Take a look back at the world of mixed martial arts five years ago. Middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva was just beginning to create his legend within the UFC, televised MMA was a privilege not a right, and youth MMA was only a portion of what it is today.

With the combative sports world continuously growing each day, read along as US Combat Sports Reporter Carl Lange recounts the firsthand observations he has witnessed within the fight scene on a handful of topics.

This Saturday night in Atlanta the drama-filled feud between Jon "Bones" Jones and "Suga" Rashard Evans will finally be settled the way men handle problems, with their hands. These two former teammates will meet in the Octagon with the coveted UFC title on the line.

As the fight draw closer, the indecisive guessing of who will be the better man continues by fans. Much like having a favorite football team, fans attach themselves to a fighter supporting them through their careers. Both hailing from New York, which one these empire state fighters will have the upper hand in Saturday night's title match?

For Frankie Edgar, the road to becoming the Ultimate Fighting Championship's lightweight title-holder has included hard work, legendary battles, and timely wins.

However, since earning the title back in April of 2010 by upsetting future Hall of Famer B.J. Penn, "The Answer" has fought just two separate opponents, Penn again, and Gray Maynard twice to keep the belt.

In October, the New Jersey-native ended his trilogy with Maynard in great fashion with a fourth-round knockout of the only man to defeat him. Now, the surging Benson Henderson awaits Edgar at UFC 144 in Saitama, Japan.

No one will ever have to remind the MMA world, or Benson Henderson for that matter, about his remarkably entertaining battles against top-notch fighters such as Clay Guida, Jim Miller, Anthony Pettis, and Donald Cerrone.

Since transitioning into the UFC from the now-defunct WEC last year, Henderson has embarked on a three-fight winning streak that includes his most recent Fight of the Night performance against Guida. 

And now, this Saturday at UFC 144 in Japan, the former WEC lightweight champion looks to capture his biggest victory yet when he faces Frankie Edgar for the UFC 155-pound strap. And this one could be the most intense battle both men have ever seen.

On this edition of the Low Blow, the guys discuss the main event between Jake Ellenberger and Diego Sanchez on UFC on Fuel, Nick Diaz's positive drug test, and Paul Williams bout against Nobuhiro Ishida on Showtime. 

"The Dream" had a chance to ensure all Albuquerque fighters as top contenders for the welterweight title but Ellenberger had other plans as he outpointed Sanchez en route to a close unanimous decision. We break down Sanchez's gameplan and the UFC's decision to only make this fight three rounds. We also talk about Stefan Struve's impressive TKO over Dave Herman and impressions of the Fuel TV production.

Since our last show the MMA world has been buzzing over Nick Diaz's drug test failure. Should Diaz face a severe punishment for his second offensive in Nevada and will Diaz ever learn and mature from his mistakes?

As mixed martial arts continue to thrive as the fastest growing sport in the world, fight teams across the planet are improving all aspects of their MMA training and raising the proverbial bar by training excellence in every discipline.This level of excellence is becoming the norm and blazing the trail is none other than Nova Uniao’s fight team.

Apparently I must have been living under a rock because for nearly the past 20 years I have watched practically everything ever aired on television regarding the beloved sport of mixed martial arts, but somehow I missed a somewhat new reality series called “Caged.”

“Since you are always watching MMA, why don’t you watch that new show on MTV called ‘Caged’?” my wife asked me last night after putting our children to bed. What on earth are is she talking about, I silently wondered to myself.

So we quickly went to the remote control, found the Video on Demand button and began watching episode one of the series. And that’s where the excitement stops.  Because the show included commercials, the running time was 46 minutes. However, I still feel that my wife owes me 46 minutes of my life back whether or not I fast forwarded. 

On this edition of the Low Blow the guys talk about the ongoing controversy over Carlos Condit's victory against Nick Diaz and Donaire and Chavez's less than impressive performances on HBO Boxing.

We also talk about the first UFC on Fuel TV card featuring Diego Sanchez vs Jake Ellenberger and talk about Manny Pacquiao fight against Tim Bradley.

Last night at UFC 143 Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit fought five exciting rounds for the interim welterweight title in Las Vegas. But it was what happened after the fight sent shockwaves through the mixed martial arts community.

At just 28 years of age Diaz announced his retirement from the fight game.

Realistically, it is still uncertain if Diaz’s words were that of pure frustration and do not hold any real weight or if the former Strikeforce welterweight champion truly is done with the sport.

It’s that time of the year again….no not Christmas.  This Sunday the National Football League will host its official last game of the season; the Super Bowl.

On the biggest stage of them all, in a rematch of Super Bowl XLII, the New York Giants will once again take on the New England Patriots.  The Giants won their first outing in 2008 by a score of 17-14.

Midway through this year’s season the Giants were a long-shot from even being considered to be in the big game, but the Pats were always considered a heavy favorite among other teams like the Green Bay Packers, New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers. The Giants miraculously eliminated both the Packers and the Niners to claim the NFC championship.