirty birds.

Panthers over Titans- Until Chris Johnson gets back to his former self, difficulty is presented when it comes to picking Tennessee’s offense to outlast anyone.

Bengals over Steelers- I’m taking the striped cats on the strength of home field advantage. I’ll take Pitt in the rematch in two weeks.

Browns over Rams- I’m going with the teams that has the most promise in its current state.

Cowboys over Bills-  It would behoove Dallas to keep the ball in DeMarco Murray’s hands, given what he’s done against lower tiered rush defenses thus far. Buffalo’s rush defense also resides in the bottom half of the league, to the rookie from Oklahoma should have another productive outing.

Colts over Jaguars- Here’s where Indianapolis gets its first win. Congratulations…please don’t make a liar out of me.

Dolphins over Redskins- As of late, Miami has played with a certain brand of grit where it refuses to lay down like a guppy out of its fish bowl. Washington, however, appears to deflate as the season progresses. Has Mike Shanahan’s arrogance caught up with him?

Eagles over Cardinals- LeSean “Shady” McCoy…and that’s all I have to say about that.

Buccaneers over Texans- Tampa Bay is on a two skid, while Houston’s won three in a row. Two streaks will come to an end.

Ravens over Seahawks-  Coming off a sweep of its most bitter rival, Baltimore shouldn’t have much trouble with Seattle.

Broncos over Chiefs- My Inny Minny Miney Moe game of the week.

Bears over Lions- Detroit’s running game is in a place of uncertainty while Matt Forte continues to prove he’s worthy or a hefty, long-term contract.

49ers over Giants-  If Ahmad Bradshaw was available, I’d feel differently about this one.

Patriots over Jets- The claim suggesting New England doesn’t’ lose back-to-back games is nothing more than a myth. What I will do is trust the Pats will not lose three straight.

Packers over Vikings- This could be the most lopsided game of the week.

Last week, I went 8-5, but I’m still trending keeping my head above water for the most part. We’re back at it next week.  Until then, enjoy the games.

Written by Antoine Hoffman