MMA You Want to Watch This Week 8/1 - 8/7

Well, I know that a lot happened this past weekend MMA-wise, but I have to say that some of the biggest news for me was finding out that Che Mills (according to his manager) has finally signed with the UFC and will be fighting Chris Cope at UFC 138.  I've been saying for awhile that DW should sign Mills and I'm totally psyched about this whole thing.  Especially since the fight will be on a Spike TV card, and therefore free in the US.  Good times!!

But, as wonderful as I find that news, it really has little to do with this week.  The first weekend of August is upon us, and there is MMA in the air.  Along with thunderstorms.  And the sounds of cicadas.  And oppressive, suffocating heat (I live in the South).  Not to mention the smell of that one coworker who always forgets to put on deodorant, no matter how hot it gets.  But, hope is in sight.  There should be enough MMA action this weekend to distract us from the Hades-like weather and all of the accompanying inconveniences.    Read on...

UFC 133

Saturday, August 6, 9pm, PPV

Spike TV prelims, 8pm

Facebook prelims, can't find a start time but likely around 6pm

Well, thanks to the injury fairy, this card is very different now than it was planned to be.  But it's still... interesting.  Nam Phan takes on Mike Brown on the Facebook prelims, along with Rafael Natal vs. Paul Bradley.  The Spike prelims bring us Alexander Gustafsson vs. Matt Hamill (seeing Hamill on the undercard is strange to me).  I'm pretty happy to see Phan and Brown go at it.  I like both guys and this should be pretty entertaining.  Gustafsson vs. Hamill... well, I was all excited for Gustafsson to fight Vladimir Matyushenko on this card, but when Vladdy had to pull out of the fight due to an injury, Hamill stepped up.  I'm hoping it will be a great fight regardless - I tend to forget how many of Hamill's fights he's won by KO. 

The main card also suffered from the plague of injuries, but we're left with some solid fights nonetheless.  Rory MacDonald vs. Mike Pyle ought to be fantastic, and we'll also likely be seeing Yoshihiro Akiyama's do or die fight against Vitor Belfort.  And, of course, the main event - Rashad vs. Tito.  If you, like me, were ready to bet your life savings and your firstborn child that Tito Ortiz would lose his last fight with Ryan Bader, you probably don't think much of his chances against Rashad Evans.  And you're probably right.  But when Ortiz can shut all of us up as effectively as he did by submitting Bader, he might just surprise all of us again Saturday night.   Maybe.