My MMA Wish List

By E. Spencer Kyte
Love of Sports Correspondent

It’s getting around that time where you send off your Christmas wish list to Santa in hopes that some, if not all, of your holiday wishes come true.

Since the pudgy old man hasn’t returned a letter of mine in the last 21 years, I decided this year I’d come up with a different kind of wish list.

My MMA wish list.

Heading into 2009, these are some of the things I’d love to see happening in the world of Mixed Martial Arts.

My MMA Wish List

A Legitimate Competitor to the UFC Emerges

Whether it’s Affliction, World Victory Road, Strikeforce or an organization that hasn’t even started yet, competition only makes the industry better. The best bet of all of these organization looks to be Affliction, as they have some notable talents on the roster and financial partners in place. But pushing back Day of Reckoning earlier in the year wasn’t a good sign.

Out With the Old

Chuck Liddell fights don’t interest me anymore. He’s lost three of his last four bouts and his all or nothing style tends to leave him holding the short end of the stick more times than not. Randy Couture’s an icon, but he’s 45 and I don’t need to see a 45-year-old wrestling anymore. If I never saw Tim Sylvia fight again my life would be complete. Regardless of the outcome, my days of being interested in watching Dan Henderson fight are over too. Maybe 2009 will be the year some of the old guard starts to ride off into the sunset and the UFC and MMA in general opens itself up to ...

Opportunities for New Talents

There are some up-and-comers and some well-known fighters out there who live in anonymity, because they don’t receive the push from the UFC or Affliction or they fight overseas and no one sees them. Hopefully, 2009 will be a year where some of those talents get a chance in the spotlight to showcase the immense talents they have. Guys like Demian Maia, Joachim Hansen, Gesias Calvancante, Kid Yamamoto fit the bill. Oh, Cain Velazquez too.

The Ultimate Fighter Ends

Season 8 is coming to a close, Season 9 is already casting, so maybe we have Season 10 and call it quits, because this show is no longer about the fighters inside the Octagon as it is about them being disgusting idiots in and around the house.

The Lighter Weights Get Some Love

Heavyweight may be the most important division for casual fans, but more nights than not, it’s the lighter weight classes that deliver the best action. Miguel Torres should be a household name. Same goes for Urijah Faber, ridiculous flying back elbow and all. Eddie Alvarez and “Hellboy” Hansen was the Fight of the Year and most people have no idea who they are. Instead of jamming another Liddell/Couture fight down our throats, or trying to convince us Sokodjou is worth watching, give some lighter guys a chance to gain some exposure.

No Kimbo, Tito or Ken Shamrock

Kimbo was a stain on the sport and nothing more than a sideshow. Hopefully he disappears into a gym somewhere, works on his game and comes back as an actual fighter, not just a brawler. That is, if he chooses to continue at all. Tito? Tito is so 2004. We’re now heading into 2009, so stay home, run your mouth and make babies with your porn star girlfriend. And unless Ken is going to step into the Octagon and go toe-to-toe with baby brother, I don’t want to hear from the former “Most Dangerous Man in the World,” who’s now about as dangerous as all 32 pounds of my pug, Luke.

These are the things I hope to see in 2009. What are you hoping for?