| 10 June 2010
While June might mark the start of the warm weather season for us up here in the northern hemisphere, unfortunately the MMA action is not heating up this month as well. While there are a few big names making their returns to the cage, there aren't too many "must-see" matches or events - in fact it was a struggle to find five June fights I deemed worthy of "must-see" status. So, with that in mind, here are June's five must-see MMA fights and the must-see MMA fight card.
June's Must-See Fight Card
Strikeforce: Fedor vs Werdum - June 26th
There might be only four fights on the card, and one of them is a female match (eww - girls!), but two of the fights make this the must-see event of the month. But, remember, it is a weak month for fight cards. So what are the two matches that make this event a must-see, you ask? Read on.
June's Five Must-See MMA Fights
Paulo Thiago vs Martin Kampmann - UFC 115 - June 12th
The best fight on paper for UFC 115 is a clash between two top 10 welterweights in Paulo Thiago and Martin Kampmann. The winner of this bout has to be given serious consideration for a shot at Georges St-Pierre sooner rather than later. Kampmann's last two encounters with "big name" opponents, Paul Daley in 2009 and Nate Marquardt in 2008, ended in defeat so knocking off Thiago would be a huge feather in his hat and announce him as a contender for the 185lb belt. The BJJ wiz Thiago, meanwhile, is probably one of the most underrated fighters in the UFC, having knocked off Mike Swick, Jon Fitch and Josh Koscheck in the past. What does this man have to do to get a title shot? Beat Martin Kampmann, apparently.
Court McGee vs Kris McCray - TUF 11 Finale - June 19th
The selection of this match as must-see isn't really based on the fighters involved (even though one of them being a recovered drug addict brings a human redemption storyline in to play) but rather what a win in this match will mean to the combatants. As history has shown, winning The Ultimate Fighter can help propel a fighter onto future UFC stardom. While neither of these guys are probably ready to make an immediate impact like the last TUF winner Roy Nelson has, it is still exciting to see new blood enter the Octagon.
Masenori Kanehara vs Marlon Sandro - Sengoku Raiden Championships 13 - June 20th
The heavyweights might get most of the glory (and pay-per-view buys), but more often than not the little guys put on a better show. So it would be in your best interest to watch two of the world's best 145lbers go at it for Sengoku's Featherweight Championship. Current belt holder Masenori Kanehara got the title in shocking fashion last summer by winning Sengoku's Featherweight Grand Prix as an injury replacement in the final. Sandro, meanwhile, is the Featherweight King of Pancrase and is riding a two-fight win streak in Sengoku.
Fedor Emelianenko vs Fabricio Werdum - Strikeforce: Fedor vs Werdum - June 26th
It might be a quiet month but at least we get a rare glimpse at the best heavyweight MMA fighter of all-time, Fedor Emelianenko. And, with the pattern he and his management team have set, this might be the only time we get to see him fight in 2010. And while he isn't fighting the fighter everyone wants to see him go up against, Alistair Overeem, luckily he is actually going up against a legitimate fighter in Fabricio Werdum. Werdum is riding a two-fight win streak and whose past victims include Gabriel Gonzaga, Alistair Overeem, Brandon Vera and Fedor's very own flesh and blood, his brother Aleksander. Maybe revenge will be on the big Russian's mind as he tries to avenge his brother's defeat. And Strikeforce will be praying that he is able to exact his revenge in order to set up a Fedor-Overeem pay-per-view.
Cung Le vs Scott Smith - Strikeforce: Fedor vs Werdum - June 26th
The other exciting fight scheduled for Strikforce: Fedor vs Werdum is a much anticipated rematch between Cung Le and Scott Smith. Le dominated Smith throughout their initial encounter last December before Smith came back from the dead (a common theme for him in his matches) to drop and TKO Le in the third round. Plus, Le is always good to watch so we can hear commentator Frank Shamrock state that Le's kicks don't hurt, despite the fact that he broke Shamrock's arm with kicks when the two fought.
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