Fighters to Watch in 2009

by PMorales on Dec 23, 2008 3:10 PM EST Comment 56 comments

With 2008 almost over, several fighters made waves on the MMA scene in 2008. Going 3-0 in 2008, with wins over Karo Parisyan, Matt Hughes and Josh Koscheck, Thiago Alves has made a strong bid for a title shot in 2009. Other fighters separating themselves from the pack in 2008 include, American Top Team LW Eddie Alvarez with a strong run in the Dream LW Grand Prix and newly crowned WEC champion Mike Thomas Brown. Looking ahead, several fighters are predicted to make major moves in 2009.

Shane Carwin – With a 10-0 record (2-0 in the UFC) and all of his fights ending under 2:30 of the first round, Carwin is looking to tear through the UFC HW division. His size and strength alone make him a threat to the top competition in the division. A convincing win in a rumored bout against Gabriel Gonzaga at UFC 96, could see him fight for the title by the end of 2009.

Mark Munoz – The 5-0 Oklahoma State University wrestler is one of the few fighters transferred to the UFC after the demise of the WEC’s MW and LHW divisions. With a possible UFC event in the Philippines in 2009, and recent losses by fellow Filipino fighters, Brandon Vera and Phillipe Nover, Munoz could see some high profile fights in 2009.

Demian Maia – A strong 2008, with wins over Ed Herman, Jason MacDonald and Nate Quarry, has moved Maia to the top of the heap in UFC MW division. His BJJ has looked unstoppable with three out of his four UFC victories earning him submission of the night honors. With limited viable competition for Anderson Silva, the only thing that could prevent him from getting a title shot in 2009 is the schedule.

Gray Maynard – The Ultimate Fighter alum spent 2008 ending the 8 fight winning streak of Frankie Edgar and the 6 fight winning streak of Rich Clementi, derailing their immediate title hopes. Maynard’s outstanding wrestling should provide the necessary edge to continue his winning ways in 2009.

Prospect to watch in 2009:

Stefan Struve – Coming from a country known for its kick boxers, the almost 7 foot tall, 20 year old, Dutch HW is a submission specialist. A recent UFC signing, Struve is getting no favors from the UFC, with a rumored bout against Junior dos Santos at UFC 95.

The FanPosts are solely the subjective opinions of Bloody Elbow readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bloody Elbow editors or staff.

3 recs | Comment 56 comments

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Rafael Assuncao (who I can’t find a decent picture for)

Bobby Lashley

"BJ on the BE" - Kierkegaard

by Brett Jones on Dec 23, 2008 3:29 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

I like Ryan Ford too.

by szucconi on Dec 23, 2008 4:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with Bobby Lashley. I like that he is making a gradual transition, not the all at once here I am not knowing what I am getting in to plunge.

"My job is a decision-making job, and as a result, I make a lot of decisions." --George W. Bush, The Decider, Lancaster, Pa., Oct. 3, 2007

by lovingmma25 on Dec 29, 2008 2:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I really like
Dan and Jim Miller
Dan Hardy
Paul Daley (UFC Bound.. fingers crossed)
Dustin Hazelett
Bobby Lashley
Demian Maia
Jose Aldo
Abel Cullum

by "Mr. NC-17" on Dec 23, 2008 5:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Nice list

but no way Paul Daley fights in the UFC. If Abel Cullum can rebound after losing to Wilson Reis… we’ll see.

by Gunslinger20 on Dec 27, 2008 1:40 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Thank you for putting Shane Carwin on the list

And I’ll humbly submit Donald Cerrone, the next WEC champ.

by subo on Dec 23, 2008 6:25 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

I second that...

Donald Cerrone is going to be a force in 2009 in the WEC… rec’d

by Gunslinger20 on Dec 27, 2008 1:40 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ronnys Torres. Watch out for him at 155 in the UFC. He’s legit as hell. Maia has already been mentioned so I won’t say him again. Also, Wilson Reis is a guy at 145 to watch.

"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on." - Sir Winston Churchill

by FlyByKnight on Dec 23, 2008 7:08 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

King Mo
King Mo
King Mo
Andre Dida
King Mo

by smoogy on Dec 23, 2008 8:43 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

also...

King Mo

Eliot Marshall: Bader won. Like I said in the episode, I'm not going to make any excuses. It's my job to be able to deal with when somebody's doing that. It's not his job to change up his tactics.

http://eliotmarshall.com/

by BJJDenver on Dec 23, 2008 11:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

God damn you smoogy, trolling for Muhammed.

Actually, that’s what I would have said too.

Editor-in-chief of MMA-Analyst.com

by Leland Roling on Dec 24, 2008 12:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yup me too

THIS GUY

by skwirrl on Dec 24, 2008 7:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Agree Mo Lawal

and I would add
Masakatsu Ueda
Rambaa Somdet
Andre Galvao
Dave “Pee Wee” Herman

by tylerdurden1 on Dec 26, 2008 9:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I can’t believe I almost forgot Gegard Mousasi.

by tylerdurden1 on Dec 26, 2008 9:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think Mousasi was the Fighter of 2008. He’s the real deal at 185. He’d give Silva a horrible time.

"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on." - Sir Winston Churchill

by FlyByKnight on Dec 26, 2008 9:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Mark Munoz?

Are you serious? If he doesn’t cut to 185, he’s going to get decapitated…

http://mma4real.net/

by Tha Realness on Dec 23, 2008 9:50 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Jose Aldo – best FW prospect in MMA right now.

Cain Velasquez – I have more hopes in him than in Carwin.

Rafael Assuncao – finally going to be fighting good competition again, whether it be with Bellator or the WEC. Hopefully it’s the latter.

by ilostmydog on Dec 23, 2008 10:21 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Why is Cain > Shane?

Doesn’t make sense to be – the biggest knock against either is that they’ve fought cans, by which measure Carwin is better because he’s faced twice as many. Oh, and he’s bigger.

by subo on Dec 23, 2008 10:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

He’s:

- younger – 26 vs. 33
- with a better camp – AKA > T’s KO Fight Club
- been tested against better fighters – Jake O’Brien > anyone Carwin will have faced until GG. Cain also put away JOB in a more impressive fashion than even Arlovski could.
- got better boxing. Carwin seems to realize on his size and strength to get him by, whereas Cain actually has decent skills on his feet.

by ilostmydog on Dec 24, 2008 3:09 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

Anyone who destroys O’Brien like that is very good. He’s going to join the elite very soon.

by cyph on Dec 24, 2008 5:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Velasquez was a lot better stylistic match-up with O’Brien than Arlovski was. I think anyone in MMA with superior wrestling to O’Brien would defeat him. Not as violently and as efficiently as Velasquez but they’d still beat him.

by SamCupitt on Dec 25, 2008 9:22 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante

Assuming the PE guys get to fight in 2009.

Eliot Marshall: Bader won. Like I said in the episode, I'm not going to make any excuses. It's my job to be able to deal with when somebody's doing that. It's not his job to change up his tactics.

http://eliotmarshall.com/

by BJJDenver on Dec 23, 2008 11:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

Editor-in-chief of MMA-Analyst.com

by Leland Roling on Dec 24, 2008 12:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Good call

he is a definate up and comer

by skwirrl on Dec 24, 2008 7:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Mark Munoz?

The choice of Munoz came out of his strategic placing as marketable Filipino fighter. Matchmaking is as much about business as it is about sport. A possible UFC event in the summer of 2009 will most likely feature Munoz, Vera and Nover. Munoz is the less recognizable of the bunch and will probably receive a promotional push in order to be featured on the main card of the PPV. Munoz’s last fight being in early December means he will likely get one fight before the event in the Philippines. From a marketing point a view the best way to increase exposure would be a winnable fight on the televised portion of a Fight Night card. The Fight Night 17 card in February is likely but the televised portion of the card is filling up fast with the Lauzon/Franca fight and fights by Cain Velasquez, Danzing/Neer and Amir Sodollah. Another possibility is UFC 95 in London. A win positions him for a fight against a name opponent in the Philippines.

Munoz is unsure as to whether he will be fighting at 185 or 205 and is not ready to fight a top ten fighter in 2009. A possible 2009 road map at 205 would likely have him fight an Ultimate Fighter alum or UFC newcomer in Feb/Mar. An Ultimate Fighter alum would give him his best shot at making the televised portion of a fight card. A win should earn him a fight against a fighter of the caliber of Bonnar, Boetsch, Schafer or Cane and a similarly ranked fighter at the end of the year. The fighters that would pose a problem for Munoz are too high up the LHW ladder for him to face in 2009, although Matt Hamill would pose a serious problem. His wrestling acumen matches up well against fighters he is likely to face in 2009 and makes a 3-0 year and a jump into the top 15 possible.

by PMorales on Dec 23, 2008 11:49 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Munoz will get protected just like Vera is being fed cans. It’s all in a plot to drive the UFC to Manilla.

Editor-in-chief of MMA-Analyst.com

by Leland Roling on Dec 24, 2008 12:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Cain Velasquez

I like Cain Velasquez as well, but I don’t see him getting a big push in 2009. Velasquez is scheduled to fight Denis Stojnic at UFN 17 in February. A win over Stojnic won’t do much to raise his stock. Barring serious injuries, the HW title will most likely be unified sometime around June/July. With UFC 99 being in Cologne, I could see a title unification headlining UFC 100. The first defense for the title holder could come at the New Year’s Eve or Superbowl weekend event. I could see this fight going to the winner of the Carwin/Gonzaga fight. I would think that they would like to keep Cain in line for a title shot and after Stojnic would give him a step up in competition but nothing too drastic until the timing is right for a number one contender fight.

by PMorales on Dec 24, 2008 12:04 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

waggney fabiano

by Headkick on Dec 24, 2008 10:08 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Dong Hyun Kim
Martin Kampmann (@ 170)
Diego Sanchez (@ 155)
Chase Beebe
Allistair Overeem
And, of course, Miguel Torres @ all weight classes… Torres vs Fedor in ’09! (lolz)

by Drewplata on Dec 24, 2008 11:03 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Disagree with alot of these….

Hyun Kim will run out of spunk quickly as he ascends
Kampmann still needs some work, but he has potential
Diego at 155 doesn’t impress me still, I guess we’ll have to see how he does
Chase Beebe, I can’t see him getting immensely better in ’09
Overeem, I think he will become something in ’09
Torres is already watched and considered awesome.

Editor-in-chief of MMA-Analyst.com

by Leland Roling on Dec 24, 2008 12:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Doesn’t look like there’s too much disagreement… I think you’re underestimating Kim, and Kampmann, I agree has work to do, but has the talent to go places. I mention Torres b/c he’s really come onto the scene (to the “casual” or “main stream” fan) in 2008 and in 2009 he should explode. Beebe is young and athletic and, by the second half/4th quarter of ’09 I think will be a player. I like Micah Miller, too, if only for his ridiculous height for his weight.

by Drewplata on Dec 24, 2008 12:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I’m not underestimating Kim at all. He’s good, but he isn’t that good. Barely defeating Hasegawa, who I think would get tooled anywhere outside DEEP or Shooto isn’t a huge accomplishment. I think Torres isn’t a man to watch as he is already a very skilled and SHOULD be watched by any hardcore fan.

Editor-in-chief of MMA-Analyst.com

by Leland Roling on Dec 24, 2008 10:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Diego at 155 will be pretty scary. This is a guy with a lot of talent who was clearly fighting out of his weight class. His only two losses were to the elites of the welterweight, guys who are just built much bigger. I’d love to see a rematch of Diego VS Florian.

Kampmann is in the same boat. He should be excellent at welterweight. I’m not too sure about Huyn Kim either. He’s talented but he looks like he needs to drop in weight as well.

by cyph on Dec 24, 2008 5:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I have always wanted to see Diego vs BJ

"My job is a decision-making job, and as a result, I make a lot of decisions." --George W. Bush, The Decider, Lancaster, Pa., Oct. 3, 2007

by lovingmma25 on Dec 29, 2008 2:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Since Chase Beebe would have to beat Torres to get to the top it doesn’t matter how much he’s improved, he’s never beating torres period.

And how can you have established UFC guys on that list? Isn’t this really about fighters to watch for not fighters you should have already seen?

by lbk on Dec 24, 2008 3:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ben Askren

Keep an eye on Ben Askren… two wins in February may get his ass some recognition from the UFC.

Editor-in-chief of MMA-Analyst.com

by Leland Roling on Dec 24, 2008 12:12 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Henry Cejudo

If he decides to come into MMA

by skwirrl on Dec 24, 2008 7:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Suprisingly, no one mentioned Jon Jones…

Which I’m not complaining about…I don’t see Jones doing incredibly great next year. Others see things I don’t. And yes, I watched his fight from 87, I was there.

by kyfm621 on Dec 25, 2008 1:58 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

the martian manhunter? he can shape shift so thats a goodtool to have.

by Headkick on Dec 25, 2008 11:13 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Except he’s dead right now.

by FRANKIE on Dec 30, 2008 11:11 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Very interested in the Bonnar fight. Jones has some interesting striking to say the least.

Eliot Marshall: Bader won. Like I said in the episode, I'm not going to make any excuses. It's my job to be able to deal with when somebody's doing that. It's not his job to change up his tactics.

http://eliotmarshall.com/

by BJJDenver on Dec 25, 2008 12:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It is interesting, but it seems to me like a good boxer/kickboxer with controlled technique and power would get the better of him. But he is fun to watch. lol

by kyfm621 on Dec 26, 2008 3:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Danny Lafever.

by Jordan Breen on Dec 25, 2008 6:41 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

DAVE PEEWEE HERMAN

by EazyEismydad on Dec 25, 2008 11:13 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Until he fights real competition...

will only be big in the “minor leagues” of MMA

by Gunslinger20 on Dec 27, 2008 1:48 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Dos Santos

Very intriguing.

by Slica on Dec 25, 2008 9:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Luiz Arthur Cane

Is getting slept on!

by oleg on Dec 26, 2008 9:58 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

i think the deal w/ Cane is he seems relatively inactive or his fights arent televised. Iole on yahoo pretty much sucks his balls every chance he gets so I’m very aware he’s supposed to be a big up and comer but i just cant even recall one of his fights.

not saying he’s not good or not exciting…just saying for someone that UFC allegedly considers a top prospect they aint doin squat for his career…

by Headkick on Dec 26, 2008 6:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs