Matt Serra

This isn't specifically related to the UFC, but coming up on September 26-28 is a once in a lifetime opportunity to train with some of the legends of MMA. This event is being held in Mississauga (near Toronto).

Paradise Warrior Retreat at Kombat Arts Training Acadamy

Matt Serra injured his lower back (herniated disc) in a training session and won't be fighting on the UFC 79 card. Dana White has stated that GSP will still not fight until his title bout with the winner of the Serra vs Hughes fight.

This leaves the UFC welterweight division in a very stale state. Fans have been waiting a long time (too long) for Serra to defend his title. A title he won from Georges St Pierre in April 2007. Now, it looks like it will at least several more months before we see a title fight, and months after that until Georges St Pierre fights again.

Please note before reading my list that these are my favourite fighters, not the fighters which are the best. That's a different list, perhaps entitled "Top 10 Best Figthers".

So, I wrote the title to this little entry and now I'm stuck, how do you pick a favourite. I've been watching MMA and particularly the UFC and PrideFC for so long that I feel like I'm picking one of my children as a favourite over another child. It's not fair, but I've made the commitment and now I'm going to follow through with it.


#10 BJ Penn is one of my 10 most favourite fighters. BJ Penn is made of rubber, probably the best natural fighter in MMA. BJ's appearance on the Ultimate Fighter TV series just solidifies this position. The guy is truly funny!

#9 Wanderlei Silva. Silva is an animal in the ring, pure and simple all out agression. A Wanderlei Silva fight is one of the most exciting things to watch. Even his recent losses to Cro Cop and Henderson were amazing fights.

#8 Royce Gracie. When I watch the old UFC fights with Royce Gracie I can't help but be amazed. Certainly Royce had the training advantage over his opponents, but watch carefully. Royce is tough, he took punches and kept coming. Watch his not so old fight against Sakuraba or his fight against Matt Hughes. Royce didn't win those fights, but his toughness came through.

#7 Kevin "The Monster" Randleman. Whenever the "Monster" steps into the ring (or cage), you get the feeling that something super-human is going to happen. Kevin Randleman is a freak of nature, strong and quick. Watching him drop Fedor on his head is still one of my favourite highlights.

#6 Mirko Cro Cop. Mirko suffered a loss recently to Gabriel Gonzaga, but it isn't Mirko's first loss. He came back before and he will again. He's an exciting fighter and doesn't talk trash, for that he's #6

#5 Fedor. Although this is a favourite list and not best fighter list, Fedor deserves to be on here out of simple respect. He's the best of the best.

#4 Matt Serra comes in at #4. Ok everybody, accuse me of jumping on the Matt Serra bandwagon, but Matt has paid his dues in this sport. The first fights I ever saw Matt in were an eye opener to me. I'd never seen anybody transition positions as smoothly and easily as Serra.

#3 Randy Couture makes my favourite MMA fighter list at number three. Randy is a class act, always has respect for an opponent and despite being an underdog in almost every fight he's ever had he's the UFC heavyweight champion at 43 years old.

#2 My second favourite MMA fighter is Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. He never gives up in a fight, he is tough as nails and seems to always have respect for his opponents. Big Nog is one of the true talents in MMA. In a fight against Nog, if your name isn't Fedor, you'd better be prepared to lose!

#1 My favourite fighter has to be Chuck Liddell. I'm not saying that because Mr Liddell has an upcoming fight with Quinton "Rampage" Jackson. In fact, I'm picking Rampage to win that fight. I picked Chuck because he has consistently said what he was going to do, then do it. No fanfare, no badmouthing, just great exciting fights, usually ending in TKO's.

To add a little more interest to the Matt Hughes vs Matt Serra welterweight fight, Dana White has decided to make these two welterweights coaches on the next season of Ultimate Fighter, Ultimate Fighter 6.

The season starts taping soon, but this could delay the fight between these two until later this year. One thing is for sure, Matt Hughes does not like Matt Serra and Matt Serra does not like Matt Hughes.

It looks like Matt Serra's first title defense will be against Matt Hughes. If you remember from Ultimate Fighter Season 5, Serra is no fan of Hughes. This should make for some nice pre fight hype. The bout will be a long time off, probably late this summer.

Let's get things straight, I'm not saying that Matt Serra has no chance against Georges St Pierre in their UFC welterweight championship bout on April 7, 2007 in Houston Texas. What I am saying is that Matt "The Terror" Serra will be a future champion in the UFC lightweight division.

The UFC does not have another fighter like Matt Serra. Serra is a brilliant fighter, a fighter with a 7-4 MMA record, 5-4 in the UFC. Huh? How can I call a fighter with a record like that brilliant? As is often the case in combat sports, Matt Serra is not defined as a fighter by his victories, but by his losses and Matt Serra's losses are impressive!

Matt Serra's first loss came in May 2001 to none other than Shonie Carter. Matt Serra was dominating this fight and was ten seconds away from winning when Shonie caught Matt with an impressive spinning back fist. That back fist has become the staple of every MMA knockout highlight reel since. Matt has since avenged his loss to Shonie, but since it was part of the Ultimate Fighter reality series and only a two round fight, the victory does not show on his official record.

BJ Penn was the next MMA wizard to defeat Matt Serra. We all know BJ Penn. He's the rubber man, he is unbelievably talented and flexible. BJ Penn may very well have the most natural talent of any fighter in MMA. That said, Matt Serra lost a very close decision to BJ Penn. I believe that a rematch between these two fighters should be in order. Perhaps it will happen at welterweight, or more appropriately back at lightweight where I believe both of these guys are at their best.

Matt Serra's next loss is a bit iffy. He lost a decision to Din Thomas. Again, I believe Din Thomas is a good fighter, but I'm not sure why Matt Serra couldn't finish him. It's in the books as a Din Thomas victory, but if these two fought again today I am certain that Matt Serra would win.

Karo Parisyan also decisioned Matt Serra, this loss coming in June of 2005. Karo is an excellent Judo/BJJ/Ground fighter, so it's no surprise that this fight went to a decision. Basically both guys strength canceled each other out.

That's four losses, but all four come to well known accomplished fighters. Also, all four fighters are still in the mix, moving their way back up into contention for belts at lightweight and welterweight.

Georges St Pierre is standing in the way of Matt Serra taking the UFC welterweight title on April 7. I don't believe anything short of an injury during the fight will prevent Georges from winning that fight. Full apologies to Matt if he thinks I'm disrespecting his skills, it's not that, it's just that I think Georges is just naturally too big and too good a striker for Matt to be effective. Georges has excellent take down defense and good ground and pound, I believe he will win this fight, let's hope it's a good one though.

Matt Serra belongs at lightweight. This is his natural weight class and he would do very well there. I believe that Matt has current lightweight champion Sean Sherk beaten in both ground skills (BJJ) and striking. The only spot Sherk has an advantage is wrestling skills, however Serra is very dangerous from his back. I believe that after Matt Serra gets this fight with Georges St Pierre over with, he will return to rule the lightweight division, and hopefully set up a rematch with BJ Penn.