The Karate Blitz

Why bother, it seems, with Jon "Bones" Jones holding an edge over Chael Sonnen in every conceivable area the fight could rumble through. Striking?  Only Lyoto Machida, master of accuracy and speed, has come close to outstriking him and that was in the first round. Submissions?  Jones has submitted the last two BJJ black belts he's faced. Physicals?  Jones has the longest reach in any division and is the second tallest light heavyweight. Wrestling?  That just so happens to be Chael's biggest strength.  And Jones's. So what happens when Chael tries to pressure Jones with takedowns?  He'll need to threaten Jones with his own strikes to open up an opportunity for a takedown, but if he dares tread there he'll face Jones's UFC-best reach, elbows, oblique kicks and side kicks.  Clinch and you enter the elbow zone.  Kick and you find yourself on your back and again in the dreaded elbow zone.  A Sonnen victory would be a bigger upset than Ma...

When UFC lightweight champion BENSON HENDERSON faces Strikeforce lightweight champion GILBERT MELENDEZ on Saturday, he faces a fighter nearly as well-rounded as he, but with more power in his hands.  Going into this fight, many feel Melendez's bland performance in his last fight portends a successful third defense for the reigning champion.  But before his last fight, many considered Melendez the best lightweight in the world- even above stalwarts like Henderson, Edgar and Penn.  Right now Henderson stands above all others (except perhaps the last man to beat him, Anthony Pettis).  With a slight disadvantage in wrestling and kicking, Melendez may seek an opportunity during a scramble to stun Henderson with his hands and perhaps finish him.  It will be interesting to see how often these top shelf grapplers take it to the floor and if Melendez learns from Nick Diaz's mistakes in handling Henderson's tae kwon do kicks. Undefeated Strikeforce heavyweight champio...