Looking Forward at MMA in July 2013

So the UFC will have two events scheduled for July. The first being UFC 162 on July 6th which features longtime champion: Anderson Silva vs. the undefeated Chris Weidman for the UFC Middleweight Championship. In the co-main event, Frankie Edgar attempts to snap a three fight losing streak against Charles Oliveira. Strikeforce imports: Tim Kennedy and Roger Gracie will face off with each hoping to get a win in their debut. The same weekend the UFC will induct Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar into the Hall of Fame.

The second show will be on July 27 which features Demetrious Johnson vs. John Moraga for the UFC Flyweight Championship. In the co-main event, Rory McDonald will face Jake Ellenberger with both looking to become title contenders.

(Thoughts: 162 has potential to be an exciting night with those three fights as well as Cub Swanson vs. Dennis Siver. However, I'll admit, anytime Anderson Silva fights makes me puke. Don't get me wrong he's an exciting and talented fighter but I can't stand the UFC and their shills in the "media" constantly saying he's the greatest of all time. Granted one of the reasons is because I think the greatest is Fedor Emelianenko but another is whenever someone says the best it comes off as obnoxious. Even when I say that Fedor Emelianenko is the best I feel embarrassed later because I sounded too emotional and I was shoving my opinion down others throats. The Anderson Silva is worse than ever before. Years ago, the UFC was content to billing Silva the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world. Then a year or so ago, they decide that wasn't enough and starting billing him as the greatest of all time. Now it's gotten silly and ridiculous as UFC announcer: Joe Rogan has been spewing that Silva is now the greatest martial artist of all time. I understand companies hype stuff all the time but sometimes it gets crazy. The HOF is a mixed bag. Forrest easily deserves to be in as he is a former TUF winner and UFC Light Heavyweight Champion as well as defeated many big names included Shogun Rua, Rampage Jackson, Tito Ortiz (2x), and Rich Franklin. Stephan Bonnar, on the other hand, is an absolute joke. Sure his fight with Forrest during the TUF 1 finale was critically acclaimed but other than that, there's nothing else. I call Bonnar "Mr. 15 Minutes" because his career can literally be described as 15 Minutes of Fame. The fight went 15 Minutes and at the time as well as when people talk about it, he's a star. Outside of that fight, Bonnar has nothing neither before nor after. He never beat any big fighters or won any titles or had anymore huge moments in his career. Very sad that Bonnar will go in before guys like Frank Shamrock and Don Frye. The Fox show is extremely lackluster. The main and co-main events should be good but the first two fights were ruined by injuries. Robbie Lawler and Tarec Saffiedine would have been like the McDonald/Ellenberger fight with two guys coming off big wins as they hope to continue to climb the ladder. Instead Lawler will now face Siyar Bahadurzada who is coming off a loss after being grinded for 3 rounds by Dong Hyum Kim. Same goes for the opening fight as it was supposed be Liz Carmouche vs. Miesha Tate with both looking to bounce back from tough losses. But with Tate replacing Cat Zingano as a coach on TUF, Carmouche will face Jessica Andrede. To be honest I'm looking more forward to Melvin Guillard vs. Mac Danzig and two NFL rejects in Brendan Schaub vs. Matt Mitrone on the prelims than the first 2 fights.)

Bellator will have one show this month as they have their second and last show of their 2013 Summer Series which will take place on July 31. The event will feature 2 title fights and 2 tournament finals. Undefeated champion: Michael Chandler defends his Lightweight Title against Season 8 Tournament Winner: David Rickels. In a battle of undefeated fighters, Welterweight Champion: Ben Askren defends against Season 7 Tournament Winner: Andrey Koreshkov. In the finals of the Light Heavyweight Tournament, King Mo Lawal will take on Jacob Noe. In the finals of the Heavyweight Tournament: Ryan Martinez will face Vitaly Minakov. Also on hand, former tournament winner: Patricio "Pitbull" Freire will fight TUF 5 alumni: Rob Emerson.

(Thoughts: I have no problem with these fights as the card looks stacked. My only complaint is the fact that Freire/Emerson is possibly going to be on the main card while the Heavyweight finals might be put on the prelims. If that's true then that's pathetic. A lot of MMA fans and journalists don't take Bellator's heavyweight division seriously. If Bellator puts the finals on the prelims then this just gives the critics plenty of ammo regarding their heavyweight division.)

Finally Invicta FC will have Invicta FC on July 13. The main event will see former Strikeforce champions: Cris Cyborg taking on Marloes Coenen to determine the first Invicta FC Featherweight Champion.