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UFC 101: A Grab Bag of Pre-Fight Thoughts

Aug 7, 2009, 8:10 PM UTC

â†µâ†µFriday was weigh-in day for UFC 101. (If you missed anything, go back and watch the video here on the UFC site.) Like most of the recent cards, there’s plenty of buzz about what’s coming up Saturday night. I completely acknowledge that there is a rabid following for UFC. (I just finished watching Dana White do an open presser with fans, so I can see why the guy has endeared himself to his base.) But it’s one of those things that I’m just lacking in knowledge, so rather than try to fake it, I’m going to lean on some people I respect who know a lot more than I do (and also hopefully give you guys a place to talk about UFC 101 this weekend).â†µ

â†µâ†µFirst up, I submit a Dan Wetzel from Yahoo! Sports, because we go way back to his college hoops roots. His take focuses on how a fight like Silva-Griffin is why UFC is great. White creates the matchups the fans want to see:â†µ

â†µâ†µâ‡¥“I don’t know what’s going to happen when Forrest fights Anderson Silva but I know this, Forrest going to go after him,” said White, barely containing his giddiness at the prospect. “Silva is going to have to end the fight.”â†µâ‡¥â†µâ‡¥Just like that, White gave his customers a fight they wanted to see, an example of why MMA in general, and the industry-leading UFC in particular, has proven so addictive.â†µâ‡¥

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â†µOver at Bloody Elbow, Leland Roling takes a look at the Lightweight fight between B.J. Penn and Kenny Florian:â†µ

â†µâ†µâ‡¥Stylistically, Penn has advantages in most areas of this fight. At 155, he has blazing fast speed with his hands. His jab can reduce an opponent to rubble (Sean Sherk), and his timing is uncanny. On the floor, Penn has the advantage via flexibility and skill, but Kenny can probably counter the abilities of Penn. Kenny will have a wrestling advantage, but Penn’s jiu-jitsu can probably counter Florian in a battle at 155, unlike St. Pierre at 170.â†µâ†µâ†µAnd finally, for some perspective on Philly, the backdrop for UFC 101, we’ve got these excellent comments from the executive director of the Pennsylvania Athletic Commission, Greg Sirb, via Cagewriter:â†µ

â†µâ†µâ‡¥“I want to tell these fighters, you know, this ain’t Vegas. This ain’t Jersey. This is Philly,” Sirb said.â†µâ‡¥â†µâ‡¥“Bring your ‘A’ game, and they’ll bring their ‘A’ game,” Sirb, said of Philadelphia fans. “You bring your ‘B’ game, and they’ll bring their ‘B’ game. The ‘B’ game is you know what -- they’ll boo you no matter what here if you bring your ‘B’ game.”â†µâ‡¥

â†µâ†µâ†µSo weigh in with your thoughts, TSB UFC diehards and check back with your final words on Saturday night.â†µ

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This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.

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