MMA is pretty much the only sport I give a clear rats arse about these days. To me it's a true example of pure competition. I honestly believe Mixed Martial Artists are the best athletes in the world in regards to skill, finesse, strength, endurance, fitness, cardio, and also amongst the most modest and most sporting athletes. 
 
Two men drew me into this sport with their examples of seemingly unstoppable ferocity and unparalleled levels of class. They are both Brazilians, they are Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei (Van-Der-lay) Silva. Wanderlei (Wandy) Silva is a true legend of the sport and a prime example of what is so incredible about it. Wandy's run as Pride Middleweight Champion  for over five years set him in stone as one of the greatest of all time but it was his attitude that defined him and made the Japanese fans worship him. Wanderlei is the defining example of a gentlemen warrior. A fucking berserker in the ring and the nicest man on earth out side of it. It could be argued that he's such a nice guy when he's not kneeing people in the face because by that point he has no anger left!. 
 
I saw a shining example of this after he defeated Michael Bisping last year in Australia by unanimous decision. Wandy managed to halt Bisping at every turn landing better strikes and jumping up from every take-down with ease. In Bisping's corner was training mate and long time opponent of Wandy in Pride and UFC, B.A. Barracus himself, Quentin 'Rampage' Jackson . Rampage and Wandy fought 3 times. Twice Wandy beat Rampage (brutally) in Pride and once Rampage beat Wandy (brutally) in UFC. Most Mixed Martials Artists have a level of respect for their opponents and genuine dislike or even hatred is rare but with Wandy and Rampage they just never got on and went out to hurt each other. 
 
After Wandy had beaten Rampages camp mate for his second victory in the UFC what did Wandy do? He went up to Rampage, his long time opponent and enemy, someone he's said time and time again he wants to hurt, and he shook his hand.  
 
The fight is over. No more bitterness. No more hatred we'll leave that in the ring for our next match. These men who genuinely do not like one another, put that aside for that brief moment to shake hands. Rampage's biggest rival ever, the man who knocked him out so damn hard in Pride that he collapsed through the ropes, and had just beaten his close friend, came over to Rampage. And Rampage congratulates him. 
 
Of course it doesn't always go down that this anyone who saw Josh Koscheck vs Paul Daley can attest to that but in MMA, by and large, there is very, very little bad blood, no bitching to the ref as in football (soccer for the colonies), these true athletes in the vast majority of cases exude class in victory and in defeat. Package this competitive philosophy on honour and pride with the most exciting, technical and truly pure sports on earth and you have a winning combination. 
 
Another man who drew me in was Vitor Belfort when he kneed Marvin Eastmen in the head and gave him one of the worst cuts I've ever seen (youtube it the fight is like 60 seconds long and is awesome). Vitor is, like Wandy, pure class. A passionate Christian (as is Wandy as well as many other fighters) who dedicates all his fights to strength through Jesus. Not sure how Jesus, the ultimate pacifist, feels about it but it's a nice sentiment. 
 
Tonight Vitor fights long time UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva. Now Anderson has been for a long time deemed unstoppable. That is until Chael Sonnen came with in a hamsters pubic hair of stopping him last year. For those who didn't see it  Chael dominated the match for around 24 minutes before getting caught in the triangle choke in the last few seconds. And by dominate I mean dominate. He made Anderson look frankly amateur and lost not through Anderson's skill but more his own sloppiness.  
 
Another man who lost due to his own sloppiness was Rich Franklin when Vitor knocked him out in order to get to this title shot. So we have two men who are here not as a result of their own skill but more their previous opponents mistakes. Although with Vitor the fight was early and had that mistake not been made I had Vitor pegged to win the fight anyway. On this basis, that Vitor has not been dominated recently and Anderson has been. ROYALLY DOMINATED. I give the edge to Vitor. I will quanitify this by saying I have seen Vitor fight many more times than Anderson and the few times I've seen Anderson fight he hasn't left much of an impression (but then maybe I've been watching the wrong fights). 
 
Also Forrest to beat Franklin and Bader to beat Jones (I don't have much of an opinion on the other fights) 
 
Before I close this off (thank you for getting this far!) I've been thinking about who Wandy should fight when he returns. I really want to see Wandy fight both Chris Leben and Brian Stann. Both of these men would make a great fight with Wandy but given Stann just beat Leben last month fairness deems he should be given the first opportunity. Post that I think it's about time we saw that Wanderlei vs Vitor rematch. People still reference that as a major victory for Vitor but I have to feel these days Wandy is the more agressive fighter of the two. I hope the UFC make it happen, I know both men would love to go at it again.