In the opening bout of UFC 101: Declaration, Kurt Pellegrino picked up his third win in a row against Josh Neer via UD. 30-27 was the score across the judges board.

An opening high kick from Neer is answered by a hard slam from Pellegrino. Neer, known for being to pull submissions from bottom, almost catches Pellegrino in an armbar and looks lively from bottom, while Pellegrino tries to pass guard while fending off Neer’s movements. The first round ends with Pellegrino stuck in Neer’s half guard.

"Batman" grounded Neer and grabbed the victory

Neer works the low kicks against Pellegrino to start round two. Pellegrino labors and gets another takedown, but Neer uses butterfly guard to push Pellegrino off and just misses a triangle attempt. Neer gets a triangle with none of Pellegrino’s  arms in, but Pellegrino sweeps out for side control and jumps into full mount. Neer rolls and gives up his back, but time runs out without anything else happening.

In the final round, Pellegrino again gets a takedown after catching a kick to the body. He easily slips an omoplata attempt from Neer, and then when Neer says something to him, slaps Neer with an open hand. Pellegrino takes mount, but Neer sweeps and ends up on top. Desperately trying to finish, Neer smashes Pellegrino with elbows and cuts him while Pellegrino holds onto a single leg and rides out the round. Pellegrino rolls to a decision victory.

It was a good and valid win from Pellegrino, but he showed nothing to suggest that he could one day compete with the elites of the LW division. Aside from takedowns, he failed to manage much meaningful offense against Neer, and Neer’s 20 seconds of elbowing at the end of the fight did more damage to Pellegrino than Pellegrino did to Neer the whole fight.

A few words on the demise of Affliction’s fight-promoting business and how Afflictions efforts will be viewed in the annals of MMA history.

Josh Barnett's positive test destroys Affliction: Trilogy

Firstly, Affliction’s failure proved that on the grand stage of modern MMA in America, brand awareness is more important than putting on quality fights. Both Affliction: Banned and Affliction: Day of Reckoning featured cards that were loaded with quality fights between quality fighters, but without any vehicle to promote to promote their cards (other than the internet), only hardcore MMA fans took notice and were willing to put down money to watch Affliction. In the end, both cards failed to turn a profit, and Josh Barnett’s single-handed sinking of Affliction: Trilogy was the final nail in the coffin.

Any meaningful promotion Affliction tried to start was blunted by the fact that many casual fight fans buy into UFC President Dana White’s expletive-laden rants. Ever since Affliction started promoting fight cards, White has constantly trashed Affliction VP Tom Atencio, Affliction’s main draw Fedor Emelianenko, and many of the other ex-UFC fighters who fought on Affliction cards. And while some of these criticism had basis, many were just spiteful attacks aimed to hurt Atencio, a former business partner of White and the UFC. However ludicrous some of the attacks were, though, they worked; many non-hardcore or longtime fans of MMA fully bought into White’s argument that Affliction was made up of scraps that fell off the UFC table, that none of the fighters would make it in the UFC, and that Fedor, widely regarded throughout the world as the number one pound-for-pound fighter in MMA, was nothing unless he came and “proved himself” in the UFC.

The way casual fans in the US are so illogically loyal to the UFC is a triumph for White and the UFC marketing machine Zuffa has built. From the massive exposure the UFC gets on Spike TV to the ongoing success of The Ultimate Fighter to the slow-but-sure battle of legitimizing MMA in America as a major-league sport, White has led the way in making MMA mainstream, and along the way has plastered his own face onto every UFC product, marketing himself as well (if not better) than the marquee fighters in his organization. His tactics have won over a whole new legion of fans, but the truth is that most of the new converts are fans of the UFC organization only, and don’t know and don’t care about any other facet of MMA which is not of the Zuffa brand.

P4P champ Fedor will be in the UFC sooner or later

Other nationally recognized promotions like Strikeforce still manage to thrive because they keep their payrolls relatively low and stress that they don’t seek to challenge the UFC in terms of market share. Affliction, by bringing in Fedor and a host of other highly-regarded and expensive names, tried to challenge the UFC as the top dog and were promptly beaten down, forced to cease all fight-promoting operations and slink back to being an official sponsor of the UFC, the position they were in before they sought to promote their own shows.

For lesser-known aspiring fighters, the end of Affliction means one less option in getting national exposure; that’s not a huge deal, with companies like DREAM, Strikefore and Bellator also around, but remember that competition between companies always works in favor of the fighters and the fans. Affliction’s demise may bring Fedor into the arms of the UFC and make possible a host of superfights that fans have long wanted to see, but in the long term, less competition will hurt fighter’s rights and erode the product being sold to fans. For every big-name fighter that the UFC will poach from Afflictions roster, a less-known fighter from the UFC will be cut loose, his dream of fighting in the big show prematurely ended. Meanwhile, fighters on the Affliction undercard are now left scrambling for a new fight anywhere else after seeing their paycheck snatched away from them at the last minute.

Affliction and its “trilogy” of cards will serve as an example to any other promoter who wants to expand into the US in the future that Dana White is the boss of MMA stateside, and it pays not to cross the boss.

In the finals of the DREAM Welterweight tournament, Marius Zaromskis completed his magical run in the tourney with a spectacular Crocop-esque head kick KO of Jason High to claim the DREAM Welterweight Championship.

Marius Zaromskis Ko'ed all three of his tourney opponents en route to the DREAM WW title.

Zaromskis, who defeated tournament favorite Hayato Sakurai in similar fashion earlier in the night to advance to the final, charged at High with a flying knee to start the title fight, but High put him on his back and tried to work the ground-and-pound. The fight made its way back up to the feet, and a lighting-fast high kick from Zaromskis flew out of nowhere and instantly put High to sleep.

It was a crushing defeat for High, who had earlier shown a great deal of heart in outlasting BJJ phenom Andres Galvao for a place in the final. Zaromskis, who was making his top-flight MMA debut in this DREAM tournament, has now become the exciting KO-machine champion that all promotions crave.

In a matchup between two of the best non-UFC lightweights that DREAM has to offer, submission wizard and master tactician Shinya Aoki turned an on-paper exciting matchup into a snoozefest with a less-than-impressive victory over Vitor “Shaolin” Ribeiro.

Shinya Aoki managed to turn the usual Pro-Aoki DREAM fanbase against him at DREAM 10

With both men being notable BJJ black belts, the battle of the two grapplers turned into an awkward stand-up battle, with “Shaolin” trying for short-range punches while Aoki threw leg kicks, trying to make use of his reach advantage. As the fight wore on, Aoki made the kicks to the arm and body count, but for the most part it was a tedious striking contest, with Aoki stuffing the occasional Ribeiro takedown attempt.

In the second round, Aoki continued to outstrike Shaolin, popping him with light kicks and knees until Ribeiro finally got the takedown. Ribeiro tried to work the ground-and-pound from top, but Aoki stuck to Ribeiro in guard and held him with the “chill dog” rubber guard as time expired, leading to an Aoki UD victory.

The match itself was a microcosm of why Aoki is such a frustrating fighter to watch and support; he possesses world-class submission skills and is one of the most talented lightweights in the world, but often rides out fights looking for a decision or laying-and-praying while waiting for his opponent to make the first move. Aoki’s strategy this match even managed to turn the usually pro-Japanese-fighter crowd against him, as he was greeted with an unexpected chorus of boos during his post-fight remarks.

Former TUF bad boy Jesse Taylor, known by most American MMA fans the man who was ejected from the TUF 7 title fight after a drunken incident in Las Vegas, was victorious in his return to the big stage at DREAM 1o, albeit through a freak injury stoppage.

Taylor gets a "W" at DREAM 10

Paired up against renown judoka and armbar enthusiast Dong Sik Yoon, Taylor exploded out of his corner and immediately took down Yoon, running all over the more experienced Korean on the ground before trying for a rear-naked choke. Amid the scramble, Taylors body weight landed squarely on Yoon’s ankle, an injury severe enough for the referee to stop the middleweight contest.

It was an anti-climatic end to Taylor’s DREAM debut, but he flashed some impressive wrestling during his very brief outing and will most certainly be expected back in DREAM at some point in the future. Since losing his lone UFC fight to CB Dollaway after the fallout from TUF 7, Taylor has won seven straight fights, including tonight’s bout against Yoon.

Wilks (L) with trainer Erik Paulson

Not many people, whether they be fighters or fans, picked James “Lightning” Wilks to defeat Demarques Johnson in the welterweight finale of The Ultimate Fighter 9: US vs. UK. Johnson had rolled into the finals with an abundant showing of technique, grit, and verbal hyperbole; Wilks entered the finals with two victories against technique-challenged Frank Lester. Sherdog’s preview of the TUF 9 finale declared that Johnson would “go “…from journeyman to star by beating down Wilks in half the time it took England to win the Falklands War.”

Less than five minutes of combat later, there was no question about how wrong the experts were.

With a one-round demolition of Johnson and a TUF title in the rear-view mirror, Wilks still has his feet on the ground as he prepares for his future in the UFC while running Lightning MMA, his new gym located in Orange County, California.

Speaking to UofCombat’s Justin Eleazer, Wilks comments on his fight at the finale, training under MMA pioneer Erik Paulson, life in the TUF house, the benefits of catch wrestling, and more.

Lightning MMA, in Orange Country, CA

UofC: How long have you been training with CSW affiliated programs?

James Wilks: 10 years with Erik, first seminar in 99 in England. Bought the video tapes, and went to seminars.

UofC: What’s one of the areas of your game that CSW training has helped you improve?

JW: Everything, Erik is very well rounded. Great at looking at game plans, very complete submission game.

UofC: Does your proximity to Erik Paulson’s home gym excite you or scare you, I’ve heard he can be a tough coach.

JW: He’s definately a tough trainer. But he knows my game very well and it’s exciting to live near him.

UofC: You threw an uncommon leg compression lock against Johnson (at the TUF finale). How long has that been in your repertoire?

Wilks (bottom) dominted Johnson

JW: Leg locks in general are a big part of my game from early on. It was a leg lock I learned later on, I’ve been practicing, been using that move for 4 years.

UofC: Your opponent Demarques Johnson had a lot of tough words before the fight, did he have a legitimate issue, or was he just getting himself worked up for a fight?

JW: I don’t think he cared for me too much legitimately, but I think he hyped it up because he needs to feel angry to fight somebody.

UofC: Styles make fights, given your style who would make an exciting fight for you?

JW: A good kickboxer, varied muay thai striker. I don’t know, I don’t like to pick any names.

UofC: Forrest Griffin, Anderson Silva?

JW: No, no, honestly I think those guys are too good for me, and too heavy. I don’t know I suppose a well rounded kick boxer that uses all of his skills, a real test.

Bisping - "...definately more technical than I'd have thought"

UofC: What is Michael Bisping’s clinch game like?

JW: He’s got a good clinch game. He’s definately more technical than I’d have thought from watching him on TV.

UofC: They say you learn the most from your mistakes. What did you learn from your fights with Patrick Speight and Jimmy Smith?

JW: For Speight, cardo. Smith, don’t kick right off the bat, especially to the body… and how I should have or could have gotten out of the knee bar, cross face, which erik was shouting, generally you grapple to escape grappling and I was punching.

UofC: People say the house really tests your mental game. Did you find it challenging?

JW: It was challenging, I definately missed people from back home, my girlfriend and my parents and my brother. I had a great group of guys to on Team UK. Overall it was an enjoyable experience.

UofC: Who’s the UK fighter you are most likely to see in the UFC again, Pearson aside?

JW: I think Nick Osipczak. He’s given good performances, I think he’s exciting to watch, and he’s well rounded.

UofC: Which American impressed you the most?

Jason Dent (left) impressed Wilks.

JW: Jason Dent, not in his first two fights, but in his other two. He was a lot better than I thought he would have been, very technical.

UofC: CSW employs a lot of catch wrestling, which doesn’t get nearly as much airtime as BJJ, what’s the biggest advantage of catch?

JW: The varied number of attacks. Also, the fact that a lot of people don’t know those submissions because it’s not as common as jiu-jitsu.

UofC: Tell me about your new facility.

JW: Over 3,500 square feet. a full cage, sports massage, and full shower. Great atmosphere.

UofC: Is Paulson doing any seminars at your facility?

JW: Yea, he definately will, but the dates have not been set.

UofC: Having knocked out four teeth with it, are people at your gym afraid of your knee?

JW: (chuckles) No, not at my gym. we train in a safe manner, and we don’t throw full contact knees to the head during training.

James Wilks (left) with Erik Paulson in his corner

Erik Paulson is no stranger to training winners.

A former Shooto champion and innovator of Combat Submission Wrestling, Paulson has trained many of the sports finest fighters, from UFC champions such as Brock Lesnar and Sean Sherk to world-ranked fighters Josh Barnett and Renato Sobral. His CSW Training Camp out of Fullerton, California plays host to fighters such as Barnett, Sobral and Lesnar, among others.

The latest Paulson student to make a name for himself in the MMA world is TUF 9 welterweight winner James “Lightning” Wilks. Wilks first trained with Paulson in 1999 after viewing Paulson video tapes, and recently marked a decade of tutelage and his new-found success by opening the CSW-affiliated Lightning MMA gym in Orange Country, California.

While dates have not been sets, Paulson will make trips from nearby Fullerton to conduct seminars at Lightning MMA, with the hope that in no time, Lightning MMA will be producing the next generation of CSW fighters who will make an impact on the sport of MMA.

In one of the most anticipated fights in UFC history, Brock Lesnar became the undisputed UFC Heavyweight Champion by winning his rematch with Frank Mir in the main event at UFC 100.

Lesnar avenged his defeat to Mir from last year in dominant fashion.

From the get-go, Lesnar used his massive size and girth to pin Mir down in half guard, throwing hammerfists into the face of Mir while grinding Mir into the canvas for the whole of round one.  In round two, Lesnar indicated that he wanted to stand, but he changed his mind quickly when Mir connected with a hook and a  knee in the clinch before Lesnar took things back to the ground. From there, Lesnar continued to use one had to hold Mir’s neck down while using the other to smash Mir’s face. Mir was unable to take the punishment, leaving Lesnar with a TKO win.

Mir did all he could against Lesnar to make it competitive, but like Randy Couture had found out, the physical mismatch between Lesnar and his foe was a bridge too far for Mir. It will be interesting to see how others other HW wrestling prospects such as Cain Velasquez would fare against Lesnar, but for now, there seems to be no immediate challengers for Lesnar on the horizon.

Thiago Alves was touted as the biggest, meanest and strongest challenger that Georges St. Pierre had ever faced. Alves, however, met the same fate as John Fitch and BJ Penn before him as GSP used his superior wrestling to win every single round and take the decisive decision victory.

GSP was irresistable once again.

St. Pierre is the prime example for those who say that wrestling is the best base to learn modern MMA. Alves, who out-muscled former NCAA wrestling star Josh Koscheck, had no answer for GSP’s world class wrestling, which allowed the champ to dictate where the fight would go. GSP was equal to Alves in the stand up but really shone on the ground, running through mount and submission attempts with ease.

With all the fanfare given to Brock Lesnar and Frank Mir, it was refreshing to be able to witness the continued evolution of the man from St. Isidore, Quebec, who will now most likely replace Fedor Emelianenko soon as the finest pound-for-pound MMA fighter in the world.

In the matchup of TUF coaches, Dan Henderson showed that he was still a threat at 185 with a second-round KO of Michael Bisping at UFC 100.

Dan Henderson showed the gulf in class between himself and Michael Bisping

The fight confirmed what most astute Bisping fans had feared; when faced against a world-class opponent, Bisping was exposed as not having enough in the tank yet. After a first round spent trying to find his range and doing a Machida-like impression in elusiveness, Bisping was knocked out by Henderson’s trademark right hook in the first meaningful exchange of the fight, despite being told by his corner not to circle towards Hendo’s dominant hand.

The result keeps Henderson at the forefront of the 185 pound division, while Bisping will be sent back to the drawing board after being finished for the first time in his career.